Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Amherst County (Va.) Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery Records, 1831-1849. Local government records collection, Amherst County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

These volumes came to the Library of Virginia in a shipment of court records from Amherst County.

Historical Information

Amherst County was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770. The county is named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the later part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759-1768.

The organization of these courts was similar to that of the superior courts of law, in that sessions were held twice yearly in each county and their records were filed with those of the county court. These new courts assumed the functions of both the superior courts of law and the superior courts of chancery, both of which were abolished in 1831. These courts were abolished by the constitution of 1851, and were replaced by circuit courts.

Scope and Content

Amherst County (Va.) Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery Records, 1831-1849, consist of 1 Issue Docket, 1 Witness Attendance Book, 1 Clerk's Memorandum Book, 1 Minute Book, 1 Common Law Minute Book, 1 Law Docket (No. 4) and 2 Chancery Dockets (Nos. 1 and 2.)

An issue docket is the record of issuance, showing parties' names, actions, and remarks.

A memorandum book is used for notations of entries to be made in other books.

A minute book contains the clerk's rough notes of court proceedings.

A docket is a brief formal rocord of proceedings in a court of justice; an entry of all acts in the conduct of a case, from inception to conclusion.

Related Material

Additional Amherst County Records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm" found on the Library of Virginia's web site.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Amherst County (Va.) Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• Public records--Virginia--Amherst County.

Geographical Names:

• Amherst County (Va.)--History--19th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Local government records--Virginia--Amherst County.

Added Entry - Corporate Name:

• Amherst County (Va.) Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery.

Adjunct Descriptive Data