{"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=African+Americans+--+History+--+Virginia+--+Accomack+County.","last":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=African+Americans+--+History+--+Virginia+--+Accomack+County.\u0026page=1"},"meta":{"pages":{"current_page":1,"next_page":null,"prev_page":null,"total_pages":1,"limit_value":10,"offset_value":0,"total_count":2,"first_page?":true,"last_page?":true}},"data":[{"id":"vi_vi02779","type":"collection","attributes":{"title":"Accomack County (Va.) District Court Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1790-1808","creator":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02779#creator","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n","label":"Creator"}},"abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02779#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) County District Court Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1790-1808, consist of suits initiated by slaves seeking to gain their freedom in the district court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of slaves and slaveowners identified in suit as well as whether slave(s) won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include slave's argument for freedom, acquisition of slaves by slaveowners, slave ancestry, and relationship between slaves and slaveowners. \u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02779#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"id":"vi_vi02779","ead_ssi":"vi_vi02779","_root_":"vi_vi02779","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi02779","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/lva/vi02779.xml","title_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1790-1808"],"title_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1790-1808"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["0007573136\n"],"text":["0007573136\n","Accomack County (Va.) District Court Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1790-1808","African Americans -- History -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Slavery -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Civil actions -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Freedom suits -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County.",".35 cu. ft.","There are no restrictions.\n","Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n","Slaves could sue for emancipation if they were descendant(s) of a free female ancestor, typically a Native American (Hening Statutes, volume 2, p.170.)\n","Additional Accomack County court records can be found at the Library of Virginia.","Accomack County (Va.) County District Court Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1790-1808, consist of suits initiated by slaves seeking to gain their freedom in the district court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of slaves and slaveowners identified in suit as well as whether slave(s) won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include slave's argument for freedom, acquisition of slaves by slaveowners, slave ancestry, and relationship between slaves and slaveowners. \n","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Cyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.\n"," Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n"," Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n"," Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n","Patrons are to use digital images found at  Virginia Untold: the African American Narrative .\n","Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court.","Accomack County (Va.) District Court","English\n"],"unitid_tesim":["0007573136\n"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1790-1808"],"collection_title_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1790-1808"],"collection_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1790-1808"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"creator_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"acqinfo_ssim":["These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Accomack County.\n"],"access_subjects_ssim":["African Americans -- History -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Slavery -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Civil actions -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Freedom suits -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County."],"access_subjects_ssm":["African Americans -- History -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Slavery -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Civil actions -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Freedom suits -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":[".35 cu. ft."],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions\n"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions.\n"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSlaves could sue for emancipation if they were descendant(s) of a free female ancestor, typically a Native American (Hening Statutes, volume 2, p.170.)\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information\n"],"bioghist_tesim":["Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n","Slaves could sue for emancipation if they were descendant(s) of a free female ancestor, typically a Native American (Hening Statutes, volume 2, p.170.)\n"],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) District Court Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1790-1808. Local government records collection, Accomack County (Va.) County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1790-1808. Local government records collection, Accomack County (Va.) County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.\n"],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Accomack County court records can be found at the Library of Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material\n"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Accomack County court records can be found at the Library of Virginia."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) County District Court Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1790-1808, consist of suits initiated by slaves seeking to gain their freedom in the district court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of slaves and slaveowners identified in suit as well as whether slave(s) won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include slave's argument for freedom, acquisition of slaves by slaveowners, slave ancestry, and relationship between slaves and slaveowners. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eGeorge sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMajor petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eCyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) County District Court Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1790-1808, consist of suits initiated by slaves seeking to gain their freedom in the district court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of slaves and slaveowners identified in suit as well as whether slave(s) won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include slave's argument for freedom, acquisition of slaves by slaveowners, slave ancestry, and relationship between slaves and slaveowners. \n","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Cyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.\n"," Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n"," Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n"," Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n"],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePatrons are to use digital images found at \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/aan/\"\u003eVirginia Untold: the African American Narrative\u003c/extref\u003e.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions\n"],"userestrict_tesim":["Patrons are to use digital images found at  Virginia Untold: the African American Narrative .