Warren County (Va.) Justice of the Peace Records, 1850-1907 (bulk 1882-1907)

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Warren County (Va.) Justice of the Peace Records, 1850-1907 (bulk 1882-1907). Local government records collection, Warren County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Summary

Creator:
Warren County (Va.) Circuit Court.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Warren County (Va.) Justice of the Peace Records, 1850-1907 (bulk 1882-1907). Local government records collection, Warren County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Warren County (Va.) Justice of the Peace Records, 1850-1907 (bulk 1882-1907), consists of Magistrates Executions, Constable's Executions Returned, and Cases Disposed of by Justices.

Biographical / historical:

Warren County was named for Joseph Warren, the revolutionary patriot who sent Paul Revere and William Dawes on their famous rides and who was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill. The county was formed from Frederick and Shenandoah counties in 1836.

Justices of the Peace were first known as Commissions of the Peace when this position was formed in 1623. The Commissioners of the Peace replaced the Commanders of Plantations who served from 1607 to 1629. The name Justices of the Peace was used from 1662 through 1974, when they were replaced by Magistrates. They traditionally had both civil and criminal jurisdictions. They served other functions, including performing coroners and lunacy inquisitions; and performing civil marriages. Until 1869, justices served as both judges of the county court and as individual justices; since then they have only served as justices.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in a shipment of court papers from Warren County.
Physical location:
State Records Center - Archives Annex, Library of Virginia
Physical description:
2 boxes and 3 v.