Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Isle of Wight (Va.) Justice of the Peace Records, 1884-1937, Local government records collection, Isle of Wight Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in a shipment of court papers from Isle of Wight County.

Historical Information

Isle of Wight was most likely named for the Isle of Wight off the south coast of England. It was first known as Warrosquyoake and was one of the eight shires established in 1634. The present name was given in 1637. Part of Nansemond County was added in 1769. Its area is 319 square miles, and the county seat is Isle of Wight..

First known as commissions, the Justice of the Peace office originated with the county quarterly court in 1623. Commanders of Plantations (1607-1629) were predecessors of the commissioners, who since 1662 have been called justices of the peace. They have traditionally had both civil and criminal jurisdiction, and have served other functions, including performing coroners' and lunacy inquisitions. Until 1869 justices served both as judges of the county court and as individual justices; since then they have had only the latter function.

Scope and Content

Isle of Wight (Va.) Justice of the Peace Records, 1884-1915, consist of Execution records.

Related Material

Additional Isle of Wight Records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Isle of Wight (Va.) Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• Public records--Virginia--Isle of Wight.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Local government records--Virginia--Isle of Wight.

Adjunct Descriptive Data