FEDERAL COURT RECORDS:Part 05

FEDERAL COURT RECORDS:
A SELECT CATALOG OF NATIONAL ARCHIVES MICROFILM PUBLICATIONS (PART 5)

General Records and Minutes

General records of courts include judgment and decree books and registers; dockets; minutes; records of the clerk of the court; case files; and miscellaneous entries of appointments, affidavits, abstracts, petitions, and applications. The basic judgment record, also known as the judgment roll, consists of a transcript of the proceedings of the case and the signed judgment. The number and types of additional documents filed for the cases vary. For some cases there are no additional documents, but usually there is a satisfaction of judgment, a warrant, or one or more of various types of writs commanding a sheriff to seize persons or property. Occasionally, for cases appealed to a circuit court, the judgment records of the district court were filed with those of the circuit court. The judgment records relate to suits for personal injuries, infringement of patent rights, recovery of sums under various forms of obligation or promise (often involving the Bank of the United States), and damages sustained by reason of forcible ejection from lands and tenements (disputes over title to real estate).

Minutes are a record of the activities of the court and show dates of sessions, names of presiding judges, and, usually, judgments and orders of the court arising out of the   litigation of all its cases--original and appellate, civil and criminal.

Documents among the minutes include orders for the admission of attorneys to practice before the court, the adoption of specific rules of procedure, and the appointment of clerks, U.S. commissioners, and other court officers. In addition, record was made of evidence produced in court on behalf of litigants; aliens' oaths of intention to become citizens of the United States and orders for the naturalization of aliens; panels of persons summoned to attend as grand and petit jurors, indicating defaulters and those excused; and of other activities of the court. The subjects covered in the microfilm publications listed here relate to such topics as the maintenance of U.S. neutrality during foreign wars; the quasi-war with France during the John Adams administration; the embargo during the Jefferson administration; evasion of customs duties and trespass laws; salvage, privateering, and prize law; mutinies and revolts; bankruptcy; slavery and the slave trade; protection of patents for inventions; and ejection of tenants and rent procedures. The quasi-war with France refers to a period of hostility during the last part of President John Adams's administration. In 1798 France began to seize and plunder U.S. merchant vessels, and Congress ordered the U.S. fleet to retaliate. Though no formal declaration of war was issued, about 85 French vessels were captured and several hundred U.S. merchant vessels were seized. The two nations agreed to a peace on September 30, 1800.

Abuses to U.S. shipping by England and France in the early stages of the Napoleonic wars prompted President Thomas Jefferson to impose an embargo on all transportation of goods to and from foreign nations in December 1807. U.S. ships engaged in coastal trade were required to post bond double the value of craft and cargo as a guarantee that goods would be relanded in U.S. ports. Domestic opposition to the embargo grew steadily through 1808, especially in New England and New York, and a brisk smuggling trade developed. The embargo had only a minor effect on the British and French, and it was repealed in March 1809.

Records of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and Predecessor Courts, 1851-1950. T717. 124 rolls. 16mm.

The majority of the rolls of microfilm in this publication give the minutes of the U.S. circuit and district courts. The rest cover judgment and decree, equity order, civil order, common rule, and sales books. Dockets of creditors and debtors, decree registers, and equity journals are also included.

A judgment docket is a list of the judgments entered in a given court. It is kept by the clerk or other proper officer, open to public inspection, and intended to afford official notice to interested parties of the existence of judgments. A decree is the judgment of a court of equity or admiralty responding to the judgment of a court of law. A decree in equity is a sentence, or order, of the court pronounced on hearing and understanding all the points in issue and determining the rights of all the parties to the suit according to equity and good conscience.

The volumes reproduced in this publication do not always follow a logical order. The types of record books, as well as the court of origin, change throughout the publication. Researchers should especially note that the "civil" volumes on rolls 63-65 resume on roll 104. From there until the end, the "civil" volumes are interspersed among the other minute books.

Roll   Description             Dates

U.S. District Court, Northern District of California:

1     Judgment and Decree Books

       Vols. 4-7                Mar. 20, 1903-Mar. 1, 1918

2       "

3     Vols. 8-10               Mar. 1, 1918-June 18, 1920

4     Vols. 10-12              June 18, 1920-Aug. 3, 1922

5     Vols. 12-15              Aug. 3, 1922-Feb. 20, 1924

6     Vols. 15-19              Feb. 20, 1924-July 16, 1925

7     Vols. 19-22              July 16, 1925-July 27, 1927

8     Vols. 22-25              Nov. 20, 1927-Apr. 22, 1930

9     Vols. 25-28              Apr. 26, 1930-Apr. 28, 1933

10    Vols. 28-31              Apr. 28, 1933-Aug. 3, 1939

11    Vols. 31-34              Aug. 5, 1939-July 7, 1944

12    Vols. 34-39              July 8, 1944-May 3, 1948

13    Vols. 39-40              May 3, 1948-Feb. 28, 1949

14    Equity Order Books

       Vols. 1-3                Feb. 3, 1913-Dec. 2, 1915

15    Vols. 3-6                Dec. 2, 1915-Jan. 27, 1919

16    Judgment and Decree Books

       Vol. 29                  June 7, 1933-Oct. 24, 1936

17    Equity Order Books

       Vols. 6-9                Jan. 27, 1919-May 7, 1923

18    Vols. 9-13               May 7, 1923-July 15, 1931

19    Vol. 14                  July 15, 1931-Jan. 28, 1932

20    Vols. 14-17              Jan. 29, 1932-Sept. 14, 1938

       Civil Order Books

       Vol. 1                   Sept. 16, 1938-Dec. 14, 1938

21    Vols. 1-7                Dec. 16, 1938-Feb. 11, 1943

22    Vols. 7-14               Feb. 11, 1943-Dec. 31, 1943

23    Vols. 14-22              Dec. 26, 1943-May 31, 1944

24    Vol. 22                  May 31, 1944

       Vols. 23-24              June 1, 1944-June 30, 1944   

25    Vols. 25-31              July 1, 1944-Dec. 31, 1944

26    Vols. 32-33              Jan. 1, 1945-Feb. 28, 1945

       Vol. 34                  Mar. 1, 1944

27    Vols. 34-40              Mar. 1, 1944-Sept. 7, 1945

28    Vols. 40-46              Sept. 7, 1945-Mar. 21, 1946

29    Vols. 46-53              Mar. 21, 1946-Jan. 31, 1947

30    Vols. 54-59              Feb. 1, 1947-June 14, 1948

31    Vols. 59-61              June 14, 1948-May 12, 1949

       Judgment and Decree Book

       Vol. 40                  Mar. 2, 1949-May 11, 1949

       Civil Order Books        May 12, 1949-June 30, 1949

32    Judgment and Decree Book

       Vol. A                   June 5, 1851-Feb. 15, 1858

       Vol. 1                   Feb. 24, 1865-Oct. 24, 1875

       Vol. 3                   Jan. 20, 1891-Feb. 16, 1903

33    Vol. 2                   Nov. 10, 1875-Dec. 29, 1890

       Vol. 3                   Jan. 20, 1891-Feb. 16, 1903

U.S. Circuit Court, District of California:

34    Common Rule Book, Equity

       Vol. 1                   Mar. 3, 1854-July 2, 1872

       Vol. 1                   Sept. 4, 1863-July 31, 1880

       Vol. 2                   Aug. 24, 1880-Aug. 24, 1886

U.S. Circuit Court, Northern District of California:

