A Guide to the Henry County (Va.) Judgments, 1776-1930 Henry County (Va.) Judgments, 1776-1930 1160600-1160743

A Guide to the Henry County (Va.) Judgments, 1776-1930

A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Barcode Numbers 1160600-1160743


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© 2005 By the Library of Virginia. All rights reserved.

Processed by: Ryan Smith

Repository
Library of Virginia
Barcode numbers
1160600-1160743
Title
Henry County (Va.) Judgments, 1776-1930
Physical Characteristics
65.25 cu. ft. (146 boxes)
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Henry County (Va.) Judgments, 1776-1930. Local Government Records Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

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

Historical Information

Henry County was formed in 1776 from Pittsylvania County.

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.

Scope and Content

Henry County (Va.) Judgments, 1776-1930, contain civil cases heard in County Court, Superior Court of Law, Circuit Superior Court, and Circuit Court in which justice was administered on the strictly formulated rules of common law. The majority of cases in this record series relate to matters of debt.

Arrangement

Chronological (Cases filed within each box by month and year they were resolved.)

Access Terms

  • Civil procedure -- Virginia -- Lancaster County.
  • Courts -- Virginia -- Lancaster County.
  • Debt -- Virginia -- Lancaster County.
  • Decisions -- Virginia -- Lancaster County.
  • Judicial records -- Virginia -- Lancaster County.
  • Lancaster County (Va.) -- Circuit Court.
  • Lancaster County (Va.) -- Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery.
  • Lancaster County (Va.) -- County Court.
  • Lancaster County (Va.) -- History.
  • Lancaster County (Va.) -- Superior Court of Law.
  • Local government records -- Virginia -- Lancaster County.
  • Public Records -- Virginia -- Lancaster County.