{"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=African+Americans+--+Virginia.\u0026f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Henrico+County+%28Va.%29+Judgments+%28Freedom+Suits%29%2C+%0A1807-1815","last":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=African+Americans+--+Virginia.\u0026f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Henrico+County+%28Va.%29+Judgments+%28Freedom+Suits%29%2C+%0A1807-1815\u0026page=1"},"meta":{"pages":{"current_page":1,"next_page":null,"prev_page":null,"total_pages":1,"limit_value":10,"offset_value":0,"total_count":1,"first_page?":true,"last_page?":true}},"data":[{"id":"vi_vi04760","type":"collection","attributes":{"title":"Henrico County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), \n1807-1815","creator":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi04760#creator","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"Henrico County (Va.) Circuit Court\n","label":"Creator"}},"abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi04760#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1807-1815, consist of suits initiated by slaves seeking to gain their freedom on the law side of the court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of slaves and slaveowners found in suit as well as whether slave(s) won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include slave's argument for freedom, acquisition of slaves by slaveowners, slave ancestry, and relationship between slaves and slaveowners. \u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi04760#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"id":"vi_vi04760","ead_ssi":"vi_vi04760","_root_":"vi_vi04760","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi04760","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/lva/vi04760.xml","title_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), \n1807-1815"],"title_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), \n1807-1815"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["0007531824\n"],"text":["0007531824\n","Henrico County (Va.) 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(1 box)","There are no restrictions.\n","Arranged chronologically.\n","Slaves sued for emancipation in freedom suits based on the following: they were descendant(s) of a free female ancestor, typically a Native American (Hening Statutes, volume 2, p.170); failure of slaveowner(s) to abide by the 1778 slave nonimportation act (Henings Statutes, volume 9, pp. 471-472); or claimed to have been freed by slaveowner(s) by deed of emancipation or last will and testament (Henings Statutes volume 11, pp. 39-40)\n","Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.\n","Recognized in 1634 as an original shire. All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post–Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on April 3, 1865, during the Civil War. The county’s circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.","Additional Henrico County Court Records are found at the Library of Virginia.\n","Additional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia.  Consult  \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"","Additional freedom suits may be found in the Henrico County Chancery Causes. Search the  the Chancery Records Index  found on the Library of Virginia web site. Enter the tilde symbol in the plaintiff surname field.\n","Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Court Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the  Lost Records Localities Database  found at the Library of Virginia web site.","Henrico County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1807-1815, consist of suits initiated by slaves seeking to gain their freedom on the law side of the court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of slaves and slaveowners found in suit as well as whether slave(s) won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include slave's argument for freedom, acquisition of slaves by slaveowners, slave ancestry, and relationship between slaves and slaveowners.\n","Judgments (Freedom Suits) are useful when researching local history and genealogical information, particularly for African Americans. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history.\n","There are no restrictions.\n","Library of Virginia\n","Henrico County (Va.). Circuit Court.","English\n"],"unitid_tesim":["0007531824\n"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), \n1807-1815"],"collection_title_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), \n1807-1815"],"collection_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), \n1807-1815"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) 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(1 box)"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions\n"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions.\n"],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eArranged chronologically.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement\n"],"arrangement_tesim":["Arranged chronologically.\n"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eSlaves sued for emancipation in freedom suits based on the following: they were descendant(s) of a free female ancestor, typically a Native American (Hening Statutes, volume 2, p.170); failure of slaveowner(s) to abide by the 1778 slave nonimportation act (Henings Statutes, volume 9, pp. 471-472); or claimed to have been freed by slaveowner(s) by deed of emancipation or last will and testament (Henings Statutes volume 11, pp. 39-40)\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eHenrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eRecognized in 1634 as an original shire. All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post–Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on April 3, 1865, during the Civil War. The county’s circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information\n"],"bioghist_tesim":["Slaves sued for emancipation in freedom suits based on the following: they were descendant(s) of a free female ancestor, typically a Native American (Hening Statutes, volume 2, p.170); failure of slaveowner(s) to abide by the 1778 slave nonimportation act (Henings Statutes, volume 9, pp. 471-472); or claimed to have been freed by slaveowner(s) by deed of emancipation or last will and testament (Henings Statutes volume 11, pp. 39-40)\n","Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.