Pittsylvania County (Va.) Processioner's Records, 1796-1812

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:

Pittsylvania County (Va.) Processioner's Records, 1796-1812. Local government records collection, Pittsylvania County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Summary

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

Pittsylvania County (Va.) Processioner's Records, 1796-1812. Local government records collection, Pittsylvania County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Pittsylvania County (Va.) Processioner's Records, 1796-1812 typically record an area of land processioned with geographical landmarks, roads, property lines noted, the names of the persons present, the date(s) when the processioning occurred, the names of the processioners, and the date that the return was recorded by the local court.

Biographical / historical:

Pittsylvania County was named in honor of William Pitt, first earl of Chatham, the English statesman. It was formed from Halifax County in 1766. The county court first met on 26 June 1767. The county seat is Chatham.

Two freeholders were appointed on order of the county court to procession or review the bounds of farms or tracts of land in each precinct in order to renew or replace old landmarks. This was originally a function of the church vestry, but was continued by the court after disestablishment. Persons who walked the boundaries were called processioners.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Pittsylvania County.
Arrangement:

Chronological.

Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
1 v.