PUBLIC "-//Library of Virginia//TEXT (US::Vi::vi01540::A Guide to the Amelia County (Va.) Judgments, 1733-1938 (bulk 1800-1860)//EN" "vi01540.xml" A Guide to the Amelia County (Va.) Judgments, 1733-1938 (bulk 1800-1860) Amelia County (Va.) Judgments, 1733-1938 (bulk 1800-1860) Callie Lou Freed Library of Virginia © 2006 By The Library of Virginia. All Rights Reserved.

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Machine-readable finding aid derived from MARC record, created by Callie Lou Freed, 26 July 2007 Description is in English 2013-11-21 Converted to schema conforming EAD by dtd2schema.vh.xsl. A Guide to the Amelia County (Va.) Judgments, 1733-1938 A Collection in the Library of Virginia Callie Lou Freed

Library of Virginia 2007 Louise Jones/Callie Lou Freed Library of Virginia Descriptive Summary The Library of Virginia Amelia County (Va.) Judgments, 1733-1938 (bulk 1800-1860) Library of Virginia 146 cu. ft. (300 boxes) 15 volumes English Amelia County (Va.) Circuit Court Administrative Information Access Restrictions

There are no restriction.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Amelia County (Va.) Judgments, 1733-1938 (bulk 1800-1860) [insert series or volume title]. Local government records collection, Amelia County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.

Acquisition Information

These records came to the Library of Virginia in multiple transfers of court papers from Amelia County, including in 2003 under accession number 40724, in 2004 under accession number 41507, and in 2007 under accession number 43189, under accession number 34741 at an unidentified date, as well as in an undated accession.

Processing Information

Prior to 2026, the judgement descriptive records were not standardized in their inclusion of contextual information or content lists. Local Records staff reviewed this record and have updated to current standards as of 2026.

These records were processed by Louise Jones and Callie Freed in 2006-2007.

Encoded by C. Freed: 2007; updated by J. Taylor: April 2026.

 Historical Information

Context for Record Type: Judgments are identified as civil suits, often involving debt, heard by a jury on the "law" side of the court as opposed to the "chancery" (or equity) side. Should the defendant not have funds to repay the debt, the court ordered their property (including enslaved people) to be seized and sold to repay the debt owed to the plaintiff. Judgments also contain suits brought by enslaved people seeking to gain their freedom.

In Judgments, an assumpsit or declaration (sometimes referred to as a narratio) lays out the plaintiff's grievance as a petition acted as a formal application to the court requesting judicial action. Judgment suits also generally included record types like subpoenas, summons, and exhibit. Judgments may also include additional documentations such as executions, bonds, and various kinds of writs.

Judgment suits make up a large quantity of a locality's records; consequently, they provide a great deal of information concerning the activities and interests of the people who lived in the locality. Since the vast majority of judgment suits relate to financial matters, they are a valuable resource in studying the economic and social history of Virginia localities and are the impotence for many chancery suits.

Locality History: Amelia County was named for Amelia Sophia Eleanora, daughter of King George II. It was formed from Prince George and Brunswick Counties by an act passed in 1734 to take effect on 25 March 1735. The county court first met on 9 May 1735. The county seat is Amelia.

Types of Courts

The County Court was the original colonial court of adjudication and recordation, and it was the principal tribunal for the administration of local justice. The individual justices could act on small claims matters as well as criminal matters where imminent bodily harm was a possibility, there being an appeal to the full County Court, which met monthly. This court ceased to exist in 1875 and the recordation function was transferred to the circuit court.

The Superior Court of Law was created in 1808. It met twice a year in each county, presided over by a circuit-riding General Court judge. Records were filed with the County Court. It had civil and criminal jurisdiction. The court ceased to exist in 1831.

The Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery, established in 1831, were the upper courts on the local level. Sessions were held twice a year in each county, presided over by a General Court judge. The counties were grouped into districts for the convenience of the judge. The court ceased to exist in 1851.

Additional Judgment Types

Office Judgments are ruled on outside of a traditional court hearing by a court clerk, rather than a judge and usually occurs when a defendant failed to file a timely response.

