Henry County (Va.) Commonwealth Causes, 1856-1859

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:
Henry County (Va.) Circuit Court.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Henry County (Va.) Commonwealth Causes, 1856-1859, consist of five commonwealth causes against slaves and a free negro for crimes including assault with the intent to maim, malicious stabbing, aid and abet a poisoning, and rape. All of the suits include extensive testimony and some deponents are slaves.

Biographical / historical:

Henry County was named for Patrick Henry, revolutionary leader and the first governor of the commonwealth of Virginia. It was formed from Pittsylvania County in 1776.

Courts of Oyer and Terminer (hear and determine) are English in origin. In Virginia, they were convened to try slaves who committed capital offenses, persons accused of committing capital offenses at sea, and other special situations concerning capital offenses. The law establishing the oyer and terminer commission in Virginia has its origins in an act of assembly passed in April 1692 and amended several times in the decades afterwards. The law detailed the procedure for a slave brought to trial for a capital offense. A slave was denied the right to a jury trial that white men and women had.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in transfers of court papers from Henry County.
Arrangement:

Chronological by end date.

Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
.15 cu. ft. (1 box)