Common Pleas, Court of -- Minutes, 1710-1846
Series 9
7 v. Arranged chronologically.
Records of the court which heard civil cases between private parties from 1710 through 1847. These minutes record only actions in the cases and do not normally include testimony. The minutes for the 1710-1722 are interspersed in a volume with the minutes of the Court of Sessions.
Related records: Series 220, Common Pleas -- Minutes (drafts), 1791-1797, 1804-1847
Common Pleas -- Minutes (draft), 1791-1796, 1804-1847 (gaps)
Series 220
2 cubic ft. Arranged chronologically.
Draft of minutes found in Series 9. Although the minutes in Series 9 are more complete, these drafts show some process, with marginal comments and correction.
Common Pleas -- Miscellaneous Records, 1773, 1780-1789, 1800-1847 (gaps)
Series 245
1.25 cubic ft. Arranged chronologically.
Papers to and from the court on various subjects and which have eluded separate classification. Included, for example, are inspection and referee reports, miscellaneous summons, oaths, opinions, and agreements.
Common Pleas -- Narratives, 1802-1846 (gaps)
Series 228
2 cubic ft. Arranged chronologically.
The narratio (or narr.) was a plaintiff's initial declaration in a suit, setting forth his cause of action and demands. It was normally filed after the defendant had been served with a writ or capias ad respondendum (Series 221). After 1829, a plaintiff could commence an action with a narratio, without requiring a writ of capias. The narr. gives a detailed statement of the plaintiff's complaint, but it tends to be repetitious and does not elaborate on the circumstances. Many of the documents in this series are fragile and deteriorated.
Common Pleas -- Partition Papers, 1808-1841
Series 224
1 cubic ft. Arranged chronologically.
Parties had to petition the court to divide real property held in joint tenancy or by tenancy in common. Partition papers also concern the appointment of guardians for minor heirs, the reports of commissioners describing the property, and rules and notices of sale or division.
Common Pleas - Petit Jurors, 1842-1866 (gaps)
Series 233
Less than 1 cubic ft. Arranged chronologically.
Lists of jurors selected for the court.
Common Pleas -- Petitions, Notices and Motions, 1789-1795, 1808-1847 (gaps)
Series 236
1 cubic ft. Arranged chronologically.
These documents petition the court to perform a service, give formal notice of a party's intentions, or move the court for an order or ruling. They involve various procedural steps or matters such as insolvency cases or minor's petitions.
Common Pleas -- Pleas, 1895-1991
Series 235
1 cubic ft. Arranged chronologically.
Defendants pleaded in response to the plaintiff's declaration or narritio, denying the charges or giving "notice" of their intended defense. These documents provide few details about the case.
Common Pleas -- Replication, 1812-1813, 1820-1847 (gaps)
Series 242
Less than 1 cubic ft. Arranged chronologically by filing date.
A replication is a plaintiff's response to the defendant's plea, particularly when the defendant has alleged new facts. These replies generally reaffirm the plaintiff's declaration and give few details on the case.
Common Pleas -- Reports for Damages, 1815-1842
Series 243
Less than 1 cubic ft. Arranged chronologically.
These reports state the amount of damages to be recovered from the defendant. They are signed by the court and marked as promissory notes.
Common Pleas -- Satisfaction Pieces, 1822-1845
Series 244
Less than 1 cubic ft. Arranged chronologically.
A satisfaction piece is an official acknowledgment by a winning party that a judgment has been satisfied.
Common Pleas -- Venire, 1806-1810, 1822-1829
Series 234
Less than 1 cubic ft. Arranged chronologically.
The writ of venire facias juratores informed the parties to an action that a jury had been selected and notified the parties of the court date for the commencement of arguments.
Common Pleas -- Writs of Inquiry, 1781-1846
Series 230
1 cubic ft. Arranged chronologically.
The writ of inquiry was issued in cases where a plaintiff was owed damages following a judgment by default. It called for a sheriff to empanel a jury, in order to determine the exact amount the plaintiff could claim.
Common Pleas -- Writs of Replevin, 1781-1843
Series 229
Less than 1 cubic ft. Arranged chronologically.
Replevin was a form of action that allowed the plaintiff, in advance of a court hearing, to recover immediate possession of personal property that the defendant had wrongly taken or detained.
Common Pleas -- Writs of Execution, 1780-1844 (gaps)
Series 239
Less than 1 cubic ft. Arranged chronologically.
Writs of execution were used to enforce court judgments, usually by ordering the seizure and sale of a judgment debtor's property (writ of fieri facias, or fi.fa).