{"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Henrico+County+%28Va.%29+Chancery+Causes%2C+1770-1965\u0026view=compact","next":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Henrico+County+%28Va.%29+Chancery+Causes%2C+1770-1965\u0026page=2\u0026view=compact","last":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Henrico+County+%28Va.%29+Chancery+Causes%2C+1770-1965\u0026page=8\u0026view=compact"},"meta":{"pages":{"current_page":1,"next_page":2,"prev_page":null,"total_pages":8,"limit_value":10,"offset_value":0,"total_count":72,"first_page?":true,"last_page?":false}},"data":[{"id":"vi_vi02575_c01","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"1790-006: Thomas Willing, etc. vs. Carter Braxton","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c01#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eThe defendant in this debt suit is Carter Braxton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c01#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vi_vi02575_c01","ref_ssm":["vi_vi02575_c01"],"id":"vi_vi02575_c01","ead_ssi":"vi_vi02575","_root_":"vi_vi02575","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi02575","parent_ssi":"vi_vi02575","parent_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vi_vi02575"],"title_filing_ssi":"1790-006: Thomas Willing, etc. vs. Carter Braxton:","title_ssm":["1790-006: Thomas Willing, etc. vs. Carter Braxton"],"title_tesim":["1790-006: Thomas Willing, etc. vs. Carter Braxton"],"normalized_title_ssm":["1790-006: Thomas Willing, etc. vs. Carter Braxton"],"text":["1790-006: Thomas Willing, etc. vs. Carter Braxton","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965","The defendant in this debt suit is Carter Braxton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence."],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[1],"sort_isi":1,"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"collection_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["Chancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.","Chancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.","Additional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["There are no restrictions."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe defendant in this debt suit is Carter Braxton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The defendant in this debt suit is Carter Braxton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence."],"_nest_path_":"/components#0","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:25:16.129Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vi_vi02575","ead_ssi":"vi_vi02575","_root_":"vi_vi02575","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi02575","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/lva/vi02575.xml","title_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"title_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"text":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965","184.4 cu. ft. (387 boxes)","Chancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.","Chancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.","Additional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty.","Organized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.","of documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)","Context of Record type: Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories.","Locality History: Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.","Lost Locality Notes: All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.","Chancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.","Chancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.","Additional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.","Encoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025.","Additional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"","Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available at Virginia Memory.","See also:  \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\" a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics.","There is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.","Many of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.","Cases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families.","There are no restrictions.","Library of Virginia","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"collection_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Circuit Court."],"creator_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Circuit Court."],"access_terms_ssm":["There are no restrictions."],"acqinfo_ssim":["These items came to the Library of Virginia in transfer of court papers from Henrico County under an undated accession. Additional records were transferred to the Library of Virginia from the Henrico County Circuit Court in 1940 under accession number 21718."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["184.4 cu. ft. (387 boxes)"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eChancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.\u003c/p\u003e\n        ","\u003cp\u003eChancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSelect Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eAdditional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["Chancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.","Chancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.","Additional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eOrganized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eof documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Organized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.","of documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eContext of Record type:\u003c/title\u003e Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories. \n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eLocality History:\u003c/title\u003e Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eLost Locality Notes:\u003c/title\u003e All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Context of Record type: Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories.","Locality History: Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.","Lost Locality Notes: All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965. (Cite style of suit and chancery index no.). Local Government Records Collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"prefercite_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965. (Cite style of suit and chancery index no.). Local Government Records Collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eChancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eChancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSelect Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eAdditional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eEncoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Chancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.","Chancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.","Additional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.","Encoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/local/results_all.asp?CountyID=VA125\"\u003e\"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"\u003c/extref\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHenrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/lost\"\u003eLost Records Localities Digital Collection\u003c/extref\u003e available at Virginia Memory.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSee also: \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=lva/vi06208.xml;\"\u003e \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\"\u003c/extref\u003e a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"","Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available at Virginia Memory.","See also:  \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\" a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics. \n\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThere is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eMany of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eCases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families.\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n    "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics.","There is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.","Many of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.","Cases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc label=\"Location\"\u003eLibrary of Virginia\n\u003c/physloc\u003e\n      "],"physloc_tesim":["Library of Virginia"],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":71,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:25:16.129Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c01"}},{"id":"vi_vi02575_c02","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"1806-019: Joseph B. Abrahams vs. Peter Haley","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c02#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eDebt suit. Joseph B. Abrahams attacked a free Black man, Peter Haley. Abrahams argued that this attack was justified because Haley had insulted Abrahams' wife, and \"such a state of insubordination in a man of his colour would well justify the deed.\" Haley took Abrahams to court for this attack and won a judgment against Abrahams. Abrahams claimed that Haley only won the case because he had tricked Abrahams into not appearing in court, and that therefore he shouldn't have to pay Haley the settlement.\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c02#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vi_vi02575_c02","ref_ssm":["vi_vi02575_c02"],"id":"vi_vi02575_c02","ead_ssi":"vi_vi02575","_root_":"vi_vi02575","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi02575","parent_ssi":"vi_vi02575","parent_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vi_vi02575"],"title_filing_ssi":"1806-019: Joseph B. Abrahams vs. Peter Haley","title_ssm":["1806-019: Joseph B. Abrahams vs. Peter Haley"],"title_tesim":["1806-019: Joseph B. Abrahams vs. Peter Haley"],"normalized_title_ssm":["1806-019: Joseph B. Abrahams vs. Peter Haley"],"text":["1806-019: Joseph B. Abrahams vs. Peter Haley","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965","Debt suit. Joseph B. Abrahams attacked a free Black man, Peter Haley. Abrahams argued that this attack was justified because Haley had insulted Abrahams' wife, and \"such a state of insubordination in a man of his colour would well justify the deed.\" Haley took Abrahams to court for this attack and won a judgment against Abrahams. Abrahams claimed that Haley only won the case because he had tricked Abrahams into not appearing in court, and that therefore he shouldn't have to pay Haley the settlement."],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[1],"sort_isi":2,"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"collection_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) 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Abrahams claimed that Haley only won the case because he had tricked Abrahams into not appearing in court, and that therefore he shouldn't have to pay Haley the settlement.