       Vol. 2                   Aug. 26, 1886-Sept. 8, 1894

       Vol. 3                   Oct. 1, 1894-Apr. 2, 1906

       Vol. 4                   May 14, 1906-Feb. 25, 1911

35      "                      Feb. 25, 1911-Jan. 6, 1913

       Common Law

       Vol. 1                   July 4, 1859-Apr. 14, 1903

U.S. Circuit Court, District of California:

       Decree Register

       Vol. 1                   July 31, 1855-June 23, 1862

       Equity Decree Register

       Vol. 1                   Aug. 10, 1855-Jan. 9, 1863

       Judgment Records

       Admiralty, Vol. 1        Dec. 31, 1855-July 26, 1861

U.S. Circuit Court, Northern District of California:

       Admiralty, Vol. 1        Mar. 18, 1863-July 1864

       Common Law               Sept. 12, 1856-June 23, 1862

36    Common Law               Nov. 29, 1858-June 23, 1862

U.S. Circuit Court, District of California:

       Equity, Vol. 1           Feb. 7, 1860-Jan. 9, 1863

       Decree Registers, Equity

       Vol. 1                   June 1, 1863-Nov. 7, 1879

       Vol. 2                   Nov. 17, 1879-May 5, 1884

       Vol. 3                   May 9, 1884-Nov. 18, 1885

37      "                      Nov. 18, 1885-Mar. 24, 1890

       Vol. 4                   Apr. 7, 1890-Oct. 19, 1896

       Vol. 5                   Dec. 8, 1896-June 13, 1900

U.S. Circuit Court, Northern District of California:

38    Vols. 5-6           Dec. 8, 1896-July 27, 1904

       Admiralty, Vol. 1        July 30, 1863-Apr. 12, 1893

       Judgment Debtor Docket, Index

       Vol. 1

U.S. Circuit Court, District of California:

       Vol. 2

U.S. Circuit Court, Northern District of California:

       Vol. 3

       Vol. 4

39      "

       Judgment Creditor Docket, Index

       Vol. 1    Vol. 2

       Judgment Register, Common Law

       Vol. 1                   Aug. 3, 1863-June 9, 1873

       Vol. 2                   July 18, 1873-July 11, 1878

40    Vol. 2                   July 15, 1873-Aug. 5, 1880

       Vol. 3                   Aug. 6, 1880-Feb. 29, 1884

       Vol. 4                   Feb. 29, 1884-May 5, 1887

       Vol. 5                   Aug. 5, 1887

41      "                      Aug. 9, 1887-Dec. 19, 1887

       Vol. 6                   Dec. 19, 1887-Aug. 3, 1888

       Vol. 7                   Aug. 3, 1888-Dec. 21, 1888

       Vol. 8                   Dec. 28, 1888

42      "                      Jan. 11, 1889-Apr. 24, 1889

       Vol. 9                   Apr. 24, 1889-June 7, 1892

       Vol. 10                  June 10, 1892-Oct. 22, 1903

43    Vol. 11                  Oct. 22, 1903-July 18, 1904

       Vol. 12                  Aug. 1, 1904-Sept. 28, 1908

       Vol. 13                  Sept. 28, 1908-Dec. 30, 1911

       Vol. 14                  Jan. 2, 1912-Dec. 2, 1916

44      "                      Dec. 5, 1916-June 11, 1923

       Vol. 15                  June 12, 1923-Dec. 28, 1931

       Vol. 16                  Jan. 4, 1932-Sept. 15, 1938

U.S. Circuit Court, District of California:

       Los Angeles Minutes      Sept. 6, 1857-Mar. 1859

       Los Angeles and Monterey

       Minutes, 10th Circuit    Dec. 7, 1863-Aug. 1866

       Circuit Court Minutes

       Vol. 1                   July 2, 1855-Sept. 11, 1857

45      "                      Sept. 11, 1857-June 22, 1859

       Vol. 2                   July 4, 1859-June 29, 1863

       Vol. 3                   June 1, 1863-Jan. 3, 1865

       Vol. 3 1/2               Jan. 4, 1865-July 29, 1867

       Vol. 4                   July 30, 1867-Apr. 13, 1870

       Vol. 4 1/2               Apr. 14, 1870-July 10, 1871

47      "                      July 10, 1871-June 3, 1872

       Vol. 5                   June 5, 1872-Sept. 23, 1874

       Vol. 6                   Sept. 30, 1874-Sept. 6, 1875

48      "                      Sept. 6, 1875-Feb. 24, 1876

       Vol. 7                   Feb. 25, 1876-July 25, 1877

       Vol. 8                   July 26, 1877-Apr. 8, 1878

49      "                      Apr. 8, 1878-Aug. 19, 1878

       Vol. 9                   Aug. 20, 1878-Oct. 16, 1879

       Vol. 10                  Oct. 20, 1879-June 9, 1880

50      "                      June 9, 1880-Jan. 19, 1881

       Vol. 11                  Jan. 20, 1881-Feb. 2, 1882

       Vol. 12                  Feb. 2, 1882-July 24, 1882

51      "                      July 24, 1882-Dec. 18, 1882

       Vol. 13                  Dec. 18, 1882-Jan. 21, 1884

       Vol. 14                  Jan. 21, 1884-Feb. 29, 1884

52      "                      Feb. 29, 1884-Sept. 29, 1884

       Vol. 15                  Sept. 30, 1884-Aug. 17, 1885

       Vol. 16                  Aug. 17, 1885-Oct. 12, 1885

53      "                      Oct. 12, 1885-July 12, 1886

       Vol. 17                  July 12, 1886-May 2, 1887

54      "                      May 2, 1887-May 3, 1887

U.S. Circuit Court, Northern District of California:

       Minutes

       Vol. 18                  May 3, 1887-Oct. 3, 1887

       Vol. 19                  Oct. 4, 1887-Mar. 7, 1888

55      "                      Mar. 7, 1888-Mar. 17, 1888

       Vol. 20                  Mar. 17, 1888-Nov. 5, 1888

       Vol. 21                  Nov. 7, 1888-Sept. 18, 1889

56      "                      Sept. 18, 1889-Feb. 11, 1890

       Vol. 22                  Feb. 12, 1890-Apr. 7, 1891

       Vol. 23                  Apr. 8, 1891-Nov. 17, 1891

57      "                      Nov. 17, 1891-Apr. 5, 1892

       Vol. 24                  Apr. 6, 1892-Jan. 24, 1893

       Vol. 25                  June 24, 1893-May 29, 1893

58      "                      May 29, 1893-Nov. 25, 1893

       Vol. 26                  Nov. 27, 1893-May 8, 1895

       Vol. 27                  May 8, 1895-Nov. 25, 1895

59      "                      Nov. 25, 1895-Feb. 17, 1897

       Vol. 28                  Feb. 17, 1897-Feb. 9, 1898

       Vol. 28 1/2              Jan. 3, 1898-Dec. 28, 1898

       Vol. 29                  Feb. 10, 1898-May 27, 1898

60      "                      May 28, 1898-Nov. 7, 1898

       Vol. 30                  Nov. 7, 1898-Nov. 16, 1899

       Vol. 31                  Nov. 17, 1899-Oct. 11, 1900

       Vol. 32                  Oct. 12, 1900-July 2, 1901

61      "                      July 2, 1901-Sept. 24, 1901

       Vol. 33                  Sept. 24, 1901-July 12, 1902

       Vol. 34                  July 14, 1902-July 11, 1903

       Vol. 35                  July 13, 1903-July 5, 1904

       Vol. 36                  July 11, 1904-Nov. 20, 1905

62      "                      Nov. 20, 1905-July 7, 1906

       Vol. 37                  July 9, 1906-July 11, 1908

       Vol. 38                  July 13, 1908-July 1, 1910

63      "                      July 1, 1910-July 9, 1910

       Vol. 39                  July 11, 1910-Dec. 31, 1911

U.S. District Court, Northern District of California:

