Grayson County (Va.) Circuit Court.

Grayson County was named for William Grayson, a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1784 to 1787 and one of the first two United States senators from Virginia. It was formed from Wythe County in 1792, and a part of Patrick County was added in 1810.

From the guide to the Grayson County (Va.) Circuit Court Records, 1860-1934 (bulk 1860-1923), (The Library of Virginia)

Grayson County was named for William Grayson, a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1784 to 1787 and one of the first two United States senators from Virginia. It was formed from Wythe County in 1792, and a portion of Patrick County was added later.

From the guide to the Grayson County (Va.) Court Records, 1817-1858, (The Library of Virginia)

Grayson County was named for William Grayson, a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1784 to 1787 and one of the first two United States senators from Virginia. It was formed from Wythe County by a statute adopted on 7 November 1792. The county court first met on 21 May 1793. A portion of Patrick County was added in 1810. The county seat is Independence.

From the guide to the Grayson County Records, 1808-1875, (The Library of Virginia)

Grayson County was named for William Grayson, a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1784 to 1787 and one of the first two United States senators from Virginia. It was formed from Wythe County in 1792, and a part of Patrick County was added in 1810.

From the guide to the Grayson County (Va.) Tax and Fiscal Records, 1852-1965 (bulk 1852-1935), (The Library of Virginia)

Grayson County was named for William Grayson, a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1784 to 1787 and one of the first two United States senators from Virginia. It was formed from Wythe County by a statute adopted on 7 November 1792. The county court first met on 21 May 1793. A portion of Patrick County was added in 1810. The county seat is Independence.

The County Court was the original colonial court of adjudication and recordation, and it was the principal tribunal for the administration of local justice. The individual justices could act on small claims matters as well as criminal matters where imminent bodily harm was a possibility, there being an appeal to the full County Court, which met monthly. This court ceased to exist in 1875 and the recordation function was transferred to the circuit court.

The Superior Court of Law was created in 1808. It met twice a year in each county, presided over by a circuit-riding General Court judge. Records were filed with the County Court. It had civil and criminal jurisdiction. The court ceased to exist in 1831.

The Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery, established in 1831, were the upper courts on the local level. Sessions were held twice a year in each county, presided over by a General Court judge. The counties were grouped into districts for the convenience of the judge. The court ceased to exist in 1851.

The Circuit Court was authorized by the Constitution of 1851 and established by an act of the General Assembly passed in May 1852. Courts were held twice yearly in each county, presided over by 21 judges who rode circuits in the area of their jurisdiction. The records were filed with County Court records. These courts were granted original jurisdiction concurrrent with that of the County Courts, as well as appellate jurisdiction in all civil cases of more than fifty dollars and criminal cases not "expressly cognizable in some other court," including those involving loss of life.

From the guide to the Grayson County (Va.) Judgments, 1793-1875, (The Library of Virginia)

Jarvis C. Bacon was a young member of the Allegheny Wesleyan Conference. In 1848 he was appointed one of several missionaries to the South, in Grayson County, Virginia. His field of labor was where many were converted by his labors, and a church of eighteen members the first year increased to 111. But the uncompromising hostility to slavery, which refused slave-holders admission to the church, developed malignant antagonism and mob violence. Three hundred armed men at one time met to drive him from the State. But other armed men said nay, very positively, and the first party were content to resolve his expulsion, and offer a reward for his arrest, if found in Virginia aftger August 5, 1848. After three years of arduous labor, under great privations, he returned North, to die peacefully at home - Cyclopedia of Methodism.

In 1849, a Grayson County grand jury issued indictments against Reverend Bacon for circulating two abolitionist publications: Frederick Douglass' autobiography called Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave and an antislavery sermon delivered at the Sixth Presbyterian Church of Cincinatti, Ohio. Both trials were held in September. A jury quickly found him not guilty regarding the Douglass autobiography, but the other jury had a more difficult time reaching an agreement of "not guilty" regarding the sermon pamphlet.

In response to the threat posed by the abolitionist societies, the General Assembly of Virginia enacted stricter legislation in 1836 to suppress the circulation of abolitionist publications. Anyone speaking, writing, printing, and/or circulating "incendiary doctrines" that deny the right of people to own slaves or encouraging slaves to rebel would by fined and imprisoned. Postmasters were required to give notice to local authorities if they receive abolitionist publications. The local authorities were to burn the publications immediately and arrest the individual who was to receive them.

Grayson County was named for William Grayson, a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1784 to 1787 and one of the first two United States senators from Virginia. It was formed from Wythe County by a statute adopted on 7 November 1792. The county court first met on 21 May 1793. A portion of Patrick County was added in 1810. The county seat is Independence.

From the guide to the Commonwealth of Virginia versus Jarvis C. Bacon, 1849, (The Library of Virginia)

Grayson County was named for William Grayson, a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1784 to 1787 and one of the first two United States senators from Virginia. It was formed from Wythe County in 1792, and a part of Patrick County was added in 1810.