 Scope and Content

Amelia County (Va.) Judgments, 1733-1938 contains civil cases in which justice was administered on the strictly formulated rules of common law. The majority of these cases in this record series relate to matters of debt. The records consist of processed loose records and several volumes.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into two series: Series I: Judgments, 1733-1938 Series II: Judgment Volumes, 1786-1908

Adjunct Descriptive Data Related Material

Additional Amelia County Court Records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm"

 Contents List Judgments Library of Virginia County Court Judgments 1733-1799 Library of Virginia 33 cubic ft.(33 boxes)

This series is processed; the records are organized chronologically by year then month.

Judgments 1733-1744 Judgments 1741-1744 Judgments 1744-1748 Judgments 1748-1751 Judgments 1752-1753 Judgments 1754-1756 Judgments 1756-1758 Judgments 1758-1761 Judgments 1762-1763 Judgments 1763-1764 Judgments 1764-1765 Judgments 1766-1768 Judgments 1768-1769 Judgments 1769-1772 Judgments 1773 Judgments 1774-1778 Judgments 1779-1784 Judgments 1782-1784 Judgments 1782-1784, 1785 May Judgments 1785 May-1786 May Judgments 1786 May-Dec Judgments 1786 Sep-Dec, 1787 Judgments 1787-1788 Judgments 1788-1789 Judgments 1789-1791 Judgments 1791-1792 Judgments 1793-1794 Judgments 1794-1795 Judgments 1795-1796 Judgments 1796 Judgments 1796-1798 Judgments 1798-1799 Judgments 1799 Superior Court of Law Judgments 1817-1821 Library of Virginia 1.8 cubic feet (4 boxes)

This series is processed; the records are organized chronologically by year.

Superior Ct of Law Judgments 1817 Superior Ct of Law Judgments, etc. 1819 Superior Ct of Law Judgments,etc. 1820 Superior Court of Law Judgments, et 1821 Unspecified Court Judgments 1734-1948 Library of Virginia 111.2 cubic feet (262 boxes)

This series is processed; the records are organized chronologically by year then month.

The court in which these records were created have not been identified.

