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A Guide to the Brunswick County (Va.) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1801-1947 Brunswick County (Va.) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1801-1947 1208495-1208497

A Guide to the Brunswick County (Va.) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1801-1947

A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Barcode numbers: 1208495-1208497


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Library of Virginia

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© 2011 By The Library of Virginia. All Rights Reserved.

Processed by: Ed Jordan

Repository
The Library of Virginia
Barcode numbers
11208495-1208497
Title
Brunswick previous hit County  next hit (Va.) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1801-1947
Physical Characteristics
1.00 cu. ft. (3 boxes)
Collector
Brunswick previous hit County  next hit (Va.) Circuit Court
Location
Library of Virginia
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Brunswick previous hit County  next hit (Va.) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1801-1947. Local government records collection, Brunswick previous hit County  next hit Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA 23219.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court records from Brunswick previous hit County  next hit.

Historical Information

Brunswick previous hit County  next hit was named for the duchy of Brunswick-Luneburg, one of the German possessions of King George I. It was formed by statute in 1720 from Prince George previous hit County  next hit and on 31 October 1723 the boundaries of the previous hit county  next hit were ordered to be laid out, but, because of the sparse population, the previous hit county  next hit court first met in June 1732. Brunswick previous hit County  next hit was enlarged by the addition of parts of Surry and Isle of Wight previous hit Counties  next hit in 1733. The previous hit county  next hit seat is Lawrenceville.

The separate office of coroner appeared in Virginia about 1660. The judicial duty of the office is to hold inquisitions in cases when persons meet sudden, violent, unnatural or suspicious death, or death without medical attendance. The coroner would summon a jury to assist him in determining cause of death. Prior to November 1877, the jurors numbered twelve. Between November 1877 and March 1926, the jurors numbered six. The jury viewed the body of the deceased and heard the testimony of witnesses. The coroner was required to write down witness testimony. After seeing and hearing the evidence, the jury delivered in writing to the coroner their conclusion concerning cause of death referred to as the inquisition. After March 1926, only the coroner determined cause of death. He could require physicians to assist him with determing cause of death. If a criminal act was determined to be the cause of death, the coroner was to deliver the guilty person to the sheriff and the coroners' inquests would be used as evidence in the criminal trial.

Scope and Content

Brunswick previous hit County  next hit (Va) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1801-1947, are investigations into the deaths of individuals who died by a sudden, violent, unnatural or suspicious manner, or died without medical attendance. Causes of death found in coroners' inquisitions include murder, infanticide, suicide, domestic violence, exposure to elements, drownings, train accidents, automobile accidents, and natural causes, or as commonly referred to in the 19th century, visitation by God. Documents commonly found in coroners' inquests include the inquisition, depositions, and summons. Criminal papers such as recognizance bonds can be found in coroner inquisitions. Information found in the inquisition include the name of the coroner, the names of the jurors, the name and age of the deceased if known, gender and race of the deceased, and when, how, and by what means the deceased came to his or her death. If the deceased was African American, the inquest would identify the deceased as a slave or free person if known. If the deceased was a slave, the inquest would include, if known, the name of the slaveowner and the slaveowner's residence. Information found in the depositions include the name of the deponent and his or her account of the circumstances that led to the death of the deceased. Slaves were deponents in coroner investigations.

Arrangement

Chronological by date coroner filed inquisition in the court.

Related Material

Brunswick previous hit County  next hit criminal suits are filed with Brunswick previous hit County  next hit Judgments, 1782-1947, located at the Library of Virginia.

Index Terms

    Corporate Names:

  • Brunswick previous hit County  next hit (Va.) Circuit Court

    • Subjects:

  • African Americans--History
  • Coroners--Virginia--Brunswick previous hit County  next hit
  • Death--Causes--Virginia--Brunswick previous hit County  next hit
  • Free African Americans--Virginia--Brunswick previous hit County  next hit
  • Infanticide--Virginia--Brunswick previous hit County  next hit
  • Murder victims--Virginia--Brunswick previous hit County  next hit
  • Murder--Investigation--Virginia--Brunswick previous hit County  next hit
  • Slaveholders--Virginia--Brunswick previous hit County  next hit
  • Slaves--Virginia--Brunswick previous hit County  next hit
  • Suicide--Virginia--Brunswick previous hit County  next hit
  • Women--Virginia--Brunswick previous hit County  next hit

    • Geographical Names:

  • Brunswick previous hit County  next hit (Va.)--History

    • Genre and Form Terms:

  • Death records--Virginia--Brunswick previous hit County  next hit
  • Local government records--Virginia--Brunswick previous hit County  next hit
  • Reports--Virginia--Brunswick previous hit County  next hit

Adjunct Descriptive Data

Significant Places Associated With the Collection

  • Brunswick County (Va.)--History
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Selected Coroners' Inquisitions of Interest

1812 Nov. 1, Death of Jenny (slave):

Jenny, a slave owned by Benjamin Lewis of Brunswick previous hit County  next hit, died from repeated blows received from a cow hide whip administered feloniously by Benjamin Taylor. Taylor was Lewis' overseer. The inquisition includes depositions of witnesses who offered detailed testimony concerning Jenny's death.

1840 Mar. 17, Death of unknown child:

The deceased was the child of a slave named Martha owned by H.E. Merritt of Brunswick previous hit County  next hit. Death caused either by suffocation during birth or strangulation after birth.

1845 May 26, Death of unknown infant:

The deceased was the child of a slave named Mary owned by Thomas D. Edmunds of Brunswick previous hit County  next hit. Mary had the child while working in the field. Mary buried the child in the field. The child's body was discovered after it was pulled up by a dog.

1859 Sep. 5, Death of Hannah (slave):

Hannah was a slave owned by the late Elizabeth H. Harrvell of previous hit Mecklenburg  next hit previous hit County  next hit hired out to James Clary of Brunswick previous hit County . Death caused by repeated beatings by Clary. The inquisition includes depositions of witnesses who offered detailed testimony concerning Hannah's death.

1901 July 1, Death of Joseph Walton:

Death by strangulation caused by a rope from which he was hanging by the neck. Joseph Walton, a black male, was accused of breaking and entering into the bedroom of his white boss' teenage daughter. He was forcibly removed from his jail cell by a lynch mob. They took Walton to Gholson bridge where he was hung.

1918 Aug. 26, Death of A.J. Osborne:

Death caused by effects of gunshot wound inflicted by C.S. Reaves. The inquisition includes a sketch of Osborne' body showing the shot wounds.

1919 Aug. 23, Death of Minnie McClellan:

Death caused by an accident. Her buggy was hit by a car driven by Alber R. Moseley.

1921 Aug. 5, Death of unknown black male:

Death by hanging by the neck from a tree limb. The act was committed by an unknown mob.

1929 April 9, Death of John Bland:

Death from natural causes while pushing his automobile up a hill.

1946 March 27, Death of John Atwell Hubbard:

Hubbard was white male who died at age 59 by unknown causes. He lived on a farm owned by Peter and John Poarch with his African American niece who was a child of Hubbard's unidentified sister.