Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Essex County (Va.) Superior Court of Law Records, 1809-1831. Local government records collection, Essex County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Acquisition Information

These volumes came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court records from Essex County.

Historical Information

Essex County was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692. The county was probably named for the English county or perhaps for Algernon Capell, second earl of Essex.

The Superior Court of Law was created in 1808, and met biannually in each county. A General Court judge rode a circuit throughout his district, and court records were filed with those of the county courts where the court met. This court was abolished in 1831 along with the Superior Court of Chancery and replaced with the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery.

Scope and Content

Essex County (Va.) Superior Court of Law Records consist of two volumes: Rule Book, 1809-1831 and Order Book, 1825-1831.

A rule book records the orders or directions made by a court regulating court practices or the actions of parties. An order book is the formal, corrected transcript of the clerk's notes of the proceedings of court.

Related Material

Additional Essex County Records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm" found on the Library of Virginia's web site.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Essex County (Va.) Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• Public records--Virginia--Essex County.

Geographical Names:

• Essex County (Va.)--History--19th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

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

Added Entry - Corporate Name:

• Essex County (Va.) Superior Court of Law.

Adjunct Descriptive Data