Washington County (Va.) Commissioners' Report, 1859 Dec. 14

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

Summary

Creator:
Washington County (Va.) Circuit Court
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Washington County (Va.) Commissioners' Report, 1858 Dec. 14. This document is a commissioners' report from an unidentified Washington County chancery cause. It contains the court-appointed commissioners' valuation of the slaves in the estate of James E. Sathim and their recommendation for the division of this property among Sathim's heirs.

Biographical / historical:

Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are "administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law." A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case.

Washington County is the first locality in the United States known to have been named for George Washington. It was formed from Fincastle County in 1776, and a part of Montgomery County was added later.

Created by an act of 1776. Court first met on January 18, 1777. Minute books for the periods 1787–1819 and 1821–1837 and many loose papers were lost on December 15, 1864, when the courthouse was burned during Stoneman’s Raid. The fire was set by Union captain James B. Wyatt of the 13th Tennessee Cavalry. Wyatt, who was raised in Washington County, sought revenge for what he claimed was a wrong done against him by a county court judge before the war.

Acquisition information:
This item came to the Library of Virginia in 2007 under accession number 43477.
Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
1 p.