Orange County (Va.) Circuit Court

Orange County, according to most accounts, was named for William of Orange, the Dutch prince who became William III of England in 1688. It is more probable, however, that the name honored William IV, prince of Orange-Nassau, who married Anne, eldest daughter of George II, in 1734--the year Orange County was formed from Spotsylvania County.

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 Orange County (Va.) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1808-1840, (The Library of Virginia)

Orange County, according to most accounts, was named for William of Orange, the Dutch prince who became William III of England in 1688. It is more probable, however, that the name honored William IV, prince of Orange-Nassau, who married Anne, eldest daughter of George II, in 1734-the year Orange County was formed from Spotsylvania County.

This record was 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 Orange County (Va.) Court Records, 1820-1848, (The Library of Virginia)

Orange County was formed in 1741 from Spotsylvania County.

The deed books of Orange County in this collection were created by the County Court.

From the guide to the Orange County (Va.) Deed Books, 1738-1759, (The Library of Virginia)

Orange County, according to most accounts, was named for William of Orange, the Dutch prince who became William III of England in 1688. It is more probably, however, that the name honored William IV, prince of Orange-Nassau, who married Anne, eldest daughter of George II, in 1734--the year Orange County was formed from Spotsylvania County.

From the guide to the Orange County (Va.) Copies of Court Records with African-American Names, 1796-1883, (The Library of Virginia)

Orange County, according to most accounts, was named for William of Orange, the Dutch prince who became William III of England in 1688. It is more probable, however, that the name honored William IV, prince of Orange-Nassau, who married Anne, eldest daughter of George II, in 1734-the year Orange County was named from Spotsylvania County.

From the guide to the Orange County (Va.) Deed of Emancipation, 1784 Mar. 27, (The Library of Virginia)

Orange County, according to most accounts, was named for William of Orange, the Dutch prince who became King William III of England in 1688. It is more probable, however, that it was named for William IV, prince of Orange-Nassau, who married Anne, eldest daughter of King George II, in 1734-the year that Orange County was formed from Spotsylvania County. The county court first met on 21 January 1735. The county seat is Orange.

On 1832 June 7, Congress enacted pension legislation extending benefits more universally than under any previous legislation. This act provided for full pay for life for all officers and enlisted men who served at least 2 years in the Continental Line, the state troops or militia, the navy or marines. Men who served less than 2 years but at least 6 months were granted pensions of less than full pay. Benefits were payable effective March 4, 1831, without regard to financial need or disability and widows or children of Revolutionary War veterans were entitled to collect any unpaid benefits due from the last payment to a veteran until his death.

From the guide to the Orange County (Va.) Revolutionary War Pension Records, 1813-1854, (The Library of Virginia)

Orange County, according to most accounts, was named for William of Orange, the Dutch prince who became William III of England in 1688. It is more probable, however, that the name honored William IV, prince of Orange-Nassau, who married Anne, eldest daughter of George II, in 1734-the year Orange County was formed from Spotsylvania County.

From the guide to the Orange County (Va.) Public Buildings and Grounds, 1752-1900, (The Library of Virginia)

Orange County, according to most accounts, was named for William of Orange, the Dutch prince who became William III of England in 1688. It is more probable, however, that the name honored William IV, prince of Orange-Nassau, who married Anne, eldest daughter of George II, in 1734-the year Orange County was formed from Spotsylvania County.

From the guide to the Orange County (Va.) Taylor District School Census, 1915, (The Library of Virginia)

Orange County, according to most accounts, was named for William of Orange, the Dutch prince who became William III of England in 1688. It is more probable, however, that the name honored William IV, prince of Orange-Nassau, who married Anne, eldest daughter of George II, in 1734--the year Orange County was formed from Spotsylvania County.

From the guide to the Orange County (Va.) Commonwealth Causes, 1736-1903, (The Library of Virginia)

Orange County was formed from Spotsylvania County in 1734.

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 city clerk.

From the guide to the Orange County (Va.) List of Free Negroes, 1810-1850 circa, (The Library of Virginia)

Chancery causes are cases of equity. According to Black's Law Dictionary they are "administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law." A judge, not a jury, determines the outcome of the case.

Orange County was formed in 1734 from Spotsylvania County.

From the guide to the Orange County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1736-1952, (The Library of Virginia)

Orange County was formed in 1734 from Spotsylvania County.

In seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Virginia, the term "tithable" referred to a person who paid (or for whom someone else paid) one of the taxes imposed by the General Assembly for the support of civil government in the colony. In colonial Virginia, a poll tax or capitation tax was assessed on free white males, African American slaves, and Native American servants (both male and female), all age sixteen or older. Owners and masters paid the taxes levied on their slaves and servants. For a more detailed history of tithables, consult "Colonial tithables" found on the Library of Virginia's web site.

From the guide to the Orange County (Va.) Lists of Tithables, 1736-1755, 1782 and undated., (The Library of Virginia)