Administrative Information

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Use Restrictions

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Preferred Citation

Sussex County (Va.) Commission of Oyer and Terminer for the Trial of Sinner, a Negro Slave, Sussex County, 1754 May 22, Local government records collection, Sussex County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

This item came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer from Sussex County (Va.) Circuit Court when the original document was loaned for conservation.

Historical Information

Sussex County was named for the English county, and was formed from Surry County in 1753.

In 1748 the General Assembly passed "An Act directing the Trial of Slaves committing Capital Crimes, and for the more effectual Punishing Conspiracies and Insurrections of, and for the better Government of, Negroes, Mulattoes, and Indians, Bond or Free."

Scope and Content

Sussex County (Va.) Commission of Oyer and Terminer for the Trial of Sinner, a Negro Slave, Sussex County, 1754 May 22. The document provides for the establishment of a commission to try a slave accused of murder. The slave was the property of John Leath of Sussex County. He was accused of insurrection and plotting and conspiring the murder of Robin, a slave owned by John Smith of Sussex County.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Sussex County (Va.) Circuit Court.
• Sussex County (Va.) Court of Oyer and Terminer.

Subjects:

• African Americans--Virginia--Sussex County.
• Crime--Virginia--Sussex County.
• Plantation owners--Virginia--Sussex County.
• Slaveholders--Virginia--Sussex County.
• Slavery--Law and legislation--Virginia--Sussex County.
• Slavery--Virginia--Sussex County.

Geographical Names:

• Sussex County (Va.)--History--18th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Commissions--Virginia--Sussex County.
• Judicial records --Virginia--Sussex County.
• Local government records--Virginia--Sussex County.