Sussex County (Va.) Justice of the Peace Records, 1916-1920

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.) Justice of the Peace Records, 1916-1920, 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.) Justice of the Peace Records, 1916-1920, Local government records collection, Sussex County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Sussex County (Va.) Justice of the Peace Records, 1916-1920, consist of a Judgment and Execution Book.

Biographical / historical:

Sussex County was named for the English county, and was formed from Surry County by a statute adopted in 1753. The county court first met on 30 May 1754. The county seat is Sussex.

First known as commissions, the Justice of the Peace office originated with the county quarterly court in 1623. Commanders of Plantations (1607-1629) were predecessors of the commissioners, who since 1662 have been called justices of the peace. They have traditionally had both civil and criminal jurisdiction, and have served other functions, including performing coroners' and lunacy inquisitions. Until 1869 justices served both as judges of the county court and as individual justices; since then they have had only the latter function.

Acquisition information:
This item came to the Library of Virginia in a shipment of court papers from Sussex County.
Physical location:
State Records Center - Archives Annex, Library of Virginia
Physical description:
1 v.