Research

• Full Finding Aid
• Overview
• Arrangement
• Scope and Contents
• Related Material
• Related Publications
• Other Finding Aids
• Access Restrictions
• Custodial History
• Access Terms

Print PDF  

New York State Court of Chancery (2nd through 8th Circuits) Enrolled Decrees, In Re papers, and Other Case Files

Some content may contain outdated and offensive terminology. See: New York State Archives Statement on Language in Descriptive Resources

Overview of the Records

Arrangement

Decrees and case files. Numeric by circuit, then alphabetical by last name of complainant or petitioner, then numeric by file number (starting at '1'). Cases involving railroads are organized into a separated alphabetical category after the "R"s for the 2nd circuit. Similarly, cases involving banks and churches are each organized into separate categories after "B" and "C" for the 5th, 6th and 8th Circuits.

Scope and Content Note

This series contains enrolled decrees, In Re papers, and files of cases handled by means other than an enrolled decree for the 2nd through 8th Chancery Circuits.

The enrolled decrees consist of an engrossed copy of the decree, the original bill of complaint, the answer to the complaint, any subsequent bills, Master's reports (if required), orders, and a bill of costs. On occasion other documents relevant to the case such as maps, depositions, transcripts of testimony, and documentary evidence are also filed. Decrees enrolled after 1830 contain a short abstract of the particulars of the case attached to the engrossed decree.

"In Re" cases contain a petition in lieu of a bill of complaint and do not include an engrossed decree. Except for these variations, the records contained in these cases are similar to those found in enrolled decrees. Files for cases that were handled by means other than an enrolled decree (e.g. requests for an injunction, specific performance, or discovery, and dismissed cases) generally contain the originating bill of complaint or petition and sometimes one or two other documents. They do not contain the orders and decrees relevant to the case; these are found in Clerk's Minutes of Decrees.

Enrolled decrees and In Re papers, which make up the vast majority of this series, generally contain the following information: the particulars of the case from the complainant's or petitioner's and the defendant's points of view; the results of investigations conducted and testimony taken by a Master of the court; the final determination of the case by the Vice Chancellor; and court costs.

Related Material

Series J0048, Clerk's Minutes of Decrees, contains related records.

Case files and minutes of the Court of Chancery for the 1st Circuit are held by the New York County Clerk's Office, 31 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007. Those files are indexed by respondent or petitioner in the following published work: Indices to Notices of Suits in Equity

Filed in the Office of the Clerk of the City and County of New-York, from 1823, to December 31, 1855 . . ., 8 vols. (New York: 1857), available at the New York State Library.

Related Publications

Indices to Notices of Suits in Equity; Filed in the Office of the Clerk of the City and County of New-York, from 1823, to December 31, 1855 . . ., 8 vols. (New York: 1857), available at the New York State Library, indexes the case files and minutes of the Court of Chancery for the 1st Circuit that are available at the New York County Clerk's Office.

Other Finding Aids

Available at Repository

Indexed by name of complainant and petitioner in Series J0062, Index to Enrolled Decrees, In Re Papers, and Other Case Files.

Partially indexed by J2019, Defendent Index to Enrolled Decrees, In Re Papers, and Other Case Files.

Custodial History

The Court of Appeals placed these records on deposit at the Historical Documents Collection, Queens College, from 1973-1982.

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.

Access Terms