{"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Rockingham+County+%28Va.%29+Coroners%27+Inquistions%2C+1784-1936\u0026f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Rockingham+County+%28Va.%29+Circuit+Court\u0026f%5Blevel%5D%5B%5D=Collection","last":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Rockingham+County+%28Va.%29+Coroners%27+Inquistions%2C+1784-1936\u0026f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Rockingham+County+%28Va.%29+Circuit+Court\u0026f%5Blevel%5D%5B%5D=Collection\u0026page=1"},"meta":{"pages":{"current_page":1,"next_page":null,"prev_page":null,"total_pages":1,"limit_value":10,"offset_value":0,"total_count":1,"first_page?":true,"last_page?":true}},"data":[{"id":"vi_vi05551","type":"collection","attributes":{"title":"Rockingham County (Va.) Coroners' Inquistions, 1784-1936","creator":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi05551#creator","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"Rockingham County (Va.) Circuit Court","label":"Creator"}},"abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi05551#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMaterials in the Library of Virginia's collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical and mental ability; religion; sex; and sexual orientation and gender identity. Coroners' Inquisitions contain graphic and in some cases violent or otherwise disturbing descriptions of death.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi05551#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"id":"vi_vi05551","ead_ssi":"vi_vi05551","_root_":"vi_vi05551","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi05551","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/lva/vi05551.xml","title_ssm":["Rockingham County (Va.) Coroners' Inquistions, 1784-1936"],"title_tesim":["Rockingham County (Va.) Coroners' Inquistions, 1784-1936"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Rockingham County (Va.) Coroners' Inquistions, 1784-1936"],"text":["Rockingham County (Va.) Coroners' Inquistions, 1784-1936","There are no restrictions.","This collection is arrangedSeries I: Coroners' Inquisitions,1784-1936, chronological by date coroner filed inquisition in the local court.","Context for Record Type: A carry over from the British system, the separate office of coroner appeared in Virginia about 1660. The judicial duty of the office was to hold inquisitions in cases when persons met a sudden, violent, unnatural or suspicious death, or death without medical attendance. The law did not encourage the Coroner to be a medical professional until the 20th century, and only stipulated that the local court be responsible for the appointment. Although not reliant on profession, this system of affluent white men making the decisions largely ensured that only other white men served in this position for much of its history.","Prior to the Civil War, the coroner would summon a jury of twelve white men, usually prominent citizens of that locality, to assist him in determining cause of death. The jury viewed the body of the deceased and heard the testimony of witnesses which did include both white and Black perspectives. This witness testimony was recorded and after seeing and hearing the evidence, and unlike other judicial proceedings, enslaved people could provide depositions in coroner's inquisitions, but still, an all-white jury delivered in writing to the coroner their conclusion concerning cause of death referred to as the inquisition. These causes of death would be determined by a white perspective and Black individuals were only consulted; they were never in a position to make decisions. After the Civil War, the process remained the same but the racial distinctions stipulating jury eligibility no longer remained. However, as appointments still continued and juror eligibility reserved for those \"entitled to vote and hold office,\" the authority and influence in the hands of white citizens remained throughout the late 19th and early 20th century.","In 1877, an act of the General Assembly changed the number of jurors to six, and by 1926, only the coroner determined cause of death but they could require physicians to assist them with determining cause of death. Then in 1946, the General Assembly abolished the Coroner's office/ office of Coroner's Physician altogether, appointed instead a Chief Medical Examiner, and by 1950 transitioned to a statewide Office of the Chief Medical Examiner which now lives within the Department of Health.","If a criminal act was determined to be the cause of death, the coroner delivered the guilty person to the sheriff and the inquests would be used as evidence in the criminal trial. In this case, coroner's inquisitions were filed with the trial papers. If there was not a trial, coroner's inquisitions were filed separately and are more likely to appear in this collection as a standalone set of documents.","Locality History: Rockingham County was named for Charles Watson-Wentworth, second marquis of Rockingham, who supported the colonies during the years before and during the Revolutionary War. The county was formed from Augusta County in 1778. The county seat is the city of Harrisonburg.","Additional Rockingham County court records can be found on microfilm and in the Chancery Records Index at the Library of Virginia. Consult \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm\" and  the Chancery Records Index.","Materials in the Library of Virginia's collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical and mental ability; religion; sex; and sexual orientation and gender identity.