Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Amherst County (Va.) County Court Records, 1771-1904. Local government records collection, Amherst County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

These records came to the Library of Virginia in a shipment of court records from Amherst County.

Historical Information

Amherst County was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770. The county is named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the later part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759-1768.

Scope and Content

Amherst County (Va.) County Court Records, 1771-1904, consist of 13 Execution Books, 2 Chancery Rules Books, 1 Court Docket, 1 Account Book, 2 Law Process Books, 51 Fee Books, 8 Memorandum Books, 3 Law Memorandum Books, 2 Law Rules Books, 3 Process Books, 1 Witness Attendance Book, 2 Rule Dockets, 1 Order Book and one box of Executions.

Execution Books list executions sued out or pending in the sheriff's office. It shows notices of process, names of all parties, amount of judgment, date of execution, return date and sheriff's return.

Rule Books deal with orders or directions made by a court regulating court practices or the actions of parties. Rules may also refer to a session of the court.

A Docket is a brief formal record of proceedings in a court of justice; an entry of all acts in the conduct of a case, from inception to conclusion.

A Process Book describes any means used by the court of acquire or exercise jurisdiction over a person or a specific property.

A Fee Book is a volume showing the date of a duty performed by the clerk, the name of the person paying the fees, and the amount. It includes fees charged attorneys, cash accounts, and the clerk's fees in common law and chancery suits.

A Memorandum Book is used for notations of entries to be made in other books.

An Order Book is the formal, corrected transcription of the clerk's notes of the proceedings of court.

Related Material

Additional Amherst 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:

• Amherst County (Va.) Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• Public records--Virginia--Amherst County.

Geographical Names:

• Amherst County (Va.)--History.

Genre and Form Terms:

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

Added Entry - Corporate Name:

• Amherst County (Va.) County Court.

Adjunct Descriptive Data