Amelia County (Va.) Circuit Court.

Amelia County was formed from Prince George and Brunswick Counties in 1734.

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 Amelia County (Va.) Lists of Tithables, 1736-1794 and undated., (The Library of Virginia)

Amelia County was formed in 1734 from Prince George and Brunswick counties.

From the guide to the Amelia County (Va.) Will Books, 1761-1803, (The Library of Virginia)

Amelia County was named for Amelia Sophia Eleanora, daughter of George II of England. It was formed from Prince George and Brunswick Counties in 1734.

From the guide to the Amelia County (Va.) Court Records, 1815-1886, (The Library of Virginia)

Amelia County was formed in 1734 from Prince George and Brunswick Counties.

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.

In common law an (e)stray is a wandering animal whose owner is unknown. Records of strays are notices of discovery of lost livestock, with reports of commissioners appointed to determine proper reimbursement of the finder for caring for the animals.

Until 1869 the county court controlled construction, alteration of, and maintenance of roads. Surveyors and viewers were appointed to carry out those duties, although after 1835 the courts had the option of appointing commissioners. The constitution of 1869 created overseers of the roads, whose duties passed in the twentieth century to superintendents of roads.

From the guide to the Amelia County (Va.) Free Negro Registers, 1804-1865, (The Library of Virginia)

Amelia County was formed in 1734 from Brunswick and Prince George counties.

From the guide to the Amelia County (Va.) Oyer and Terminer Order Book, 1785-1791, (The Library of Virginia)

Amelia County was named for Amelia Sophia Eleanora, daughter of George II of England. It was formed from Prince George and Brunswick Counties in 1734.

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 Amelia County (Va.) Court Records, 1832-1854, (The Library of Virginia)

Amelia County was formed in 1734 from Prince George and Brunswick counties

From the guide to the Amelia County, (Va.) Deed Books, 1734-1765, (The Library of Virginia)

Amelia County was formed in 1734 from Brunswick and Prince George counties.

From the guide to the Amelia County (Va.) Plan of the new courthouse, 1767, (The Library of Virginia)

The Pridesville Tavern operated in Amelia County during the early nineteenth century.

From the guide to the Pridesville Tavern Daybook, 1801-1803, (The Library of Virginia)

Amelia County was named for Amelia Sophia Eleanora, daughter of George II of England. It was formed from Prince George and Brunswick Counties in 1734. Its area is 366 square miles and the county seat is Amelia.

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 Amelia County Coroners' Inquisitions, 1779-1830, (The Library of Virginia)

Amelia County was formed from Prince George and Brunswick counties in 1734.

These judgments were created by the County Court, the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery, and the Superior Court of Law.

From the guide to the Amelia County (Va.) Judgments and Office Judgments, 1733-1913, (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.

Amelia County was named for Amelia Sophia Eleanora, daughter of King George II. It was formed from Prince George and Brunswick Counties by an act passed in 1734 to take effect on 25 March 1735. The county court first met on 9 May 1735.

From the guide to the Amelia County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1738-1939 (bulk 1747-1913), (The Library of Virginia)

Amelia County was formed in 1734 from Brunswick and Prince George counties.

From the guide to the Amelia County (Va.) Public Buildings and Grounds, Plan of the new courthouse, 1767, (The Library of Virginia)

Amelia County was formed in 1734 from Brunswick and Prince George counties.

From the guide to the Amelia County (Va.) Public Buildings and Grounds, 1853, (The Library of Virginia)

Amelia County was formed in 1734 from Brunswick and Prince George counties.

From the guide to the Amelia County (Va.) Public Buildings and Grounds, Plan of the new courthouse, 1791., (The Library of Virginia)

Amelia County was named for Amelia Sophia Eleanora, daughter of George II of England. It was formed from Prince George and Brunswick Counties in 1734.

The 1870 Virginia Constitution required that each county in the state be divided into no less than three townships (see Article VII, section 2). Based on the New England administrative organization of a county, each township would elect the administration officials for the offices of supervisor, clerk, assessor, collector, commissioner of the roads, overseer of the poor, justice of the peace, and constable. The supervisors of each township would comprise the board of supervisors for the county, and would be responsible for auditing the county accounts, examining the assessors' books, regulating property valuation, and fixing the county levies. The Acts of Assembly provided that each township be divided into school and electoral districts (see Acts of Assembly 1869-1870, Chapter 39). A constitutional amendment in 1874 changed the townships into magisterial districts and each district elected one supervisor, three justices of the peace, one constable, and one overseer of the poor. The supervisors of the districts made up the county board of supervisors whose duties were identical as those set out in 1870. The published Acts of Assembly appended a list of township names by county following the acts for every year that townships existed in Virginia.

From the guide to the Amelia County (Va.) Township Records, 1871-1875, (The Library of Virginia)