{"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Accomack+County+%28Va.%29+District+Court+Papers%2C+%0A1789-1808","next":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Accomack+County+%28Va.%29+District+Court+Papers%2C+%0A1789-1808\u0026page=2","last":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Accomack+County+%28Va.%29+District+Court+Papers%2C+%0A1789-1808\u0026page=2"},"meta":{"pages":{"current_page":1,"next_page":2,"prev_page":null,"total_pages":2,"limit_value":10,"offset_value":0,"total_count":15,"first_page?":true,"last_page?":false}},"data":[{"id":"vi_vi03284_c01","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"1794 Oct., Commonwealth vs. James (free negro):","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi03284_c01#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eFound guilty of assault and battery. \u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi03284_c01#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vi_vi03284_c01","ref_ssm":["vi_vi03284_c01"],"id":"vi_vi03284_c01","ead_ssi":"vi_vi03284","_root_":"vi_vi03284","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi03284","parent_ssi":"vi_vi03284","parent_ssim":["vi_vi03284"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vi_vi03284"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"text":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808","1794 Oct., Commonwealth vs. James (free negro):","Found guilty of assault and battery.\n"],"title_filing_ssi":"1794 Oct., Commonwealth vs. James (free negro):  \n","title_ssm":["1794 Oct., Commonwealth vs. James (free negro):"],"title_tesim":["1794 Oct., Commonwealth vs. James (free negro):"],"normalized_title_ssm":["1794 Oct., Commonwealth vs. James (free negro):"],"component_level_isim":[1],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"collection_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"sort_isi":1,"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eFound guilty of assault and battery.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Found guilty of assault and battery.\n"],"_nest_path_":"/components#0","timestamp":"2026-05-21T11:34:33.799Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vi_vi03284","ead_ssi":"vi_vi03284","_root_":"vi_vi03284","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi03284","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/lva/vi03284.xml","title_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"title_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n"],"text":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n","Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808","African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County","6.65 cu. ft. (15 boxes)","There are no restrictions.\n","Chronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n","Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n","The District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n","Additional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult  A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.","Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n","Additional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n","Found guilty of assault and battery.\n","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Adah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n","Cyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Ejectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n","Numerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n","Esther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n"," Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n"," Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n"," Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n","There are no restrictions.\n","Library of Virginia\n","Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) District Court","English\n"],"unitid_tesim":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"collection_title_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"collection_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"creator_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"acqinfo_ssim":["These items came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Accomack County under the accession number 44262.\n"],"access_subjects_ssim":["African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County"],"access_subjects_ssm":["African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["6.65 cu. ft. (15 boxes)"],"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\u003eChronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement\n"],"arrangement_tesim":["Chronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information\n"],"bioghist_tesim":["Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n","The District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n"],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808. Local government records collection, Accomack County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808. Local government records collection, Accomack County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.\n"],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/local/results_all.asp?CountyID=VA001\"\u003eA Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\u003c/extref\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material\n"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult  A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAdditional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFound guilty of assault and battery.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eGeorge sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMajor petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAdah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eCyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEjectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNumerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEsther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n","Additional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n","Found guilty of assault and battery.\n","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Adah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n","Cyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Ejectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n","Numerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n","Esther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n"," Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n"," Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n"," Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\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":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) District Court"],"corpname_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) 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She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves. \u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi03284_c02#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vi_vi03284_c02","ref_ssm":["vi_vi03284_c02"],"id":"vi_vi03284_c02","ead_ssi":"vi_vi03284","_root_":"vi_vi03284","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi03284","parent_ssi":"vi_vi03284","parent_ssim":["vi_vi03284"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vi_vi03284"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"text":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808","1794 Oct., Thomas (slave) vs. Edward Roberts:","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n"],"title_filing_ssi":"1794 Oct., Thomas (slave) vs. Edward Roberts:   \n","title_ssm":["1794 Oct., Thomas (slave) vs. Edward Roberts:"],"title_tesim":["1794 Oct., Thomas (slave) vs. Edward Roberts:"],"normalized_title_ssm":["1794 Oct., Thomas (slave) vs. Edward Roberts:"],"component_level_isim":[1],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"collection_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"sort_isi":2,"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  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District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n"],"text":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n","Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808","African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County","6.65 cu. ft. (15 boxes)","There are no restrictions.\n","Chronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n","Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n","The District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n","Additional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult  A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.","Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n","Additional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n","Found guilty of assault and battery.\n","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Adah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n","Cyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Ejectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n","Numerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n","Esther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n"," Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n"," Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n"," Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n","There are no restrictions.\n","Library of Virginia\n","Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) District Court","English\n"],"unitid_tesim":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"collection_title_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"collection_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"creator_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"acqinfo_ssim":["These items came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Accomack County under the accession number 44262.