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Debt suit. Joseph B. Abrahams attacked a free Black man, Peter Haley. Abrahams argued that this attack was justified because Haley had insulted Abrahams' wife, and \"such a state of insubordination in a man of his colour would well justify the deed.\" Haley took Abrahams to court for this attack and won a judgment against Abrahams. Abrahams claimed that Haley only won the case because he had tricked Abrahams into not appearing in court, and that therefore he shouldn't have to pay Haley the settlement."],"_nest_path_":"/components#1","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:25:16.129Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vi_vi02575","ead_ssi":"vi_vi02575","_root_":"vi_vi02575","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi02575","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/lva/vi02575.xml","title_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"title_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"text":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965","184.4 cu. ft. (387 boxes)","Chancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.","Chancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.","Additional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty.","Organized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.","of documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)","Context of Record type: Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories.","Locality History: Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.","Lost Locality Notes: All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.","Chancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.","Chancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.","Additional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.","Encoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025.","Additional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"","Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available at Virginia Memory.","See also:  \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\" a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics.","There is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.","Many of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.","Cases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families.","There are no restrictions.","Library of Virginia","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"collection_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Circuit Court."],"creator_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Circuit Court."],"access_terms_ssm":["There are no restrictions."],"acqinfo_ssim":["These items came to the Library of Virginia in transfer of court papers from Henrico County under an undated accession. Additional records were transferred to the Library of Virginia from the Henrico County Circuit Court in 1940 under accession number 21718."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["184.4 cu. ft. (387 boxes)"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eChancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.\u003c/p\u003e\n        ","\u003cp\u003eChancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSelect Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eAdditional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["Chancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.","Chancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.","Additional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eOrganized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eof documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Organized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.","of documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eContext of Record type:\u003c/title\u003e Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories. \n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eLocality History:\u003c/title\u003e Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eLost Locality Notes:\u003c/title\u003e All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Context of Record type: Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories.","Locality History: Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.","Lost Locality Notes: All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965. (Cite style of suit and chancery index no.). Local Government Records Collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"prefercite_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965. (Cite style of suit and chancery index no.). Local Government Records Collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eChancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eChancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSelect Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eAdditional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eEncoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Chancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.","Chancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.","Additional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.","Encoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/local/results_all.asp?CountyID=VA125\"\u003e\"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"\u003c/extref\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHenrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/lost\"\u003eLost Records Localities Digital Collection\u003c/extref\u003e available at Virginia Memory.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSee also: \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=lva/vi06208.xml;\"\u003e \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\"\u003c/extref\u003e a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"","Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available at Virginia Memory.","See also:  \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\" a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics. \n\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThere is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eMany of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eCases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families.\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n    "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics.","There is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.","Many of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.","Cases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc label=\"Location\"\u003eLibrary of Virginia\n\u003c/physloc\u003e\n      "],"physloc_tesim":["Library of Virginia"],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":71,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:25:16.129Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c02"}},{"id":"vi_vi02575_c03","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"1809-022: John Lynch vs. John Bernard","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c03#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eContract suit. The case centered around a group of French-American trading vessels, particularly the vessel La Ville de Bordeaux, which were caught up in the war between France and Great Britain in the 1790s. Ownership was split between John Lynch, an American citizen, and John Bernard, a French citizen, and the issue was further complicated when two unrelated Americans were given control of the ship during the war. This was intended to be a temporay trust to prevent the ship from having to fly French colors and potentially becoming a military target, but the trustees violated their agreement by selling the ship in India without permission.\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c03#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vi_vi02575_c03","ref_ssm":["vi_vi02575_c03"],"id":"vi_vi02575_c03","ead_ssi":"vi_vi02575","_root_":"vi_vi02575","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi02575","parent_ssi":"vi_vi02575","parent_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vi_vi02575"],"title_filing_ssi":"1809-022: John Lynch vs. John Bernard","title_ssm":["1809-022: John Lynch vs. John Bernard"],"title_tesim":["1809-022: John Lynch vs. John Bernard"],"normalized_title_ssm":["1809-022: John Lynch vs. John Bernard"],"text":["1809-022: John Lynch vs. John Bernard","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965","Contract suit. The case centered around a group of French-American trading vessels, particularly the vessel La Ville de Bordeaux, which were caught up in the war between France and Great Britain in the 1790s. Ownership was split between John Lynch, an American citizen, and John Bernard, a French citizen, and the issue was further complicated when two unrelated Americans were given control of the ship during the war. This was intended to be a temporay trust to prevent the ship from having to fly French colors and potentially becoming a military target, but the trustees violated their agreement by selling the ship in India without permission."],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[1],"sort_isi":3,"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"collection_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) 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This was intended to be a temporay trust to prevent the ship from having to fly French colors and potentially becoming a military target, but the trustees violated their agreement by selling the ship in India without permission."],"_nest_path_":"/components#2","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:25:16.129Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vi_vi02575","ead_ssi":"vi_vi02575","_root_":"vi_vi02575","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi02575","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/lva/vi02575.xml","title_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"title_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"text":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965","184.4 cu. ft. (387 boxes)","Chancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.","Chancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.","Additional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty.","Organized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.","of documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)","Context of Record type: Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories.","Locality History: Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.","Lost Locality Notes: All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.","Chancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.","Chancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.","Additional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.","Encoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025.","Additional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"","Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available at Virginia Memory.","See also:  \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\" a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics.","There is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. 