Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia© 2013 By The Library of Virginia. All Rights Reserved.
Processed by: Library of Virginia staff
There are no restrictions.
There are no restrictions.
Amherst County (Va.) Superior Court of Law Records, 1807-1831. Local government records collection, Amherst County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.
These volumes came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court records from Amherst County.
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.
The Superior Courts of Law were officially created in 1808. These courts replaced the old district courts. The Circuit Superior Courts of Law and Chancery, established in 1831, replaced these courts.
Amherst County (Va.) Superior Court of Law Records, 1807-1831, are comprised of 1 Docket Book, 2 Fee Books, 2 Issue Dockets, 1 Memorandum Book, 1 Minute Book and 1 volume of Office Judgments.
After the end of any court rule, if required notice had been given and the defendant failed to appear, judgments by default and nonsuits were signed by the clerk in his office, as of the preceding court. Office judgments were final in actions of debt, and the defendant was obligated to pay the amount of the debt, interest on the amount of the debt, and court costs. The term is sometimes used in reference to the clerk's recovery of court costs.
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.