Amherst County, Va. Circuit Court.

John A. Rowan, a resident of Lynchburg, Virginia, was a prominent landowner and slaveholder who had estates in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. He died in 1843.

John Rowan's Silver Creek estate was located in Washington County, Mississippi.

The account book was used as an exhibit in the chancery suit, Elizabeth Rowen and others versus Executor of John A. Rowan and others that began in the late 1840's and ended in the late 1860's. The suit originated in the City of Lynchburg Circuit Court of Law and Chancery; it was transferred to Amherst County Circuit Court; and returned to City of Lynchburg Circuit Court. The suit is not found with the City of Lynchburg chancery suits. It may still be with the Amherst County chancery suits.

Amherst County was named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the latter part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759 to 1768. It was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770.

From the guide to the John A. Rowan Estate Account Book, 1843-1854 (bulk 1843-1844), (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770. The county is named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the later part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759-1768.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Circuit Court Records, 1852-1912, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was named for Major Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759 to 1768. It was formed from Albemarle County in 1761.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Public Buildings and Grounds, 1831-1833, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was named for Major Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759 to 1768. It was formed from Albemarle County in 1761.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Deeds, 1797-1866, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770. The county is named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the later part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759-1768.

The Board of Supervisors is the basic governing body of the county. County laws--called ordinances--may also be passed by this board. This form of government came into existence with the state constitution of 1869 when the counties were divided into a minimum of three townships each, with a popularly elected supervisor from each township. When the township system was abolished in 1875, the counties were divided into magisterial districts. The Board of Supervisors are the current elected representatives of these districts and meet in regular monthly public sessions.

Until 1869 the county court controlled construction, alteration of, and maintenance of roads. The state constitution of 1869 created overseers of the roads and road boards which fell under the jurisdiction of the county's board of supervisors. By 1908 (according to an on line history of roads prepared by Virginia's Department of Transportation), the need for better roads in Virginia had reached the point that the legislature made its first appropriation for construction purposes under the new state program. Money provided by the state was to be matched equally by the counties paying for road improvements. During this period, state law directed the counties to levy a road tax of up to 40 cents for each $100 in value on real estate and personal property, with the revenue to cover the counties' share of improvements and to buy road equipment. In addition, the counties were authorized to issue bonds.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Board of Supervisors Records, 1902-1905, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the latter part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759 to 1768. It was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770.

From the guide to the Unidentified Farm Account Book, 1848-1879 (bulk 1868-1879), (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770. The county is named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the later part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759-1768.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Fiduciary Records, 1850-1868, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770. The county was named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the latter part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759 to 1768.

During the 1869-1870 session, the General Assembly passed an "Act to Secure Identification of Persons Convicted of Criminal Offences." On 2 November 1870, the act was approved. The act specified that "every clerk of the court of each county and corporation shall keep a register of full and accurate descriptive lists of every person convicted in his own or any other court of record of his county or corporation, of felony or other infamous offence, and a duly certified and attested copy of any such descriptive list may be used as prima facie evidence of the facts therein stated in any question of identity. Such registers shall be kept written up, well indexed, and shall be open to public inspection at reasonable hours. The register shall follow a set form and each descriptive list shall be attested by said clerk."

In addition, "the clerk of every court of record of each county or corporation, other than the county or corporation court, shall within ten days from the date of conviction of any person in his court of any offence mentioned in the first section of this act, deliver to the clerk of the county or corporation court, for record in said register, an attested descriptive list of the person so convicted, in the form hereinbefore prescribed." The judges of the respective courts are responsible for seeing that the provisions of the act are "punctually and properly carried out" by their respective clerks. The act was amended on 18 January 1871 and outlined the following: "For the services mentioned in this or the first section of this act, the clerk shall be entitled to a fee of fifty cents, to be paid out of the state treasury." By and large, the county and circuit court clerks went about compiling these registers throughout the counties of Virginia as late as the 1960s.

This original register was created by the County Court.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Record of Convicts, 1871-1903, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was named for Major Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759 to 1768. It was formed from Albemarle County in 1761.