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According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories. \n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eLocality History:\u003c/title\u003e Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eLost Locality Notes:\u003c/title\u003e All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Context of Record type: Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories.","Locality History: Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.","Lost Locality Notes: All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965. (Cite style of suit and chancery index no.). Local Government Records Collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"prefercite_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965. (Cite style of suit and chancery index no.). Local Government Records Collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eChancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eChancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSelect Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eAdditional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eEncoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Chancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.","Chancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.","Additional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.","Encoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/local/results_all.asp?CountyID=VA125\"\u003e\"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"\u003c/extref\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHenrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/lost\"\u003eLost Records Localities Digital Collection\u003c/extref\u003e available at Virginia Memory.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSee also: \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=lva/vi06208.xml;\"\u003e \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\"\u003c/extref\u003e a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"","Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available at Virginia Memory.","See also:  \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\" a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics. \n\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThere is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eMany of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eCases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families.\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n    "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics.","There is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.","Many of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.","Cases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc label=\"Location\"\u003eLibrary of Virginia\n\u003c/physloc\u003e\n      "],"physloc_tesim":["Library of Virginia"],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":71,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:25:16.129Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c03"}},{"id":"vi_vi02575_c04","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"1811-001: John Alcock vs. John Brockenbrough etc.","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c04#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eContract suit centered around an enslaved man named James Harris. John Alcock claimed that Alexander Walker, one of the defendants, had sold him Harris by promising that Harris was a skilled painter who wanted to be closer to his mother, who was enslaved in Richmond. Alcock argued that Walker failed to disclose that Harris had a drinking problem and that Alcock had been forced to try to sell him again in \"the southern states.\"\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c04#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vi_vi02575_c04","ref_ssm":["vi_vi02575_c04"],"id":"vi_vi02575_c04","ead_ssi":"vi_vi02575","_root_":"vi_vi02575","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi02575","parent_ssi":"vi_vi02575","parent_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vi_vi02575"],"title_filing_ssi":"1811-001: John Alcock vs. John Brockenbrough etc.","title_ssm":["1811-001: John Alcock vs. John Brockenbrough etc."],"title_tesim":["1811-001: John Alcock vs. John Brockenbrough etc."],"normalized_title_ssm":["1811-001: John Alcock vs. John Brockenbrough etc."],"text":["1811-001: John Alcock vs. John Brockenbrough etc.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965","Contract suit centered around an enslaved man named James Harris. John Alcock claimed that Alexander Walker, one of the defendants, had sold him Harris by promising that Harris was a skilled painter who wanted to be closer to his mother, who was enslaved in Richmond. Alcock argued that Walker failed to disclose that Harris had a drinking problem and that Alcock had been forced to try to sell him again in \"the southern states.\""],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[1],"sort_isi":4,"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"collection_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["Chancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.","Chancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.","Additional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["There are no restrictions."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eContract suit centered around an enslaved man named James Harris. John Alcock claimed that Alexander Walker, one of the defendants, had sold him Harris by promising that Harris was a skilled painter who wanted to be closer to his mother, who was enslaved in Richmond. Alcock argued that Walker failed to disclose that Harris had a drinking problem and that Alcock had been forced to try to sell him again in \"the southern states.\"\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Contract suit centered around an enslaved man named James Harris. John Alcock claimed that Alexander Walker, one of the defendants, had sold him Harris by promising that Harris was a skilled painter who wanted to be closer to his mother, who was enslaved in Richmond. Alcock argued that Walker failed to disclose that Harris had a drinking problem and that Alcock had been forced to try to sell him again in \"the southern states.\""],"_nest_path_":"/components#3","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:25:16.129Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vi_vi02575","ead_ssi":"vi_vi02575","_root_":"vi_vi02575","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi02575","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/lva/vi02575.xml","title_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"title_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"text":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965","184.4 cu. ft. (387 boxes)","Chancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.","Chancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.","Additional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty.","Organized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.","of documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)","Context of Record type: Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories.","Locality History: Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.","Lost Locality Notes: All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.","Chancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.","Chancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.","Additional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.","Encoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025.","Additional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"","Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available at Virginia Memory.","See also:  \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\" a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics.","There is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.","Many of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.","Cases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families.","There are no restrictions.","Library of Virginia","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"collection_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Circuit Court."],"creator_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Circuit Court."],"access_terms_ssm":["There are no restrictions."],"acqinfo_ssim":["These items came to the Library of Virginia in transfer of court papers from Henrico County under an undated accession. Additional records were transferred to the Library of Virginia from the Henrico County Circuit Court in 1940 under accession number 21718."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["184.4 cu. ft. (387 boxes)"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eChancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.\u003c/p\u003e\n        ","\u003cp\u003eChancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSelect Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eAdditional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["Chancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.","Chancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.","Additional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eOrganized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eof documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Organized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.","of documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eContext of Record type:\u003c/title\u003e Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories. \n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eLocality History:\u003c/title\u003e Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eLost Locality Notes:\u003c/title\u003e All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Context of Record type: Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories.","Locality History: Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.","Lost Locality Notes: All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965. (Cite style of suit and chancery index no.). Local Government Records Collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"prefercite_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965. (Cite style of suit and chancery index no.). Local Government Records Collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eChancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eChancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSelect Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eAdditional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eEncoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Chancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.","Chancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.","Additional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.","Encoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/local/results_all.asp?CountyID=VA125\"\u003e\"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"\u003c/extref\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHenrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/lost\"\u003eLost Records Localities Digital Collection\u003c/extref\u003e available at Virginia Memory.