Albemarle County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1782-1832
- Creator
- Albemarle County (Va.) Circuit Court
- Abstract Or Scope
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Albemarle County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1782-1832, consist of suits initiated in the District Court and County Court by enslaved people seeking to gain their freedom on the law side of the court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of enslaved people and emnslavers found in suit as well as whether enslaved people won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include enslaved persons' argument for freedom, acquisition of enslaved by enslavers, ancestry of enslaved people, and relationship between enslaved and enslavers.
- Collection Context