\n"],"names_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court.","Accomack County (Va.) District Court"],"corpname_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court.","Accomack County (Va.) District Court"],"language_ssim":["English\n"],"total_component_count_is":9,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-21T11:17:35.352Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vi_vi02779","ead_ssi":"vi_vi02779","_root_":"vi_vi02779","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi02779","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/lva/vi02779.xml","title_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1790-1808"],"title_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1790-1808"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["0007573136\n"],"text":["0007573136\n","Accomack County (Va.) District Court Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1790-1808","African Americans -- History -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Slavery -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Civil actions -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Freedom suits -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County.",".35 cu. ft.","There are no restrictions.\n","Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n","Slaves could sue for emancipation if they were descendant(s) of a free female ancestor, typically a Native American (Hening Statutes, volume 2, p.170.)\n","Additional Accomack County court records can be found at the Library of Virginia.","Accomack County (Va.) County District Court Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1790-1808, consist of suits initiated by slaves seeking to gain their freedom in the district court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of slaves and slaveowners identified in suit as well as whether slave(s) won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include slave's argument for freedom, acquisition of slaves by slaveowners, slave ancestry, and relationship between slaves and slaveowners. \n","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Cyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.\n"," Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n"," Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n"," Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n","Patrons are to use digital images found at  Virginia Untold: the African American Narrative .\n","Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court.","Accomack County (Va.) District Court","English\n"],"unitid_tesim":["0007573136\n"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1790-1808"],"collection_title_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1790-1808"],"collection_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1790-1808"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"creator_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"acqinfo_ssim":["These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Accomack County.\n"],"access_subjects_ssim":["African Americans -- History -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Slavery -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Civil actions -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Freedom suits -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County."],"access_subjects_ssm":["African Americans -- History -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Slavery -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Civil actions -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Freedom suits -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":[".35 cu. ft."],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions\n"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions.\n"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSlaves could sue for emancipation if they were descendant(s) of a free female ancestor, typically a Native American (Hening Statutes, volume 2, p.170.)\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information\n"],"bioghist_tesim":["Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.\n","Slaves could sue for emancipation if they were descendant(s) of a free female ancestor, typically a Native American (Hening Statutes, volume 2, p.170.)\n"],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) District Court Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1790-1808. Local government records collection, Accomack County (Va.) County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) District Court Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1790-1808. Local government records collection, Accomack County (Va.) County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.\n"],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Accomack County court records can be found at the Library of Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material\n"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Accomack County court records can be found at the Library of Virginia."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) County District Court Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1790-1808, consist of suits initiated by slaves seeking to gain their freedom in the district court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of slaves and slaveowners identified in suit as well as whether slave(s) won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include slave's argument for freedom, acquisition of slaves by slaveowners, slave ancestry, and relationship between slaves and slaveowners. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eGeorge sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMajor petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eCyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) County District Court Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1790-1808, consist of suits initiated by slaves seeking to gain their freedom in the district court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of slaves and slaveowners identified in suit as well as whether slave(s) won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include slave's argument for freedom, acquisition of slaves by slaveowners, slave ancestry, and relationship between slaves and slaveowners. \n","Thomas sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.\n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom claiming that he had been set free by Roberts' mother's last will and testament.  She became a Quaker while living in Philadelphia, PA and her new religious convictions influenced her to free her slaves.  \n","George sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans.  \n","Major petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Cyrus petitioned for freedom from slavery claiming he was a descendant of Native Americans. \n","Mary sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.\n"," Ibby sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  The suit includes a deposition that recounts Ibby's genealogy.\n"," Lydia sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  She petitioned for her freedom from slavery claiming she was a descendant of Native Americans.  She successfully won her freedom. \n"," Joe sued for damages claiming false imprisonment.  He petitioned for his freedom from slavery claiming that he had been set free by Lilliston's last will and testament.\n"],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePatrons are to use digital images found at \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/aan/\"\u003eVirginia Untold: the African American Narrative\u003c/extref\u003e.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions\n"],"userestrict_tesim":["Patrons are to use digital images found at  Virginia Untold: the African American Narrative .