\n\nCoroners' Inquisitions contain graphic and in some cases violent or otherwise disturbing descriptions of death.","Rockingham County (Va) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1784-1936, contains investigations into the deaths of individuals who died by a sudden, violent, unnatural or suspicious manner, or died without medical attendance. Causes of death found in these records include accidental, alcohol, drowning, homicide, injuries, infanticide, medical conditions, natural causes (\"visitation by God\"), and suicide.","Documents commonly found in coroners' inquisitions include the inquisition, depositions, and summons. Some inquisitions contain other documents such as exhibits. Information found in the inquisition include the name of the coroner, the names of the jurors, the name and age of the deceased if known, gender and race of the deceased, and when, how, and by what means the deceased came to his or her death. If the coroner knew the deceased person to be Black or multiracial, the inquest should identify the person individual's legal status (free or enslaved). If the coroner knew the deceased person to be enslaved, the inquest often includes their name, their enslaver and the enslaver's residence. Information found in the depositions include the name of the deponent(s) and their account of the circumstances that led to the death of the deceased.","There are no restrictions.","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["Rockingham County (Va.) Coroners' Inquistions, 1784-1936"],"collection_ssim":["Rockingham County (Va.) Coroners' Inquistions, 1784-1936"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Rockingham County (Va.) Circuit Court"],"creator_ssim":["Rockingham County (Va.) Circuit Court"],"access_terms_ssm":["There are no restrictions."],"acqinfo_ssim":["These records came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Rockingham County. Pre-1919 records came to in 2003 under accesion 40981 and post-1919 records came in 2010 under accession number 45089."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["1.8 cubic feet (4 boxes)"],"extent_tesim":["1.8 cubic feet (4 boxes)"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis collection is arranged\u003clist type=\"simple\"\u003e\u003citem\u003eSeries I: Coroners' Inquisitions,1784-1936, chronological by date coroner filed inquisition in the local court.\u003c/item\u003e\u003c/list\u003e\n\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["This collection is arrangedSeries I: Coroners' Inquisitions,1784-1936, chronological by date coroner filed inquisition in the local court."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eContext for Record Type: \u003c/emph\u003eA carry over from the British system, the separate office of coroner appeared in Virginia about 1660. The judicial duty of the office was to hold inquisitions in cases when persons met a sudden, violent, unnatural or suspicious death, or death without medical attendance. The law did not encourage the Coroner to be a medical professional until the 20th century, and only stipulated that the local court be responsible for the appointment. Although not reliant on profession, this system of affluent white men making the decisions largely ensured that only other white men served in this position for much of its history.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n","\u003cp\u003ePrior to the Civil War, the coroner would summon a jury of twelve white men, usually prominent citizens of that locality, to assist him in determining cause of death. The jury viewed the body of the deceased and heard the testimony of witnesses which did include both white and Black perspectives. This witness testimony was recorded and after seeing and hearing the evidence, and unlike other judicial proceedings, enslaved people could provide depositions in coroner's inquisitions, but still, an all-white jury delivered in writing to the coroner their conclusion concerning cause of death referred to as the inquisition. These causes of death would be determined by a white perspective and Black individuals were only consulted; they were never in a position to make decisions. After the Civil War, the process remained the same but the racial distinctions stipulating jury eligibility no longer remained. However, as appointments still continued and juror eligibility reserved for those \"entitled to vote and hold office,\" the authority and influence in the hands of white citizens remained throughout the late 19th and early 20th century.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n","\u003cp\u003eIn 1877, an act of the General Assembly changed the number of jurors to six, and by 1926, only the coroner determined cause of death but they could require physicians to assist them with determining cause of death. Then in 1946, the General Assembly abolished the Coroner's office/ office of Coroner's Physician altogether, appointed instead a Chief Medical Examiner, and by 1950 transitioned to a statewide Office of the Chief Medical Examiner which now lives within the Department of Health.