       Civil

       Vol. 40                  Jan. 2, 1912-Dec. 31, 1913

       Vol. 41                  Jan. 2, 1914-June 21, 1915

64      "                      June 21, 1915-Oct. 11, 1916

       Vol. 42                  Oct. 12, 1916-July 30, 1918

       Vol. 43                  Aug. 1, 1918-Dec. 30, 1920

       Vol. 44                  Jan. 3, 1921-Apr. 21, 1923

       Vol. 45                  Apr. 23, 1923-Sept. 19, 1923

65      "                      Sept. 19, 1923-Oct. 31, 1925

       Vol. 46                  Nov. 2, 1925-Feb. 11, 1928

       Vol. 47                  Feb. 14, 1928-Dec. 20, 1929

       Equity Journal

       Vol. 1                   Feb. 3, 1913-Jan. 12, 1914

66      "                      Jan. 13, 1914-Mar. 31, 1915

       Vol. 2                   Apr. 1, 1915-Nov. 18, 1915

       Vol. 3                   Nov. 20, 1915-July 8, 1918

       Vol. 4                   July 12, 1918-Sept. 2, 1920

67      "                      Sept. 2, 1920-June 30, 1921

       Vol. 5                   July 1, 1921-June 23, 1923

       Vol. 6                   June 25, 1923-July 12, 1924

       Vol. 7                   July 14, 1924-June 12, 1925

68      "                      June 12, 1925-July 9, 1926

       Vol. 8                   July 12, 1926-Feb. 6, 1928

       Vol. 9                   Feb. 7, 1928-Mar. 30, 1929

       Vol. 10                  Apr. 1, 1929-Aug. 20, 1930

69    Vol. 11                  Aug. 21, 1930-Mar. 14, 1932

       Vol. 12                  Mar. 15, 1932-July 12, 1934

70    Vol. 13                  July 13, 1934-Feb. 7, 1936

       Vol. 14                  Feb. 8, 1936-Sept. 14, 1938

U.S. District Court, District of California:

71    Orders of Sales and Confirmation in Bankruptcy

       Vol. 1                   Oct. 24, 1870-Aug. 31, 1876

       Vol. 2                   Sept. 12, 1876-Apr. 20, 1894

U.S. District Court, Northern District of California:

       Sales Book

       Vol. 1                   June 17, 1851-June 8, 1867

       Vol. 2                   June 6, 1867-July 13, 1872

72                             July 13, 1872-Nov. 4, 1887

       Vol. 3                   Nov. 11, 1887-May 21, 1917

       Rule Book in Equity      Apr. 12, 1870-May 18, 1911

       Correspondences          Aug. 31, 1854-Aug. 22, 1855

       Final Records, Criminal Cases

       Vol. 1                   May 21, 1897-June 30, 1898

       Vol. 2                   June 23, 1898-Sept. 13, 1899

73      "                      Sept. 18, 1899-Dec. 12, 1900

       Vol. 3                   Jan. 12, 1901-Dec. 30, 1902

       Vol. 4                   Jan. 2, 1903-Nov. 2, 1905

74      "                      Nov. 2, 1905-Dec. 20, 1905

       Vol. 5                   Jan. 2, 1906-Dec. 16, 1908

       Vol. 6                   Jan. 29, 1909-Dec. 18, 1909

75      "                      Dec. 18, 1909-June 29, 1910

       Vol. 7                   July 1, 1910-Dec. 30, 1910

       Vol. 8                   Jan. 1, 1911-Mar. 30, 1912

76    Vols. 8-9                Mar. 30, 1912-June 30, 1913

U.S. District Court, Southern District of California:

       Minutes

       Vols. 1-5                June 2, 1851-June 10, 1863

76-A  Judgment and Decree Book

       Land Cases               Sept. 1, 1855-Dec. 9, 1865

77    Minutes

       Vol. 5                   June 10, 1863-Apr. 11, 1866

U.S. District Court, Northern District of California:

       Minutes

       Vols. 1-3                May 19, 1851-Oct. 1, 1860

U.S. District Court, District of California:

77 1/2  Minutes

       Vols. 3-5                Oct. 1, 1860-Dec. 12, 1867

       Vol. 6                   Dec. 13, 1867-Apr. 23, 1868

78    Vols. 6-8                Apr. 23, 1868-Sept. 9, 1873

79    Vols. 8-10               Sept. 9, 1873-Feb. 12, 1879

80    Vols. 10-12              Feb. 10, 1879-Oct. 3, 1882

81    Vols. 12-15              Oct. 3, 1882-Mar. 24, 1885

82    Vols. 15-16              Mar. 24, 1885-Aug. 1, 1892

U.S. District Court, Northern District of California:

       Vol. 17                  Sept. 6, 1886-Feb. 27, 1887

83    Vols. 17-19              Feb. 27, 1887-Nov. 5, 1890

84    Vols. 19-21              Nov. 5, 1890-July 10, 1893

85    Vols. 21-23              July 10, 1893-Aug. 16, 1897

86    Vols. 23-25              Aug. 16, 1897-Dec. 31, 1900

87    Vols. 26-28              Jan. 2, 1901-Oct. 25, 1904

88    Vol. 28                  Oct. 25, 1904-Dec. 30, 1905

       Sessions at Eureka and

       Sacramento               Sept. 3, 1906-July 18, 1916

       Vols. 29-30              Jan. 2, 1906-Feb. 25, 1908

89    Vols. 30-31              Feb. 25, 1908-Nov. 6, 1911

90    Vols. 31-35              Nov. 6, 1911-Jan. 4, 1915

91    Vols. 35-38              Jan. 4, 1915-Mar. 1, 1916

92    Vols. 38-41              Mar. 1, 1916-June 26, 1917

93    Vols. 41-44              June 26, 1917-Mar. 30, 1918

94    Vols. 44-47              Mar. 30, 1918-Dec. 21, 1918

95    Vols. 47-50              Dec. 21, 1918-Jan. 19, 1920

96    Vols. 50-53              Jan. 21, 1920-Feb. 17, 1921

97    Vols. 53-56              Feb. 17, 1921-Mar. 31, 1922

98    Vols. 56-59              Mar. 31, 1922-Feb. 20, 1923

99    Vols. 59-62              Feb. 20, 1923-Apr. 1, 1924

100   Vols. 62-65              Apr. 1, 1924-Mar. 7, 1925

101   Vols. 65-68              Mar. 7, 1925-June 30, 1926

102   Vols. 68-71              June 20, 1926-Dec. 1, 1927

103   Vols. 71-75              Dec. 1, 1927-Mar. 19, 1929

104   Vols. 75-76              Mar. 19, 1929-Mar. 31, 1930

       Civil: Vol. 48           Dec. 21, 1929-Dec. 15, 1930

105     "                      Dec. 15, 1930-Mar. 21, 1932

       Vols. 77-78              Apr. 1, 1930-July 28, 1931

106   Vols. 78-79              July 28, 1931-Mar. 23, 1932

       Civil: Vol. 49           Mar. 22, 1932-Oct. 31, 1934

       Vol. 80                  Mar. 24, 1932-May 10, 1932

107   Vols. 80-82              May 10, 1932-Mar. 5, 1934

108   Vols. 82-83              Mar. 5, 1934-June 3, 1935

       Civil: Vol. 50           Nov. 1, 1934-Jan. 22, 1937

109     "                      Jan. 22, 1937-Mar. 31, 1937

       Vols. 84-86              June 4, 1935-May 4, 1937

110   Vol. 86                  May 4, 1937-Dec. 15, 1937

       Civil: Vol. 51           Apr. 1, 1937-Mar. 31, 1939

       Vol. 87                  Dec. 16, 1937-Apr. 6, 1938

111   Vols. 87-88              Apr. 6, 1938-May 4, 1939

       Civil: Vol. 52           Apr. 3, 1939-Aug. 12, 1940

112   Vol. 52                  Aug. 12, 1940-Nov. 30, 1940

       Vols. 89-90              May 5, 1939-Apr. 11, 1940

113   Vols. 90-91              Dec. 11, 1939-Mar. 19, 1941

       Civil: Vol. 53           Dec. 2, 1940-Jan. 29, 1942

114    "                       Jan. 29, 1942-June 4, 1942

       Vols. 92-93              Mar. 20, 1941-Mar. 31, 1942

       Civil: Vol. 54           June 5, 1942-June 22, 1942

115     "                      June 22, 1942-Oct. 23, 1943

       Vols. 94-95              Apr. 1, 1942-Feb. 2, 1943

116   Vols. 95-96              Feb. 2, 1943-Oct. 19, 1943

       Civil: Vol. 55           Oct. 25, 1943-Nov. 19, 1944

117     "                      Nov. 13, 1943-Feb. 5, 1945

       Vol. 97                  Oct. 20, 1943-Apr. 18, 1944

       Vol. 98                  Apr. 19, 1944-Oct. 11, 1944

118   Vol. 99                  Oct. 12, 1944-Apr. 5, 1945

       Civil: Vol. 56           Feb. 6, 1945-Apr. 3, 1946

       Vol. 100                 Apr. 7, 1945-July 2, 1945

119     "                      July 2, 1945-Oct. 9, 1945

       Vol. 101                 Oct. 10, 1945-May 1, 1946

       Civil: Vol. 57           Apr. 4, 1946-May 9, 1947

       Vol. 102                 May 2, 1946-May 8, 1946

120     "                      May 8, 1946-Dec. 6, 1946

       Vol. 103                 Dec. 9, 1946-July 1, 1947

       Civil: Vol. 58           May 12, 1947-July 9, 1947

121     "                      July 9, 1947-May 24, 1948

       Vol. 104                 July 2, 1947-Mar. 24, 1948

       Vol. 105                 Mar. 10, 1948-Aug. 6, 1948

122     "                      Aug. 6, 1948-Oct. 29, 1948

       Civil: Vol. 59           May 25, 1948-Jan. 31, 1949

       Vol. 106                 Nov. 1, 1948-Sept. 14, 1949

       Civil Order Book

       Vol. 62                  July 1, 1949-Sept. 14, 1949

123     "                      Sept. 14, 1949-Mar. 31, 1950

       Judgment and Decree Book

       Vol. 40                  July 3, 1949-Dec. 2, 1949

       Vol. 41                  Dec. 2, 1949-Mar. 31, 1950

Minutes of the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of

Columbia, 1801-1863. M1021. 6 rolls. DP.

This microfilm publication reproduces 30 volumes of court

minutes. The court held sessions in the counties of both

Washington and Alexandria until July 1846, when Alexandria

County was returned to the State of Virginia. Because the

minutes of the court held in Alexandria remain in the custody

of the clerk of Arlington County, this microfilm publication

includes only those minutes created in Washington County.

In almost all cases, the minutes simply list case names and

give a brief account of the action taken. This is true even

of important cases consisting of lengthy decisions, such as

United States v. Erick Bollman and Samuel Swartwout, in which

the defendants were accused of being part of Aaron Burr's

alleged treasonous conspiracy to separate New Orleans from

the United States (December term, 1806). One of the few cases

in which the minutes include the arguments and the decision

was that which led to attorney Levi Burr's suspension from

practice in June 1823.

Roll   Volumes

1     1801-3

       1804-7

       1808-10

       1811-13

2     1814-16

       1817-19

       1820-22

       1823-24

3     1825-26

       1827-29

       1830-31

       1832-33

4     1834-36

       1837-39

       1840-42

       1843-44

       1845-46

5     1847-48

       1849-50

       1851-52

       1853-54

       1855-56

6     1857-58

       1859

       1860

       1861

       Jan. 1862

       May 1862

       Oct. 1862

       Jan. 1863

Index Books, 1789-1928, and Minutes and Bench Dockets,

1789-1870, for the U.S. District Court for the Southern

District of Georgia. M1172. 3 rolls. DP.

  This microfilm publication reproduces general index books,

1789-1928; minute books, 1789-1857; admiralty minute books,

1819-70; bench dockets, 1825-60; and admiralty bench dockets,

1817-68.

  Volume 1, 1798-1860, of the general index books covers

civil, criminal, bankruptcy, and admiralty litigation. The index

lists plaintiffs alphabetically by the initial letter of surname

and cites the box number assigned when the case was closed.

Volume 2, 1867-1928, covers civil, criminal, and admiralty

litigation. The index lists both plaintiffs and defendants

alphabetically by the initial letter of surname and cites the box

or drawer number assigned when the case was closed. After about

1900, the records were filed by individual case numbers assigned

as the cases were closed.

  The general minute books and admiralty minute books are

arranged chronologically and indexed alphabetically by the

initial letter of both the plaintiffs' and defendants' surnames.

The admiralty minute books concern admirality litigation

exclusively. Occasionally, entries regarding admiralty litigation

may also be found in the general minute books for the same time

periods. There are no minute books, either general or admiralty,

for July 1860 to May 1866.

  The general bench dockets and admiralty bench dockets are

arranged by term of court and provide a record of papers filed

and proceedings held. Each docket contains the names of the

attorneys, the type of case, and a record of various proceedings,

with dates.

Roll   Description        Years

General index books:

1     Vol. 1              1789-1860

       Vol. 2              1867-1928

Minute books:

       Vol. 1              1789-99

       Vol. 2              1799-1809

2     Vol. 3              1809-13

       Vol. 4              1813-43

       Vol. 5              1843-57

Admiralty minute books:

3     Vol. 1              1819-33

       Vol. 2              1834-70

Bench dockets:

       Vol. 1              1825-37

       Vol. 2              1838-42

       Vol. 3              1843-45

       Vol. 4              1846-52

       Vol. 5              1852-60

Admiralty bench dockets:

       Vol. 1              1817, 1820-32

       Vol. 2              1834-59, 1867-68

Minutes of the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of

Georgia, 1790-1842, and Index to Plaintiffs and Defendants in

the Circuit Court, 1790-1860. M1184. 3 rolls. DP.

  This microfilm publication reproduces seven volumes of

minutes of the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of

Georgia, 1790-1842, and a one-volume index of plaintiffs and

defendants in the circuit court, 1790-1860. The minutes

record the dates of court sessions, names of presiding

judges, and, usually, judgments and orders of the court. The

minutes also record some naturalization proceedings, the

admission of attorneys to practice, appointment of court

officials, adoption of procedural rules, and actions relating

to juries. The entries are chronological by date of session.

  The index pertains to original jurisdiction as well as

appellate cases (all types of litigation). Both plaintiffs'

and defendants' names are indexed alphabetically by initial

letter of surname or firm name. Each entry gives the filing

date and control number for the case. The division of the

state of Georgia into two districts in 1848 (9 Stat. 280) did

not affect this arrangement.

