The Library of Virginia (LVA) is pleased to announce that the
processing, indexing, and digital imaging of the Middlesex and
Northampton County chancery causes is now complete. The images have been
added to the Library's on-line Chancery Records Index
<http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwehave/local/chancery/index.htm>  and are
now available for searching through the LVA website. The Middlesex
County chancery collection covers the years 1754 through 1894 (bulk
1754-1802).  Northampton's chancery causes include records from 1721
through 1816.  Additional pre-1913 chancery causes for both localities
remain in the custody of their circuit courts.

 

These counties join the growing list of localities whose chancery causes
have been preserved and made available through the Library's innovative
Circuit Court Records Preservation Program, which seeks to preserve the
historic records of Virginia's Circuit Courts. Please see the Chancery
Records Index for a listing of additional locality chancery collections
that are available. 

 

Chancery causes are cases that are decided on the basis of equity and
fairness as opposed to the strictly formulated rules of common law
cases. Chancery cases are especially useful when researching local
history, genealogical information, and land or estate divisions. They
are a valuable source of local, state, social, and legal history and
serve as a primary source for understanding a locality's history.
Chancery causes often contain correspondence; property lists, including
slaves; lists of heirs; and vital statistics, along with many other
records. Some of the more common types of chancery causes involve
divisions of the estate of a person who died intestate (without a will);
divorces; settlements of dissolved business partnerships; and
resolutions of land disputes.

 

 

Vincent T. Brooks

Senior Local Records Archivist

The Library of Virginia

800 E. Broad St.

Richmond, VA  23219

804/225-4452 (voice)

804/692-2277 (fax)

http://www.lva.virginia.gov <blocked::http://www.lva.virginia.gov/>
[note new address]

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<blocked::mailto:[log in to unmask]>  [note new email]

 


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