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n","\u003cp\u003eIf a criminal act was determined to be the cause of death, the coroner delivered the guilty person to the sheriff and the inquests would be used as evidence in the criminal trial. In this case, coroner's inquisitions were filed with the trial papers. If there was not a trial, coroner's inquisitions were filed separately and are more likely to appear in this collection as a standalone set of documents.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eLocality History:\u003c/emph\u003e Rockingham County was named for Charles Watson-Wentworth, second marquis of Rockingham, who supported the colonies during the years before and during the Revolutionary War. The county was formed from Augusta County in 1778. The county seat is the city of Harrisonburg. \n\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Context for Record Type: A carry over from the British system, the separate office of coroner appeared in Virginia about 1660. The judicial duty of the office was to hold inquisitions in cases when persons met a sudden, violent, unnatural or suspicious death, or death without medical attendance. The law did not encourage the Coroner to be a medical professional until the 20th century, and only stipulated that the local court be responsible for the appointment. Although not reliant on profession, this system of affluent white men making the decisions largely ensured that only other white men served in this position for much of its history.","Prior to the Civil War, the coroner would summon a jury of twelve white men, usually prominent citizens of that locality, to assist him in determining cause of death. The jury viewed the body of the deceased and heard the testimony of witnesses which did include both white and Black perspectives. This witness testimony was recorded and after seeing and hearing the evidence, and unlike other judicial proceedings, enslaved people could provide depositions in coroner's inquisitions, but still, an all-white jury delivered in writing to the coroner their conclusion concerning cause of death referred to as the inquisition. These causes of death would be determined by a white perspective and Black individuals were only consulted; they were never in a position to make decisions. After the Civil War, the process remained the same but the racial distinctions stipulating jury eligibility no longer remained. However, as appointments still continued and juror eligibility reserved for those \"entitled to vote and hold office,\" the authority and influence in the hands of white citizens remained throughout the late 19th and early 20th century.","In 1877, an act of the General Assembly changed the number of jurors to six, and by 1926, only the coroner determined cause of death but they could require physicians to assist them with determining cause of death. Then in 1946, the General Assembly abolished the Coroner's office/ office of Coroner's Physician altogether, appointed instead a Chief Medical Examiner, and by 1950 transitioned to a statewide Office of the Chief Medical Examiner which now lives within the Department of Health.","If a criminal act was determined to be the cause of death, the coroner delivered the guilty person to the sheriff and the inquests would be used as evidence in the criminal trial. In this case, coroner's inquisitions were filed with the trial papers. If there was not a trial, coroner's inquisitions were filed separately and are more likely to appear in this collection as a standalone set of documents.","Locality History: Rockingham County was named for Charles Watson-Wentworth, second marquis of Rockingham, who supported the colonies during the years before and during the Revolutionary War. The county was formed from Augusta County in 1778. The county seat is the city of Harrisonburg."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eRockingham County (Va.) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1784-1936. Local government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"prefercite_tesim":["Rockingham County (Va.) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1784-1936. Local government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Rockingham County court records can be found on microfilm and in the Chancery Records Index at the Library of Virginia. Consult \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/local/\"\u003e\"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm\"\u003c/extref\u003e and \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/chancery/\"\u003e the Chancery Records Index\u003c/extref\u003e.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Rockingham County court records can be found on microfilm and in the Chancery Records Index at the Library of Virginia. Consult \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm\" and  the Chancery Records Index."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"italic\"\u003eMaterials in the Library of Virginia's collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical and mental ability; religion; sex; and sexual orientation and gender identity.\n\nCoroners' Inquisitions contain graphic and in some cases violent or otherwise disturbing descriptions of death.\u003c/title\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\n","\u003cp\u003eRockingham County (Va) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1784-1936, contains investigations into the deaths of individuals who died by a sudden, violent, unnatural or suspicious manner, or died without medical attendance. Causes of death found in these records include accidental, alcohol, drowning, homicide, injuries, infanticide, medical conditions, natural causes (\"visitation by God\"), and suicide.