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSee also: \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=lva/vi06208.xml;\"\u003e \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\"\u003c/extref\u003e a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"","Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available at Virginia Memory.","See also:  \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\" a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics. \n\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThere is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eMany of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eCases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families.\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n    "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics.","There is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.","Many of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.","Cases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc label=\"Location\"\u003eLibrary of Virginia\n\u003c/physloc\u003e\n      "],"physloc_tesim":["Library of Virginia"],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":71,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:25:16.129Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c04"}},{"id":"vi_vi02575_c05","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"1811-012: John Cary \u0026 wife vs. Charles Sweeney \u0026 c by etc.","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c05#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eEstate suit. Centers around the estate of George Wythe and the property originally entailed to his great-nephew George Sweeney, who was tried for Wythe's murder in a famous 1806 Richmond court case. Includes as evidence a copy of Wythes's will and the codicil in which he disinherited Sweeney after being poisoned. The will outlines the support that was supposed to be given to Lydia Broadnax, a free Black woman who lived with Wythe and who was barred from testifying about his murder, and Michael Brown, a free Black boy who also lived with Wythe and was murdered alongside him. This included a personal request for Thomas Jefferson to act as Brown's patron.\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c05#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vi_vi02575_c05","ref_ssm":["vi_vi02575_c05"],"id":"vi_vi02575_c05","ead_ssi":"vi_vi02575","_root_":"vi_vi02575","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi02575","parent_ssi":"vi_vi02575","parent_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vi_vi02575"],"title_filing_ssi":"1811-012: John Cary \u0026 wife vs. Charles Sweeney \u0026 c by etc.","title_ssm":["1811-012: John Cary \u0026 wife vs. Charles Sweeney \u0026 c by etc."],"title_tesim":["1811-012: John Cary \u0026 wife vs. Charles Sweeney \u0026 c by etc."],"normalized_title_ssm":["1811-012: John Cary \u0026 wife vs. Charles Sweeney \u0026 c by etc."],"text":["1811-012: John Cary \u0026 wife vs. Charles Sweeney \u0026 c by etc.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965","Estate suit. Centers around the estate of George Wythe and the property originally entailed to his great-nephew George Sweeney, who was tried for Wythe's murder in a famous 1806 Richmond court case. Includes as evidence a copy of Wythes's will and the codicil in which he disinherited Sweeney after being poisoned. The will outlines the support that was supposed to be given to Lydia Broadnax, a free Black woman who lived with Wythe and who was barred from testifying about his murder, and Michael Brown, a free Black boy who also lived with Wythe and was murdered alongside him. This included a personal request for Thomas Jefferson to act as Brown's patron."],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[1],"sort_isi":5,"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"collection_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["Chancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.","Chancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.","Additional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["There are no restrictions."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eEstate suit. Centers around the estate of George Wythe and the property originally entailed to his great-nephew George Sweeney, who was tried for Wythe's murder in a famous 1806 Richmond court case. Includes as evidence a copy of Wythes's will and the codicil in which he disinherited Sweeney after being poisoned. The will outlines the support that was supposed to be given to Lydia Broadnax, a free Black woman who lived with Wythe and who was barred from testifying about his murder, and Michael Brown, a free Black boy who also lived with Wythe and was murdered alongside him. This included a personal request for Thomas Jefferson to act as Brown's patron.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Estate suit. Centers around the estate of George Wythe and the property originally entailed to his great-nephew George Sweeney, who was tried for Wythe's murder in a famous 1806 Richmond court case. Includes as evidence a copy of Wythes's will and the codicil in which he disinherited Sweeney after being poisoned. The will outlines the support that was supposed to be given to Lydia Broadnax, a free Black woman who lived with Wythe and who was barred from testifying about his murder, and Michael Brown, a free Black boy who also lived with Wythe and was murdered alongside him. This included a personal request for Thomas Jefferson to act as Brown's patron."],"_nest_path_":"/components#4","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:25:16.129Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vi_vi02575","ead_ssi":"vi_vi02575","_root_":"vi_vi02575","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi02575","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/lva/vi02575.xml","title_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"title_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"text":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965","184.4 cu. ft. (387 boxes)","Chancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.","Chancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.","Additional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty.","Organized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.","of documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)","Context of Record type: Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories.","Locality History: Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.","Lost Locality Notes: All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.","Chancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.","Chancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.","Additional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.","Encoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025.","Additional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"","Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available at Virginia Memory.","See also:  \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\" a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics.","There is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.","Many of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.","Cases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families.","There are no restrictions.","Library of Virginia","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"collection_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Circuit Court."],"creator_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Circuit Court."],"access_terms_ssm":["There are no restrictions."],"acqinfo_ssim":["These items came to the Library of Virginia in transfer of court papers from Henrico County under an undated accession. Additional records were transferred to the Library of Virginia from the Henrico County Circuit Court in 1940 under accession number 21718."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["184.4 cu. ft. (387 boxes)"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eChancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.\u003c/p\u003e\n        ","\u003cp\u003eChancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSelect Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eAdditional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["Chancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.","Chancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.","Additional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eOrganized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eof documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Organized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.","of documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eContext of Record type:\u003c/title\u003e Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories. \n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eLocality History:\u003c/title\u003e Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eLost Locality Notes:\u003c/title\u003e All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Context of Record type: Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories.","Locality History: Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.","Lost Locality Notes: All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965. (Cite style of suit and chancery index no.). Local Government Records Collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"prefercite_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965. (Cite style of suit and chancery index no.). Local Government Records Collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eChancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eChancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSelect Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eAdditional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eEncoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Chancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.","Chancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.","Additional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.","Encoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/local/results_all.asp?CountyID=VA125\"\u003e\"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"\u003c/extref\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHenrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/lost\"\u003eLost Records Localities Digital Collection\u003c/extref\u003e available at Virginia Memory.