Amherst County (Va.) County Court Records, 1771-1904

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.) County Court Records, 1771-1904. 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.) County Court Records, 1771-1904. Local government records collection, Amherst County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Amherst County (Va.) County Court Records, 1771-1904, consist of 13 Execution Books, 2 Chancery Rules Books, 1 Court Docket, 1 Account Book, 2 Law Process Books, 51 Fee Books, 8 Memorandum Books, 3 Law Memorandum Books, 2 Law Rules Books, 3 Process Books, 1 Witness Attendance Book, 2 Rule Dockets, 1 Order Book and one box of Executions.

Execution Books list executions sued out or pending in the sheriff's office. It shows notices of process, names of all parties, amount of judgment, date of execution, return date and sheriff's return.

Rule Books deal with orders or directions made by a court regulating court practices or the actions of parties. Rules may also refer to a session of the court.

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

A Process Book describes any means used by the court of acquire or exercise jurisdiction over a person or a specific property.

A Fee Book is a volume showing the date of a duty performed by the clerk, the name of the person paying the fees, and the amount. It includes fees charged attorneys, cash accounts, and the clerk's fees in common law and chancery suits.

A Memorandum Book is used for notations of entries to be made in other books.

An Order Book is the formal, corrected transcription of the clerk's notes of the proceedings of court.

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.

Acquisition information:
These records 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:
93 v.; 1 box