A Guide to the Arlington County (Va.) Judgments and Criminal Suits, 1783-1896 (bulk 1786-1859) Arlington County (Va.) Judgments and Criminal Suits 0007339661, 0007442060, 1015218-1154013, 1188950 circa

A Guide to the Arlington County (Va.) Judgments and Criminal Suits, 1783-1896 (bulk 1786-1859)

A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Collection Number 0007339661, 0007442060, 1015218-1154013, 1188950 circa


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Processed by: Library of Virginia staff

Repository
The Library of Virginia
Collection Number
0007339661, 0007442060, 1015218-1154013, 1188950 circa
Title
Arlington County (Va.) Judgments and Criminal Suits, 1783-1896 (bulk 1786-1859)
Extent
63 cu.ft (119 boxes)
Collector
Arlington County (Va.) Circuit Court
Location
Library of Virginia/ State Records Center - Archives Annex, Library of Virginia
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Arlington County (Va.) Judgments and Criminal Suits, 1783-1896 (bulk 1786-1859). Local government records collection, Arlington County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in transfers of court papers from Arlington County.

Historical Information

Arlington County was originally named Alexandria County. It was formed from a portion of Fairfax County that Virginia in 1789 ceded to the federal government for use as the site of a new national capital. In 1801 the area officially became part of the District of Columbia, although Congress named it Alexandria County. By an act of 9 July 1846, Congress returned the county to Virginia, and the General Assembly extended the commonwealth's jurisdiction over the region effective 20 March 1847. By an act of assembly passed 16 March 1920, the county's name was changed to Arlington, the name of the Custis family mansion (the home of Robert E. Lee), which is located in the county. An urban county, Arlington contains no incorporated towns or cities. The county courthouse is in the county.

Scope and Content

Arlington County (Va.) Judgments and Criminal Suits, 1783-1896 (bulk 1786-1859), consist primarily of civil suits and commonwealth causes heard in the Hustings Court of Alexandria and the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia. The majority of civil suits relate to matters of debt.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged chronologically.

Related Material

Additional Mathews County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm .

Index Terms

    Corporate Names:

  • Arlington County (Va.) Circuit Court.
  • Subjects:

  • African Americans--History.
  • Civil procedure--Virginia--Arlington County.
  • Crime--Virginia--Arlington County.
  • Debt--Virginia--Arlington County.
  • Free African Americans--Virginia--Arlington County.
  • Marine insurance--Virginia--Arlington County.
  • Merchant mariners--Virginia--Arlington County.
  • Public records--Virginia--Arlington County.
  • Slavery--Virginia--Arlington County.
  • Geographical Names:

  • Alexandria County (Va.)--History.
  • Arlington County (Va.)--History.
  • Washington (D.C.)--History.
  • Genre and Form Terms:

  • Criminal court records--Virginia--Arlington County.
  • Judicial records--Virginia--Arlington County.
  • Local government records--Virginia--Arlington County.

Significant Places Associated With the Collection

  • Alexandria County (Va.)--History.
  • Arlington County (Va.)--History.
  • Washington (D.C.)--History.

Contents List

Barcode number folder: 1015233
Catherine Flood McCall vs. Francis Eve , 1804 Nov. .
Extent: 1 folder.

To recover the penalty imposed by law for carrying a slave out of the Commonwealth of Virginia without consent of owner. Runaway slave named Charles. Depositions included.

Barcode number folder: 1145625
John and James Tucker vs. Marine Insurance Co. , 1804 Nov. .
Extent: 1 folder.

Involves Spanish piracy.

Barcode number folder: 1145630
James Young vs. Marine Insurance Co. , 1806 March .
Extent: 1 folder.

Goods lost due to hurricane in Jamaica. New York newspaper used as exhibit.

Barcode number folder: 1145631
Admx. of Maurice Herlihy vs. Trst(s) of Roman Catholic Church , 1806 July .
Extent: 1 folder.

Suit related to construction of a Roman Catholic Church building in Alexandria.

