A Guide to the Brunswick County (Va.) Stay Law Petitions, 1866-1869 )Brunswick County (Va.) Stay Law Petitions, 1866-1869 0007445712

A Guide to the Brunswick County (Va.) Stay Law Petitions, 1866-1869

A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Barcode number 0007445712


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Processed by: Laura Crouch

Repository
The Library of Virginia
Barcode number:
0007445712
Title
Brunswick County (Va.) Stay Law Petitions, 1866-1869
Physical Characteristics
0.20 cu. ft.
Collector
Brunswick 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

Brunswick County (Va.) Stay Law Petitions, 1866-1869. Local government records collection, Brunswick County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Brunswick County.

Historical Information

Brunswick County was named for the duchy of Brunswick-Luneburg, one of the German possessions of King George I. It was formed by statute in 1720 from Prince George County and on 31 October 1723 the boundaries of the county were ordered to be laid out, but, because of the sparse population, the county court first met in June 1732. Brunswick County was enlarged by the addition of parts of Surry and Isle of Wight Counties in 1733. The county seat is Lawrenceville.

An Act to stay the collection of debts for a limited period, or Stay Law, was passed by the General Assembly of Virginia on March 2, 1866. It was passed in response to the loss and destruction of property during the Civil War. A large proportion of people's wealth was greatly diminished during the war making it difficult to repay creditors. The Stay Law halted all court proceedings that involved the collection of debt. The General Assembly made an exception for minors, widows, unmarried women, and insane persons whose support was dependendant on the interest on or or principal of any debt. They had to petition a commissioner in chancery who would examine their case and present his report to the local court for approval.

Scope and Content

Brunswick County (Va.) Stay Law Petitions, 1866-1869, are petitions of minors, widows, and unmarried women seeking the court's permission to exempt them from the Stay Law so that they can collect the interest on or principal of debt owed to them. Information recorded in the petition include the names of the individuals filing the petition, their status (minor, widow, etc.), and the names of debtors. Some petitions include the names of Confederate servicemen who died during the Civil War and related to the petitioners. Additional records filed with the petitions in the commissioner in chancery's report, the court's decision, and exhibits.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Index Terms

    Corporate Names:

  • Brunswick County (Va.) Circuit Court.
  • Subjects:

  • Debt -- Virginia -- Brunswick County.
  • War widows -- Virginia -- Brunswick County.
  • Women -- Virginia -- Brunswick County.
  • Geographical Names:

  • Brunswick County (Va.) -- History -- 19th century.
  • Genre and Form Terms:

  • Local government records -- Virginia -- Brunswick County.
  • Petitions -- Virginia -- Brunswick County.

Significant Places Associated With the Collection

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