\n"],"access_subjects_ssim":["African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County"],"access_subjects_ssm":["African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["6.65 cu. ft. (15 boxes)"],"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\u003eChronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement\n"],"arrangement_tesim":["Chronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information\n"],"bioghist_tesim":["Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n","The District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n"],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808. Local government records collection, Accomack County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808. Local government records collection, Accomack County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.\n"],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/local/results_all.asp?CountyID=VA001\"\u003eA Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\u003c/extref\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material\n"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult  A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAdditional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFound guilty of assault and battery.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eGeorge sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMajor petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAdah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eCyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEjectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNumerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEsther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n","Additional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n","Found guilty of assault and battery.\n","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Adah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n","Cyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Ejectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n","Numerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n","Esther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n"," Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n"," Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n"," Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\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":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) District Court"],"corpname_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) District Court"],"language_ssim":["English\n"],"total_component_count_is":14,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-21T11:34:33.799Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi03284_c02"}},{"id":"vi_vi03284_c03","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"1795 May, Mary (slave) vs. Edward Roberts:","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi03284_c03#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment. He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament. She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves. \u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi03284_c03#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vi_vi03284_c03","ref_ssm":["vi_vi03284_c03"],"id":"vi_vi03284_c03","ead_ssi":"vi_vi03284","_root_":"vi_vi03284","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi03284","parent_ssi":"vi_vi03284","parent_ssim":["vi_vi03284"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vi_vi03284"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"text":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808","1795 May, Mary (slave) vs. Edward Roberts:","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n"],"title_filing_ssi":"1795 May, Mary (slave) vs. Edward Roberts:  \n","title_ssm":["1795 May, Mary (slave) vs. Edward Roberts:"],"title_tesim":["1795 May, Mary (slave) vs. Edward Roberts:"],"normalized_title_ssm":["1795 May, Mary (slave) vs. Edward Roberts:"],"component_level_isim":[1],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"collection_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"sort_isi":3,"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n"],"_nest_path_":"/components#2","timestamp":"2026-05-21T11:34:33.799Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vi_vi03284","ead_ssi":"vi_vi03284","_root_":"vi_vi03284","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi03284","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/lva/vi03284.xml","title_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"title_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n"],"text":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n","Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808","African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County","6.65 cu. ft. (15 boxes)","There are no restrictions.\n","Chronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n","Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n","The District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n","Additional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult  A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.","Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n","Additional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n","Found guilty of assault and battery.\n","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Adah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n","Cyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Ejectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n","Numerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n","Esther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n"," Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n"," Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n"," Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n","There are no restrictions.\n","Library of Virginia\n","Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) District Court","English\n"],"unitid_tesim":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"collection_title_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"collection_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"creator_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"acqinfo_ssim":["These items came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Accomack County under the accession number 44262.\n"],"access_subjects_ssim":["African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County"],"access_subjects_ssm":["African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["6.65 cu. ft. (15 boxes)"],"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\u003eChronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement\n"],"arrangement_tesim":["Chronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information\n"],"bioghist_tesim":["Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n","The District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n"],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808. Local government records collection, Accomack County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808. Local government records collection, Accomack County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.\n"],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/local/results_all.asp?CountyID=VA001\"\u003eA Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\u003c/extref\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material\n"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult  A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAdditional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFound guilty of assault and battery.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eGeorge sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMajor petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAdah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eCyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEjectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNumerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEsther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n","Additional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n","Found guilty of assault and battery.\n","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Adah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n","Cyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Ejectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n","Numerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n","Esther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n"," Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n"," Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n"," Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\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":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) District Court"],"corpname_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) 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He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi03284_c04#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vi_vi03284_c04","ref_ssm":["vi_vi03284_c04"],"id":"vi_vi03284_c04","ead_ssi":"vi_vi03284","_root_":"vi_vi03284","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi03284","parent_ssi":"vi_vi03284","parent_ssim":["vi_vi03284"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vi_vi03284"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"text":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808","1796 May, George alias George Cook (slave) vs. John Walker, Jr:","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n"],"title_filing_ssi":"1796 May, George alias George Cook (slave) vs. John Walker, Jr: \n","title_ssm":["1796 May, George alias George Cook (slave) vs. John Walker, Jr:"],"title_tesim":["1796 May, George alias George Cook (slave) vs. John Walker, Jr:"],"normalized_title_ssm":["1796 May, George alias George Cook (slave) vs. John Walker, Jr:"],"component_level_isim":[1],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"collection_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"sort_isi":4,"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eGeorge sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_tesim":["George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  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(15 boxes)","There are no restrictions.