Smyth County (Va.) Circuit Court.

Smyth County was named in 1843 for Alexander Smyth, a former congressman from Virginia who had died in 1830 while efforts were underway to create the new county. The county was formed from Washington and Wythe Counties.

From the guide to the Smyth County (Va.) Free Negro and Slave Records, 1859-1861., (The Library of Virginia)

Smyth County was named for Alexander Smyth, a congressman from Virginia in 1832 when the county was formed from Washington and Wythe counties. Its area is 435 square miles, and the county seat is Marion.

From the guide to the Smyth County (Va.) Wills, 1937-1947, (The Library of Virginia)

Smyth County was named for Alexander Smyth, a congressman from Virginia in 1832 when the county was formed from Washington and Wythe counties. Its area is 435 square miles, and the county seat is Marion.

From the guide to the Smyth County (Va.) Land Records, 1832-1903 circa, (The Library of Virginia)

Smyth County was named for Alexander Smyth, a congressman from Virginia in 1832 when the county was formed from Washington and Wythe counties. Its area is 435 square miles, and the county seat is Marion.

From the guide to the Smyth County (Va.) Circuit Court Records, 1853-1926, (The Library of Virginia)

Smyth County was formed in 1832 from Washington and Wythe Counties.

From the guide to the Smyth County (Va.) Common Law Receipt Book, 1861-1872, (The Library of Virginia)

Smyth County was named for Alexander Smyth, a congressman from Virginia in 1832 when the county was formed from Washington and Wythe counties. Its area is 435 square miles, and the county seat is Marion.

From the guide to the Smyth County (Va.) Records, 1832-1933, (Library of Virginia)

Smyth County was named for Alexander Smyth, a congressman from Virginia in 1832 when the county was formed from Washington and Wythe counties. Its area is 435 square miles, and the county seat is Marion.

From the guide to the Smyth County (Va.) Tax and Fiscal Records, 1881, (The Library of Virginia)

Smyth County was named for Alexander Smyth, a congressman from Virginia in 1832 when the county was formed from Washington and Wythe counties.

From the guide to the Smyth (Va.) Capitation Tax Lists, 1948-1964, (The Library of Virginia)

Smyth County was named for Alexander Smyth, a congressman from Virginia in 1832 when the county was formed from Washington and Wythe counties. Its area is 435 square miles, and the county seat is Marion.

From the guide to the Smyth County (Va.) County Adminstrative Records, 1874-1907, (The Library of Virginia)

Smyth County was named for Alexander Smyth, a congressman from Virginia in 1832 when the county was formed from Washington and Wythe counties. Its area is 435 square miles, and the county seat is Marion.

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 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 concurrent 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 Smyth County (Va.) Judgments, 1836-1925, (The Library of Virginia)

Smyth County was named for Alexander Smyth, a congressman from Virginia in 1832 when the county was formed from Washington and Wythe counties.

The Virginia legislature passed an act on 27 February 1866 to legalize the marriages of former slaves who had been cohabiting as of that date. See Virginia Acts of Assembly, 1866-1867, Chapter 18, An act to amend and re-enact the 14th section of chapter 108 of the Code of Virginia for 1860, in regard to registers of marriage; and to legalize the marriages of colored persons now cohabiting as husband and wife.

The federal Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands directed the Assistant Superintendents of the states to order the county clerks to make a registry of such cohabiting couples. See Circular No. 11, dated 19 March 1866, in Orders, Circulars, Circular Letters, and Letters of Instruction, vol. 2 (1866). Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, Records of the Assistant Commissioner for the State of Virginia, 1865-1869. Miscellaneous reel 3880, Library of Virginia. National Archives microfilm M1048 (reel 41), Record Group 105.

From the guide to the Smyth County (Va.) Register of Colored Persons cohabiting together as Husband and Wife, 1866 Feb. 27., (The Library of Virginia)

Smyth County was formed in 1832 from Washington and Wythe Counties.

From the guide to the Smyth County (Va.) Sheriff's Fee Book, 1842-1844, (The Library of Virginia)

Smyth County was named for Alexander Smyth, a congressman from Virginia in 1832 when the county was formed from Washington and Wythe counties. Its area is 435 square miles, and the county seat is Marion.

From the guide to the Smyth County (Va.) Election Records, 1832-1959, (The Library of Virginia)

Smyth County was named for Alexander Smyth, a congressman from Virginia in 1832 when the county was formed from Washington and Wythe counties. Its area is 435 square miles, and the county seat is Marion.

From the guide to the Smyth County (Va.) County Court Records, 1841-1924, (The Library of Virginia)

Smyth County was named for Alexander Smyth, a congressman from Virginia in 1832 when the county was formed from Washington and Wythe counties. Its area is 435 square miles, and the county seat is Marion.

From the guide to the Smyth County (Va.) Court Records, 1855-1916, (The Library of Virginia)

Smyth County was named for Alexander Smyth, a congressman from Virginia in 1832 when the county was formed from Washington and Wythe counties. Its area is 435 square miles, and the county seat is Marion.

From the guide to the Smyth County (Va.) Fiduciary Records, 1832-1901 circa, (The Library of Virginia)