Research

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of writs of commission issued under seal of the Supreme Court of Judicature, directed to commissioners appointed by the writ to take depositions from material witnesses residing in other states or countries.

The return to the writ consists of the answers of the witness to interrogatories, transcribed and certified by the commissioners. Attached to the writ and the return are the interrogatories and occasionally cross-interrogatories submitted by attorney for parties to the action. Many of the returns are enclosed in the original wrappers with seals; the wrappers bear nostes that they were picked up at the post office on a certain date.