The separate office of coroner appeared in Virginia about 1660. The judicial duty of the office is to hold inquisitions in cases when persons meet sudden, violent, unnatural or suspicious death, or death without medical attendance. The coroner would summon a jury to assist him in determining cause of death. Prior to November 1877, the jurors numbered twelve. Between November 1877 and March 1926, the jurors numbered six. The jury viewed the body of the deceased and heard the testimony of witnesses. The coroner was required to write down witness testimony. After seeing and hearing the evidence, the jury delivered in writing to the coroner their conclusion concerning cause of death referred to as the inquisition. After March 1926, only the coroner determined cause of death. He could require physicians to assist him with determing cause of death. If a criminal act was determined to be the cause of death, the coroner was to deliver the guilty person to the sheriff and the coroners' inquests would be used as evidence in the criminal trial.

From the guide to the Amherst County Coroners' Inquisitions, 1795-1878, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770. The county is named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the later part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759-1768.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Tax and Fiscal Records, 1883-1926, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770. The county is named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the later part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759-1768.

The Superior Courts of Law were officially created in 1808. These courts replaced the old district courts. The Circuit Superior Courts of Law and Chancery, established in 1831, replaced these courts.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Superior Court of Law Records, 1807-1831, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770. The county is named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the later part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759-1768.

These items were originally created by the County, Superior Court of Law, Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery and Circuit Courts.

The Superior Court of Law was created in 1808. Along with the Superior Court of Chancery, it was replaced with the Circuit Supeior Court of Law and Chancery in 1831. In turn, the Circuit Court replaced this court in May 1852. The County Court ended in March 1904.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Court Records, 1770-1863, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the latter part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759 to 1768. It was formed from Albemarle County in 1761.

In accordance with an act passed by the General Assembly 1862 Feb. 18 and amended 1862 Oct. 1 providing a mode of exemption from military service, the county and corporation courts were directed to appoint a Board of Exemption. The board was charged with deciding all claims for military exemptions brought before it, "carefully and rigidly conforming to all the provisions of the Act of Assembly." On 1863 Feb. 13, the Governor issued an order directing that where no board had been appointed, the presiding justice of each county and corporation court, together with the two senior justices, constitute the board.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Exemption Requests, 1861-1862, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770. The county is named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the later part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759-1768.

These deeds were orginally created by the County Court.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Unrecorded Deeds, 1771-1835, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was named for Major Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759 to 1768. It was formed from Albemarle County in 1761.

An act passed by the Virginia legislature in 1803 required every free negro or mulatto to be registered and numbered in a book to be kept by the county clerk.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Register of Free Negroes, 1822-1864, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770. The county is named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the later part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759-1768.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) County Court Records, 1771-1904, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was formed in 1761 from Albemarle county.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Will Books, 1761-1786, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770. The county is named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the later part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759-1768.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Land Records, 1761-1846, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was formed in 1761 from Albemarle County.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Public Buildings and Grounds, 1808-1823, undated., (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was named for Major Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759 to 1768. It was formed from Albemarle County in 1761.

In 1780 the Virginia General Assembly replaced the Anglican vestries and churchwardens of the colonial period with elected bodies called Overseers of the Poor. The Overseers provided food, clothing, shelter, and medical treatment for the persons who were too poor to support themselves or too ill to provide for their basic needs. They also bound out children whose parents could not support them or who failed to educate or instruct them, as well as orphans to become apprentices. The boys learned a trade and the girls learned domestic skills.

In 1844, the General Assembly enacted laws to create poor farms overseen by boards of directors for the maintenance and education of the poor. The boards bought farms and built buildings, appointed a superintendant for each poor farm, and chose a physician to attend the sick and teachers to educate the children. The adults and older children were required to work if they were able.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Board of Overseers of the Poor Minutes, 1844-1870, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was formed in 1761 from Albemarle County.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Deed Used as Evidence in the Case Burkes v. Millen, 1824, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the latter part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759 to 1768. It was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1773-1879 (bulk 1790-1847)., (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the latter part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759 to 1768. It was formed from Albemarle County in 1761.

The records were replevined by the Library of Virginia following the trial entitled Commonwealth of Virginia vs. Larry I. Vass heard in Henrico County Circuit Court in November 1972.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Court Records, 1837-1849, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770. The county was named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the latter part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759 to 1768.