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e Documents commonly found in coroners' inquisitions include the inquisition, depositions, and summons. Some inquisitions contain other documents such as exhibits. Information found in the inquisition include the name of the coroner, the names of the jurors, the name and age of the deceased if known, gender and race of the deceased, and when, how, and by what means the deceased came to his or her death. If the coroner knew the deceased person to be Black or multiracial, the inquest should identify the person individual's legal status (free or enslaved). If the coroner knew the deceased person to be enslaved, the inquest often includes their name, their enslaver and the enslaver's residence. Information found in the depositions include the name of the deponent(s) and their account of the circumstances that led to the death of the deceased.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Materials in the Library of Virginia's collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical and mental ability; religion; sex; and sexual orientation and gender identity.\n\nCoroners' Inquisitions contain graphic and in some cases violent or otherwise disturbing descriptions of death.","Rockingham County (Va) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1784-1936, contains investigations into the deaths of individuals who died by a sudden, violent, unnatural or suspicious manner, or died without medical attendance. Causes of death found in these records include accidental, alcohol, drowning, homicide, injuries, infanticide, medical conditions, natural causes (\"visitation by God\"), and suicide.","Documents commonly found in coroners' inquisitions include the inquisition, depositions, and summons. Some inquisitions contain other documents such as exhibits. Information found in the inquisition include the name of the coroner, the names of the jurors, the name and age of the deceased if known, gender and race of the deceased, and when, how, and by what means the deceased came to his or her death. If the coroner knew the deceased person to be Black or multiracial, the inquest should identify the person individual's legal status (free or enslaved). If the coroner knew the deceased person to be enslaved, the inquest often includes their name, their enslaver and the enslaver's residence. Information found in the depositions include the name of the deponent(s) and their account of the circumstances that led to the death of the deceased."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":5,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:28:05.737Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vi_vi05551","ead_ssi":"vi_vi05551","_root_":"vi_vi05551","_nest_parent_":"vi_vi05551","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/lva/vi05551.xml","title_ssm":["Rockingham County (Va.) Coroners' Inquistions, 1784-1936"],"title_tesim":["Rockingham County (Va.) Coroners' Inquistions, 1784-1936"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Rockingham County (Va.) Coroners' Inquistions, 1784-1936"],"text":["Rockingham County (Va.) Coroners' Inquistions, 1784-1936","There are no restrictions.","This collection is arrangedSeries I: Coroners' Inquisitions,1784-1936, chronological by date coroner filed inquisition in the local court.","Context for Record Type: A carry over from the British system, the separate office of coroner appeared in Virginia about 1660. The judicial duty of the office was to hold inquisitions in cases when persons met a sudden, violent, unnatural or suspicious death, or death without medical attendance. The law did not encourage the Coroner to be a medical professional until the 20th century, and only stipulated that the local court be responsible for the appointment. Although not reliant on profession, this system of affluent white men making the decisions largely ensured that only other white men served in this position for much of its history.","Prior to the Civil War, the coroner would summon a jury of twelve white men, usually prominent citizens of that locality, to assist him in determining cause of death. The jury viewed the body of the deceased and heard the testimony of witnesses which did include both white and Black perspectives. This witness testimony was recorded and after seeing and hearing the evidence, and unlike other judicial proceedings, enslaved people could provide depositions in coroner's inquisitions, but still, an all-white jury delivered in writing to the coroner their conclusion concerning cause of death referred to as the inquisition. These causes of death would be determined by a white perspective and Black individuals were only consulted; they were never in a position to make decisions. After the Civil War, the process remained the same but the racial distinctions stipulating jury eligibility no longer remained. However, as appointments still continued and juror eligibility reserved for those \"entitled to vote and hold office,\" the authority and influence in the hands of white citizens remained throughout the late 19th and early 20th century.","In 1877, an act of the General Assembly changed the number of jurors to six, and by 1926, only the coroner determined cause of death but they could require physicians to assist them with determining cause of death. Then in 1946, the General