Research


New York State Court of Chancery Registers of Causes


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Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:
The registers in this series contain summary chronological records of proceedings in the Court of Chancery (before spring 1823), in the Court of Equity (1st Circuit) (spring 1823 through 1829), and before the Vice-Chancellor (1st Circuit) (1830-1847), in cases ("causes") involving a complainant and a defendant. Not included in these registers are non-adversarial cases commenced by petition.
Creator:
Title:
Court of Chancery registers of causes
Quantity:

3 cubic feet

Quantity:

12 volume(s)

Quantity:

8 35mm microfilm roll(s)

Inclusive Dates:
1787-1852 (with gaps)
Bulk Dates:
1787-1849
Series Number:
JN321

Arrangement

Roughly chronological by date case opened.

Scope and Content Note

Registers in this series contain summary chronological records of proceedings in the Court of Chancery (before spring 1823), in the Court of Equity (1st Circuit) (spring 1823 through 1829), and before the Vice-Chancellor (1st Circuit) (1830-1847), in cases ("causes") involving a complainant and a defendant. Not included in these registers are non-adversarial cases commenced by petition.

The information recorded for each case includes the names of the complainant, defendant, and solicitors and a chronological listing of document filings and court actions prior to final determination of a case. The entries include filing and entering of the bill of complaint and other papers, and issuing of orders and other actions requiring the service of a clerk in Chancery. Some of the entries date several years after a case was commenced. The registers do not contain information on the substance of filed documents, preliminary motions and orders, and final orders or decrees.

The last microfilm roll includes minutes of the Supreme Court in Equity (New York County), April 1848-December 1849.

JN321-17A: Volume is a register of causes in the Court of Equity (1st Circuit) (also known as the Supreme Court in Equity), June 1823-November 1826.

Alternate Formats Available

JN321-17: Microfilmed in 1956 for the New York County Clerk's Office. Volume 1 (June 1787-March 1793) and part of volume 2 (August 1798-February 1799) are available on microfilm in Series JN322, Assistant Register's Rough Minute Books, roll 1 (part). The remainder of volume 2 and volumes 3-11 are available in JN321. In addition, ten volumes were not transferred to the State Archives but are available in whole or in part on microfilm.

JN321-17A: A register for June 1823-November 1826 was microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah in 1967 at Queens College Library. The GSU microfilm has been digitized, and the images can be viewed online at FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries (including the New York State Archives and the New York State Library). The FamilySearch microfilm and digital images are cataloged under the author Queens County (New York). Chancery Court Clerk, with the title "County Clerk minutes, Court of Chancery, New York, 1846-1847; register, Supreme [Court] in Equity, N.Y.C., 1823-1827; Supreme Court proceedings, 1868-1970," microfilm roll number 481399 (item 2).

Related Material

J0095 Chancery Registers, contains related records.

Other Finding Aids

Available at Repository

Alphabetical index by last name of complainant in each volume. Most volumes also index defendants.

JN321-17: Microfilm roll list is available at the repository.

Access Restrictions

Use and reproduction of fragile documents may be restricted.

Access Terms

Corporate Name(s):
Subject(s):
Genre(s):

Detailed Description

Contents Box

Accretion: JN321-17
1787-1805 1
1805-1830 2
1830-1852 3

Accretion: JN321-17A
1787-1852 with gaps (bulk, 1787-1849) 1