Petersburg (Va.) Board of Exemption Minutes, 1862-1863

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:
Petersburg (Va.) Circuit Court.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Petersburg (Va.) Board of Exemption Minutes, 1862-1863, consist mainly of lists of persons who applied to be exempt from military service. Names of the persons applying are given; the reason given for the exemption (mainly disease, injury, or occupation); and the board's decision on the petition for exemption. Arrangement is by date of meeting. Accompanying each meeting is a list of the present board members. There is no index.

Biographical / historical:

Petersburg was formed from parts of Dinwiddie, Prince George, and Chesterfield Counties. A garrison and fur trading post called Fort Henry was established there in 1645 on the site of the Indian town Appamattuck. The present name, suggested in 1733 by William Byrd (1674-1744), honors Peter Jones, Byrd's companion on expeditions into the Virginia backcountry. Petersburg was established in 1748 and incorporated as a town in 1784. In the latter year the towns of Blandford, Pocahontas, and Ravenscroft were added to Petersburg. It was incorporated as a city in 1850.

In accordance with an act passed by the General Assembly 1862 Feb. 18 and amended 1862 Oct. 1 providing a mode of exemption from military service, the county and corporation courts were directed to appoint a Board of Exemption. The board was charged with deciding all claims for military exemptions brought before it, "carefully and rigidly conforming to all the provisions of the Act of Assembly." On 1863 Feb. 13, the Governor issued an order directing that where no board had been appointed, the presiding justice of each county and corporation court, together with the two senior justices, constitute the board.

Acquisition information:
This item was came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer from Petersburg Circuit Court under the accession number 52919.
Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
1 v.