Roll  Description    Dates

Minutes:

1     Vol. 1         May 1790-Apr. 1793

       Vol. 2         Apr. 1793-Nov. 1798

       Vol. 3         Nov. 1798-Aug. 1806

       Vol. 4         Dec. 1806-May 1816

2     Vol. 5         Dec. 1816-May 1823

       Vol. 6         May 1823-July 1834

3     Vol. 7         Nov. 1834-Sept. 1842

Index to plaintiffs and defendants:

       District of

       Georgia        1790-1848

       Southern District

       of Georgia     1848-1860

Records of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, 1806-1814. M1082. 18 rolls. DP.

This microfilm publication reproduces two minute books, a related docket, and the first 769 case files of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, 1806-1814.

The two earliest volumes of minutes provide a chronological record of court proceedings from November 5, 1808, to December 14, 1814, when the district court was recessed because of the threat of invasion by British forces. The minutes, which show the dates of court sessions and the name of the presiding judge, give information about the cases heard during the session, including the names of the parties, case number, and brief abstracts of proceedings. No minutes for the period 1806 to November 5, 1808, have been located.

The docket entries for July 20, 1806, to December 14, 1814, which are arranged numerically by case number, show the names of the parties and type of case and give a chronological list of court actions and papers filed.

The case files, which are arranged numerically by case number, include suits filed under maritime, civil, and criminal laws. The bulk of the records consist of admiralty cases filed under various maritime laws. Although there are a few bills in equity, the majority of the civil actions consists of petitions for the payment of debts or attachments used in satisfying judgments in previous cases. The admiralty cases contain bills of libel, reports of appraisers, warrants of seizure, orders, and claims for salvaged goods. The documents within each case file are arranged chronologically by the filing date of the paper.

Roll  Description

Minutes:

1     Vol. 2, Nov. 1808-July 1811

       Vol. 3, July 1811 (cont.)-Dec. 1814

Docket:

2     1806-14

Case files, 1806-14:

       1-43

3     44-134

4     135-163

5     164-215

6     216-250

7     251-312

8     313-364

9     365-397

10    398-441

11    442-486

12    487-523

13    524-573

14    574-628

15    629-668

16    669-722

17    723-756

18    757-769

Minutes of the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Maryland, 1790-1911. M931. 7 rolls. DP.

The 18 volumes of minutes reproduced in this microfilm publication are a record of the activities of the circuit court, showing dates of orders of the court arising out of the litigation of all its cases--original and appellate, civil and criminal. The entries in the minutes are chronological by the date of the session.

The cases range from those relating to the quasi-war with France and Jefferson's embargo to the suspension of habeas corpus during the Civil War and the provision of the court to enforce voting rights laws during the Reconstruction. The minutes appear complete except for the years 1804-5 and 1807-8, the November session of 1803, and the first part of the May 1806 session.

Roll  Volumes

1     1790-1811

       1811-20

       1820-23

       1823-28

2     1828-33

       1833-39

       1839-48

3     1848-60

       1860-73

       1873-79

4     1879-84

       1884-88

5     1888-92

       1892-96

6     1896-1900

       1900-1904

7     1904-8

       1908-11

Records of the Territorial Court of Michigan, 1815-1836.
M1111. 9 rolls. DP.

The Michigan Territory was created in 1805. Three appointed judges had both original and appellate jurisdiction and often sat as the supreme court of the territory. The court usually held its sessions in Detroit, the territorial seat of government, but a fourth judge, appointed in 1830, held court at Prairie du Chien, Green Bay, and Mackinac.

The records in this microfilm publication consist of case files and a bound volume written in the style of a journal. The cases are primarily civil and admiralty, though a few are criminal. Many of the civil cases involve debts owed by individuals to the U.S. government or suits between persons over money or property. The admiralty cases usually concern forfeiture proceedings arising from the seizure of goods smuggled into the territory from Canada.

Nearly every case has a jacket that bears the title of the case and the year, usually the year in which legal action commenced. Dated documents in each case file are arranged chronologically. Undated documents have been placed at the end of the file unless their content clearly indicated proper placement elsewhere.

The cases from 1816 through 1823 are in chronological order. Cases from 1824 through 1835 were assigned numbers. Case files 2-146 are arranged in sequence; case number 1 has not been found.

Chronological entries in the bound volumes were made by the clerk, who noted the date of each session, the court designation (such as the Supreme Court of the Territory of Michigan, sitting as the district and circuit court), the names of the judges present, the names of the parties to the case, and statements concerning the proceedings. Because the volume is in the style of a journal, entire proceedings of a case do not appear together. Entries were made during each day's session for all cases as they occurred. The journal also contains information such as fines for nonappearance, appointments of court officers, names of jurors and witnesses and notes concerning their travel allowances, and petitions and orders of naturalization.

While the journal and case files cover approximately the same period, the records do not completely duplicate each other. Some documents in the case files were not copied into the journal, and records described in some journal entries cannot be found among the papers of the case files. There is no index or register to either the case files or the journal.    

Roll   Case Files         Years

Unnumbered cases:

1                         1816-20

2                         1821-23

Numbered cases:

3     2-17                1824-27

4     18-28               1828

5     29-52               1829-30

6     53-79               1831-32

7     80-115              1833-34

8     116-146             1834-35

Journal:

9                         1815-36

Records of the U.S. District Court of New Jersey and Predecessor Courts, 1790-1950. T928. 186 rolls. 16mm.

Minutes of the district and circuit courts fill the first 62 rolls. Dockets of district and circuit court civil cases are on rolls 63-73, and dockets of district court criminal and admiralty cases are on rolls 74-94. Each docket is indexed. The remainder, rolls 95-186, contain the proceedings of bankruptcy cases. Roll 95 contains dockets of proceedings taken under the Bankruptcy Act of 1841; roll 96 contains dockets 1-4 of proceedings under the Bankruptcy Act of 1867 and a name index to case numbers in all four dockets. The case files themselves appear on rolls 97-186.

Roll       Dates

U.S. Circuit Court Minutes:

1          Apr. 2, 1790-Apr. 13, 1879

2          Apr. 21, 1879-Mar. 28, 1894

3          Mar. 30, 1894-Apr. 2, 1906

4          Apr. 2, 1906-Dec. 28, 1911

U.S. District Court Minutes:

