Sussex County (Va.) Commission of Oyer and Terminer for the Trial of Sinner, a Negro Slave, Sussex County, 1754 May 22

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Sussex County (Va.) Commission of Oyer and Terminer for the Trial of Sinner, a Negro Slave, Sussex County, 1754 May 22, Local government records collection, Sussex County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Summary

Creator:
Sussex County (Va.) Circuit Court.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Sussex County (Va.) Commission of Oyer and Terminer for the Trial of Sinner, a Negro Slave, Sussex County, 1754 May 22, Local government records collection, Sussex County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Sussex County (Va.) Commission of Oyer and Terminer for the Trial of Sinner, a Negro Slave, Sussex County, 1754 May 22. The document provides for the establishment of a commission to try a slave accused of murder. The slave was the property of John Leath of Sussex County. He was accused of insurrection and plotting and conspiring the murder of Robin, a slave owned by John Smith of Sussex County.

Biographical / historical:

Sussex County was named for the English county, and was formed from Surry County in 1753.

In 1748 the General Assembly passed "An Act directing the Trial of Slaves committing Capital Crimes, and for the more effectual Punishing Conspiracies and Insurrections of, and for the better Government of, Negroes, Mulattoes, and Indians, Bond or Free."

Acquisition information:
This item came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer from Sussex County (Va.) Circuit Court when the original document was loaned for conservation.
Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
2 photostats (negative)