Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Petersburg (Va.) Minute Books, 1781-1874. Local government records collection, Petersburg Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers and under accession number 52919 from Petersburg.

Historical Information

Petersburg was formed from parts of Dinwiddie, Prince George, and Chesterfield Counties. A garrison and fur-trading post called Fort Henry was established there in 1645 on the site of the Indian village Appamattuck. The present name, suggested in 1733 by William Byrd II, honors Peters Jones, Byrd's companion on expeditions into the Virginia backcountry. Petersburg was established in 1747 and incorporated as a town in 1784. In the latter year the towns of Blandford, Pocahontas, and Ravenscroft were added to Petersburg. It was incorporated as a city in 1850. Petersburg was enlarged by annexation from both Prince George and Dinwiddie Counties in 1972.

Scope and Content

Petersburg (Va.) Minute Books, 1781-1874, record all matters brought before the court on a daily basis when it was in session including but not limited to: civil and criminal suits, appointments of county officers, appointments of guardians and administrators, deed recordings, free negro registrations, naturalization registrations, and court fees. Clerks would transfer information from minute books to appropriate order book, deed book, fiduciary book, free negro register, etc. Collection includes minute books from Hustings Court.

Several volumes also record manumissions, courts of oyer and terminer and other called courts involving free or enslaved African Americans. Criminal cases often include detailed depositions. Entries regarding naturalizations or declarations of intent are often detailed.

Arrangement

Chronological by entry date.

Related Material

Petersburg (Va.) records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm .

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Petersburg (Va.) Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• Public records--Virginia--Petersburg.

Geographical Names:

• Petersburg (Va.)--History.

Genre and Form Terms:

• African Americans--Virginia--Petersburg.
• Free African Americans--Virginia--Petersburg.
• Judicial records--Virginia--Petersburg.
• Local government records--Virginia--Petersburg.
• Minute books--Virginia--Petersburg.
• Slaves--Emancipation--Virginia--Petersburg.

Adjunct Descriptive Data