5          Dec. 12, 1789-Mar. 5, 1873

6          Mar. 13, 1873-Nov. 24, 1883

7          Nov. 26, 1883-Jan. 27, 1890

8          Jan. 27, 1890-Dec. 17, 1894

9          Dec. 17, 1894-July 27, 1899

10         July 28, 1899-Oct. 15, 1900

11         Oct. 15, 1900-Nov. 24, 1902

12         Nov. 24, 1902-Nov. 14, 1904

13         Nov. 14, 1904-June 22, 1907

14         June 23, 1907-Oct. 17, 1910

15         Oct. 18, 1910-Apr. 28, 1913

16         Apr. 29, 1913-Nov. 25, 1914

17         Nov. 25, 1914-June 21, 1916

18         June 22, 1916-Jan. 28, 1918

19         Jan. 29, 1918-Mar. 25, 1919

20         Mar. 25, 1919-Sept. 7, 1920

21         Sept. 7, 1920-June 21, 1921

22         June 21, 1921-Mar. 2, 1922

23         Mar. 2, 1922-Oct. 18, 1922

24         Oct. 19, 1922-Apr. 10, 1923

25         Apr. 10, 1923-Oct. 29, 1923

26         Oct. 30, 1923-Mar. 24, 1924

27         Mar. 24, 1924-Aug. 5, 1924

28         Aug. 5, 1924-Dec. 1, 1924

29         Dec. 1, 1924-Mar. 16, 1925

30         Mar. 16, 1925-June 29, 1925

31         June 29, 1925-Nov. 28, 1925

32         Nov. 28, 1925-Mar. 8, 1926

33         Mar. 8, 1926-July 6, 1926

34         July 6, 1926-Nov. 29, 1926

35         Nov. 29, 1926-Apr. 7, 1927

36         Apr. 27, 1927-July 13, 1927

37         July 13, 1927-Dec. 28, 1927

38         Dec. 28, 1927-Apr. 30, 1928

39         May 1, 1928-Nov. 13, 1928

40         Nov. 13, 1928-Apr. 22, 1929

41         Apr. 23, 1929-Aug. 31, 1929

42         Aug. 1, 1929-Nov. 10, 1930

43         Nov. 10, 1930-July 23, 1930

44         July 24, 1930-Jan. 31, 1931

45         Feb. 1, 1931-July 31, 1931

46         July 1, 1931-Dec. 10, 1931

47         Dec. 11, 1931-June 10, 1932

48         June 11, 1932-Dec. 15, 1932

49         Dec. 16, 1932-June 16, 1933

50         June 17, 1934-Apr. 23, 1934

51         Apr. 2, 1934-Mar. 30, 1935

52         Mar. 1, 1935-Apr. 24, 1936

53         Apr. 24, 1936-Jan. 31, 1938

54         Feb. 1, 1938-Aug. 28, 1939

55         Sept. 1, 1939-Apr. 21, 1941

56         Apr. 22, 1941-Mar. 18, 1942

57         Mar. 19, 1942-Feb. 23, 1943

58         Feb. 24, 1943-Mar. 24, 1944

59         Mar. 25, 1944-Oct. 28, 1945

60         Oct. 29, 1945-Jan. 16, 1947

61         Jan. 17, 1947-Oct. 29, 1948

62         Nov. 1, 1948-May 15, 1950

Roll  Dockets        Cases

U.S. District Court Civil Cases:

63    Feb. 3, 1863-Docket 6, p. 176

64    6-10

65    11-16          742-1413

66    16-21          1414-2023

67    21-26          2024-2722

68    26-31          2723-3344

69    31-37          3345-4050

70    37             4051-4113

U.S. Circuit Court Cases:

       1-5            1001-2845

71    5-10           2848-4707

72    10-15          4708-5760

73    15-19          5761-6245

U.S. District Court Criminal Cases:

74    1-4

75    4-7

76    7-10           1468-4421

77    10-13          4422-8869

78    13-16          8870-12455

79    16-20          12456-14573

80    20-22          1a-1409a

81    22-25          1410a-2859a

82    25-28          2860a-4337a

83    28-31          4338a-5921a

84    31-34          5922a-7323a

85    34-36          7324a-8211a

U.S. District Court Admiralty Cases:

       1-2            194-1735

86    2-6            1736-3833

87    6-13           3834-4623

88    13-18          4624-5350

89    19-25          5351-6100

90    25-29          6101-6772

91    29-32          6773-7551

92    33-38          7552-8175

93    38-43          8176-86a

94    43-45          87a-285a

Proceedings under the Bankruptcy Act of 1841:

95    1-2

Proceedings under the Bankruptcy Act of 1867:

96    1-4 and index

97                   1-31

98                   31-49

99                   49-76

100                  77-101

101                  102-129

102                  129-153

103                  154-183

104                  184-213

105                  213-246

106                  246-268

107                  268-302

108                  302-328

109                  328-352

110                  353-386

111                  386-415

112                  415-449

113                  449-477

114                  477-507

115                  507-523

116                  523-549

117                  550-572

118                  572-601

119                  602-627

120                  627-650

121                  650-672

122                  672-697

123                  697-712

124                  712-745

125                  745-765

126                  765-782

127                  782-810

128                  811-820

129                  820-833

130                  834-850

131                  851-874

132                  875-907

133                  908-931

134                  932-945

135                  946-962

136                  962-998

137                  998-1029

138                  1029-1080

139                  1080-1104

140                  1104-1122

141                  1122-1131

142                  1131-1142

143                  1142-1152

144                  1152-1167

145                  1167-1183

146                  1183-1201

147                  1201-1214

148                  1214-1222

149                  1223-1246

150                  1246-1262

151                  1262-1275

152                  1275-1293

153                  1293-1303

154                  1304-1319

155                  1319-1332

156                  1332-1351

157                  1351-1366

158                  1366-1384

159                  1384-1398

160                  1398-1415

161                  1415-1430

162                  1430-1448

163                  1448-1467

164                  1467-1479

165                  1479-1497

166                  1497-1519

167                  1520-1545

168                  1546-1564

169                  1564-1581

170                  1582-1595

171                  1596-1615

172                  1616-1633

173                  1633-1654

174                  1654-1672

175                  1672-1691

176                  1692-1710

177                  1710-1730

178                  1731-1740

179                  1741-1759

180                  1759-1773

181                  1773-1790

182                  1791-1811

183                  1812-1837

184                  1837-1856

185                  1857-1882

186                  1883-1885

Records of the Clerk of the Court, 1746-1932, and of the U.S Commissioners, 1837-1860, of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. M938. 1 roll. DP.

The records of the clerk reproduced in this microfilm publication consist of copyright records, 1809-53, and miscellaneous records, 1746-1932. They are arranged chronologically by year of filing. Most of the copyright records are printed copies of the title pages of books, assignments of copyrights of title pages, engraved plates, stereotype plats, alphabet blocks, and other materials used in printing publications. The miscellaneous records include abstracts, applications, certificates, licenses, and petitions reflecting accounts of charges incurred and debts paid during the progress of various suits, appointments of attorneys and guardians, and employment of personnel. There are also reports and resolutions relating to admiralty, bankruptcy, law, and other legal proceedings. These records are arranged alphabetically by subject and thereunder chronologically by date of document.

On July 4, 1827, slavery was abolished in the state of New York. The second set of records in this publication, those of U.S. commissioners, relates solely to fugitive slaves. It consists of affidavits, petitions, and proofs filed by owners of runaway slaves seeking to reclaim fugitives believed to have fled to the southern district of New York. The names of the slaves are: Nat; James Hamlett; John Van Orden; Stephen, Robert, and Jacob Pembrook; Abraham Harris; Edmund Dye; and Allen Groff. The records are arranged chronologically by date of filing with the court.

Minutes and Rolls of Attorneys of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, 1789-1841. M886. 9 rolls. DP.

This microfilm publication reproduces 20 bound volumes of engrossed minutes, including name and subject indexes to each volume except the first, and 10 unbound rolls of attorneys.

The minutes, arranged in chronological order, record the proceedings of the court and give the dates of sessions, names of presiding judges and notations of judgments, decrees, and orders in both civil and criminal cases. Index entries are filmed before the minutes and are arranged alphabetically by first letter of the defendant's or vessel's name or by subject and thereunder chronologically.

Ten parchment rolls record names of attorneys admitted to practice before the district court from October 16, 1789, to November 18, 1834. Each roll contains the signature of the attorney admitted, the date of his admission, and a copy of the oath taken. Among the signatures appearing on the rolls are those of Aaron Burr, Alexander Hamilton, Robert Morris, and Henry Wheaton. The parchment rolls, and the entries on each, are arranged in chronological order.

Roll  Volumes

1     1789-96

       1796-98

       1798-1800

2     1800-1802

       1802-7

       1807-9

3     1809-12

       1812-13

4     1813-14

       1814-15

5     1815-17

       1817-19

       1819-26

6     1826-30

       1830-32

7     1832-34

       1834-37

8     1837-38

       1839-40

9     1840-41

       Rolls of attorneys, 1789-1834

Minutes, Trial Notes, and Rolls of Attorneys of the U.S. Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York, 1790-1841. M854. 3 rolls. DP.

