Madison County (Va.) Circuit Court

Madison County was named for James Madison, a prominent Virginian and a member of Congress in 1792 when the county was formed from Culpeper County.

From the guide to the Madison County (Va.) Circuit Court Records, 1852-1923, (The Library of Virginia)

Madison County was named for James Madison, a prominent Virginian and a member of Congress in 1792 when the county was formed from Culpeper County.

From the guide to the Madison County (Va.) Land Records, 1793-1944, (The Library of Virginia)

Madison County was named for James Madison, a prominent Virginian and a member of Congress in 1792 when the county was formed from Culpeper County.

An act passed by the Virginia legislature in 1806 required freed slaves to leave the state within a year.

An act passed by the Virginia legislature in 1856 allowed freed slaves who desired to remain in Virginia to petition for reenslavement and choose a master or owner and remain in the state.

From the guide to the Madison County (Va.) Free Negro and Slave Records, 1859, (The Library of Virginia)

Madison County was named for James Madison, a prominent Virginian and a member of Congress in 1792 when the county was formed from Culpeper County.

From the guide to the Madison County (Va.) Deeds, 1793-1944, (The Library of Virginia)

Madison County was named for James Madison, a prominent Virginian and a member of Congress in 1792 when the county was formed from Culpeper County.

From the guide to the Madison County (Va.) Tax and Fiscal Records, 1815-1965, (The Library of Virginia)

Madison County was named for James Madison, a prominent Virginian and member of Congress in 1792 when the county was formed from Culpeper County.

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F) is an altruistic fraternal organization derived from similar English oddfellow service organizations that came into being in the 1700s. It was founded in the U.S. in Baltimore in 1819. The organization has traditionally supported a variety of philanthropic causes, including helping the sick and educating orphans.

From the guide to the Lodge No. 300 Independent Order of Odd Fellows Minute Book, 1909-1916, (The Library of Virginia)

Madison County was named for James Madison, a prominent Virginian and a member of Congress in 1792 when the county was formed from Culpeper County.

The 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. During the township period (1870-1875) the township collector and clerk also had treasurer's functions; later the county treasurer's duties were expanded to include the township officer's activities.

From the guide to the Madison County (Va.) Treasurer Records, 1871-1907, (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.

Madison County was named for James Madison, a Virginian statesman, author of the United States Constitution, and member of Congress when the county was formed from Culpeper County by a statute adopted on 4 December 1792. This was the second Virginia county to be named for future president Madison. The county court first met on 23 May 1793.

From the guide to the Madison County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1802-1881 (bulk 1873)., (The Library of Virginia)

Madison County was named for James Madison, a prominent Virginian and a member of Congress in 1792 when the county was formed from Culpeper County.

From the guide to the Madison County (Va.) County Court Records, 1815-1932, (The Library of Virginia)

Madison County was named for James Madison, a prominent Virginian and a member of Congress in 1792 when the county was formed from Culpeper County.

From the guide to the Madison County (Va.) Court Records, 1861-1919, (The Library of Virginia)

Madison County was named for James Madison, a prominent Virginian and a member of Congress in 1792 when the county was formed from Culpeper County.

Prior to 1906, the naturalization process was the responsibility of local and state courts. Declarations of intent were the record by which an applicant for U.S. citizenship declared their intent to become a citizen and renounced their allegiance to a foreign government. A declaration of intention normally preceded proof of residence or a petition to become a citizen by two or more years. Beginning in 1795, a person could declare their intent to become a citizen at any time and in any place after they arrived in the United States.

From the guide to the Madison County (Va.) Naturalization Records, 1870, (The Library of Virginia)

Madison County was named for James Madison, a prominent Virginian and a member of Congress in 1792 when the county was formed from Culpeper County.

From the guide to the Madison County (Va.) Records, 1793-1945, (The Library of Virginia)

Madison County was named for James Madison, a prominent Virginian and member of Congress in 1792 when the county was formed from Culpeper 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 Madison County (Va.) Court Record, 1842, (The Library of Virginia)

Madison County was named for James Madison, a prominent Virginian and a member of Congress in 1792 when the county was formed from Culpeper County.

From the guide to the Madison County (Va.) Miscellaneous Records, 1793-1810, (The Library of Virginia)

Madison County was named for James Madison, a prominent Virginian and a member of Congress in 1792 when the county was formed from Culpeper County.

From the guide to the Madison County (Va.) Fiduciary Records, 1835-1907, (The Library of Virginia)

Madison County was named for James Madison, a prominent Virginian and a member of Congress in 1792 when the county was formed from Culpeper County.

From the guide to the Madison County (Va.) List of Voters Registered Without Challenge, 1867-1869, (The Library of Virginia)

Madison County was named for James Madison, a prominent Virginian and a member of Congress in 1792 when the county was formed from Culpeper County.

From the guide to the Madison County (Va.) Election Records, 1861-1896, (The Library of Virginia)

Madison County was named for James Madison, a prominent Virginian and a member of Congress in 1792 when the county was formed from Culpeper County.

From the guide to the Madison County (Va.) Organization Records, 1909-1916, (The Library of Virginia)

Madison County was named for James Madison, a prominent Virginian and a member of Congress in 1792 when the county was formed from Culpeper County.

From the guide to the Madison County (Va.) Marriage Records, 1793-1886, (The Library of Virginia)

Madison County was named for James Madison, a prominent Virginian and a member of Congress in 1792 when the county was formed from Culpeper 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 Madison County (Va.) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1815-1899 (bulk 1815-1850), (The Library of Virginia)

Madison County was named for James Madison, a prominent Virginian and a member of Congress in 1792 when the county was formed from Culpeper County.

From the guide to the Madison County (Va.) Local Board of Review Records, 1915-1925, (The Library of Virginia)