\n","Chronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n","Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n","The District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n","Additional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult  A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.","Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n","Additional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n","Found guilty of assault and battery.\n","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Adah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n","Cyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Ejectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n","Numerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n","Esther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n"," Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n"," Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n"," Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n","There are no restrictions.\n","Library of Virginia\n","Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) District Court","English\n"],"unitid_tesim":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"collection_title_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"collection_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"creator_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) 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(15 boxes)"],"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\u003eChronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement\n"],"arrangement_tesim":["Chronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information\n"],"bioghist_tesim":["Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n","The District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n"],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808. Local government records collection, Accomack County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808. Local government records collection, Accomack County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.\n"],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/local/results_all.asp?CountyID=VA001\"\u003eA Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\u003c/extref\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material\n"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult  A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAdditional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFound guilty of assault and battery.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eGeorge sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMajor petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAdah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eCyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEjectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNumerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEsther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n","Additional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n","Found guilty of assault and battery.\n","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Adah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n","Cyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Ejectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n","Numerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n","Esther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n"," Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n"," Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n"," Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\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":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) District Court"],"corpname_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) 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District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"text":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808","1801 May, Major (slave) vs. Anna Maria Andrews:","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n"],"title_filing_ssi":"1801 May, Major (slave) vs. Anna Maria Andrews: \n","title_ssm":["1801 May, Major (slave) vs. Anna Maria Andrews:"],"title_tesim":["1801 May, Major (slave) vs. Anna Maria Andrews:"],"normalized_title_ssm":["1801 May, Major (slave) vs. Anna Maria Andrews:"],"component_level_isim":[1],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"collection_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) 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District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n"],"text":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n","Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808","African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County","6.65 cu. ft. (15 boxes)","There are no restrictions.\n","Chronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n","Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n","The District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n","Additional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult  A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.","Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n","Additional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n","Found guilty of assault and battery.\n","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Adah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n","Cyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Ejectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n","Numerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n","Esther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n"," Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n"," Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n"," Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n","There are no restrictions.\n","Library of Virginia\n","Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) District Court","English\n"],"unitid_tesim":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"collection_title_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"collection_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"creator_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"acqinfo_ssim":["These items came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Accomack County under the accession number 44262.\n"],"access_subjects_ssim":["African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County"],"access_subjects_ssm":["African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["6.65 cu. ft. (15 boxes)"],"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\u003eChronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement\n"],"arrangement_tesim":["Chronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information\n"],"bioghist_tesim":["Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n","The District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n"],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808. Local government records collection, Accomack County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808. Local government records collection, Accomack County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.\n"],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/local/results_all.asp?CountyID=VA001\"\u003eA Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\u003c/extref\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material\n"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult  A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAdditional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFound guilty of assault and battery.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eGeorge sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMajor petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAdah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eCyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEjectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNumerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEsther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n","Additional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n","Found guilty of assault and battery.