Research

Scope and Content Note

Chancery cases did not result in a final decree if the complainant did not pursue the lawsuit to its completion, or the parties settled their dispute out of court. The case files may contain any of the following documents: bill of complaint, answer by the defendant, affidavits, orders, bonds, notices, Master's report, written evidence, etc. A few files include an order dismissing the complaint. A non-judicial case settlement is rarely documented in the file.

Most cases concerned disputes or matters arising in New York City (all periods) and in other counties comprising the First Circuit (1823-1847), but a few cases involved parties residing in other parts of New York State. Most of the cases in the second sub-series (incorporated entity a party to the case) are mortgage foreclosures.

A few case files concern non-adversarial matters commenced by petition, such as appointment of guardian for a minor, or committee for a lunatic; admission of solicitors to practice in the Court of Chancery; and permission to churches to sell real property.