Prior to 1853, when the Commonwealth began recording vital statistics, Virginia marriages were recorded at the county or city level. Beginning in 1661, in order to be married by license, the groom was required to go before the county clerk and give bond with security that there was no lawful reason to prevent the marriage. The bond was pledged, with two or more sufficient securities (or witnesses), but no money was exchanged. The license, issued then by the clerk, was given to the minister who performed the service. The practice of bonding was discontinued in 1849, although in some communities bonds were pledged into the 1850s. This practice insured against legal action should the marriage not take place, if either party declined to go through with the union, or if one of the parties was found to be ineligible for marriage--if either the bride or groom was already married or was underage and lacked approval to wed. The marriage certificates record the names of both parties celebrating the rites of matrimony, the date of the marriage, the name of the minister who performed the ceremony and the minister's religious denomination.

According to Virginia law, individuals under the age of twenty-one needed the consent of a parent or guardian to marry. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, officials were especially concerned about females under the age of 16 marrying without consent. County clerks were not authorized to issue a marriage license without certificate (permission) from the parent, master or guardian. In the nineteenth century, a parent or guardian could give consent verbally to the clerk of the court, or provide written consent in front of one to two witnesses; the consent was then delivered to the county clerk.

These original consents were created by the County Court.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Marriage Consents, 1836-1907 (bulk 1873-1897), (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was formed in 1761 from Albemarle County.

The deed book of Amherst County in this collection was created by the County Court.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Deed Book, 1761-1765, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the latter part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759 to 1768. It was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770.

From the guide to the Unidentified Liquor Mechant Ledger D, 1814-1815, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770. The county is named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the later part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759-1768.

The organization of these courts was similar to that of the superior courts of law, in that sessions were held twice yearly in each county and their records were filed with those of the county court. These new courts assumed the functions of both the superior courts of law and the superior courts of chancery, both of which were abolished in 1831. These courts were abolished by the constitution of 1851, and were replaced by circuit courts.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery Records, 1831-1849, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770. The county is named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the later part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759-1768.

The Virginia Constitution of 1869 placed the sheriff's tax collection function in the new office of treasurer, who was both the cashier and the bookkeeper of the county.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Treasurer's Records, 1893-1910, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770. The county is named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the later part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759-1768.

Some of the records were originally created by the County Court and Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Court Records, Bonds and Tax and Fiscal Records, 1770-1907, (The Library of Virginia)

Public schools in Virginia were established during Reconstruction, and they were racially segregated from the outset.

Amherst County was named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the latter part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759 to 1768. It was formed from Albemarle County in 1761.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) School Board Account Book, 1887-1900, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770. The county is named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the later part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759-1768.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Justice of the Peace Records, 1822-1842, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was named for Major Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759 to 1768. It was formed from Albemarle County in 1761.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Free Negro and Slave Records, 1814-1826, (The Library of Virginia)

Amherst County was formed in 1761 from Albemarle County.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Loose Free Negro Papers, 1844-1860, (The Library of Virginia)

On February 21, 1818, the Virginia legislature passed a school bill which appropriated $45,000 annually from the Literary Fund for the education of poor children. (The Literary Fund was established in 1810 with passage of a bill to appropriate "certain escheats, confiscated, and forfeited lands" for the "encouragement of learning.") Under the provisions of the 1818 School Act, each county court was required to appoint five to fifteen commissioners to establish and/or administer schools for children of the poor. A more comprehensive public school system was established by the legislature in 1870. The system was racially segregated until the mid-twentieth century.

Amherst County was named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the latter part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759 to 1768. It was formed from Albemarle County in 1761.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) School Records, 1829-1908, (The Library of Virginia)

Public schools in Virginia were established during Reconstruction, and they were racially segregated from the outset.

Amherst County was named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the latter part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759 to 1768. It was formed from Albemarle County in 1761.

From the guide to the Amherst County (Va.) Public School Register, 1886-1903, (The Library of Virginia)

John Cabell was the son of William Cabell, patriarch of the Cabell family in Virginia. John Cabell was a prominent landowner and citizen of Buckingham County. He served terms as sheriff, justice of the peace, and delegate to the General Assembly. Cabell represented Buckingham County at the Revolutionary Convention of 1776 held in Williamsburg. Green Hill was the name of Cabell's plantation in Buckingham County. Cabell died in May 1815.

Amherst County was named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the latter part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759 to 1768. It was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770.

From the guide to the John Cabell's Estate Account Book, 1809-1834, (The Library of Virginia)