Assembly abolished the Coroner's office/ office of Coroner's Physician altogether, appointed instead a Chief Medical Examiner, and by 1950 transitioned to a statewide Office of the Chief Medical Examiner which now lives within the Department of Health.","If a criminal act was determined to be the cause of death, the coroner delivered the guilty person to the sheriff and the inquests would be used as evidence in the criminal trial. In this case, coroner's inquisitions were filed with the trial papers. If there was not a trial, coroner's inquisitions were filed separately and are more likely to appear in this collection as a standalone set of documents.","Locality History: Rockingham County was named for Charles Watson-Wentworth, second marquis of Rockingham, who supported the colonies during the years before and during the Revolutionary War. The county was formed from Augusta County in 1778. The county seat is the city of Harrisonburg.","Additional Rockingham County court records can be found on microfilm and in the Chancery Records Index at the Library of Virginia. Consult \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm\" and  the Chancery Records Index.","Materials in the Library of Virginia's collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical and mental ability; religion; sex; and sexual orientation and gender identity.\n\nCoroners' Inquisitions contain graphic and in some cases violent or otherwise disturbing descriptions of death.","Rockingham County (Va) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1784-1936, contains investigations into the deaths of individuals who died by a sudden, violent, unnatural or suspicious manner, or died without medical attendance. Causes of death found in these records include accidental, alcohol, drowning, homicide, injuries, infanticide, medical conditions, natural causes (\"visitation by God\"), and suicide.","Documents commonly found in coroners' inquisitions include the inquisition, depositions, and summons. Some inquisitions contain other documents such as exhibits. Information found in the inquisition include the name of the coroner, the names of the jurors, the name and age of the deceased if known, gender and race of the deceased, and when, how, and by what means the deceased came to his or her death. If the coroner knew the deceased person to be Black or multiracial, the inquest should identify the person individual's legal status (free or enslaved). If the coroner knew the deceased person to be enslaved, the inquest often includes their name, their enslaver and the enslaver's residence. Information found in the depositions include the name of the deponent(s) and their account of the circumstances that led to the death of the deceased.","There are no restrictions.","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["Rockingham County (Va.) Coroners' Inquistions, 1784-1936"],"collection_ssim":["Rockingham County (Va.) Coroners' Inquistions, 1784-1936"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"repository_ssm":["Library of Virginia"],"repository_ssim":["Library of Virginia"],"creator_ssm":["Rockingham County (Va.) Circuit Court"],"creator_ssim":["Rockingham County (Va.) Circuit Court"],"access_terms_ssm":["There are no restrictions."],"acqinfo_ssim":["These records came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Rockingham County. Pre-1919 records came to in 2003 under accesion 40981 and post-1919 records came in 2010 under accession number 45089."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["1.8 cubic feet (4 boxes)"],"extent_tesim":["1.8 cubic feet (4 boxes)"],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis collection is arranged\u003clist type=\"simple\"\u003e\u003citem\u003eSeries I: Coroners' Inquisitions,1784-1936, chronological by date coroner filed inquisition in the local court.\u003c/item\u003e\u003c/list\u003e\n\u003c/p\u003e\n    "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["This collection is arrangedSeries I: Coroners' Inquisitions,1784-1936, chronological by date coroner filed inquisition in the local court."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eContext for Record Type: \u003c/emph\u003eA carry over from the British system, the separate office of coroner appeared in Virginia about 1660. The judicial duty of the office was to hold inquisitions in cases when persons met a sudden, violent, unnatural or suspicious death, or death without medical attendance. The law did not encourage the Coroner to be a medical professional until the 20th century, and only stipulated that the local court be responsible for the appointment. Although not reliant on profession, this system of affluent white men making the decisions largely ensured that only other white men served in this position for much of its history.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n","\u003cp\u003ePrior to the Civil War, the coroner would summon a jury of twelve white men, usually prominent citizens of that locality, to assist him in determining cause of death. The jury viewed the body of the deceased and heard the testimony of witnesses which did include both white and Black perspectives. This witness testimony was recorded and after seeing and hearing the evidence, and unlike other judicial proceedings, enslaved people could provide depositions in coroner's inquisitions, but still, an all-white jury delivered in writing to the coroner their conclusion concerning cause of death referred to as the inquisition. These causes of death would be determined by a white perspective and Black individuals were only consulted; they were never in a position to make decisions. After the Civil War, the process remained the same but the racial distinctions stipulating jury eligibility no longer remained. However, as appointments still continued and juror eligibility reserved for those \"entitled to vote and hold office,\" the authority and influence in the hands of white citizens remained throughout the late 19th and early 20th century.