Barcode number folder: 1145638
Samuel Crowdson and Co. vs. John W. Leonard , 1806 Nov. .
Extent: 1 folder.

Ship captured by British man of war. One sailor impressed. Goods seized.

Barcode number box: 1145645
William Hodgson vs. Marine Insurance Co. , 1807 Nov. .
Extent: 1 folder.

Ship captured by British man of war. Ship and goods sold by British

Barcode number box: 1145646
Anthony Crease vs. George Parker , 1808 July .
Extent: 1 folder.

Defendant was a former slave who borrowed money from plaintiff to pay for his freedom.

Barcode number folder: 1015247
Christopher Fry vs. William Yeaton , 1808 Nov. .
Extent: 1 folder.

Ship captured by British man of war and French privateer.

Barcode number folder: 1015247
William Short vs. John Brown Cutting , 1808 Nov. .
Extent: 1 folder.

Short was minister to Holland, Spain, and Russia. Includes correspondence re: international political environment. He was close to Thomas Jefferson. Cutting was an attorney for impressed American seaman in London. Also associated with Jefferson.

Barcode number folder: 1015242
Christopher Fry vs. Thomas Vowell, Jr. , 1809 July .
Extent: 1 folder.

Ship captured by British man of war and French privateer.

Barcode number folder: 1015242
Christopher Fry vs. John G. Ladd , 1809 July .
Extent: 1 folder.

Ship captured by British man of war and French privateer.

Barcode number folder: 1145649
Thomas Willock vs. Marine Insurance Co. , 1809 July .
Extent: 1 folder.

Involves Spanish piracy.

Barcode number folder: 1145651
United States vs. John Duffy , 1809 Nov. .
Extent: 1 folder.

(Writ of Habeas Corpus) Duffy was arrested and jailed for attempting to murder members of his family. He was accused of putting ratsbane in a kettle of boiling water for tea to be drank at supper.

Barcode number folder: 1145661
William Yeaton vs. Marine Insurance Co. , 1811 Nov. .
Extent: 1 folder.

Ship damaged by weather.

Barcode number folder: 1145662
Admr. of James Wilson vs. Robert Young , 1811 Nov. .
Extent: 1 folder.

Ship damaged by weather.

Barcode number folder: 1145669
Admr. of James Park vs. Abel Willis , 1813 Nov. .
Extent: 1 folder.

Involves runaway slave.

Barcode number folder: 1145670
Simon Sommers vs. Bolitha Laws , 1814 April .
Extent: 1 folder.

Involves runaway slave.

Barcode number folder: 1145671
Mutual Assurance Society vs. Ferdinando Fairfax , 1814 Nov. .
Extent: 1 folder.

Insurance policies includes drawings of buildings owned by Fairfax including slave quarters.

Barcode number folder: 1015256
James Grady vs. James Hammond , 1815 Nov. .
Extent: 1 folder.

Defendant accused of beating plaintiff's slave whereby he lost his services.

Barcode number folder: 1145675
Grayson, Steel, and Williams vs. Thomas Ewell , 1816 April .
Extent: 1 folder.

suit involves gunpowder factory and Navy Department.

Barcode number folder: 1015257
Wiliam N. Mills vs. Alexander Tatterson , 1816 Nov. .
Extent: 1 folder.

Defendant accused of beating plaintiff's slave whereby he lost his services.

Barcode number folder: 1015258
Mary Fendall vs. Edward Lloyd , 1816 Nov. .
Extent: 1 folder.

Defendant accused of beating plaintiff's slave.

Barcode number folder: 1015258
Joseph Birch vs. Andrew Bartle , 1816 Nov. .
Extent: 1 folder.

Involves runaway slave.

Barcode number folder: 1154001
United States vs. Justices of Alexandria County , 1817 Nov. .
Extent: 1 folder.

County jail declared to be a nuisance.

Barcode number folder: 1154004
Samuel Chauncey vs. William Yeaton , 1818 Nov. .
Extent: 1 folder.

Ship captured by British man of war.

