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Frequently Asked Questions about Extracts
| Question | How do you know what to include in an extract? |
|---|---|
| Answer | All extracts are made with both genealogical and historical research in mind. Extract targets have been expanded to meet special requests, such as the University of Mary Washington's Department of Historic Preservation's interest in construction, builders and building trades. |
| Question | What is the difference between the "-m-" and "-mr-" notations? |
| Answer | The "-mr-" (marriage reference) notation is used when marriages are identified in the text of a record. The "-m-" notation is used when a marriage certificate is part of the record. |
| Question | Do you actually read every paper in every record? |
| Answer | Yes -- even subpoenas. |
| Question | Why do you bother with subpoenas? |
| Answer | Subpoenas (and summonses) provide the locality in which the subpoenaed resided and may note the move of a person to another locality. Subpoenas may also note deaths of the subpoenaed. Even marriage information has been found on subpoenas – for instance, a subpoena issued against "Catherine Smith" may have been returned with the annotation "Executed on Catherine Green, Catherine Smith having married Henry Green". |
| Question | What genealogical information do you look for? |
| Answer | Family relationships and vital statistics are important extract targets. Also noted are name changes, name alternative spellings and aliases. |
| Question | Are names of slaves noted in the extracts? |
| Answer | Included in extracts are slave names, slave families and slave vital statistics. Slave owners are also provided when identified. Emancipations are noted as are names of Free Negroes when identified as such. If an extract target contains the names of more than one slave with the same name that name is listed only once in the extract entry. |
| Question | What are the numbers in "()" following some names? |
| Answer | Numbers are the age of the person given during a record event. For instance, someone giving a deposition might be asked to give their age. Slave ages may be provided during an estate inventory or accounting. |
| Question | How many records have been extracted? |
| Answer | Over 28,000 court records have been extracted and indexed. |
| Question | Can I get a photocopy of records included in the Historic Court Records extracts? |
| Answer | Yes, providing photocopying will not damage a document and that copying is within the capability of the Circuit Court equipment (neither color nor large-format photocopying is available). Instructions for obtaining photocopies are provided with each record extract. Please note that a photocopy of an entire record can be quite expensive (see the instructions). |
| Question | How are the records organized? |
| Answer | The record organization structure is based on the organization structure used by the Library of Virginia Archives, augmented as necessary to reflect the particular requirements of the records in the Fredericksburg Court House. |
Disclaimer: Data provided by the Fredericksburg Circuit Court Archives in Historic Court Records is not official and is for genealogical and historical research purposes only. All data contained herein should be verified by obtaining a copy of the original record.