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSee also: \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=lva/vi06208.xml;\"\u003e \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\"\u003c/extref\u003e a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"","Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available at Virginia Memory.","See also:  \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\" a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics. \n\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThere is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eMany of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eCases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families.\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n    "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics.","There is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. 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Includes as evidence a copy of Pleasants' will, which includes several sections regarding people who had been previously manumitted by him or by the Pleasants vs Pleasants court case. These sections outline their future support, rights to remain, and lives on the settlement at Gravelly Hills. The will also outlines his plans for a school for Black children at Gravelly Hills to be established and funded from his estate.\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c06#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vi_vi02575_c06","ref_ssm":["vi_vi02575_c06"],"id":"vi_vi02575_c06","ead_ssi":"vi_vi02575","_root_":"vi_vi02575","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi02575","parent_ssi":"vi_vi02575","parent_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vi_vi02575"],"title_filing_ssi":"1811-015: Trst. of William Duval vs. Legts. of Robert Pleasants","title_ssm":["1811-015: Trst. of William Duval vs. Legts. of Robert Pleasants"],"title_tesim":["1811-015: Trst. of William Duval vs. Legts. of Robert Pleasants"],"normalized_title_ssm":["1811-015: Trst. of William Duval vs. Legts. of Robert Pleasants"],"text":["1811-015: Trst. of William Duval vs. Legts. of Robert Pleasants","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965","Estate suit involving the estate of antislavery activist Robert Pleasants. Includes as evidence a copy of Pleasants' will, which includes several sections regarding people who had been previously manumitted by him or by the Pleasants vs Pleasants court case. These sections outline their future support, rights to remain, and lives on the settlement at Gravelly Hills. The will also outlines his plans for a school for Black children at Gravelly Hills to be established and funded from his estate."],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[1],"sort_isi":6,"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"collection_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["Chancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.","Chancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.","Additional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["There are no restrictions."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eEstate suit involving the estate of antislavery activist Robert Pleasants. Includes as evidence a copy of Pleasants' will, which includes several sections regarding people who had been previously manumitted by him or by the Pleasants vs Pleasants court case. These sections outline their future support, rights to remain, and lives on the settlement at Gravelly Hills. The will also outlines his plans for a school for Black children at Gravelly Hills to be established and funded from his estate.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Estate suit involving the estate of antislavery activist Robert Pleasants. Includes as evidence a copy of Pleasants' will, which includes several sections regarding people who had been previously manumitted by him or by the Pleasants vs Pleasants court case. These sections outline their future support, rights to remain, and lives on the settlement at Gravelly Hills. The will also outlines his plans for a school for Black children at Gravelly Hills to be established and funded from his estate."],"_nest_path_":"/components#5","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:25:16.129Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vi_vi02575","ead_ssi":"vi_vi02575","_root_":"vi_vi02575","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi02575","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/lva/vi02575.xml","title_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"title_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"text":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965","184.4 cu. ft. (387 boxes)","Chancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.","Chancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.","Additional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty.","Organized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.","of documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)","Context of Record type: Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories.","Locality History: Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.","Lost Locality Notes: All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.","Chancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.","Chancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.","Additional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.","Encoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025.","Additional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"","Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available at Virginia Memory.","See also:  \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\" a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics.","There is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.","Many of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.","Cases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families.","There are no restrictions.","Library of Virginia","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"collection_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Circuit Court."],"creator_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Circuit Court."],"access_terms_ssm":["There are no restrictions."],"acqinfo_ssim":["These items came to the Library of Virginia in transfer of court papers from Henrico County under an undated accession. Additional records were transferred to the Library of Virginia from the Henrico County Circuit Court in 1940 under accession number 21718."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["184.4 cu. ft. (387 boxes)"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eChancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.\u003c/p\u003e\n        ","\u003cp\u003eChancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSelect Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eAdditional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["Chancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.","Chancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.","Additional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eOrganized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eof documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Organized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.","of documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eContext of Record type:\u003c/title\u003e Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories. \n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eLocality History:\u003c/title\u003e Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eLost Locality Notes:\u003c/title\u003e All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Context of Record type: Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories.","Locality History: Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.","Lost Locality Notes: All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965. (Cite style of suit and chancery index no.). Local Government Records Collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"prefercite_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965. (Cite style of suit and chancery index no.). Local Government Records Collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eChancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eChancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSelect Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eAdditional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eEncoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Chancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.","Chancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.","Additional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.","Encoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/local/results_all.asp?CountyID=VA125\"\u003e\"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"\u003c/extref\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHenrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/lost\"\u003eLost Records Localities Digital Collection\u003c/extref\u003e available at Virginia Memory.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSee also: \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=lva/vi06208.xml;\"\u003e \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\"\u003c/extref\u003e a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"","Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available at Virginia Memory.","See also:  \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\" a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics. \n\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThere is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eMany of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eCases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families.\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n    "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics.","There is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.","Many of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.","Cases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc label=\"Location\"\u003eLibrary of Virginia\n\u003c/physloc\u003e\n      "],"physloc_tesim":["Library of Virginia"],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":71,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:25:16.129Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c06"}},{"id":"vi_vi02575_c07","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"1813-003: Petition of Nanny ~ etc.","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c07#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eFreedom suit. Nanny and her son Moses were suing for their freedom on the grounds that Nanny's mother, Sally Lawson, was the descendent of a Cherokee woman named Sukey. See also: Sally ~ et al. vs Joseph Perkins, Charlottesville District Court 1808 (filed with Albemarle Co. Judgments)\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c07#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vi_vi02575_c07","ref_ssm":["vi_vi02575_c07"],"id":"vi_vi02575_c07","ead_ssi":"vi_vi02575","_root_":"vi_vi02575","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi02575","parent_ssi":"vi_vi02575","parent_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vi_vi02575"],"title_filing_ssi":"1813-003: Petition of Nanny ~ etc.","title_ssm":["1813-003: Petition of Nanny ~ etc."],"title_tesim":["1813-003: Petition of Nanny ~ etc."],"normalized_title_ssm":["1813-003: Petition of Nanny ~ etc."],"text":["1813-003: Petition of Nanny ~ etc.