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Arlington County (Va.) Judgments and Criminal Suits, 1783-1896 (bulk 1786-1859). Local government records collection, Arlington County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219
These items came to the Library of Virginia in transfers of court papers from Arlington County.
Arlington County was originally named Alexandria County. It was formed from a portion of Fairfax County that Virginia in 1789 ceded to the federal government for use as the site of a new national capital. In 1801 the area officially became part of the District of Columbia, although Congress named it Alexandria County. By an act of 9 July 1846, Congress returned the county to Virginia, and the General Assembly extended the commonwealth's jurisdiction over the region effective 20 March 1847. By an act of assembly passed 16 March 1920, the county's name was changed to Arlington, the name of the Custis family mansion (the home of Robert E. Lee), which is located in the county. An urban county, Arlington contains no incorporated towns or cities. The county courthouse is in the county.
Arlington County (Va.) Judgments and Criminal Suits, 1783-1896 (bulk 1786-1859), consist primarily of civil suits and commonwealth causes heard in the Hustings Court of Alexandria and the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia. The majority of civil suits relate to matters of debt.
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Additional Mathews County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm .
To recover the penalty imposed by law for carrying a slave out of the Commonwealth of Virginia without consent of owner. Runaway slave named Charles. Depositions included.
Involves Spanish piracy.
Goods lost due to hurricane in Jamaica. New York newspaper used as exhibit.
Suit related to construction of a Roman Catholic Church building in Alexandria.
Ship captured by British man of war. One sailor impressed. Goods seized.
Ship captured by British man of war. Ship and goods sold by British
Defendant was a former slave who borrowed money from plaintiff to pay for his freedom.
Ship captured by British man of war and French privateer.
Short was minister to Holland, Spain, and Russia. Includes correspondence re: international political environment. He was close to Thomas Jefferson. Cutting was an attorney for impressed American seaman in London. Also associated with Jefferson.
Ship captured by British man of war and French privateer.
Ship captured by British man of war and French privateer.
Involves Spanish piracy.
(Writ of Habeas Corpus) Duffy was arrested and jailed for attempting to murder members of his family. He was accused of putting ratsbane in a kettle of boiling water for tea to be drank at supper.
Ship damaged by weather.
Ship damaged by weather.
Involves runaway slave.
Involves runaway slave.
Insurance policies includes drawings of buildings owned by Fairfax including slave quarters.
Defendant accused of beating plaintiff's slave whereby he lost his services.
suit involves gunpowder factory and Navy Department.
Defendant accused of beating plaintiff's slave whereby he lost his services.
Defendant accused of beating plaintiff's slave.
Involves runaway slave.
County jail declared to be a nuisance.
Ship captured by British man of war.
Involves runaway slave. Defendant (a shipmaster) removed slave from Washington D.C. without plaintiff's permission. Includes correspondence from slave.
Involves runaway slaves who were married.
Defendant accused of beating plaintiff's slave whereby he lost his services.
Involves runaway slave named Jane or Jane Williams. Relates to a freedom suit, Jane vs. Richard Love.
Involves runaway slave named Davey Payne. He served on ship commanded by Smith. Includes correspondence.
Plaintiffs were sailors who served under Freeman. They sued for their pay.
Suit involves lottery for improving navigation of Potomac and Shenandoah rivers.
Defendant was a free black. Charged and found guilty of seducing a slave named Fielder by means of false papers to abscond from the estate of his master, Bushrod Washington. He attempted to pass off Fielder as his nephew.
Defendant was charged with attempted to destroy her infant child.
Plaintiff was a free person of color. He sued the defendant, a sea captain, for taking off the plaintiff's son, a minor aged 20, without his consent and having him in another state, or in this case, the West Indies. Plaintiff sued for loss income ($2000) he would have made from his son's employment as a caulker. The jury awarded him $45 depending on the judge's opinion. The judge sided with the defendant.
Defendant accused of obstructing the plaintiff's ancient lights.
Large suit involving ship sank in Rio Janeiro. Numerous exhibits and depositions. Mutiny perhaps involved.
Plaintiff suing for the $100,000 he won in a national lottery sponsored by city of Washington, D.C. Winning ticket used as exhibit. Background on lottery. Case heard in Supreme Court.
Large suit involving ship sank by bad weather, perhaps a hurricane. Numerous exhibits and depositions. Newspaper used as exhibit by plaintiff. American Beacon, 1825 June 18.
Plaintiff was treasurer of Washington National Monument Society. Suit involves an agent of society responsible with collecting pledges for the Washington Monument in Alabama. Suit includes correspondence from agent detailing his travels and travails in Alabama.
Includes Presidential pardon signed by Martin Van Buren.