Amherst County (Va.) Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery Records, 1831-1849

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:

Amherst County (Va.) Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery Records, 1831-1849. Local government records collection, Amherst County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Summary

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

Amherst County (Va.) Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery Records, 1831-1849. Local government records collection, Amherst County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Amherst County (Va.) Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery Records, 1831-1849, consist of 1 Issue Docket, 1 Witness Attendance Book, 1 Clerk's Memorandum Book, 1 Minute Book, 1 Common Law Minute Book, 1 Law Docket (No. 4) and 2 Chancery Dockets (Nos. 1 and 2.)

An issue docket is the record of issuance, showing parties' names, actions, and remarks.

A memorandum book is used for notations of entries to be made in other books.

A minute book contains the clerk's rough notes of court proceedings.

A docket is a brief formal rocord of proceedings in a court of justice; an entry of all acts in the conduct of a case, from inception to conclusion.

Biographical / historical:

Amherst County was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770. The county is named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the later part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759-1768.

The organization of these courts was similar to that of the superior courts of law, in that sessions were held twice yearly in each county and their records were filed with those of the county court. These new courts assumed the functions of both the superior courts of law and the superior courts of chancery, both of which were abolished in 1831. These courts were abolished by the constitution of 1851, and were replaced by circuit courts.

Acquisition information:
These volumes came to the Library of Virginia in a shipment of court records from Amherst County.
Physical location:
State Records Center - Archives Annex, Library of Virginia
Physical description:
8 v.