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965","Freedom suit. Nanny and her son Moses were suing for their freedom on the grounds that Nanny's mother, Sally Lawson, was the descendent of a Cherokee woman named Sukey. See also: Sally ~ et al. vs Joseph Perkins, Charlottesville District Court 1808 (filed with Albemarle Co. Judgments)"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[1],"sort_isi":7,"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"collection_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["Chancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.","Chancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.","Additional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["There are no restrictions."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eFreedom suit. Nanny and her son Moses were suing for their freedom on the grounds that Nanny's mother, Sally Lawson, was the descendent of a Cherokee woman named Sukey. See also: Sally ~ et al. vs Joseph Perkins, Charlottesville District Court 1808 (filed with Albemarle Co. Judgments)\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Freedom suit. Nanny and her son Moses were suing for their freedom on the grounds that Nanny's mother, Sally Lawson, was the descendent of a Cherokee woman named Sukey. See also: Sally ~ et al. vs Joseph Perkins, Charlottesville District Court 1808 (filed with Albemarle Co. Judgments)"],"_nest_path_":"/components#6","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:25:16.129Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vi_vi02575","ead_ssi":"vi_vi02575","_root_":"vi_vi02575","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi02575","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/lva/vi02575.xml","title_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"title_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"text":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965","184.4 cu. ft. (387 boxes)","Chancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.","Chancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.","Additional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty.","Organized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.","of documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)","Context of Record type: Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories.","Locality History: Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.","Lost Locality Notes: All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.","Chancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.","Chancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.","Additional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.","Encoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025.","Additional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"","Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available at Virginia Memory.","See also:  \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\" a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics.","There is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.","Many of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.","Cases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families.","There are no restrictions.","Library of Virginia","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"collection_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Circuit Court."],"creator_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Circuit Court."],"access_terms_ssm":["There are no restrictions."],"acqinfo_ssim":["These items came to the Library of Virginia in transfer of court papers from Henrico County under an undated accession. Additional records were transferred to the Library of Virginia from the Henrico County Circuit Court in 1940 under accession number 21718."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["184.4 cu. ft. (387 boxes)"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eChancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.\u003c/p\u003e\n        ","\u003cp\u003eChancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSelect Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eAdditional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["Chancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.","Chancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.","Additional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eOrganized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eof documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Organized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.","of documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eContext of Record type:\u003c/title\u003e Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories. \n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eLocality History:\u003c/title\u003e Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eLost Locality Notes:\u003c/title\u003e All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Context of Record type: Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories.","Locality History: Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.","Lost Locality Notes: All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965. (Cite style of suit and chancery index no.). Local Government Records Collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"prefercite_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965. (Cite style of suit and chancery index no.). Local Government Records Collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eChancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eChancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSelect Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eAdditional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eEncoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Chancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.","Chancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.","Additional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.","Encoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/local/results_all.asp?CountyID=VA125\"\u003e\"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"\u003c/extref\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHenrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/lost\"\u003eLost Records Localities Digital Collection\u003c/extref\u003e available at Virginia Memory.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSee also: \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=lva/vi06208.xml;\"\u003e \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\"\u003c/extref\u003e a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"","Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available at Virginia Memory.","See also:  \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\" a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics. \n\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThere is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eMany of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eCases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families.\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n    "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics.","There is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.","Many of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.","Cases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc label=\"Location\"\u003eLibrary of Virginia\n\u003c/physloc\u003e\n      "],"physloc_tesim":["Library of Virginia"],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":71,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:25:16.129Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c07"}},{"id":"vi_vi02575_c08","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"1820-017: Daphne Lawson ~ vs Robert McCracken","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c08#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eFreedom suit. Daphne Lawson, an enslaved woman, petitioned the court for her freedom under the argument that she had been illegally purchased by Robert McCracken despite having already been legally guaranteed emancipation.\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c08#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vi_vi02575_c08","ref_ssm":["vi_vi02575_c08"],"id":"vi_vi02575_c08","ead_ssi":"vi_vi02575","_root_":"vi_vi02575","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi02575","parent_ssi":"vi_vi02575","parent_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) 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Contact Archives Research Services for availability.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.","Additional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty.","Organized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.","of documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)","Context of Record type: Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories.","Locality History: Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.","Lost Locality Notes: All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.","Chancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.","Chancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.","Additional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.","Encoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025.","Additional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"","Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available at Virginia Memory.","See also:  \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\" a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics.","There is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. 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Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Context of Record type: Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories.","Locality History: Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.","Lost Locality Notes: All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965. (Cite style of suit and chancery index no.). Local Government Records Collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"prefercite_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965. (Cite style of suit and chancery index no.). Local Government Records Collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eChancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eChancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSelect Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eAdditional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eEncoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Chancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.","Chancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.","Additional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.","Encoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/local/results_all.asp?CountyID=VA125\"\u003e\"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"\u003c/extref\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHenrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/lost\"\u003eLost Records Localities Digital Collection\u003c/extref\u003e available at Virginia Memory.