The Library of Virginia (LVA) is pleased to announce that the processing and indexing of the Spotsylvania County chancery causes is now complete. The index been added to the Chancery Records Index <http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/chancery/> (CRI) on Virginia Memory <http://www.virginiamemory.com/> . The Spotsylvania County chancery index spans the years 1812 through 1912. 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. If you have any comments, questions, or corrections regarding the CRI, please contact [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> . ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html