Research

Scope and Content Note

The issue roll contains all the same parts and information as the judgment roll up to and including the award of writ of venire facias juratores. (See description for J0134, J0137, J0140.) The issue roll was prepared only for important cases tried at the bar of the Supreme Court of Judicature. (A nisi prius roll was drawn up for causes tried on the circuit.)

A law of 1786 required that trials of issues be held on circuit except "in cases of great difficulty, or which require great examination." The issue roll was abolished in 1818, but later examples are found in this series. The continuance roll is a record of proceedings on a writ of execution (fieri facias or capias ad respondendum) issued after an award of judgment. It summarizes the issuance and return of successive process in cases where the winning party was apparently determined to have the judgment debt satisfied no matter what the trouble and expense.