\n","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Adah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n","Cyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Ejectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n","Numerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n","Esther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n"," Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n"," Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n"," Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\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":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) District Court"],"corpname_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) 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District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"text":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808","1802 May, Commonwealth vs. Adah Beckett (free negro):","Adah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n"],"title_filing_ssi":"1802 May, Commonwealth vs. Adah Beckett (free negro): \n","title_ssm":["1802 May, Commonwealth vs. Adah Beckett (free negro):"],"title_tesim":["1802 May, Commonwealth vs. Adah Beckett (free negro):"],"normalized_title_ssm":["1802 May, Commonwealth vs. Adah Beckett (free negro):"],"component_level_isim":[1],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"collection_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"sort_isi":6,"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Adah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n"],"_nest_path_":"/components#5","timestamp":"2026-05-21T11:34:33.799Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vi_vi03284","ead_ssi":"vi_vi03284","_root_":"vi_vi03284","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi03284","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/lva/vi03284.xml","title_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"title_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n"],"text":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n","Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808","African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County","6.65 cu. ft. (15 boxes)","There are no restrictions.\n","Chronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n","Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n","The District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n","Additional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult  A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.","Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n","Additional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n","Found guilty of assault and battery.\n","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Adah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n","Cyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Ejectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n","Numerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n","Esther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n"," Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n"," Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n"," Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n","There are no restrictions.\n","Library of Virginia\n","Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) District Court","English\n"],"unitid_tesim":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"collection_title_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"collection_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"creator_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"acqinfo_ssim":["These items came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Accomack County under the accession number 44262.\n"],"access_subjects_ssim":["African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County"],"access_subjects_ssm":["African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["6.65 cu. ft. (15 boxes)"],"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\u003eChronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement\n"],"arrangement_tesim":["Chronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information\n"],"bioghist_tesim":["Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n","The District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n"],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808. Local government records collection, Accomack County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808. Local government records collection, Accomack County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.\n"],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/local/results_all.asp?CountyID=VA001\"\u003eA Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\u003c/extref\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material\n"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult  A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAdditional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFound guilty of assault and battery.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eGeorge sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMajor petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAdah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eCyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEjectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNumerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEsther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n","Additional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n","Found guilty of assault and battery.\n","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Adah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n","Cyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Ejectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n","Numerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n","Esther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n"," Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n"," Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n"," Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\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":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) District Court"],"corpname_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) 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One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore. \u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi03284_c08#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vi_vi03284_c08","ref_ssm":["vi_vi03284_c08"],"id":"vi_vi03284_c08","ead_ssi":"vi_vi03284","_root_":"vi_vi03284","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi03284","parent_ssi":"vi_vi03284","parent_ssim":["vi_vi03284"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vi_vi03284"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"text":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808","1802 May, Griffith's lesse vs. Freshwater's heirs:","Ejectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n"],"title_filing_ssi":"1802 May, Griffith's lesse vs. Freshwater's heirs: \n","title_ssm":["1802 May, Griffith's lesse vs. Freshwater's heirs:"],"title_tesim":["1802 May, Griffith's lesse vs. Freshwater's heirs:"],"normalized_title_ssm":["1802 May, Griffith's lesse vs. Freshwater's heirs:"],"component_level_isim":[1],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"collection_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"sort_isi":8,"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eEjectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Ejectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n"],"_nest_path_":"/components#7","timestamp":"2026-05-21T11:34:33.799Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vi_vi03284","ead_ssi":"vi_vi03284","_root_":"vi_vi03284","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi03284","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/lva/vi03284.xml","title_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"title_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n"],"text":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n","Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808","African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County","6.65 cu. ft. (15 boxes)","There are no restrictions.\n","Chronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n","Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n","The District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n","Additional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult  A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.","Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n","Additional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n","Found guilty of assault and battery.\n","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Adah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n","Cyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Ejectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n","Numerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n","Esther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n"," Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n"," Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n"," Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n","There are no restrictions.\n","Library of Virginia\n","Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) District Court","English\n"],"unitid_tesim":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"collection_title_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"collection_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"creator_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"acqinfo_ssim":["These items came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Accomack County under the accession number 44262.\n"],"access_subjects_ssim":["African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County"],"access_subjects_ssm":["African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["6.65 cu. ft. (15 boxes)"],"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\u003eChronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement\n"],"arrangement_tesim":["Chronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information\n"],"bioghist_tesim":["Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n","The District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n"],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808. Local government records collection, Accomack County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808. Local government records collection, Accomack County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.\n"],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/local/results_all.asp?CountyID=VA001\"\u003eA Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\u003c/extref\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material\n"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult  A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAdditional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFound guilty of assault and battery.