\n"],"names_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court.","Accomack County (Va.) District Court"],"corpname_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court.","Accomack County (Va.) District Court"],"language_ssim":["English\n"],"total_component_count_is":9,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-21T11:17:35.352Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02779"}},{"id":"vi_vi04797","type":"collection","attributes":{"title":"Accomack County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1818-1860","creator":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi04797#creator","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n","label":"Creator"}},"abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi04797#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) County Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1818-1860, consist of suits initiated by slaves seeking to gain their freedom on the law side of the court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of slaves and slaveowners found in suit as well as whether slave(s) won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include slave's argument for freedom, acquisition of slaves by slaveowners, slave ancestry, and relationship between slaves and slaveowners. \u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi04797#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"id":"vi_vi04797","ead_ssi":"vi_vi04797","_root_":"vi_vi04797","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi04797","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/lva/vi04797.xml","title_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1818-1860"],"title_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1818-1860"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["0007593069\n"],"text":["0007593069\n","Accomack County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1818-1860","African Americans -- History -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Slavery -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Civil actions -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Freedom suits -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County.",".35 cu. ft.","There are no restrictions.\n","Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","Slaves sued for emancipation in freedom suits based on the following: they were descendant(s) of a free female ancestor, typically a Native American (Hening Statutes, volume 2, p.170); failure of slaveowner(s) to abide by the 1778 slave nonimportation act (Henings Statutes, volume 9, pp. 471-472); or claimed to have been freed by slaveowner(s) by deed of emancipation or last will and testament (Henings Statutes volume 11, pp. 39-40)\n","Additional Accomack County court records can be found at the Library of Virginia.","Accomack County (Va.) County Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1818-1860, consist of suits initiated by slaves seeking to gain their freedom on the law side of the court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of slaves and slaveowners found in suit as well as whether slave(s) won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include slave's argument for freedom, acquisition of slaves by slaveowners, slave ancestry, and relationship between slaves and slaveowners.\n","Judgments (Freedom Suits) are useful when researching local history and genealogical information, particularly for African Americans. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history.","Patrons are to use digital images found at  Virginia Untold: the African American Narrative .\n","Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court.","English\n"],"unitid_tesim":["0007593069\n"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1818-1860"],"collection_title_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1818-1860"],"collection_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1818-1860"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"creator_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"acqinfo_ssim":["These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Accomack County.\n"],"access_subjects_ssim":["African Americans -- History -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Slavery -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Civil actions -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Freedom suits -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County."],"access_subjects_ssm":["African Americans -- History -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Slavery -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Civil actions -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Freedom suits -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":[".35 cu. ft."],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions\n"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions.\n"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSlaves sued for emancipation in freedom suits based on the following: they were descendant(s) of a free female ancestor, typically a Native American (Hening Statutes, volume 2, p.170); failure of slaveowner(s) to abide by the 1778 slave nonimportation act (Henings Statutes, volume 9, pp. 471-472); or claimed to have been freed by slaveowner(s) by deed of emancipation or last will and testament (Henings Statutes volume 11, pp. 39-40)\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information\n"],"bioghist_tesim":["Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","Slaves sued for emancipation in freedom suits based on the following: they were descendant(s) of a free female ancestor, typically a Native American (Hening Statutes, volume 2, p.170); failure of slaveowner(s) to abide by the 1778 slave nonimportation act (Henings Statutes, volume 9, pp. 471-472); or claimed to have been freed by slaveowner(s) by deed of emancipation or last will and testament (Henings Statutes volume 11, pp. 39-40)\n"],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1818-1860. Local government records collection, Accomack County (Va.) County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1818-1860. Local government records collection, Accomack County (Va.) County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.\n"],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Accomack County court records can be found at the Library of Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material\n"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Accomack County court records can be found at the Library of Virginia."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) County Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1818-1860, consist of suits initiated by slaves seeking to gain their freedom on the law side of the court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of slaves and slaveowners found in suit as well as whether slave(s) won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include slave's argument for freedom, acquisition of slaves by slaveowners, slave ancestry, and relationship between slaves and slaveowners.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJudgments (Freedom Suits) are useful when researching local history and genealogical information, particularly for African Americans. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) County Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1818-1860, consist of suits initiated by slaves seeking to gain their freedom on the law side of the court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of slaves and slaveowners found in suit as well as whether slave(s) won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include slave's argument for freedom, acquisition of slaves by slaveowners, slave ancestry, and relationship between slaves and slaveowners.\n","Judgments (Freedom Suits) are useful when researching local history and genealogical information, particularly for African Americans. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePatrons are to use digital images found at \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/aan/\"\u003eVirginia Untold: the African American Narrative\u003c/extref\u003e.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions\n"],"userestrict_tesim":["Patrons are to use digital images found at  Virginia Untold: the African American Narrative .\n"],"names_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court."],"corpname_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) 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Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1818-1860","African Americans -- History -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Slavery -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Civil actions -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Freedom suits -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County.",".35 cu. ft.","There are no restrictions.