\n","Recognized in 1634 as an original shire. All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post–Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on April 3, 1865, during the Civil War. The county’s circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1807-1815. Local government records collection, Henrico County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1807-1815. Local government records collection, Henrico County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.\n"],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Henrico County Court Records are found at the Library of Virginia.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAdditional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia.  Consult \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/local/results_all.asp?CountyID=VA125\"\u003e\"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"\u003c/extref\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAdditional freedom suits may be found in the Henrico County Chancery Causes. Search the \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwehave/local/chancery/index.htm\"\u003ethe Chancery Records Index\u003c/extref\u003e found on the Library of Virginia web site. Enter the tilde symbol in the plaintiff surname field.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eHenrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Court Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.lva.virginia.gov/whatwehave/local/lost/\"\u003eLost Records Localities Database\u003c/extref\u003e found at the Library of Virginia web site.\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material\n"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Henrico County Court Records are found at the Library of Virginia.\n","Additional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia.  Consult  \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"","Additional freedom suits may be found in the Henrico County Chancery Causes. Search the  the Chancery Records Index  found on the Library of Virginia web site. Enter the tilde symbol in the plaintiff surname field.\n","Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Court Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the  Lost Records Localities Database  found at the Library of Virginia web site."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1807-1815, consist of suits initiated by slaves seeking to gain their freedom on the law side of the court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of slaves and slaveowners found in suit as well as whether slave(s) won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include slave's argument for freedom, acquisition of slaves by slaveowners, slave ancestry, and relationship between slaves and slaveowners.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJudgments (Freedom Suits) are useful when researching local history and genealogical information, particularly for African Americans. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1807-1815, consist of suits initiated by slaves seeking to gain their freedom on the law side of the court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of slaves and slaveowners found in suit as well as whether slave(s) won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include slave's argument for freedom, acquisition of slaves by slaveowners, slave ancestry, and relationship between slaves and slaveowners.\n","Judgments (Freedom Suits) are useful when researching local history and genealogical information, particularly for African Americans. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history.\n"],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions\n"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions.\n"],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc label=\"Location\"\u003eLibrary of Virginia\n\u003c/physloc\u003e"],"physloc_tesim":["Library of Virginia\n"],"names_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.). Circuit Court."],"corpname_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.). Circuit Court."],"language_ssim":["English\n"],"total_component_count_is":2,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-21T11:39:54.823Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vi_vi04760","ead_ssi":"vi_vi04760","_root_":"vi_vi04760","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi04760","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/lva/vi04760.xml","title_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), \n1807-1815"],"title_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), \n1807-1815"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["0007531824\n"],"text":["0007531824\n","Henrico County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), \n1807-1815","African Americans -- Virginia.","Free African Americans -- Virginia -- Henrico County.","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Henrico County.","Slavery -- Virginia -- Henrico County.","Civil actions -- Virginia -- Henrico County.","Freedom suits -- Virginia -- Henrico County.","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Henrico County.","Local government records -- Virginia -- Henrico County.","Petitions -- Virginia -- Henrico County.","Wills -- Virginia -- Henrico County.",".35 cu. ft. (1 box)","There are no restrictions.\n","Arranged chronologically.\n","Slaves sued for emancipation in freedom suits based on the following: they were descendant(s) of a free female ancestor, typically a Native American (Hening Statutes, volume 2, p.170); failure of slaveowner(s) to abide by the 1778 slave nonimportation act (Henings Statutes, volume 9, pp. 471-472); or claimed to have been freed by slaveowner(s) by deed of emancipation or last will and testament (Henings Statutes volume 11, pp. 39-40)\n","Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.\n","Recognized in 1634 as an original shire. All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post–Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on April 3, 1865, during the Civil War. The county’s circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.","Additional Henrico County Court Records are found at the Library of Virginia.\n","Additional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia.  Consult  \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"","Additional freedom suits may be found in the Henrico County Chancery Causes. Search the  the Chancery Records Index  found on the Library of Virginia web site. Enter the tilde symbol in the plaintiff surname field.