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From: "Craig Kilby" <>
Subject: Virginia Superior Court Districts 1814-185x
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 18:40:53 -0500


Fellow Listers:

I hope the following may prove useful in your research projects. Around
the year 1999 [I don't recall exactly when], I visited the Spotsylvania
Court in Fredericksburg, which at that time also housed the Chancery Court
cases for the District of Fredericksburg. I belive that at this time they
(Fredericksburg Historical Society) have moved their offices. Anyway, at
the time and to this present day they are indexing all of the old chancery
court records.

Found as a page marker in one of the books was a list of the which counties
were holding proceedings in which court. This typed version for a mailing
list will not do the handwritten copy justice, but at least the information
it contains will still convey.

The note I wrote on the bottom of this copy says:

"Virginia Superior Court Districts 1814-185x" Prior to 1814, all superior
court cases were heard in Richmond. Those records were burned during the
Civil War. This was found as a page marker in one of the court books at
Fredericksburg." Keep in mind that this list was drawn up prior to West
Virginia's seccession from Virginia, and includes those counties then in
existence in modern day West Virginia.

This list was probably prepared by an attorney, and predates the Civil War.
Using the names of the Judges. the handwriting style, and the counties in
it names, a more accurate date could probably be established.
Unfortunately, we don't know who wrote it.

RICHMOND DISTRICT
Judge: frec d [Frederick?] Taylor
Convenes: 1st Day of January, 1sty day of June
Counties in the District:
Amelia, Brunswick, Charlotte, Buckingham, Halifax (crossed out),
Chesterfield, King & Queen, Henrico, King William, Louisa, Lunenburg,
Mecklenburg, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Fluvanna, Goochland, Greensville,
Hanover, Nottoway, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George, Sussex, city of
Richmond, City of Petersburg.

LYNCHBURG DISTRICT
Judge: Taylor
Convenes: 1st day of May & 1st day of October
Counties in District:
Amherst, Cambell, Henry, Pittsylvania, Bedford, Franklin, Patrick and
corporations (cities) of Lynchburg @ Nelson. Also, which could be a county
or a city (either way I cannot identify it) looks like "Idalifare".

WINCHESTER DISTRICT
Judge: [D. Cain?]
Convenes: 6th July & 16th November
Counties in District:
Frederick, Hardy, Berkeley, Loudon, Shenandoah, Hampshire, Jefferson

WYTHE DISTRICT
Judge: Brown
Convenes: 25th May and 16th November [at Wythe Court House]
Counties in District:
Lee, Russell, Washington, Tazewell, Wythe, Grayson, Giles, Montgomery

CLARKSBURG DISTRICT
Judge: Brown
Convenes: at Clarksburg, dates not stated
Counties in District:
Booker, Ohio, Wood, Harrison, Monongalia, Randolph, Tyler [xxxx, crossed
out after Tyler], [Burton?].
NB : The locales in this district may help date this list

FREDERICKSBURG DISTRICT
Judge: Brown
Convenes: 15th of April and 15th day of September
Counties in District:
Caroline, Culpeper, Fauquier, Fairfax, Lancaster, Northumberland, Madison,
King George, Orange, Prince William, Richmond [County], Spotsylvania,
Stafford, Essex, Westmoreland and Corporation of Fredericksburg.
NB: Interesting to see most, but not all, of the modern Northern Neck
counties included in this geographic distribution--e.g., those in the
Northern Neck Proprietary.

WILLIAMSBURG DISTRICT
Judge: Browne
Convenes: Scratched out, but had been written "20th Mary & 15th October".
Scratched out again is 20th June & 20th September. Interlined the 3rd time
is "10th January and 15th July. Place not given, probably Williamsburg.
Counties in District:
Accomack, Charles City, Elizabeth City, Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James
City, Matthews, Middlesex, Nansemond, New Kent, Norfolk, Northampton,
Princess Anne, Surry, Southampton, Warick, York, Borough of Norfolk.

GREENBRIAR DISTRICT
Judge: Not stated
Covenes: 1st June & 1st November at Greenbriar Court House
Counties in District:
Greenbriar, Monroe, Cabell, Kanawha, Mason, Bath

STAUNTON DISTRICT
Judge: Brown
Convenes: 15th March & 15th October
Counties in District:
Augusta, Rockingham, Pendelton, Rockbridge, Albemarle, Botetourt

For more information about Chancery Court cases, the Library of Virginia
Research Note #22 gives some good background information. A searchable
database of plaintiffs and defendants is on their website, but I always
have a bit of trouble getting to it. Prior to 1814, you will probably have
little luck in finding a court suit unless the original loose files were
kept by either one of the parties or their attorneys. You will probably be
able to find a reference to any court suit in the court minutes, but those
are not likely (usually) to offer up many details. (Depends on how much
the clerk wanted to tell in the county record).

It should also be mentioned that chancery suits could be filed at either
the county level, or the district level, and appeals of course went to
Richmond.

Happy New Year,
Craig Kilby










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