Essex County (Va.) Circuit Court.

Hide Profile

Essex County was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692. The county was named probably for the English county or perhaps for Algernon Capell, second earl of Essex.

When an individual acts as a trustee for another, the relationship is described as a fiduciary one. The protection of inherited property (both real and personal) was an important reason for the creation of court records. When minor children (under the age of thirteen) survived a parent, a guardian was appointed to protect the estate for the children. Appointments of guardians are recorded in the county court order books. A performance bond was required.

At age thirteen, a child was eligible to go into court and choose his/her own guardian. Periodically, guardians were required to bring estate accounts into court. These accounts deal with the expenditures of the guardian for the raising of each child, generally on an individual basis. The estate of a deceased person with minor children required the keeping of records (estate or fiduciary) until it was settled. When the last minor child married or arrived at legal age, the estate was settled.

The original manuscript volume, compiled by the clerk from original summonses, was created by the County Court.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) List of Guardians, 1804-1823, (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692. The county was probably named for the English county or perhaps for Algernon Capell, second earl of Essex.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) Wills, 1729-1806, (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was named for the English county. It was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692.

Old Rappahannock County was formed in 1656 from Lancaster County. It became extinct in 1692 when it was divided in into Essex and Richmond Counties.

Lancaster County was named for the English county. It was formed from Northumberland and York Counties in 1651.

From the guide to the Old Rappahannock County and Essex County (Va.) Wills, 1652-1806 (bulk 1677-1806), (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was formed from Old Rappahannock County in 1692. The county was named probably for the English county or perhaps for Algernon Capell, second earl of Essex.

Until 1780, marriages could be performed only by ministers of the Established Church, who were required by law to record marriages in the parish register. In 1780, dissenting ministers (only four per county from each sect) were permitted to perform marriage ceremonies. In order to have a record of all marriages, ministers were required to sign a certificate to be filed with the county clerk. Initially, ministers sent marriage certificates to the clerk every three months. Some ministers adopted a custom of making collected returns--a list of marriages performed within a period of time such as a year or several years. Beginning in 1784, marriage certificates were returned annually. The law was rarely enforced, and ministers' returns were sometimes late, incorrect, incomplete and in many instances, not made at all. County clerks compiled a register of marriages based, in part, on ministers' returns.

The ministers' returns, found in the original volume, were created by the County Court.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) Ministers' Returns, 1850-1854, (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was named for the English county. It was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) Deeds, 1674-1855 (bulk 1798-1807), (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692. The county was probably named for the English county or perhaps for Algernon Capell, second earl of Essex.

These records were originally created, in part, by the County Court.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) Fiduciary Records, 1678-1913 (bulk 1730-1913), (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692. The county was probably named for the English county or perhaps for Algernon Capell, second earl of Essex.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) Bonds/Commissions/Oaths, 1678-1909, (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was formed in 1692 from Rappahannock County, a now extinct Virginia county.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) Free Negro and Slave Records, 1714-1857, (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692. The county was probably named for the English county or perhaps for Algernon Capell, second earl of Essex.

These volumes were originally created by the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) Chancery Dockets, Vols. 1-2, 1831-1847, (The Library of Virginia)

James W. Keeble was a schoolteacher from Mathews County, Virginia who took a job as Professor of Tactics at Madison college, Sharow, Mississippi. The 1860 census lists his parents as Humphrey H. and Sarah Keeble.

From the guide to the A Guide to the Letter, James W. Keeble to Unidentified, 1861 Mar. 10, (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692. The county was probably named for the English county or perhaps for Algernon Capell, second earl of Essex.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) Tax and Fiscal Records, 1714-1965 (bulk 1733-1914), (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.

Essex County was named for the English county. It was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1749-1874, (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692. The county was probably named for the English county or perhaps for Algernon Capell, second earl of Essex.

These items were originally created by the County Court.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) County Court Records, 1683-1912, (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was formed in 1692 from Rappahannock County (old) and previous names Rappahannock County (old).

The will books of Essex County (Va.) were created by the County Court.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) Will Books, 1730-1792, (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692. The county was probably named for the English county or perhaps for Algernon Capell, second earl of Essex.

Some items in this collection were created by the County Court, the Superior Court of Chancery, the Superior Court of Law and the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) Records, 1677-1940, undated, (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692. The county was probably named for the English county or perhaps for Algernon Capell, second earl of Essex.

These volumes were originally created by the County, Superior Court of Law, Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery and Circuit Courts.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) Court Records, 1765-1888, (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692. The county was probably named for the English county or perhaps for Algernon Capell, second earl of Essex.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) Election Records, 1741-1912, (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was formed in 1692 from Rappahannock County, a now extinct Virginia county.

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.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) Registers of Free Negroes, 1810-1861, (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692. The county was probably named for the English county or perhaps for Algernon Capell, second earl of Essex.

These items were originally created by the County Court.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) Powers of Attorney, 1705-1798, (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County probably was named for the English county. It was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692.

The Virginia Constitution of 1870 mandated Virginia's first statewide public school system. The schools were racially segregated by law until the mid-twentieth century.

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, 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 Essex County (Va.) School Records, 1835-1907 (bulk 1871-1899), (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692. The county was probably named for the English county or perhaps for Algernon Capell, second earl of Essex.

Sheriffs appeared in Virginia when the original shires were formed in 1634. They originally had three functions: 1) law enforcement 2) conduct of elections, and 3) financial officer. The sheriff's duties have been curtailed over the years, but he is still the major law enforcing agent in a county.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) Sheriffs' Returns, 1810-1872, (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692. The county was probably named for the English county or perhaps for Algernon Capell, second earl of Essex.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) Land Records, 1809-1843, (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692. The county was probably named for the English county or perhaps for Algernon Capell, second earl of Essex.