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eGeorge sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMajor petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAdah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eCyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEjectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNumerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEsther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n","Additional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n","Found guilty of assault and battery.\n","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Adah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n","Cyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Ejectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n","Numerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n","Esther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n"," Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n"," Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n"," Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\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":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) District Court"],"corpname_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) 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District Court Papers, \n1789-1808","African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County","6.65 cu. ft. (15 boxes)","There are no restrictions.\n","Chronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n","Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n","The District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n","Additional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult  A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.","Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n","Additional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n","Found guilty of assault and battery.\n","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Adah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n","Cyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Ejectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n","Numerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n","Esther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n"," Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n"," Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n"," Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n","There are no restrictions.\n","Library of Virginia\n","Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) District Court","English\n"],"unitid_tesim":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"collection_title_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"collection_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"creator_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"acqinfo_ssim":["These items came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Accomack County under the accession number 44262.\n"],"access_subjects_ssim":["African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County"],"access_subjects_ssm":["African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["6.65 cu. ft. (15 boxes)"],"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\u003eChronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement\n"],"arrangement_tesim":["Chronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information\n"],"bioghist_tesim":["Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n","The District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n"],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808. Local government records collection, Accomack County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808. Local government records collection, Accomack County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.\n"],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/local/results_all.asp?CountyID=VA001\"\u003eA Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\u003c/extref\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material\n"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult  A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAdditional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFound guilty of assault and battery.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eGeorge sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMajor petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAdah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eCyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEjectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNumerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEsther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n","Additional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n","Found guilty of assault and battery.\n","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Adah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n","Cyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Ejectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n","Numerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n","Esther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n"," Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n"," Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n"," Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\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":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) District Court"],"corpname_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) District Court"],"language_ssim":["English\n"],"total_component_count_is":14,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-21T11:34:33.799Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi03284_c07"}},{"id":"vi_vi03284_c09","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"1803-1804, Commonwealth Causes vs. multiple slaveowners:","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi03284_c09#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eNumerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people. The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion. \u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi03284_c09#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vi_vi03284_c09","ref_ssm":["vi_vi03284_c09"],"id":"vi_vi03284_c09","ead_ssi":"vi_vi03284","_root_":"vi_vi03284","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi03284","parent_ssi":"vi_vi03284","parent_ssim":["vi_vi03284"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vi_vi03284"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"text":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808","1803-1804, Commonwealth Causes vs. multiple slaveowners:","Numerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n"],"title_filing_ssi":"1803-1804, Commonwealth Causes vs. multiple slaveowners: \n","title_ssm":["1803-1804, Commonwealth Causes vs. multiple slaveowners:"],"title_tesim":["1803-1804, Commonwealth Causes vs. multiple slaveowners:"],"normalized_title_ssm":["1803-1804, Commonwealth Causes vs. multiple slaveowners:"],"component_level_isim":[1],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"collection_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"sort_isi":9,"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eNumerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Numerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n"],"_nest_path_":"/components#8","timestamp":"2026-05-21T11:34:33.799Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vi_vi03284","ead_ssi":"vi_vi03284","_root_":"vi_vi03284","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi03284","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/lva/vi03284.xml","title_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"title_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n"],"text":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n","Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808","African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County","6.65 cu. ft. (15 boxes)","There are no restrictions.\n","Chronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n","Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n","The District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n","Additional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult  A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.","Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n","Additional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n","Found guilty of assault and battery.\n","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Adah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n","Cyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Ejectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n","Numerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n","Esther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n"," Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n"," Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n"," Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n","There are no restrictions.\n","Library of Virginia\n","Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) District Court","English\n"],"unitid_tesim":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"collection_title_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"collection_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"creator_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"acqinfo_ssim":["These items came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Accomack County under the accession number 44262.