Certificates of non-importation of slaves contain information whereby a slaveowner swears that (s)he has not imported the slave from Africa and that (s)he has not brought the slave into Virginia with the purpose of selling it. Both of these certificates include the names, ages, and a brief physical description of the slaves brought into the state.

From the guide to the Grayson County (Va.) Free Negro and Slave Records, 1812-1846, (The Library of Virginia)

Grayson County was named for William Grayson, a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1784 to 1787 and one of the first two United States senators from Virginia. It was formed from Wythe County in 1792, and a part of Patrick County was added in 1810.

From the guide to the Grayson County (Va.) Fiduciary Records, 1887-1952, (The Library of Virginia)

Grayson County was named for William Grayson, a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1784 to 1787 and one of the first two United States senators from Virginia. It was formed from Wythe County in 1792, and a part of Patrick County was added in 1810.

From the guide to the Grayson County (Va.) Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery Records, 1832-1854, (The Library of Virginia)

Grayson County was named for William Grayson, a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1784 to 1787 and one of the first two United States senators from Virginia. It was formed from Wythe County in 1792, and a part of Patrick County was added in 1810.

From the guide to the Grayson County (Va.) Justice of the Peace Records, 1868-1918 (bulk 1868-1893), (The Library of Virginia)

Grayson County was named for William Grayson, a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1784 to 1787 and one of the first two United States senators from Virginia. It was formed from Wythe County in 1792, and a part of Patrick County was added in 1810.

From the guide to the Grayson County (Va.) Land Records, 1946-1975, (The Library of Virginia)

Grayson County was named for William Grayson, a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1784 to 1787 and one of the first two United States senators from Virginia. It was formed from Wythe County in 1792, and a part of Patrick County was added in 1810.

From the guide to the Grayson County (Va.) Business Records/Corporations/Partnerships, 1828-1935, (The Library of Virginia)

Grayson County was named for William Grayson, a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1784 to 1787 and one of the first two United States senators from Virginia. It was formed from Wythe County in 1792, and a part of Patrick County was added in 1810.

From the guide to the Grayson County (Va.) Voter Registration Record, undated, (The Library of Virginia)

Grayson County was named for William Grayson, a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1784 to 1787 and one of the first two United States senators from Virginia. It was formed from Wythe County in 1792, and a part of Patrick County was added in 1810.

From the guide to the Grayson County (Va.) Court Records, 1832-1908, (The Library of Virginia)

Grayson County was named for William Grayson, a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1784 to 1787 and one of the first two United States senators from Virginia. It was formed from Wythe County by a statute adopted on 7 November 1792. The county court first met on 21 May 1793. A portion of Patrick County was added in 1810. The county seat is Independence.

Throughout the Civil War, the principal responsibility for Virginia's indigent soldiers' families lay with the locality. The Virginia State Convention in 1861 gave the responsibility entirely to counties and incorporated towns and authorized whatever actions had already been taken. Acts of Assembly in 1862 and 1863 expanded the localities' powers to provide for their needy, and in 1863 some minimal state assistance was added in. At first relief was provided as money, but as the monetary system collapsed, relief was distributed in kind. Agents of the court maintained lists of eligible families, gathered goods for distribution and paid for them, and impressed supplies if necessary. Virginia was unique amongst the southern states in that it assigned the provisioning of needy families almost solely to the locality.

From the guide to the Grayson County (Va.) Reports of Indigent Soldiers' Families, 1862-1865, (The Library of Virginia)

Grayson County was named for William Grayson, a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1784 to 1787 and one of the first two United States senators from Virginia. It was formed from Wythe County in 1792, and a part of Patrick County was added in 1810.

From the guide to the Grayson County (Va.) Bonds/Commissions/Oaths, 1871-1931, (The Library of Virginia)

Grayson County was named for William Grayson, a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1784 to 1787 and one of the first two United States senators from Virginia. It was formed from Wythe County in 1792, and a part of Patrick County was added in 1810.

From the guide to the Grayson County (Va.) Superior Court of Law Records, 1809-1833, (The Library of Virginia)

Grayson County was named for William Grayson, a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1784 to 1787 and one of the first two United States senators from Virginia. It was formed from Wythe County in 1792, and a part of Patrick County was added in 1810.

From the guide to the Grayson County (Va.) Tax and Fiscal Records, Loose Papers, 1830 circa-1937 (bulk 1858-1937), (The Library of Virginia)

Grayson County was named for William Grayson, a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1784 to 1787 and one of the first two United States senators from Virginia. It was formed from Wythe County in 1792, and a part of Patrick County was added in 1810.

From the guide to the Grayson County (Va.) Board of Supervisors Records, 1891-1972 (bulk 1965-1972), (The Library of Virginia)

Grayson County was named for William Grayson, a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1784 to 1787 and one of the first two United States senators from Virginia. It was formed from Wythe County in 1792, and a part of Patrick County was added in 1810.

From the guide to the Grayson County (Va.) County Court Records, 1793-1893 (bulk 1842-1893), (The Library of Virginia)