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSee also: \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=lva/vi06208.xml;\"\u003e \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\"\u003c/extref\u003e a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"","Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available at Virginia Memory.","See also:  \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\" a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics. \n\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThere is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eMany of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eCases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families.\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n    "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics.","There is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.","Many of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.","Cases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc label=\"Location\"\u003eLibrary of Virginia\n\u003c/physloc\u003e\n      "],"physloc_tesim":["Library of Virginia"],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":71,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:25:16.129Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c08"}},{"id":"vi_vi02575_c09","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"1834-008: Gdn of John H. Mettert vs. John H. Mettert","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c09#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eEstate suit requesting the sale two enslaved people for being \"difficult to manage and in the habit of frequently running away.\" One of the enslaved individuals, George, was able to succesfully present himself as a free man and was hired as a cook on board a schooner bound for New York.\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c09#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vi_vi02575_c09","ref_ssm":["vi_vi02575_c09"],"id":"vi_vi02575_c09","ead_ssi":"vi_vi02575","_root_":"vi_vi02575","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi02575","parent_ssi":"vi_vi02575","parent_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vi_vi02575"],"title_filing_ssi":"1834-008: Gdn of John H. Mettert vs. John H. Mettert","title_ssm":["1834-008: Gdn of John H. Mettert vs. John H. Mettert"],"title_tesim":["1834-008: Gdn of John H. Mettert vs. John H. Mettert"],"normalized_title_ssm":["1834-008: Gdn of John H. Mettert vs. John H. Mettert"],"text":["1834-008: Gdn of John H. Mettert vs. John H. Mettert","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965","Estate suit requesting the sale two enslaved people for being \"difficult to manage and in the habit of frequently running away.\" One of the enslaved individuals, George, was able to succesfully present himself as a free man and was hired as a cook on board a schooner bound for New York."],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[1],"sort_isi":9,"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"collection_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["Chancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.","Chancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.","Additional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["There are no restrictions."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eEstate suit requesting the sale two enslaved people for being \"difficult to manage and in the habit of frequently running away.\" One of the enslaved individuals, George, was able to succesfully present himself as a free man and was hired as a cook on board a schooner bound for New York.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Estate suit requesting the sale two enslaved people for being \"difficult to manage and in the habit of frequently running away.\" One of the enslaved individuals, George, was able to succesfully present himself as a free man and was hired as a cook on board a schooner bound for New York."],"_nest_path_":"/components#8","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:25:16.129Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vi_vi02575","ead_ssi":"vi_vi02575","_root_":"vi_vi02575","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi02575","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/lva/vi02575.xml","title_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"title_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"text":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965","184.4 cu. ft. (387 boxes)","Chancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.","Chancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.","Additional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty.","Organized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.","of documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)","Context of Record type: Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories.","Locality History: Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.","Lost Locality Notes: All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.","Chancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.","Chancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.","Additional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.","Encoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025.","Additional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"","Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available at Virginia Memory.","See also:  \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\" a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics.","There is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.","Many of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.","Cases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families.","There are no restrictions.","Library of Virginia","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"collection_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Circuit Court."],"creator_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Circuit Court."],"access_terms_ssm":["There are no restrictions."],"acqinfo_ssim":["These items came to the Library of Virginia in transfer of court papers from Henrico County under an undated accession. Additional records were transferred to the Library of Virginia from the Henrico County Circuit Court in 1940 under accession number 21718."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"physdesc_tesim":["184.4 cu. ft. (387 boxes)"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eChancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.\u003c/p\u003e\n        ","\u003cp\u003eChancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSelect Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eAdditional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["Chancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.","Chancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.","Additional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eOrganized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eof documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Organized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.","of documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eContext of Record type:\u003c/title\u003e Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories. \n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eLocality History:\u003c/title\u003e Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eLost Locality Notes:\u003c/title\u003e All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Context of Record type: Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories.","Locality History: Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.","Lost Locality Notes: All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965. (Cite style of suit and chancery index no.). Local Government Records Collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"prefercite_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965. (Cite style of suit and chancery index no.). Local Government Records Collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eChancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eChancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSelect Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eAdditional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eEncoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Chancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.","Chancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.","Additional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.","Encoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/local/results_all.asp?CountyID=VA125\"\u003e\"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"\u003c/extref\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHenrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/lost\"\u003eLost Records Localities Digital Collection\u003c/extref\u003e available at Virginia Memory.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSee also: \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=lva/vi06208.xml;\"\u003e \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\"\u003c/extref\u003e a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"","Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available at Virginia Memory.","See also:  \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\" a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics. \n\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThere is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eMany of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eCases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families.\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n    "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics.","There is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.","Many of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.","Cases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc label=\"Location\"\u003eLibrary of Virginia\n\u003c/physloc\u003e\n      "],"physloc_tesim":["Library of Virginia"],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":71,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:25:16.129Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c09"}},{"id":"vi_vi02575_c10","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"1834-017: Mary D. Hite vs. John S. Syndor, gdn., etc.","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c10#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eContract suit requesting permission to sell an enslaved teenage boy, Hiram, after he attempted to escape Virginia on board a vessel bound for a northern state. The plaintiff references an unnamed individual in the community who Hiram had a close relationship with. She believed that this person had helped convince him to make the escape attempt and would continue to help Hiram run away if he remained in her custody.