Fredericksburg (Va.) Circuit Court.

The Market House was constructed prior to 1752. It was Fredericksburg's arts and entertainment center until it was taken down in 1813 and replaced by a new building at William and Princess Anne Streets. The new building housed the Market House and Town Hall and was used for balls, sociables, public meetings and lodge rooms. The Market House comprised Fredericksburg's only legal vending place. The building now houses the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center.

The Market House property (lots, stalls, and rooms) was owned and managed by the city of Fredericksburg. The trustees who oversaw the Market House were answerable to the Corporation Court.

From the guide to the Fredericksburg (Va.) Market House Accounts, 1796-1819, (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. It was racially segregated until the mid-twentieth century.

Fredericksburg, in Spotsylvania County, was named for Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales, eldest son of George II. Fredericksburg was established in 1728, was incorporated as a town in 1782, and became a city in 1879.

From the guide to the Fredericksburg (Va.) School Records, 1853-1907, (The Library of Virginia)

Fredericksburg, in Spotsylvania County, was named for Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales, eldest son of George II. Fredericksburg was established in 1728, was incorporated as a town in 1782, and became a city in 1879.

From the guide to the Fredericksburg (Va.) Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Minutes, 1891-1892, (The Library of Virginia)

Fredericksburg, in Spotsylvania County, was named for Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales, eldest son of George II. Fredericksburg was established on the south bank of the Rappahannock River in 1728 and incorporated as a town in 1781 to take effect in March 1782. It became a city in 1879.

The District Court was created in 1788. The purpose of the creation of the District Court was to alleviate congestion in the General Court which had caused unreasonable delays in the adjudication of common law cases. Virginia was divided into eighteen districts, each composed of several counties, plust the district of Kentucky. Courts were held in each district twice yearly and cases were heard from the several counties in that district. The District Court always met at the same place in each district, and its records were kept at that one location. The District Courts were abolished in 1808 and were replaced by the Superior Courts of Law.

The District Court held at Fredericksburg heard cases originating in the counties of: Caroline, Culpeper, King George, Orange, Spotsylvania, and Stafford as well as the city of Fredericksburg.

From the guide to the Fredericksburg (Va.) District Court Abatements and Dismissions, 1789-1809, (The Library of Virginia)

Fredericksburg, in Spotsylvania County, was named for Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales, eldest son of George II. Fredericksburg was established in 1728, was incorporated as a town in 1782, and became a city in 1879.

The Fredericksburg and Adjacent National Battlefields Park Association of Virginia was chartered by the Virginia legislature 1898 Feb. 12 and permanently organized 1898 Feb. 22 at the Fredericksburg courthouse. The organization replaced a local commission founded 1896 Feb. 21. The park was established as Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields Memorial National Military Park 1927 Feb. 14 and transferred to the War Department 1933 Aug. 10.

From the guide to the Fredericksburg and Adjacent National Battlefields Memorial Park Association of Virginia Record Book, 1894; 1898-1911, (The Library of Virginia)

Fredericksburg, in Spotsylvania County, was named for Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales, eldest son of George II. Fredericksburg was established on the south bank of the Rappahannock River in 1728 and incorporated as a town in 1781 to take effect in March 1782. It became a city in 1879.

The Hustings Court was the city equivalent of the County Court. It was dissolved in 1904 and its functions were assumed by the Circuit Court.

From the guide to the Fredericksburg (Va.) Hustings Court Abatements and Dismissions, 1789-1852, (The Library of Virginia)

Fredericksburg, in Spotsylvania County, was named for Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales, eldest son of George II. Fredericksburg was established in 1728, was incorporated as a town in 1782, and became a city in 1879.

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 Fredericksburg (Va.) Court Records, 1830, (The Library of Virginia)

Spotsylvania County was named for Alexander Spotswood, lieutenant governor of Virginia from 1710 to 1722. It was formed from Essex, King William, and King and Queen Counties by a statute adopted in 1720 to take effect on 1 May 1721. The county seat is Spotsylvania.

Spotsylvania County was named for Alexander Spotswood, lieutenant governor of Virginia from 1710 to 1722. It was formed from Essex, King William, and King and Queen Counties by a statute adopted in 1720 to take effect on 1 May 1721. The county seat is Spotsylvania.

From the guide to the Spotsylvania County (Va.) Abatements and Dismissions, 1809-1870, (The Library of Virginia)

Fredericksburg was established in 1728. Incorporated as a town in 1782, it was incorporated as a city in 1879 and is one of the independent cities of Virginia.

From the guide to the Fredericksburg (Va.) Certificates and Registry of Free Negroes in the City of Fredericksburg, 1790-1862, (The Library of Virginia)