\n","Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Court Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the  Lost Records Localities Database  found at the Library of Virginia web site.","Henrico County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1807-1815, consist of suits initiated by slaves seeking to gain their freedom on the law side of the court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of slaves and slaveowners found in suit as well as whether slave(s) won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include slave's argument for freedom, acquisition of slaves by slaveowners, slave ancestry, and relationship between slaves and slaveowners.\n","Judgments (Freedom Suits) are useful when researching local history and genealogical information, particularly for African Americans. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history.\n","There are no restrictions.\n","Library of Virginia\n","Henrico County (Va.). Circuit Court.","English\n"],"unitid_tesim":["0007531824\n"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), \n1807-1815"],"collection_title_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), \n1807-1815"],"collection_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), \n1807-1815"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) 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(1 box)"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions\n"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions.\n"],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eArranged chronologically.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement\n"],"arrangement_tesim":["Arranged chronologically.\n"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eSlaves sued for emancipation in freedom suits based on the following: they were descendant(s) of a free female ancestor, typically a Native American (Hening Statutes, volume 2, p.170); failure of slaveowner(s) to abide by the 1778 slave nonimportation act (Henings Statutes, volume 9, pp. 471-472); or claimed to have been freed by slaveowner(s) by deed of emancipation or last will and testament (Henings Statutes volume 11, pp. 39-40)\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eHenrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eRecognized in 1634 as an original shire. All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post–Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on April 3, 1865, during the Civil War. The county’s circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information\n"],"bioghist_tesim":["Slaves sued for emancipation in freedom suits based on the following: they were descendant(s) of a free female ancestor, typically a Native American (Hening Statutes, volume 2, p.170); failure of slaveowner(s) to abide by the 1778 slave nonimportation act (Henings Statutes, volume 9, pp. 471-472); or claimed to have been freed by slaveowner(s) by deed of emancipation or last will and testament (Henings Statutes volume 11, pp. 39-40)\n","Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.\n","Recognized in 1634 as an original shire. All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post–Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on April 3, 1865, during the Civil War. The county’s circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1807-1815. Local government records collection, Henrico County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1807-1815. Local government records collection, Henrico County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.\n"],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Henrico County Court Records are found at the Library of Virginia.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAdditional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia.  Consult \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/local/results_all.asp?CountyID=VA125\"\u003e\"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"\u003c/extref\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAdditional freedom suits may be found in the Henrico County Chancery Causes. Search the \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwehave/local/chancery/index.htm\"\u003ethe Chancery Records Index\u003c/extref\u003e found on the Library of Virginia web site. Enter the tilde symbol in the plaintiff surname field.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eHenrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Court Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.lva.virginia.gov/whatwehave/local/lost/\"\u003eLost Records Localities Database\u003c/extref\u003e found at the Library of Virginia web site.\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material\n"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Henrico County Court Records are found at the Library of Virginia.\n","Additional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia.  Consult  \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"","Additional freedom suits may be found in the Henrico County Chancery Causes. Search the  the Chancery Records Index  found on the Library of Virginia web site. Enter the tilde symbol in the plaintiff surname field.\n","Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Court Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the  Lost Records Localities Database  found at the Library of Virginia web site."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1807-1815, consist of suits initiated by slaves seeking to gain their freedom on the law side of the court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of slaves and slaveowners found in suit as well as whether slave(s) won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include slave's argument for freedom, acquisition of slaves by slaveowners, slave ancestry, and relationship between slaves and slaveowners.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJudgments (Freedom Suits) are useful when researching local history and genealogical information, particularly for African Americans. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1807-1815, consist of suits initiated by slaves seeking to gain their freedom on the law side of the court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of slaves and slaveowners found in suit as well as whether slave(s) won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include slave's argument for freedom, acquisition of slaves by slaveowners, slave ancestry, and relationship between slaves and slaveowners.\n","Judgments (Freedom Suits) are useful when researching local history and genealogical information, particularly for African Americans. 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