A Guide to the Henry County (Va.) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1779-1946
A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Barcode numbers: 0007301225, 0007301227, 0007301228
Library of Virginia
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Processed by: Dale Dulaney and Ed Jordan
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Use Restrictions
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Preferred Citation
Henry County (Va.) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1779-1946. Local government records collection, Henry County 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 Henry County.
Historical Information
Henry County was named for Patrick Henry, who was the first governor of the commonwealth of Virginia. It was formed from Pittsylvania County in 1776. The county court first met on 20 January 1777. Part of Patrick County was added later in 1858. The county seat was previously in Martinsville but has been moved near Collinsville.
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
Henry County (Va) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1779-1946, 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.
Index Terms
- Henry County (Va.) Circuit Court
- African Americans--History
- Coroners--Virginia--Henry County
- Death--Causes--Virginia--Henry County
- Free African Americans--Virginia--Henry County
- Infanticide--Virginia--Henry County
- Murder victims--Virginia--Henry County
- Murder--Investigation--Virginia--Henry County
- Slaveholders--Virginia--Henry County
- Slaves--Virginia--Henry County
- Suicide--Virginia--Henry County
- Women--Virginia--Henry County
- Henry County (Va.)--History
- Death records--Virginia--Henry County
- Local government records--Virginia--Henry County
- Reports--Virginia--Henry County
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Selected Coroners' Inquisitions of Interest
Strangled with a string by its mother, Nancy Arnold who was moved and seduced by instigation of the devil.
John Smith died from a broken skull from an assault with a grubbing hoe by his slave Tom being moved by the instigation of the devil.
Harris was a free mulatto who came to his death from being shot by a slave named Spencer who accused Harris of taking his wife. The inquisition includes depositions given by slaves.
Brown died from being struck in chest with an ax by a slave named Sam Lyon at a plant bed on Marshall Hairston's Leatherwood plantation. Brown was an overseer.
Lyon was a slave owned by Marshall Hairston who died some weeks after being shot by Robert Hubbard. Lyon was in the county jail under the sentence of death for killing Beverly Brown.
Mitchell, age 12, froze to death in a tobacco barn flue. Her father was accused of beating her.
Bousman died by means of an explosion of dynamite or some other explosive thrown by an unknown party while Bousman was sleeping in his yard.
Died from a stray bullet fired by an unknown individual while Jones was cleaning a rabbit in her yard.
Staples, one month old, died due to natural causes probably from congestive measles.
Died from freezing. Flippen age 80 was living alone. She got out of bed and could not get back into bed.
Lewis, age 35, laid down on N. and W. Railway track, fell asleep, and was run over by a freight train. His head was completely cut off from his body.
Hodges, age 27, died by general intoxication from the effects of having taken a lethal dose of Lysol solution evidentally of suicidal intent.
Brooks, age 3, died by strychnine poisoning from ingesting about 25 strychnine tablets evidently thinking they were candy.
Smith died from dynamite blast at a furniture factory.