Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Sussex County (Va.) Sheriff Records, 1807-1916, Local government records collection, Sussex County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in a shipment of court papers from Sussex County. Portions of the collection were transferred under the accession number 23477.

Historical Information

Sussex County was named for the English county, and was formed from Surry County by a statute adopted in 1753. The county court first met on 30 May 1754. The county seat is Sussex.

Sheriffs appeared in Virginia when the original shires were formed in 1634. They originally had three functions: law enforcement, conduct of elections, and financial officer. The sheriff's duties have been curtailed over the years, but he is still the major law enforcing agent in a county.

Scope and Content

Sussex County (Va.) Sheriff Records, 1807-1916, consist of Sheriff's Returns of Poll Tax Lists and a Sheriff Tax Book.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Sussex County (Va.) Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• Public records--Virginia--Sussex County.

Genre and Form Terms:

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