\n"],"access_subjects_ssim":["African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County"],"access_subjects_ssm":["African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["6.65 cu. ft. (15 boxes)"],"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\u003eChronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement\n"],"arrangement_tesim":["Chronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information\n"],"bioghist_tesim":["Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n","The District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n"],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808. Local government records collection, Accomack County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808. Local government records collection, Accomack County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.\n"],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/local/results_all.asp?CountyID=VA001\"\u003eA Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\u003c/extref\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material\n"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult  A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAdditional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFound guilty of assault and battery.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eGeorge sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMajor petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAdah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eCyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEjectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNumerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEsther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n","Additional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n","Found guilty of assault and battery.\n","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Adah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n","Cyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Ejectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n","Numerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n","Esther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n"," Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n"," Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n"," Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\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":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) District Court"],"corpname_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) 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She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n"],"title_filing_ssi":"1804 Oct, Mary (slave) vs. Robert Andrews: \n","title_ssm":["1804 Oct, Mary (slave) vs. Robert Andrews:"],"title_tesim":["1804 Oct, Mary (slave) vs. Robert Andrews:"],"normalized_title_ssm":["1804 Oct, Mary (slave) vs. Robert Andrews:"],"component_level_isim":[1],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"collection_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"sort_isi":10,"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. 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District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n"],"text":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n","Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808","African Americans -- History","Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Crime -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Debt -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Estates (Law) -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Right of property -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Slaves -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Affidavits -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Deeds -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Decisions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Depositions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Petitions -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Plats -- Virginia -- Accomack County","Wills -- Virginia -- Accomack County","6.65 cu. ft. (15 boxes)","There are no restrictions.\n","Chronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n","Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n","The District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n","Additional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult  A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.","Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n","Additional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n","Found guilty of assault and battery.\n","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Adah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n","Cyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Ejectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n","Numerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n","Esther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n"," Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n"," Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n"," Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n","There are no restrictions.\n","Library of Virginia\n","Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) District Court","English\n"],"unitid_tesim":["1200389-1200397, 1207268-1207269, 1208488-1208490, 0007573136\n"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"collection_title_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"collection_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, \n1789-1808"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"creator_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) 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(15 boxes)"],"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\u003eChronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement\n"],"arrangement_tesim":["Chronological and then alphabetical by surname of plaintiff within each month.\n"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information\n"],"bioghist_tesim":["Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n","The District Court for Accomack and Northampton counties met in the county courthouse of Accomack County.\n"],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808. Local government records collection, Accomack County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808. Local government records collection, Accomack County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.\n"],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/local/results_all.asp?CountyID=VA001\"\u003eA Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\u003c/extref\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material\n"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Accomack County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult  A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAdditional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFound guilty of assault and battery.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eGeorge sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMajor petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAdah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eCyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEjectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNumerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eEsther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Papers, 1789-1808, consist of civil suits and commonwealth causes that were heard in the District Court of Accomack and Northampton Counties. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. Documents commonly found in civil suits include declarations or narratios that explain the plaintiff's complaint, executions, affidavits, and depositions. Suits may include exhibits such as wills, plats, deeds, indentures, estate inventories, and business records. Names of slaves are commonly found in the District Court papers. Additional types of suits heard by the District Court include land ejectment suits and petitions for freedom made by slaves.\n","Additional records filed with the District Court papers include witness attendance payments, commonwealth claims, subpoenas, summons, judges' appointments, jury records, and copies of deeds, wills, and bonds recorded in the District Court. Also filed with the District Court papers was a copy of suit heard in the Adimiralty Court held in Williamburg, Virginia, in 1783 titled Berry Floyd and others versus Brigantine Sampson and others.\n","Found guilty of assault and battery.\n","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Adah Beckett was found guilty of murder.  \n","Cyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Ejectment suit that includes several plats.  One is an oversize plat that is a survey of large amount of property found on the seaboard side of the Eastern Shore.\n","Numerous criminal suits involving multiple slaveowners on the Eastern Shore who were indicted for allowing their slaves to go at large and hire themselves out as free people.  The time frame for these suits occured shortly after Gabriel's rebellion.    \n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans. A depostion given by Mary Buck from a freedom suit titled Annis versus Caleb Bradford heard in the District Court of Williamsburg in 1802 was filed as an exhibit in the suit.\n","Esther Collins was found guilty of assault and battery against a slave. \n"," Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n"," Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n"," Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\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":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) District Court"],"corpname_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court","Accomack County (Va.) 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