"Court Order Books in Historical and Genealogical Research" Presentation by Al Sharp (Society Meetings)
WHAT are Court Order Books and WHAT can we learn from them? KCGS member Al Sharp gives us a hint as follows:
A court order book is a volume in which the clerk of a court enters the orders issued by that court in (generally) chronological order. They are called by different names (orders, minutes, journals, etc.) and are found in different types of courts (circuit, common pleas, probate, ordinary, prothonotary, etc.).
As a record of legal disputes, criminal actions and other matters such as deed and will proofs, they provide an insight into the workings of the jurisdiction legally, economically and socially. This allows the researcher to identify patterns and historical structures in the community and within an extended family. It provides record evidence of specific individuals.
Come to our next meeting on May 22nd and learn more. That meeting is co-sponsored by KCGS and the CWU History Club.
The Presenter, Al Sharp says The discussion will address briefly the general characteristics of orders found in such books and then focus on one book from Virginia at a time of transition from the colonial era to the early American republic.
Note these Special instructions (which need to be done PRIOR to the meeting!)
If planning to attend, access the website www.kcgswa.org; click on the 2nd item on the LEFT side of the web page titled "Court Orders - Presentation" and follow the instructions. This is VERY IMPORTANT as you will need the material for the presentation! There will be no PowerPoint or other visuals. Discussion will be based on materials YOU have downloaded and which should be read in advance and brought to the program.
Note this will be presented in room 103 of Dean Hall on the campus of Central Washington University. This will also be on a Thursday evening (7pm) instead of our normal 1:30pm 2nd Monday of the month meetings at the KCGS Library. FREE Parking is available just across the street to the west of Dean Hall.
Click on the "Download" document below to see a map and further details of this presentation.
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