The three rolls of this microfilm publication reproduce 7 volumes and unbound documents containing minutes, trial notes, and rolls of attorneys. One volume contains documents dated as late as 1857.

The first of the three series consists of the minutes of the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of New York and its successor, the U.S. Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York. The minutes record the proceedings of the circuit courts, indicating dates of sessions, names of presiding judges, and, usually, notations of judgments, decrees, and orders of the court arising out of the litigation of all cases before it--original and appellate, civil and criminal.

The second series, trial notes, 1834-38, consists of brief statements noted by the judge on proceedings in the course of trials of various civil and criminal cases. The notes are arranged chronologically by term of court. Most of the cases discussed in the trial notes are also cited in the circuit court minutes for the same period. The minutes and trial notes concern many subjects, among which are the quasi-war with France during the John Adams administration, Jefferson's embargo, evasion of customs duties, and slavery and the slave trade.

The third series consists of 7 rolls of parchment that list names of attorneys admitted to practice before the U.S. circuit courts of New York from April 12, 1790, to November 21, 1834. Each roll contains a copy of the oath taken, the signature of each attorney admitted, and the date of admission. Among the signatures on the rolls are those of Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, Edward Livingstone, and William Seward. Entries on the rolls are chronological by date of admission.

Roll   Description

Minutes:

1     1790-1808

       1813-19

       1819-28

2     1828-32

       1832-38

3     1838-41

       Minutes in chambers

       "Judge's Orders," 1832-57

Trial notes, 1834-38:

       October term, 1834

       April, July, and October terms, 1835

       October term, 1838

Rolls of attorneys, 1790-1834:

       Rolls of attorneys and solicitors, 1790-1815

       Rolls of counselors, 1790-1813

       Rolls of attorneys, solicitors, counselors, and

        advocates, 1816-34

Judgment Records of the U.S. Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York, 1794-1840. M882. 8 rolls. DP.

In addition to the judgment records of the U.S. Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York, 1794-1840, this microfilm publication reproduces a register of judgments of the circuit court for the years 1794-1817 and 1829-59.

The judgment records relate to cases in which the circuit court rendered judgments or final decrees for the recovery of debts, damages, or costs. They are chiefly for original jurisdiction law cases but also for some equity cases, cases in which the law does not provide an adequate remedy.

The basic judgment records, also known as judgment rolls, consist of transcripts of the proceedings of cases and the signed judgments. The number and types of additional documents that are filed for each case vary. Occasionally, in appellate cases, the judgment records of a district court are filed with those of the circuit court.

The judgment records mainly relate to suits for personal injuries, infringement of patent rights, recovery of sums under various forms of obligation or promise (often involving the Bank of the United States), and damages sustained by reason of forcible ejection from lands and tenements.

For each case in the register of judgments, 1794-1817 and 1829-59, the following information is provided: names of the parties, the way judgment was obtained (verdict, default, or other manner), amount of debt and damages, date of signing and filing the judgment, names of attorneys, and occasionally, date of satisfaction. The case files and other documents in a file are arranged chronologically by the date of filing.

Roll   Dates

Judgment records:

  1    1794, 1800-1817

  2    1818-22

  3    1823-27

  4    1828-29

  5    1830-33

  6    1834-36

  7    1837-38

  8    1839-40

Register of judgments:

       1794-1817, 1829-59

Judgment Records of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, 1795-1840. M934. 16 rolls. DP.

Before listing the judgment records, this microfilm publication reproduces a register of judgments rendered by the district court, 1795-1811, with dates of actions as late as 1813. Register entries show names of parties, how judgments were obtained (by verdict, by default, or in another manner), amounts of debts, names of attorneys, and dates of actions. There is a partial index to the register, but it has been omitted from this microfilm publication.

Judgment records in early cases consist merely of the judgment roll on which are transcribed the proceedings in the case and the signed judgment. In later cases, a judgment record is usually made up of the pleadings, process, decree or judgment, affidavit of defendant's default, satisfaction of judgment, and related papers. The case files for 1794-1811 are arranged in the order in which they were entered in the register, by date of signing of the judgment roll. The later case files are arranged by term of court and thereunder by date of filing. A list of judgment records is included. Because the spellings of names of parties have been determined from the register or from the documents in the case files, there may be cases in which the writing has been misinterpreted or an incorrect name was given to the court. In some instances, the same person's name appears to be spelled in different ways in different case files.

The inclusive dates for this microfilm publication are those of the filing of judgments. Some individual documents, however, are dated as late as 1842. There are also eight case files at the end of calendar year 1815 that were not reproduced because they had been badly damaged by water.

Roll   Terms of Court

Register:

  1    Feb. 1795-Nov. 1811

Judgment records:

       Feb. 1795-Feb. 1801

  2    May 1801-Nov. 1807

  3    Feb. 1808-May 1816

  4    Aug. 1816-Feb. 1817

  5    May-Nov. 1817

  6    Feb. 1818-Feb. 1820

  7    May 1820-Feb. 1825

  8    May 1825-Aug. 1826

  9    Nov. 1826-Aug. 1828

  10   Nov. 1828-May 1829

  11   Aug. 1829-Mar. 1832

  12   Apr. 1832-Feb. 1833

  13   Mar. 1833-Dec. 1836

  14   Jan. 1837-Mar. 1838

  15   Apr. 1838-Oct. 1839

  16   Nov. 1839-Dec. 1840

Minutes of the U.S. Circuit Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1790-1844. M932. 2 rolls. DP.

Roll   Description

Rough minutes:

  1    1790-92, 1794

       Related documents

Engrossed minutes:

       Oct. 1792

       1793-95

       1796-99

       1799-1800

       1800-1802

       1802-5

       1805-8

  2    1808-11

       1811-15

       1816-19

       1820-28

       1839-44

Records of the U.S. Circuit Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, 1801-1802, and Minutes and Habeas Corpus and Criminal Case Files of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1789-1843. M987. 3 rolls.

DP.

The first series of records consists of case files for law and equity cases, mainly involving debt, 1801-2; writs of venire facias summoning jurors; and a clerk's bond executed in 1801. A short docket of proceedings, June 25, 1801-June 25, 1802, appears on M969 listed under "Law and Appellate Records." The files contain praecipes, writs of summons and capias, and related papers. They are arranged by session of court and thereunder by case number, which was assigned on the date the action was first brought to the attention of the court. In addition, there are minute entries showing dates of meetings, judges present, the appointment of the clerk, admission of attorneys, and reports of grand juries; the entries are arranged by session, thereunder by date of court meeting, and thereunder by case. The writs of venire facias and the lists of jurors chosen are arranged by the date on which the writ was returned.

The other records included in this publication are of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The single largest category of cases in the six volumes of engrossed minutes, 1790-1843, relates to Philadelphia's role as a port. Among the subjects are bottomry (pledging a ship as security to cover the cost of a voyage), ships held or sold for payment of financial obligations, limitations of liability, arrest of vessels, disposition of goods from salvaged vessels, title transfer, landing of goods without a permit, forfeitures in customs and internal revenue, and wage cases involving seamen. Nonmaritime financial cases involve false valuation, breach of contract, supplemental libel, assignation of power of attorney, and debt adjudication. The second largest category of actions concerns the naturalization of aliens.

The court also appointed commissions to study specific problems, adopted new rules of procedure, committed cases for trial by another court, and, on one occasion, directed the Court of Common Pleas of the City of New York to take depositions on a case.

The second series, rough minutes, 1789-94, consists of the notes of proceedings in court. The notes apparently were the basis for preparing the engrossed minutes and are arranged by date of court meeting. They also include a roll of attorneys admitted to practice.

