In a message dated 12/28/05 7:51:51 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, GenNutLdn@msn.com writes: chancery suits: anyone tell me what a chancery suit was? my grandfather Lodia a Cutshaw filed a chancery suit against my grandmother Emma R Johnson Cutshaw in 1912. I found mention of it in the Washington Post.. What kind of suit was it? carol

The following explanation is from the Introduction in "Index to Loudoun County Virginia Chancery Suits 1759-1915" by Hiatt and Scott: When a Virginia citizen had a complaint which did not involve violation of law, the matter was presented to the Chancery Court. The suit was heard and settled by a judge. Papers in a chancery file should include the bill of complaint, brought by the plaintiff (orator) and naming the defendant, the decree, or final settlement, and might include supporting documents, subpoenas, and depositions. Chancery was the court in which to settle disputes-over ownership of land, slaves, livestock, a business, or any other issue about which men could argue. If a worker was not paid for his services, or a store keeper not paid for his merchandise, the suit would go to chancery. There are numerous suits for payment of debt. Intestate estates were often settled by the chancery court. These files might be the only place to find a list of heirs when a man who owned property died without a will. If there was a question over which part of the land should be set aside for the widow, it was decided in chancery. If some of the heirs decided it was time to sell their inheritance, they would take their complaint to chancery to force a sale of the property. When children had a complaint against their guardian, or wanted to establish their legal independent status, they took their cases to chancery. Pat Duncan GenNutLdn@msn.com ----- Original Message ----- From: <Nitanbudskd@aol.com> To: <VAFAIRFA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2005 6:47 AM Subject: Re: [VAFairfax] Re Does this book IMPLIED Marriages in Fairfax Co cover from ... > In a message dated 12/28/05 7:51:51 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, > GenNutLdn@msn.com writes: > > chancery suits: anyone tell me what a chancery suit was? > my grandfather Lodia a Cutshaw filed a chancery suit against my > grandmother > Emma R Johnson Cutshaw in 1912. I found mention of it in the Washington > Post.. What kind of suit was it? > > carol > > > > > > ==== VAFAIRFA Mailing List ==== > E-mail List Mom at mailto:daisysroots@yahoo.com > http://www.rootsweb.com/~vafairfa/ > > ============================== > Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the > areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. > Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx > >