After I sent the message below, I went back to the search engine for Franklin
County Chancery Cases and experimented with some more names, such as Hunt.
There is a case indexed for that name dating to 1787, so, even though they say
1792 as the start point for their records on the list I referenced, they
appear to have those from the beginning and I was incorrect.

Janet Hunter

In a message dated 8/24/2005 9:23:53 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:


> Twyla,
>
> When I was at the Franklin County Courthouse in January, I was told off the
> bat that I wouldn't find the Chancery Court cases there as they were at the
> Library of Virginia.  And indeed, the LVA Chancery Court website indicates
> they
> have the files, but only from 1792-1929, which doesn't account for the first
> six years of the county's existence (formed 1786).  I used that website's
> search
> for spearpoint and prillaman and came up with nothing (I usually choose the
> third option for surnames mentioned on the search, and then "starts with" on
> the drop down menu, rather than "equals".)
>
> I'd recommend you send an email to the Chancery Court staff regarding the
> whereabouts of the first six years of records.  They always answer promptly
> within hours.  <A HREF="mailto:[log in to unmask]">
> [log in to unmask]</A>
>
> Here's the URL:
>
> Chancery Site Index:
> http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwehave/local/chancery/index.htm
>
> Counties where information is available (not all VA counties):
>
> http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwehave/local/chancery/locality.asp
>
> Search Engine for Chancery Court records (Franklin is in Southwestern
> Piedmont -- you can't, sadly, do a one-time search of the entire state):
>
> http://www.lva.lib.va.us/ChanceryWebQ/ChanceryBasicQuery.asp#basicdatastart
>
> However, when at the courthouse, I also came across a second set of "District
> Court" and "Superior Court" records, with what if I recall correctly seemed
> to be debt lawsuits and theft cases, as well.  These included cases in the
> region, Pittsylvania and Bedford at least (I didn't have time to study
> thoroughly).   Your case could be in one of these as well.
>
> As a footnote for any of you with Franklin County interests, the courthouse
> is the most user friendly in which I have ever researched.   It was renovated
> at some point, and has an addition, so that the records are all in one large,
> open, airy and very busy room, with a couple of nooks (including one where
> the
> wills, older court order books are).  There is nothing you have to reach by
> climbing up ten feet in the air, and pulling out a 25lb book.
>
> I highly recommend that you join the Rootsweb Franklin County list.  There
> are more knowledgeable persons than I there, including several that live in
> the
> area, possibly some researchers of your lines.
>
> To do so, simply send an email as follows:
>
> To:  [log in to unmask]
> Subject:  Mailing List
> Message:  subscribe
>
> (No other words in the message at all).
>
> Best Regards, Janet Hunter
>
>



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