The third series, habeas corpus case files, 1791-1840, and the fourth series, criminal case files, 1791-95, 1800, 1802, 1813, 1819, 1832-34, and 1837, relate mainly to persons imprisoned by the U.S. Army and persons accused of treason, desertion, mutiny, piracy, assault and battery, the illegal furnishing and fitting out of vessels, forgery, counterfeiting, carrying on business without a license or paying a tax, larceny, mail theft, perjury, and other criminal acts. The case files and the documents within them are arranged by date of filing or by date of the document.

Roll   Description

1    Records of the U.S. Circuit Court for the Western

          District of Pennsylvania, 1801-2

      Engrossed Minutes of the U.S. District Court for the

          Eastern District of Pennsylvania:

      Vol. 1, 1790-97

      Vol. 2, 1798-Aug. 1801

      Vol. 3, Aug. 1801 (cont.)-Dec. 1806

      Vol. 4, Jan. 1807-Dec. 1818

2    Vol. 5, Jan. 1819-Jan. 1834

      Vol. 6, Feb. 1834-Dec. 1843

      Rough minutes, 1789-94

3    Habeas corpus case files, 1791-1840

      Criminal case files, 1791-1837

Minutes, Circuit and District Courts, District of South Carolina, 1789-1849, and Index to Judgments, Circuit and District Courts, 1792-1874. M1181. 2 rolls. DP.

This publication consists of two volumes of circuit court minute books, three volumes of district court minute books, and an index to judgments of both courts. The second volume of circuit court minute books has an index to plaintiffs and defendants. The second and third volumes of district court minute books have similar indexes. No circuit court minute books have been located for January 1810-October 1821, and no district court minute books have been located for October 1814-November 1833.

The index to judgments, 1792-1874, is an alphabetical grouping of defendants in civil cases. The information following the name of the defendant consists of the name of the plaintiff, the date of the judgment, the attorney, the date of the verdict, the date of execution of the sentence, whether held in circuit or district court, and whether the matter in dispute was satisfied.

Roll  Description                   Dates

1    Circuit court minute books

      Vol. 1                        May 1790-Nov. 1809

      Vol. 2                        Nov. 1821-Apr. 1836

      District court minute books

      Vol. 1                        Dec. 1789-July 1806

      2    Vol. 2                   Sept. 1806-Sept. 1814

      Vol. 3                        Dec. 1833-July 1849

      Index to judgments of the circuit and

      district courts               1792-1874

Minute Books of the U.S. District Court for West Tennessee, 1797-1839, and of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, 1839-1865. M1213. 1 roll. DP.

This single roll of microfilm reproduces the minute books of the U.S. District Court for Tennessee, 1797-1801, for West Tennessee, 1801-39, and for the Middle District of Tennessee, 1839-65, all of which met in Nashville. These minute books were prepared by the clerk of the court during courtroom sessions, probably "in the rough" with the permanent record copied at a later date into the record books filmed here. The sessions are recorded in chronological order, each beginning with the date the court convened and the name of the presiding judge and followed by the record of the case or cases in litigation that day including, as appropriate, the names of the parties, lists of jurors, and the decrees, judgments, and orders of the court.

Three volumes of district court minute books exist: July 1797-May 1803, April 1801-March 1846, and June 1862-November 1865. Records for 1846-62 are missing. The first two volumes contain records of the court for the period 1797-1807, when it exercised both circuit and district court jurisdiction. The reason why material recorded at the end of the first volume covers the same period as the material at the beginning of the second volume is not clear; some of the information is identical in both volumes and some is different. Volume 3 contains a list of attorneys admitted to practice in the federal court. This is of interest because only those attorneys who had taken the oath of allegiance were admitted to practice, thus eliminating attorneys who were loyal to the Confederacy. The oath appears on the frontispiece of volume 3. Volume 1 contains no entries recording naturalization oaths; volumes 2 and 3 have a few such entries.

Minute Books of the U.S. Circuit Court for West Tennessee, 1803-1839, and of the U.S. Circuit Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, 1839-1864. M1214. 4 rolls. DP.

Seven volumes of minute books exist for the period 1808-64. A substantial part of volume 6 is devoted to only one case, Divises of Polly Withered v. Sarah Malone et al., which involved the land that composes the town of Columbia, TN.

For convenient reference, the NARA staff has assigned numbers to these seven volumes. Volumes 2 through 7 have indexes located either at the front or back of the minutes, or in a thin supplement accompanying the minutes volume. The indexes are arranged alphabetically by initial letter of the plaintiffs' surnames and show the page numbers in the minutes on which relevant case information appears.

Roll   Description

  1    Vol. 1, 1808-15

       Vol. 2, 1816-27

  2    Vol. 3, 1827-33

       Vol. 4, 1833-39

  3    Vol. 5, 1839-48

       Vol. 6, 1849-59

  4    Vol. 7, 1859-64

Final Record Books of the U.S. District Court for West Tennessee, 1803-1839, and of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, 1839-1850; Land Claims Records for West Tennessee, 1807-1820. M1215. 1 roll. DP.

The majority of the cases in the final record books are law and equity cases that involved suits for the collection of debts. Volume 2 includes some bankruptcy cases filed under the Bankruptcy Act of 1842. Volume 1 contains most of the chancery, or equity, cases because it covers the period when the Tennessee court was functioning as both a circuit and district court. Both volumes contain indexes that are arranged alphabetically by the initial letter of a plaintiff's surname and that show the page number in the final record book where the case information begins.

A third volume contains land claims records filed with Judge McNairy for West Tennessee, August 1807-December 1820. These records contain information in columns headed "Owners Names," "Land Description" (including the name of the county and identifying water courses), "Number of Warrant," "Number of Lot," "Number of Acres," and "Date Claim Was Filed." Some of the land was awarded by military warrants. A few entries are signed and dated by the surveyor.

Final Record Books of the U.S. Circuit Court for West Tennessee, 1808-1839, and of the U.S. Circuit Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, 1839-1865. M1212. 10 rolls. DP.

This microfilm publication reproduces 18 volumes of final record books of the U.S. Circuit Court for West Tennessee, 1808-39, and of the U.S. Circuit Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, 1839-65, both of which met in Nashville.

Each final record book contains a record of the actions filed from the opening to the closing of a case. Cases are entered in the books chronologically by the date on which the case was closed. The documents entered may include libels, complaints, indictments, orders, bonds, subpoenas, writs, returns, judgments, decrees, verdicts, executions, and other papers. Although all types of litigation that might be tried in a federal court are contained in these books, including law, equity, and criminal cases, the majority of the cases are civil cases concerned with the collection of debts.

The NARA staff has assigned volume numbers for easy reference. Volumes 1, 3, 6, 13, 14, and 15 are not indexed. All the other volumes contain indexes that are arranged by the initial letter of the plaintiffs' surnames and show the page number in the final record book where the case papers begin.

Roll   Description

1    Vol. 1, 1808-12

      Vol. 2, 1812-20

2    Vol. 3, 1820-31

      Vol. 4, 1823-26

3    Vol. 5, 1826-29

      Vol. 6, 1830-32

4    Vol. 7, 1832-35

      Vol. 8, 1836-38

5    Vol. 9, 1838-40

      Vol. 10, 1840-43

6    Vol. 11, 1843-49

7    Vol. 12, 1849-53

8    Vol. 13, 1853-57

      Vol. 14, 1857-58

9    Vol. 15, 1858-60

      Vol. 16, 1862-63

10   Vol. 17, 1863

      Vol. 18, 1863-65

National Archives Trust Fund Board
National Archives and Records Administration
Washington, DC
1987