Barcode number folder: 1154004
Thomas Lund Washington vs. William Wilson , 1818 Nov. .
Extent: 1 folder.

Involves runaway slave. Defendant (a shipmaster) removed slave from Washington D.C. without plaintiff's permission. Includes correspondence from slave.

Barcode number folder: 1154004
James Watson vs. Robert Hall , 1818 Nov. .
Extent: 1 folder.

Involves runaway slaves who were married.

Barcode number folder: 1154004
Catharine C. Allison vs. Thomas Longden , 1818 Nov. .
Extent: 1 folder.

Defendant accused of beating plaintiff's slave whereby he lost his services.

Barcode number folder: 1154005
Richard H. Love vs. Washington Boyd , 1818 Nov. .
Extent: 1 folder.

Involves runaway slave named Jane or Jane Williams. Relates to a freedom suit, Jane vs. Richard Love.

Barcode number folder: 1154005
Jane H. Slocum vs. Amos Smith , 1818 Nov. .
Extent: 1 folder.

Involves runaway slave named Davey Payne. He served on ship commanded by Smith. Includes correspondence.

Barcode number folder: 1154009
James Mitchell, etc. vs. Nathaniel Freeman , 1819 Oct. .
Extent: 1 folder.

Plaintiffs were sailors who served under Freeman. They sued for their pay.

Barcode number folder: 1154012
State of Maryland vs. Potomac Co. , 1820 April .
Extent: 1 folder.

Suit involves lottery for improving navigation of Potomac and Shenandoah rivers.

Barcode number folder: 1043562
United States vs. Leven Gales , 1821 May .
Extent: 1 folder.

Defendant was a free black. Charged and found guilty of seducing a slave named Fielder by means of false papers to abscond from the estate of his master, Bushrod Washington. He attempted to pass off Fielder as his nephew.

Barcode number folder: 1043561
United States vs. Emily, a slave , 1821 Nov. .
Extent: 1 folder.

Defendant was charged with attempted to destroy her infant child.

Barcode number folder: 1043561
Sampson Sumly vs. Solomon Lorins , 1822 May .
Extent: 1 folder.

Plaintiff was a free person of color. He sued the defendant, a sea captain, for taking off the plaintiff's son, a minor aged 20, without his consent and having him in another state, or in this case, the West Indies. Plaintiff sued for loss income ($2000) he would have made from his son's employment as a caulker. The jury awarded him $45 depending on the judge's opinion. The judge sided with the defendant.

Barcode number folder: 1043565
David Black, etc. vs. Charles Bradford , 1823 May .
Extent: 1 folder.

Defendant accused of obstructing the plaintiff's ancient lights.

Barcode number folder: 1043569
Richard Gardner vs. Columbian Insurance Company , 1824 May .
Extent: 1 folder.

Large suit involving ship sank in Rio Janeiro. Numerous exhibits and depositions. Mutiny perhaps involved.

Barcode number folder: 1043575
Christian Clarke vs. Corporation of Washington , 1827 April .
Extent: 1 folder.

Plaintiff suing for the $100,000 he won in a national lottery sponsored by city of Washington, D.C. Winning ticket used as exhibit. Background on lottery. Case heard in Supreme Court.

Barcode number folder: 1043576
Ashby and Stribling vs. Columbian Insurance Company , 1828 April .
Extent: 1 folder.

Large suit involving ship sank by bad weather, perhaps a hurricane. Numerous exhibits and depositions. Newspaper used as exhibit by plaintiff. American Beacon, 1825 June 18.

Barcode number folder: 1043590
Samuel H. Smith vs. Thomas K. Beale , 1838 Oct. .
Extent: 1 folder.

Plaintiff was treasurer of Washington National Monument Society. Suit involves an agent of society responsible with collecting pledges for the Washington Monument in Alabama. Suit includes correspondence from agent detailing his travels and travails in Alabama.

Barcode number folder: 1043590
United States vs. William Hudland , 1838 Nov. .
Extent: 1 folder.

Includes Presidential pardon signed by Martin Van Buren.