Nancy Thnaks you for posting this, I look forward to your Lewis County Index. Perhaps someone from HSGS might be able to tell us or find out if it is true about The office not pulling old files.. Thanks Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: "N.A. Jackson" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, February 15, 2010 10:25 AM Subject: [HCPD] What is a Chancery Court? > > I have been frequently asked what is a Chancery record. Today I found > these > two references that may help. I do not have a legal background but have > examined various Chancery records. If Dennis Rodgers or another lawyer > is > lurking I would hope they will chime in on this discussion and perhaps > refine my comments. > [1]http://archives.delaware.gov/collections/aghist/2816.shtml > > [2]http://www.lectlaw.com/def/c225.htm > > > Why are they important for genealogists? > > They frequently contain heirs, date-at least the year a person may have > died, partition of land, sometimes a will that was not recorded in a > will > book, history of the area, occupation of individuals, proximity of > neighbors. > > > Some components of a Chancery Record > > 1. The Bill where the plaintiff(s) states who they are and whom > they > are sueing (defendants > > 2. The Answer where the defendant responds to the plaintiff (s) > bill > > 3. Subpoenas > > 4. Depositions > > 5. In case of an estate settlement there will probably be a > commissioner assigned with a follow up report. Also, surveyors may be > appointed to partition off land to heirs. (Note: not all cases are > related > to estate settlement) > > 6. Judgement of the court > > > > Where do I find Chancery Records? > > I believe in most states they would be found in the Circuit Court > office. > > > Why can the files be so difficult to find in some counties? > > Example: They are not indexed in Lewis Co. (Soon a 1817-1850 index > compiled by me will be posted one the HCPD members only site) Before > you > would have to go to the order books and follow the course as it was > continued. I have examined cases that have gone on for 20-30 years. > > In Harrison County they are indexed. In the past you could go to the > index > books to find the file number and have the clerk pull the file. I have > been > told that now they no longer pull the old files. I have not checked > personally to see if this is true. > > > > Difficulty in Using the files > > > > The old files are handwritten and sometimes very difficult to deciper > especially the lettering. These old files are very fragile and > sometimes > torn. It has not been unusual for me to take several days analyzing > and > abstracting a file. It is very exhausting work but worthwhile. > > > > Enough for today. I am presently examining a file âJacob Minter heirs > vs. > Joseph Minter heirs and Josephâs suretiesâ This case was started in > 1843 I > believe and ended in 1869. I am a Minter descendant but have done > little > research on this family. I hope to compile an article on this case for > the > HCPD Journal. > > BTW Jacob Minter and his son Joseph Minter along with apprentice > carpenter > Washington Bailey were contracted abt. 1828 to build the Lewis County > Jail. > I will post some of my findings on the list soon âgoal is in the next > couple > days. > > References > > 1. http://archives.delaware.gov/collections/aghist/2816.shtml > 2. http://www.lectlaw.com/def/c225.htm > > > > > ************ > Do the readers and our archives a favor, please trim quoted messages. > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message