Collections

Southampton County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1828, consist of suits initiated by slaves seeking to gain their freedom on the law side of the court. Cases are identified by style of suit consisting of plaintiff and defendant names. Surnames of others involved in a suit, including secondary plaintiffs and defendants, witnesses, deponents and affiants, and family members with surnames different from the plaintiff or defendant are indexed. Also identified are names of slaves and slaveowners found in suit as well as whether slave(s) won their freedom. Predominant documents found in freedom suits include petitions, records of suits, depositions, affidavits, wills, among other items. Information found in documents include slave's argument for freedom, acquisition of slaves by slaveowners, slave ancestry, and relationship between slaves and slaveowners.

Will Books, 1749-1782, of Southampton County Court. The will book includes the name of testator, list of heirs and the year the wills were proven in court and probate records such as inventories and appraisements. The will books have indexes which contains the first and last names of both parties. It is arranged alphabetically from A-Z. Will Book No. 3, Part 2 (1771-1779) have guardian accounts. The book includes the name of the guardian and minor; date of entries; reason or cause for disbursements and receipts; amount of disbursement and receipts; amount due minor at final settlement; date of examination and settlement; and signature of the Register of Wills. The book also has an index and is arranged alphabetically from A-Z.