\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi02575_c10#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vi_vi02575_c10","ref_ssm":["vi_vi02575_c10"],"id":"vi_vi02575_c10","ead_ssi":"vi_vi02575","_root_":"vi_vi02575","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi02575","parent_ssi":"vi_vi02575","parent_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vi_vi02575"],"title_filing_ssi":"1834-017: Mary D. Hite vs. John S. Syndor, gdn., etc.","title_ssm":["1834-017: Mary D. Hite vs. John S. Syndor, gdn., etc."],"title_tesim":["1834-017: Mary D. Hite vs. John S. Syndor, gdn., etc."],"normalized_title_ssm":["1834-017: Mary D. Hite vs. John S. Syndor, gdn., etc."],"text":["1834-017: Mary D. Hite vs. John S. Syndor, gdn., etc.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965","Contract suit requesting permission to sell an enslaved teenage boy, Hiram, after he attempted to escape Virginia on board a vessel bound for a northern state. The plaintiff references an unnamed individual in the community who Hiram had a close relationship with. She believed that this person had helped convince him to make the escape attempt and would continue to help Hiram run away if he remained in her custody."],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"component_level_isim":[1],"sort_isi":10,"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"collection_ssim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["Chancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.","Chancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.","Additional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["There are no restrictions."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eContract suit requesting permission to sell an enslaved teenage boy, Hiram, after he attempted to escape Virginia on board a vessel bound for a northern state. The plaintiff references an unnamed individual in the community who Hiram had a close relationship with. She believed that this person had helped convince him to make the escape attempt and would continue to help Hiram run away if he remained in her custody.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Contract suit requesting permission to sell an enslaved teenage boy, Hiram, after he attempted to escape Virginia on board a vessel bound for a northern state. The plaintiff references an unnamed individual in the community who Hiram had a close relationship with. She believed that this person had helped convince him to make the escape attempt and would continue to help Hiram run away if he remained in her custody."],"_nest_path_":"/components#9","timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:25:16.129Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vi_vi02575","ead_ssi":"vi_vi02575","_root_":"vi_vi02575","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi02575","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/lva/vi02575.xml","title_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"title_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965"],"text":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965","184.4 cu. ft. (387 boxes)","Chancery Causes 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting.","Chancery Causes 1890-1912 are indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availability.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed but not scanned. Contact Archives Research Services for availabilty.","Additional Chancery Causes from 1913-1965 are unprocessed. Contact Archives Research Services for availabililty.","Organized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.","of documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)","Context of Record type: Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories.","Locality History: Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.","Lost Locality Notes: All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.","Chancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.","Chancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.","Additional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.","Encoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025.","Additional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"","Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available at Virginia Memory.","See also:  \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\" a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics.","There is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. 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Arranged chronologically.\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003eof documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Organized by case, of which each is assigned a unique index number comprised of the latest year found in case and a sequentially increasing 3-digit number assigned by the processor as cases for that year are found. Arranged chronologically.","of documents within each folder are as follows: Bill, Answer, and Final Decree (if found.)"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eContext of Record type:\u003c/title\u003e Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories. \n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eLocality History:\u003c/title\u003e Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      ","\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"bold\"\u003eLost Locality Notes:\u003c/title\u003e All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Context of Record type: Chancery Causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are \"administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law.\" A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case; however, the judge is basing the decision on findings compiled and documented by Commissioners. Chancery causes are useful when researching local history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history. Chancery causes document the lived experiences of free and enslaved individuals; women; children; people living with physical disabilities or mental health struggles; people living in poverty; defunct institutions and corporate entities; or those that may not have otherwise left traditional written histories.","Locality History: Henrico County was named for Henry, Prince of Wales, eldest son of King James I. It was one of the eight original shires, or counties, first enumerated in 1634. The county seat is in the western part of the county.","Lost Locality Notes: All county court records prior to 1655 and almost all prior to 1677 are missing. Many records were destroyed by British troops during the Revolutionary War. Post-Revolutionary War county court records exist. Almost all circuit superior court of law and chancery and circuit court records were destroyed by fire during the evacuation of Richmond on 3 April 1865 in the Civil War. The county's circuit court held its sessions at the state courthouse in Richmond."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965. (Cite style of suit and chancery index no.). Local Government Records Collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"prefercite_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965. (Cite style of suit and chancery index no.). Local Government Records Collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eChancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eChancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSelect Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eAdditional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eEncoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Chancery causes for the years 1770-1889 are currently closed for reformatting. The index remains available for research purposes.","Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1912, were initially processed by Library of Virginia staff in 2009.","Chancery Causes, 1770-1889, were processed again by Library of Virginia staff to bring the collection up to the new standards which include capturing additional information, such as causes of action and thematic topics, in 2023-2025.","Select Chancery Causes from 1913-1955 have been processed and indexed, but not scanned. At this time, there are no plans to digitize these records.","Additional post-1912 records are unprocessed. At this time, there are no plans to process these records.","Encoded by. S. Bagely: 2009; updated by J. Taylor: February 2023; updated by M. Long: December 2025."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/local/results_all.asp?CountyID=VA125\"\u003e\"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"\u003c/extref\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eHenrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/lost\"\u003eLost Records Localities Digital Collection\u003c/extref\u003e available at Virginia Memory.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSee also: \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"https://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=lva/vi06208.xml;\"\u003e \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\"\u003c/extref\u003e a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits.\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Henrico County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm.\"","Henrico County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Henrico County Records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available at Virginia Memory.","See also:  \"A Guide to the Henrico County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1898.\" a list of business records which may include exhibits in chancery suits."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eHenrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics. \n\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThere is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. Specifically, there are many cases concerning estate disputes over enslaved individuals.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eMany of the cases from the 1780s-1790s are related to William Byrd III's lottery of his property in the late 1760s.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eCases beginning in the 1850s consist of a higher than average number of estate suits involving free Black and Multiracial individuals and families.\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n    "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Henrico County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1770-1965, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics.","There is a substantial amount of information concerning enslaved Black men, women, and children. While there are several suits concerning the freedom of enslaved individuals, these cases largely represent the perspective of white enslavers and their disputes involving the sale, hiring, financial responsibilities, and legality of ownership of Black individuals. 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