Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Brunswick County (Va.) Judgments, 1782-1971 (bulk 1782-1944). Local Government Records Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

These items came in a transfer of court papers from Brunswick County.

Historical Information

Brunswick County was formed from Prince George County in 1720, but, because of the sparse population, county government was not organized until 1732. In the latter part of 1732, Brunswick County was enlarged by the addition of parts of Surry and Isle of Wight Counties.

The County Court was the original colonial court of adjudication and recordation, and it was the principal tribunal for the administration of local justice. The individual justices could act on small claims matters as well as criminal matters where imminent bodily harm was a possibility, there being an appeal to the full County Court, which met monthly. This court ceased to exist in 1904 and the recordation function was transferred to the circuit court.

The Superior Court of Law was created in 1808. It met twice a year in each county, presided over by a circuit-riding General Court judge. Records were filed with the County Court. It had civil and criminal jurisdiction. The court ceased to exist in 1831.

The Circuit Superior Courts of Law and Chancery, established in 1831, were the upper courts on the local level. Sessions were held twice a year in each county, presided over by a General Court judge. The counties were grouped into districts for the convenience of the judge. The court ceased to exist in 1851.

The Circuit   Court was authorized by the Constitution   of 1851 and established by an act of the   General Assembly passed in May 1852. Courts were held twice yearly in each county  , presided over by 21 judges who rode circuits in the area   of their   jurisdiction  . The records were filed with County Court records. These courts were granted original jurisdiction concurrrent with that of the County Courts, as well as appellate jurisdiction in all civil cases of more than fifty dollars and criminal cases not "expressly cognizable in some other court," including those involving loss of life.

Created in   1761. Records were destroyed by fire in 1869

Scope and Content

Brunswick County (Va.) Judgments, 1782-1971 (bulk 1782-1944), contain civil suits and criminal suits, or also known as commonwealth causes, heard in County Court, Superior Court of Law, Circuit Superior Court, and Circuit Court. The majority of civil suits in this collection relate to matters of debt.

Arrangement

Chronological