The Library of Virginia is pleased to announce that Nelson County
chancery causes, 1808-1912, are now processed, indexed, conserved, and
are available on the Chancery Records Index
<http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/chancery/> . These original
records contain considerable historical and genealogical information.
Because the records rely so heavily on testimony from witnesses, they
offer a unique glimpse of the people of Nelson County from the early
19th century through the First World War. Following are a few suits of
interest found in this collection.

 

In chancery cause Tobias~ vs. Heirs of John Campbell, 1816-005, Tobias,
a free Negro is suing for the payment of a judgment won against the
administrator of John Campbell.  In chancery suit Eliza A. Figures vs.
Christopher T. Estes, 1838-035, Figures was hired by Estes, a tavern
owner, to take care of the house business and culinary affairs.  She
sued for lack of compensation.  In Eliza Ann Figures vs. Dr. Matthew
Figures, 1840-013, the same individual is the plaintiff suing for
divorce from her husband citing cruelty, abandonment and repeated acts
of adultery.  Daniel M. Harris, trustee vs. Christopher T. Estes, etc.,
1846-017, includes a typical item found in many of Nelson County's
pre-Civil War chancery causes-a cash valuation of slaves.  The effects
of the Civil War are noted in Elijah R. Walker vs. William H. Loving,
1871-079, and in chancery cause 1880-012 which consists of multiple
suits involving members of the Coleman and Hamner families.
Modernization within the county is a topic dealt with in J.R. & Mary E.
Peebles vs. W.M. Tunstall, 1906-032.

 

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.

 

 

 


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