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Florida. Circuit Court (7th Circuit : Saint Johns County)
Title, Dates:
Circuit court records, 1763-1930.
Amount:
74.00 microfilm reel 35 mm.
Medium Included:
Organization/Arrangement:
Numerical.
Restrictions:
Terms Governing Use:
Biographical/Historical:
Saint Johns County was one of the two original counties created in Florida on July 21, 1821. During the next three years, the size of Saint Johns County decreased significantly due to the creation of four new counties. In 1822, the Legislative Council of Florida created Duval County from the northern portion. In 1823, Monroe County was created from the southern portion of Saint Johns County. In 1824, the southern portion was used for the creation of Mosquito County and a western portion was used for the creation of Alachua County. Later in 1849, Putnam County was created from the western portion of Saint Johns County. The final boundary change occurred in 1917 when Flagler County was created from the southern portion. The Clerk of the Circuit Court in each county serves as the official custodian of deed, marriage and probate records.
Summary:
This series consists of a microfilm copy of the miscellaneous court papers for Saint Johns County, Florida from 1763 to 1930. The series contains court papers taken from 168 file drawers classified as records of (1) civil and chancery cases in circuit court; (2) all types of cases in the Territorial Superior Court; and (3) civil and criminal cases and miscellaneous papers in the Territorial County Court. Also included are volumes of court documents recorded after 1900. While the earliest official record is dated 1821, after the United States had acquired Florida, numerous documents relate to the second Spanish occupation of the Province (1783-1821), and in one instance at least the change of sovereignty from Spain to Great Britain is reflected in the date 1763. Suit in the latter case was an action in ejectment and involved the Spanish law that an American citizen could not inherit lands in East Florida. The last date shown is that of 1930. Most of the records on the microfilm are from about 1821 to 1890.
The following is an example of the type of cases found in the records: actions of debt and of trespass; proceedings in ejectment, divorce and garnishment; bills for foreclosure; bills of sale; leases; prayers for injunctions and for partitions; writs of habeas corpus, replevin, and mandamus; petitions in bankruptcy; suits for slander and libel; petitions for admission to the bar, for a change in name, for adoption of children, for the appointment of guardians, for removal of disabilities, and petitions by women to become free dealers; liens and attachments; cases of adultery, murder, larceny, assault, rape, jail breaking, and election frauds.
In 1940, the Florida Historical Society created an inventory to assist in finding materials in the files.
Finding Aids:
Microfilm listing available.
Additional Physical Form:
Reproduction Note:
Microfilm.
Location of Originals/Duplicates:
Circuit Court, Seventh Judicial Circuit, Saint Johns County. Office of the Clerk. Saint Augustine, Florida.
Associated Materials:
Language Notes:
Ownership/Custodial History:
Publication Note:
General Note:
Electronic Records Access:
Subject Access Fields:
Circuit courts Florida Legal instruments Florida --Saint Johns County Court records Florida --Saint Johns County
Territorial records. aat Legal instruments. aat Judicial records. aat
Saint Johns County (Fla.) East Florida.
for detailed listing.