Essex County (Va.) Court Records, 1765-1888

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

Background

Scope and content:

Essex County (Va.) Court Records are comprised of the following: Unprocessed Executions, 1765-1846; a Chancery Rule Docket, 1831-1888 and a Chancery Docket, Vol. 2, 1848-1862.

A chancery docket is a brief formal record of proceedings in a court of judicial equity; an entry of all acts in the conduct of a case, from inception to conclusion. A chancery rule docket deals with the orders or directions made by a chancery court regulating court practices or the actions of parties; also deals with those sessions of court. An execution is a court order directing a sheriff or other officer to enforce a judgment, usually seizing and selling the judgment debtor's property.

Biographical / historical:

Essex County was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692. The county was probably named for the English county or perhaps for Algernon Capell, second earl of Essex.

These volumes were originally created by the County, Superior Court of Law, Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery and Circuit Courts.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court records from Essex County.
Physical location:
State Records Center - Archives Annex, Library of Virginia
Physical description:
2 v.; 1 record center box (1 cu. ft.) (Box 1130779 is found at the Library of Virginia.)