Amherst County (Va.) Processioner's Records, 1797-1866

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:

Amherst County (Va.) Processioner's Records, 1797-1866. Local government records collection, Amherst County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Summary

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

Amherst County (Va.) Processioner's Records, 1797-1866. Local government records collection, Amherst County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Amherst County (Va.) Processioner's Records, 1797-1866 typically record an area of land processioned with geographical landmarks, roads, property lines noted, the names of the persons present, the date(s) when the processioning occurred, the names of the processioners, and the date that the return was recorded by the local court.

Biographical / historical:

Amherst County was named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the latter part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759 to 1768. It was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770. The county seat is Amherst.

Two freeholders were appointed on order of the county court to procession or review the bounds of farms or tracts of land in each precinct in order to renew or replace old landmarks. This was originally a function of the church vestry, but was continued by the court after disestablishment. Persons who walked the boundaries were called processioners.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Amherst County.
Arrangement:

Chronological.

Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
1 b.