 Various Judgment Series 1734-1799 Health and Medical Records, County Administrative Records: Overseers of the Poor Records, Public Buidings and Grounds Records, Court Records (Judgments and Clerk's Records), Miscellaneous Records, Tax and Fiscal Records 1737-1907(broken series),undated Various Judgment Series 1755-1796 Estate accounts, judgments, exec. 1756-1789; 1743-1754 Office Judgments, Judgments and Adver 1792-1844 Various Judgment Series 1800-1805 Judgments and Office Judgments 1800 Judgments and Office Judgments 1800 Judgments and Office Judgments 1800 Judgments 1801 Mar-May Judgments--Memorandum of Suits 1801-1909 (broken series) Judgments and Office Judgments 1801 Judgments and Office Judgments 1801 Judgments and Office Judgments 1801 Office Judgments and Judgments 1802 Judgments and Office Judgments 1802 Judgments and Office Judgments 1802 Judgments 1802 Jun-Aug Judgments and Office Judgments 1803 Judgments and Office Judgments 1803 Office Judgments and Judgments 1803 Judgments 1803 Jun-Aug Office Judgments and Judgments 1803-1804 Judgments and Office Judgments 1804 Office Judgments and Judgments 1804 Office Judgments and Judgments 1804 Judgments 1804 Nov Office Judgments and Judgments 1804-1805 Judgments and Office Judgments 1805 Office Judgments and Judgments 1805 Judgments 1805 Office Judgments and Judgments 1805 Office Judgments and Judgments 1806 Judgments 1806 Apr-May Judgments 1806 Aug-Nov Various Judgment Series 1806-1809 Judgments and Office Judgments 1806 Judgments and Office Judgments 1807 Judgments and Office Judgments 1807 Office Judgments and Judgments 1807 Judgments and Office Judgments 1807 Judgments 1807 Jun-Aug Judgments and Office Judgments 1807 Judgments and Office Judgments 1808 Office Judgments and Judgments 1808 Office Judgments and Judgments 1808 Office Judgments 1809 Judgments and Office Judgments 1809 Judgments and Office Judgments 1809 Judgments 1809 Jan-Mar Judgments 1809 Jun-Aug Office Judgments and Judgments 1809-1810 Office Judgments and Judgments 1809 Office Judgments and Judgments 1810 Judgments and Office Judgments 1810 Office Judgments and Judgments 1810 Office Judgments, etc. 1810 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc 1810 Judgments and Office Judgments 1811 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1811 Judgments 1811 Feb-Mar Judgments and Office Judgments 1811 Judgments and Office Judgments 1811 Office Judgments and Judgments 1812 Office Judgments and etc. 1812 Judgments and Office Judgments 1812 Office Judgments and Judgments 1812 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1813 Office Judgments and Judgments 1813 Office Judgments and Judgments 1813 Judgments 1813 Jan-Mar Oversized Judgments 1813-1903 (broken series) Office Judgments and Judgments 1813 Office Judgments and Judgments 1814 Office Judgments and Judgments 1814 Judgments 1814 Jan-Mar Office Judgments and Judgments, etc. 1814 Judgments; Commonwealth Causes; Tax and Fiscal Records 1815-1842 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1815 Office Judgments and Judgments 1815 Judgments and Office Judgments 1815 Various Judgment Series 1815 Office Judgments and Judgments 1816 Office Judgments and Judgments, etc. 1816 Judgments and Office Judgments 1816 Judgments and Office Judgments 1817 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1817 Judgments and Office Judgments 1818 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1818 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1819 Judgments and Office Judgments 1819 Office Judgments and Judgments 1819 Judgments and Office Judgments 1820 Office Judgments and Judgments 1820 Judgments and Office Judgments 1820 Office Judgments and Judgments 1820 Judgments and Office Judgments 1821 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1821 Judgments and Office Judgments 1821 Judgments and Office Judgments 1821 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1822 Judgments and Office Judgments 1822 Office Judgments and Judgments 1822 Judgments and Office Judgments 1823 Office Judgments and Judgments 1823 Judgments, etc. 1823 Judgments and Office Judgments 1823 Judgments and Office Judgments 1823 Office Judgments and etc. 1824 Judgments 1824 Spring and May Office Judgments and Judgments 1824 Office Judgments and Judgments 1824 Judgments and Office Judgments 1824 Office Judgments, etc. 1825 Judgments and Office Judgments 1825 Office Judgments and Judgments 1825 Judgments and Office Judgments 1825 Office Judgments and Judgments 1826 Judgments and Office Judgments 1826 Judgments and Office Judgments 1826 Office Judgments, etc. 1826 Various Judgment Series 1827 Judgments and Office Judgments 1827 Judgments and Office Judgments 1827 Judgments and Office Judgments 1827 Judgments and Office Judgments 1827 Office Judgments and Judgments 1828 Judgments 1828 Jan-Mar Office Judgments and Judgments 1828 Judgments and Office Judgments 1828 Judgments and Office Judgments 1828 Judgments and Office Judgments 1829 Judgments and Office Judgments 1829 Office Judgments and Judgments 1829 Office Judgments, etc. 1829 Judgments and Office Judgments 1830 Judgments and Office Judgments 1830 Judgments and Office Judgments 1830 Various Judgment Series 1830 Judgments and Office Judgments 1831 Judgments and Office Judgments 1831 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1831 Judgments and Office Judgments 1832 Various Judgment