Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Chancery Causes 1818-1932, use digital images found on the Chancery Records Index available electronically at the website of the Library of Virginia.

Chancery Causes, 1933-1968 are indexed but not digitally scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Nottoway   County   (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1818-1968 (bulk 1900-1952). (Cite style of suit and chancery index no.). Local government records collection, Nottoway   County   Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, 23219.

Acquisition Information

These records came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of papers from the Nottoway   Circuit Court under an undated accession.

Processing Information

Chancery Causes were processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2006.

Digital images were generated in 2009 by Crowley Micrographics through the Library of Virginia's Circuit Court Records Preservation Program.

Chancery Causes 1933-1968 are indexed but not digitally scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.

Post-1932 records were previously described under the title Nottoway   County   (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1933-1968. Records now described together.

Encoded by G. Crawford: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: December 2023.

Historical Information

Context for Record Type: Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are "administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law." A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories.

Locality History: Nottoway   County   was named for the Nottoway   River or for the Nottoway   Indian tribe. The county   was formed from Amelia County   by a statue adopted on 22 December 1788 to take effect 1 May 1789. The county   seat is Nottoway  .

Lost Locality Notes: Many records were destroyed or heavily mutilated in 1865 by Union troops during the Civil War. A few volumes that record deeds, court orders, and wills exist.

Scope and Content

Nottoway   County   (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1818-1968 consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county   and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics.

Index numbers 1111-001 through 1111-003 originated in Chancery Courts outside of Nottoway   County   and were historically filed and retained in the Nottoway   Circuit Court incorrectly. The records have now been interfiled with the the correct locality. See also: Amelia County   Chancery Cause 1919-002, Dinwiddie County   Chancery Cause 1906-028, and Dinwiddie County   Chancery Cause 1931-029.

Arrangement

Organized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.

Arrangement of documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)

Related Material

Additional Nottoway   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."

Nottoway   County   is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Nottoway   County   Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available at Virginia Memory.

See also: "A Guide to the Nottoway   County   (Va.) John Mitchell, Jr. Campaign Button, undated." The button was used as a fastener in the Highland County   Chancery Cause 1937-001: T.P. Jones, Admr. and Admr. of Annie Jeaneatta Jackson etc. vs. Admr. of James F. Jackson etc.

Additional unindexed post-1913 records may be available at the Circuit Court Clerk's Office. Contact the county clerk for access.

Adjunct Descriptive Data