In an antebellum incorporated town or city in Virginia, the sergeant was analogous to the sheriff in each county in terms of duties and jurisdiction. As the hustings and corporation courts were to the local county courts in this period, so the sergeant was to the county sheriffs. Gregg is absolutely correct. Some fascinating records survive in the Virginia Historical Society's collections concerning the sergeant in Richmond in the 1840s that give excellent clues as to the responsibilities of that officer in the capital city's law enforcement. Lee Shepard Beth Bond wrote: > Hi again all, > A genealogy friend wants to know what "Sergeant of Peterbsurg" means. This > is in reference to Roger Mallory of Petersburg. > > Thank you again, > Beth -- E. Lee Shepard Assistant Director for Manuscripts and Archives Virginia Historical Society P.O. Box 7311 Richmond, VA 23221-0311 (804) 342-9670 To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html