Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Goochland County (Va.) Oyer and Terminer Commissions, 1745-1779. Local government records collection, Goochland County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in a shipment of court records from Goochland County.

Historical Information

Goochland County was named for Sir William Gooch, lieutenant governor of Virginia from 1727 to 1749. It was formed from Henrico County in 1728. The county seat is Goochland.

In 1723 and 1748, the General Assembly passed acts directing the trial of slaves accused of committing capital crimes and for the more effectual punishing of conspiracies and insurrections.

Scope and Content

Goochland County (Va.) Oyer and Terminer Commissions, 1745-1779, records the appointment of individuals to a court of oyer and terminer whose purpose was to try slaves accused of committing capital offenses. Information found in the commissions include the names of individuals appointed to the court, names of slaves to be tried, names of slaveowners, crimes committed by slaves, and trial dates.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Goochland County (Va.) Circuit Court.
• Goochland County (Va.) Court of Oyer and Terminer.

Subjects:

• African Americans -- Virginia -- Goochland County.
• Crime -- Virginia -- Goochland County.
• Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Goochland County.
• Slavery -- Law and legislation -- Virginia -- Goochland County.
• Slavery -- Virginia -- Goochland County.

Geographical Names:

• Goochland County (Va.) -- History -- 18th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Commissions -- Virginia -- Goochland County.
• Judicial records -- Virginia -- Goochland County.
• Local government records -- Virginia -- Goochland County.