Series 1832 Judgments and Office Judgments 1832 Judgments and Office Judgments 1832 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1833 Judgments and Office Judgments 1833 Various Judgment Series 1834 Judgments and Office Judgments 1834 Judgments and Office Judgments 1835 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1835 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1836 Office Judgments and Judgments, etc. 1837 Judgments and Office Judgments 1837 Judgments and Office Judgments 1837 Judgments and Office Judgments 1838 Judgments and Office Judgments 1838 Judgments and Office Judgments 1838 Various Judgment Series 1838 Office Judgments and Judgments, etc. 1839 Judgments and Office Judgments 1839 Office Judgments 1840-1861, 1866 Judgments and Office Judgments 1840 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1840 Judgments and Office Judgments 1841 Office Judgments and Judgments 1841 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1841 Office Judgments and Judgments 1842 Judgments and Office Judgments 1842 Judgments and Office Judgments 1842 Judgments 1842 Oct Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1842 Office Judgments and Judgments 1843 Office Judgments and Judgments 1843 Office Judgments and Judgments 1843 Office Judgments and Judgments 1843 Various Judgment Series 1843 Judgments 1844 Jan-Apr Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1844 Office Judgments and Judgments 1844 Judgments and Office Judgments 1845 Office Judgments and Judgments 1845 Office Judgments and Judgments,etc. 1845 Judgments and Office Judgments 1846 Office Judgments and Judgments, etc. 1846 Judgments and Office Judgments 1847 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1847 Office Judgments and Judgments,etc. 1848 Judgments and Office Judgments 1848 Judgments and Office Judgments 1849 Office Judgments and Judgments 1849 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1849 Judgments and Office Judgments 1850 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1850 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1851 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1852 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1853 Judgments and Office Judgments 1854 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1854 Judgments, etc. 1855 Judgments and Office Judgments 1855 Judgments and Office Judgments 1856 Judgments and Office Judgments,etc. 1856 Judgments and Office Judgments 1857 Judgments and Office Judgments 1857 Judgments and Office Judgments 1858 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1859 Office Judgments and Judgments, etc. 1860 Judgments and Office Judgments 1860 Judgments and Office Judgments 1861-1865 Judgments 1866 Jan-Oct; Office Judgments and Judgments 1866 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1867 Judgments and Office Judgments 1867 Office Judgments and Judgments, etc. 1868 Judgments and Office Judgments 1868 Judgments 1868 Jun-Oct Office Judgments, etc. 1869 Judgments and Office Judgments 1869 Judgments and Office Judgments 1869 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1870 Justice of the Peace Judgments 1870-1891 Judgments and Office Judgments 1870 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1871 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1872 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1872 Office Judgments, etc. 1873 Judgments and Office Judgments 1873 Judgments, etc. 1874 Judgments and Office Judgments 1874 Judgments, etc. 1875 Judgments, etc. 1876 Judgments, etc 1877 Judgments, etc. 1878 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1878 Judgments, etc. 1879 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1880 Judgments and Office Judgments, etc. 1881 Judgments, etc. 1882 Judgments, etc. 1883-1884 Judgments, etc. 1884 Judgments, etc. 1885 Judgments, etc. 1886 Judgments, etc. 1887 Judgments, etc. 1888 Judgments, etc. 1889 Judgments, etc. 1890 Judgments 1890 Mar-Sep Judgments, etc. 1891-1892 Judgments, etc. 1893-1894 Judgments, etc. 1895-1896 Judgments, etc. 1897-1899 (see ext description) Judgments 1900 Sep Judgments, etc. 1901 Judgments, etc. 1902-1904 (see ext description) Judgments, etc. 1905-1907 (see ext description) Judgments, etc. 1908-1909 Judgments 1910 Mar-Sep, 1911 Jan-Sep Judgments 1912 Jan-Sep, 1913 Jan-Oct Bonds/Commissions/Oaths; Business Records; Judgments; Criminal Records; 1914-1948 (broken series) Judgments Undated Judgment Volumes 1786-1908 County Court Judgment Volumes, 1794-1894 Library of Virginia 9 volumes Office Judgments 1794-1797 Office Judgments 1797-1799 Issues and Petitions Book [Office Judgments] 1805-1806 Office Judgments 1810-1813 Office Judgments 1814-1823 Office Judgments 1823-1839 Judgments on Warrants 1854-1866 Office Judgments (Acc. 34741, No. 1868-1870 Office Judgments (Acc. 34741, No. 1868-1870, 1885-1894 Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery Judgment Volumes, 1842-1844 State Records Center 1 volume Issue Docket [includes Office Judgments] 1842-1844 Superior Court of Law Judgment Volumes, 1809-1822 State Records Center 1 volume Judgment Book 1809-1822 Unspecified Court Judgment Volumes 1786-1908 4 volumes

The court in which these volumes were used have not been identified.

Judgment Book 1786-1787 Issues and Petitions Book [Office Judgments] 1802-1804 Office Judgments 1844-1860 Justice of the Peace Judgments 1881-1908