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n","\u003cp\u003eIn 1877, an act of the General Assembly changed the number of jurors to six, and by 1926, only the coroner determined cause of death but they could require physicians to assist them with determining cause of death. Then in 1946, the General Assembly abolished the Coroner's office/ office of Coroner's Physician altogether, appointed instead a Chief Medical Examiner, and by 1950 transitioned to a statewide Office of the Chief Medical Examiner which now lives within the Department of Health.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n","\u003cp\u003eIf a criminal act was determined to be the cause of death, the coroner delivered the guilty person to the sheriff and the inquests would be used as evidence in the criminal trial. In this case, coroner's inquisitions were filed with the trial papers. If there was not a trial, coroner's inquisitions were filed separately and are more likely to appear in this collection as a standalone set of documents.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e\u003cemph render=\"bold\"\u003eLocality History:\u003c/emph\u003e Rockingham County was named for Charles Watson-Wentworth, second marquis of Rockingham, who supported the colonies during the years before and during the Revolutionary War. The county was formed from Augusta County in 1778. The county seat is the city of Harrisonburg. \n\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["Context for Record Type: A carry over from the British system, the separate office of coroner appeared in Virginia about 1660. The judicial duty of the office was to hold inquisitions in cases when persons met a sudden, violent, unnatural or suspicious death, or death without medical attendance. The law did not encourage the Coroner to be a medical professional until the 20th century, and only stipulated that the local court be responsible for the appointment. Although not reliant on profession, this system of affluent white men making the decisions largely ensured that only other white men served in this position for much of its history.","Prior to the Civil War, the coroner would summon a jury of twelve white men, usually prominent citizens of that locality, to assist him in determining cause of death. The jury viewed the body of the deceased and heard the testimony of witnesses which did include both white and Black perspectives. This witness testimony was recorded and after seeing and hearing the evidence, and unlike other judicial proceedings, enslaved people could provide depositions in coroner's inquisitions, but still, an all-white jury delivered in writing to the coroner their conclusion concerning cause of death referred to as the inquisition. These causes of death would be determined by a white perspective and Black individuals were only consulted; they were never in a position to make decisions. After the Civil War, the process remained the same but the racial distinctions stipulating jury eligibility no longer remained. However, as appointments still continued and juror eligibility reserved for those \"entitled to vote and hold office,\" the authority and influence in the hands of white citizens remained throughout the late 19th and early 20th century.","In 1877, an act of the General Assembly changed the number of jurors to six, and by 1926, only the coroner determined cause of death but they could require physicians to assist them with determining cause of death. Then in 1946, the General Assembly abolished the Coroner's office/ office of Coroner's Physician altogether, appointed instead a Chief Medical Examiner, and by 1950 transitioned to a statewide Office of the Chief Medical Examiner which now lives within the Department of Health.","If a criminal act was determined to be the cause of death, the coroner delivered the guilty person to the sheriff and the inquests would be used as evidence in the criminal trial. In this case, coroner's inquisitions were filed with the trial papers. If there was not a trial, coroner's inquisitions were filed separately and are more likely to appear in this collection as a standalone set of documents.","Locality History: Rockingham County was named for Charles Watson-Wentworth, second marquis of Rockingham, who supported the colonies during the years before and during the Revolutionary War. The county was formed from Augusta County in 1778. The county seat is the city of Harrisonburg."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eRockingham County (Va.) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1784-1936. Local government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"prefercite_tesim":["Rockingham County (Va.) