A Guide to the Campbell County (Va.) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1821-1910 Campbell County (Va.) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1821-1910 0007332024

A Guide to the Campbell County (Va.) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1821-1910

A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Barcode number: 0007332024


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© 2012 By The Library of Virginia. All Rights Reserved.

Processed by: Ed Jordan

Repository
The Library of Virginia
Barcode numbers
0007332024
Title
Campbell County (Va.) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1821-1910
Physical Characteristics
.35 cu. ft. (1 box)
Collector
Campbell County (Va.) Circuit Court
Location
Library of Virginia
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Campbell County (Va.) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1821-1910. Local government records collection, Campbell County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA 23219.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court records from Campbell County.

Historical Information

Campbell County was named for William Campbell, a general in the militia during the Revolutionary War and one of the heroes of the Battle of Kings Mountain in 1780. The county was formed from Bedford County by an act passed on 15 December 1781. The county court first met on 7 February 1782.

The separate office of coroner appeared in Virginia about 1660. The judicial duty of the office is to hold inquisitions in cases when persons meet sudden, violent, unnatural or suspicious death, or death without medical attendance. The coroner would summon a jury to assist him in determining cause of death. Prior to November 1877, the jurors numbered twelve. Between November 1877 and March 1926, the jurors numbered six. The jury viewed the body of the deceased and heard the testimony of witnesses. The coroner was required to write down witness testimony. After seeing and hearing the evidence, the jury delivered in writing to the coroner their conclusion concerning cause of death referred to as the inquisition. After March 1926, only the coroner determined cause of death. He could require physicians to assist him with determing cause of death. If a criminal act was determined to be the cause of death, the coroner was to deliver the guilty person to the sheriff and the coroners' inquests would be used as evidence in the criminal trial.

Scope and Content

Campbell County (Va) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1821-1910, are investigations into the deaths of individuals who died by a sudden, violent, unnatural or suspicious manner, or died without medical attendance. Causes of death found in coroners' inquisitions include murder, infanticide, suicide, domestic violence, exposure to elements, drownings, train accidents, automobile accidents, and natural causes, or as commonly referred to in the 19th century, visitation by God. Documents commonly found in coroners' inquests include the inquisition, depositions, and summons. Criminal papers such as recognizance bonds can be found in coroner inquisitions. Information found in the inquisition include the name of the coroner, the names of the jurors, the name and age of the deceased if known, gender and race of the deceased, and when, how, and by what means the deceased came to his or her death. If the deceased was African American, the inquest would identify the deceased as a slave or free person if known. If the deceased was a slave, the inquest would include, if known, the name of the slaveowner and the slaveowner's residence. Information found in the depositions include the name of the deponent and his or her account of the circumstances that led to the death of the deceased.

Arrangement

Chronological by date coroner filed inquisition in the court.

Index Terms


Significant Places Associated With the Collection

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Selected Coroners' Inquisitions of Interest

1821 September 8, Death of Peter (a slave):

Died after a tree limb fell on him.

1860 December 15, Death of an William Martin:

Died from cold. Martin was intoxicated and lying out in the cold and consequently froze to death.