\n","Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","Slaves sued for emancipation in freedom suits based on the following: they were descendant(s) of a free female ancestor, typically a Native American (Hening Statutes, volume 2, p.170); failure of slaveowner(s) to abide by the 1778 slave nonimportation act (Henings Statutes, volume 9, pp. 471-472); or claimed to have been freed by slaveowner(s) by deed of emancipation or last will and testament (Henings Statutes volume 11, pp. 39-40)\n","Additional Accomack County court records can be found at the Library of Virginia.","Accomack County (Va.) County Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1818-1860, consist of suits initiated by slaves seeking to gain their freedom on the law side of the court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of slaves and slaveowners found in suit as well as whether slave(s) won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include slave's argument for freedom, acquisition of slaves by slaveowners, slave ancestry, and relationship between slaves and slaveowners.\n","Judgments (Freedom Suits) are useful when researching local history and genealogical information, particularly for African Americans. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history.","Patrons are to use digital images found at  Virginia Untold: the African American Narrative .\n","Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court.","English\n"],"unitid_tesim":["0007593069\n"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1818-1860"],"collection_title_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1818-1860"],"collection_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1818-1860"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"creator_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court\n"],"acqinfo_ssim":["These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Accomack County.\n"],"access_subjects_ssim":["African Americans -- History -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Slavery -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Civil actions -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Freedom suits -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County."],"access_subjects_ssm":["African Americans -- History -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Slavery -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Civil actions -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Freedom suits -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Judicial records -- Virginia -- Accomack County.","Local government records -- Virginia -- Accomack County."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":[".35 cu. ft."],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions\n"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions.\n"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSlaves sued for emancipation in freedom suits based on the following: they were descendant(s) of a free female ancestor, typically a Native American (Hening Statutes, volume 2, p.170); failure of slaveowner(s) to abide by the 1778 slave nonimportation act (Henings Statutes, volume 9, pp. 471-472); or claimed to have been freed by slaveowner(s) by deed of emancipation or last will and testament (Henings Statutes volume 11, pp. 39-40)\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information\n"],"bioghist_tesim":["Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the Eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. The word means \"on-the-other-side-of-water place\" or \"across the water.\" It was one of the original eight shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634 and spelled Accomac without the k. The county's name was changed to Northampton County in 1643. The present county was formed from Northampton about 1663. In October 1670, the General Assembly temporarily reunited Accomack and Northampton Counties as Northampton County. In November 1673, Accomack County was again separated from Northampton. In early records, the county's name was spelled many ways. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the present spelling, Accomack. The county gained a small part of the southern end of Smith's Island from Somerset County, Maryland, in 1879, after the United States had approved boundary changes between Virginia and Maryland that had been agreed to in 1877. The county seat is Accomac.\n","Slaves sued for emancipation in freedom suits based on the following: they were descendant(s) of a free female ancestor, typically a Native American (Hening Statutes, volume 2, p.170); failure of slaveowner(s) to abide by the 1778 slave nonimportation act (Henings Statutes, volume 9, pp. 471-472); or claimed to have been freed by slaveowner(s) by deed of emancipation or last will and testament (Henings Statutes volume 11, pp. 39-40)\n"],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1818-1860. Local government records collection, Accomack County (Va.) County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1818-1860. Local government records collection, Accomack County (Va.) County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.\n"],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Accomack County court records can be found at the Library of Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material\n"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Accomack County court records can be found at the Library of Virginia."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAccomack County (Va.) County Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1818-1860, consist of suits initiated by slaves seeking to gain their freedom on the law side of the court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of slaves and slaveowners found in suit as well as whether slave(s) won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include slave's argument for freedom, acquisition of slaves by slaveowners, slave ancestry, and relationship between slaves and slaveowners.\n\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJudgments (Freedom Suits) are useful when researching local history and genealogical information, particularly for African Americans. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Accomack County (Va.) County Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1818-1860, consist of suits initiated by slaves seeking to gain their freedom on the law side of the court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of slaves and slaveowners found in suit as well as whether slave(s) won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include slave's argument for freedom, acquisition of slaves by slaveowners, slave ancestry, and relationship between slaves and slaveowners.\n","Judgments (Freedom Suits) are useful when researching local history and genealogical information, particularly for African Americans. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePatrons are to use digital images found at \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/aan/\"\u003eVirginia Untold: the African American Narrative\u003c/extref\u003e.\n\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions\n"],"userestrict_tesim":["Patrons are to use digital images found at  Virginia Untold: the African American Narrative .\n"],"names_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court."],"corpname_ssim":["Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court."],"language_ssim":["English\n"],"total_component_count_is":0,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-21T10:16:20.257Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi04797"}}],"included":[{"type":"facet","id":"repository_ssim","attributes":{"label":"Repository","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"Library of Virginia","value":"Library of Virginia","hits":2},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=African+Americans+--+History+--+Virginia+--+Accomack+County.\u0026f%5Brepository%5D%5B%5D=Library+of+Virginia"}}]},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/facet/repository_ssim.json?f%5Baccess_subjects%5D%5B%5D=African+Americans+--+History+--+Virginia+--+Accomack+County."}},{"type":"facet","id":"collection_ssim","attributes":{"label":"Collection","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"Accomack County (Va.) 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