The first law requiring a bond was enacted in 1660/1661. It required the prospective groom to give bond at the courthouse in the bride's county of residence. A license was then prepared by the clerk and presented to the minister who performed the ceremony. The only alternative to marriage by bond was marriage by banns.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) Marriage Bonds, 1804-1850, (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County probably was named for the English county. It was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) Clerk's Fees, 1841-1848, (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was formed in 1692 from Rappahannock County, a now extinct Virginia county.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) List of Negroes Belonging to Those Under a Guardian and Unsettled Estates, 1821-1825, (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692. The county was probably named for the English county or perhaps for Algernon Capell, second earl of Essex.

The Superior Court of Law was created in 1808, and met biannually in each county. A General Court judge rode a circuit throughout his district, and court records were filed with those of the county courts where the court met. This court was abolished in 1831 along with the Superior Court of Chancery and replaced with the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) Superior Court of Law Records, 1809-1831, (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was named for the English county. It was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) Deed from Richard Baylor etc to Daniel Dejarnett, 1838 February, (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was named for the English county. It was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692.

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 the Library of Virginia's website for Colonial Tithables

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) List of Tithables, circa 1742, 1766, 1775., (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was formed in 1692 from Rappahannock County (old).

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) Deed, Order and Will Books, 1695-1793, (The Library of Virginia)

Essex County was formed from old Rappahannock County in 1692. The county was probably named for the English county or perhaps for Algernon Capell, second earl of Essex.

From the guide to the Essex County (Va.) Law Issue Docket, 1856-1870, (The Library of Virginia)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) Election Records, 1741-1912 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) School Records, 1835-1907 (bulk 1871-1899) Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) Deed from Richard Baylor etc to Daniel Dejarnett, 1838 February Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) Will Books, 1730-1792 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) Sheriffs' Returns, 1810-1872 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) Fiduciary Records, 1678-1913 (bulk 1730-1913) Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1749-1874 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) Clerk's Fees, 1841-1848 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) County Court Records, 1683-1912 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) Tax and Fiscal Records, 1714-1965 (bulk 1733-1914) Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) Ministers' Returns, 1850-1854 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) Bonds/Commissions/Oaths, 1678-1909 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) Court Records, 1765-1888 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) List of Guardians, 1804-1823 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) List of Tithables, circa 1742, 1766, 1775. Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) Land Records, 1809-1843 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) Free Negro and Slave Records, 1714-1857 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) Law Issue Docket, 1856-1870 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) Chancery Dockets, Vols. 1-2, 1831-1847 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) Superior Court of Law Records, 1809-1831 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) List of Negroes Belonging to Those Under a Guardian and Unsettled Estates, 1821-1825 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) Records, 1677-1940, undated Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) Powers of Attorney, 1705-1798 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) Registers of Free Negroes, 1810-1861 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Old Rappahannock County and Essex County (Va.) Wills, 1652-1806 (bulk 1677-1806) Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) Marriage Bonds, 1804-1850 Library of Virginia
referencedIn Essex County (Va.) Circuit Court. Records, 1737-1870 Library of Virginia
referencedIn McCall v. McCall Suit Papers, 1768-1799 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) Deeds, 1674-1855 (bulk 1798-1807) Library of Virginia
creatorOf A Guide to the Letter, James W. Keeble to Unidentified, 1861 Mar. 10 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) Deed, Order and Will Books, 1695-1793 Library of Virginia
creatorOf Essex County (Va.) Wills, 1729-1806 Library of Virginia
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Brock, R. A. (Robert Alonzo), 1839-1914 person
associatedWith Essex Counry (Va.) Superior Court of Law. corporateBody
associatedWith Essex County Circuit Court corporateBody
associatedWith Essex County (Va.) Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery. corporateBody
associatedWith Essex County (Va.) County Court. corporateBody
associatedWith Essex County (Va.) Public Schools. Central District. corporateBody
associatedWith Essex County (Va.) Public Schools. Occupacia District. corporateBody
associatedWith Essex County (Va.) Public Schools. Rappahannock District. corporateBody
associatedWith Essex County (Va.) Superior Court of Chancery. corporateBody
associatedWith Essex County (Va.) Superior Court of Law. corporateBody
associatedWith Keeble, James W. person
associatedWith Montague family family
associatedWith Virginia. General Court. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Essex County (Va.)
Essex County
Essex County (Va.)
Essex County (Va.)
Essex County (Va.)
Essex County
Essex County (Va.)
Essex County (Va.)
Old Rappahannock County
Essex County (Va.)
Essex County (Va.)
Essex County (Va.)
Essex County (Va.)
Essex County (Va.)
Essex County
Essex County (Va.)
Madison County (Ms.)
Essex County (Va.)
Essex County (Va.)
Essex County (Va.)
Essex County (Va.)
Essex County (Va.)
Essex County (Va.)
Essex County (Va.)
Essex County (Va.)
Essex County (Va.)
Essex County (Va.)
Essex County (Va.)
Essex County (Va.)
Essex County (Va.)
Essex County (Va.)
Essex County (Va.)
Subject
African Americans
African Americans
African Americans
African Americans
Christian sects
Essex County (Va.). Circuit Court
Fees, Administrative
Guardian and ward
Public records
Schools
Secession
Occupation
Activity

Corporate Body

Related Descriptions
Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6j235gz

Ark ID: w6j235gz

SNAC ID: 53645408