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1784-1936. Local government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eAdditional Rockingham County court records can be found on microfilm and in the Chancery Records Index at the Library of Virginia. Consult \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/local/\"\u003e\"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm\"\u003c/extref\u003e and \u003cextref type=\"simple\" href=\"http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/chancery/\"\u003e the Chancery Records Index\u003c/extref\u003e.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n      "],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["Additional Rockingham County court records can be found on microfilm and in the Chancery Records Index at the Library of Virginia. Consult \"A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm\" and  the Chancery Records Index."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle render=\"italic\"\u003eMaterials in the Library of Virginia's collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical and mental ability; religion; sex; and sexual orientation and gender identity.\n\nCoroners' Inquisitions contain graphic and in some cases violent or otherwise disturbing descriptions of death.\u003c/title\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\n","\u003cp\u003eRockingham County (Va) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1784-1936, contains investigations into the deaths of individuals who died by a sudden, violent, unnatural or suspicious manner, or died without medical attendance. Causes of death found in these records include accidental, alcohol, drowning, homicide, injuries, infanticide, medical conditions, natural causes (\"visitation by God\"), and suicide.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003e Documents commonly found in coroners' inquisitions include the inquisition, depositions, and summons. Some inquisitions contain other documents such as exhibits. Information found in the inquisition include the name of the coroner, the names of the jurors, the name and age of the deceased if known, gender and race of the deceased, and when, how, and by what means the deceased came to his or her death. If the coroner knew the deceased person to be Black or multiracial, the inquest should identify the person individual's legal status (free or enslaved). If the coroner knew the deceased person to be enslaved, the inquest often includes their name, their enslaver and the enslaver's residence. Information found in the depositions include the name of the deponent(s) and their account of the circumstances that led to the death of the deceased.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Materials in the Library of Virginia's collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical and mental ability; religion; sex; and sexual orientation and gender identity.\n\nCoroners' Inquisitions contain graphic and in some cases violent or otherwise disturbing descriptions of death.","Rockingham County (Va) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1784-1936, contains investigations into the deaths of individuals who died by a sudden, violent, unnatural or suspicious manner, or died without medical attendance. Causes of death found in these records include accidental, alcohol, drowning, homicide, injuries, infanticide, medical conditions, natural causes (\"visitation by God\"), and suicide.","Documents commonly found in coroners' inquisitions include the inquisition, depositions, and summons. Some inquisitions contain other documents such as exhibits. Information found in the inquisition include the name of the coroner, the names of the jurors, the name and age of the deceased if known, gender and race of the deceased, and when, how, and by what means the deceased came to his or her death. If the coroner knew the deceased person to be Black or multiracial, the inquest should identify the person individual's legal status (free or enslaved). If the coroner knew the deceased person to be enslaved, the inquest often includes their name, their enslaver and the enslaver's residence. Information found in the depositions include the name of the deponent(s) and their account of the circumstances that led to the death of the deceased."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no restrictions.\n\u003c/p\u003e\n"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["There are no restrictions."],"language_ssim":["English"],"total_component_count_is":5,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-08-14T22:28:05.737Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/vi_vi05551"}}],"included":[{"type":"facet","id":"repository_ssim","attributes":{"label":"Repository","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"Library of Virginia","value":"Library of Virginia","hits":1},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Rockingham+County+%28Va.%29+Coroners%27+Inquistions%2C+1784-1936\u0026f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Rockingham+County+%28Va.%29+Circuit+Court\u0026f%5Blevel%5D%5B%5D=Collection\u0026f%5Brepository%5D%5B%5D=Library+of+Virginia"}}]},"links":{"self":"https://arvasarchive.org/catalog/facet/repository_ssim.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Rockingham+County+%28Va.%29+Coroners%27+Inquistions%2C+1784-1936\u0026f%5Bcreators%5D%5B%5D=Rockingham+County+%28Va.%29+Circuit+Court\u0026f%5Blevel%5D%5B%5D=Collection"}},{"type":"facet","id":"collection_ssim","attributes":{"label":"Collection","items":[{"attributes":{"label":"Rockingham County (Va.) 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