- Call Number:
- HIL-MICL FC LPR .N6C6S9R4
- Category:
- Nova Scotia
- Creator:
- Nova Scotia. Supreme Court.
- Material Description:
- 7 microfilm textual records 35 mm
- Background:
The first Supreme Court of Nova Scotia was established in 1754 with the appointment of Jonathan Blecher as the first "Chief Justice." During its first two decades the Supreme Court operated only at Halifax. In 1774 a circuit court system was begun for the counties that were connected to Halifax by road. Not until 1816 was the circuit system operating throughout the Province. The individual circuit courts had all the powers of the court at Halifax. The Court began as a criminal court, but soon assumed a civil jurisdiction as well.
- Contents:
The Court proceedings recorded on this microfilm reel were held at Halifax and include the judgement books, and the Crown causes for various terms from 1784 to 1804. The defendants were arraigned on many different charges and, if found guilty on the most serious, the sentence was either death or branding. Charges included murder, rape, burglary, grand larceny, receiving stolen goods, editious words, riotous assault, and other crimes. The verdict and the nature of the punishment were recorded, including the date of execution. Broad subject matter is crime and justice.
Reel # Contents 1 v.2 (1784-1804) 2 v.6-9 (20 Apr 1775- 4 Sept 1790) 3 v.10-12 (17 Nov 1790- 8 May 1805) 4 v.15, 17-18, 21 (15 Aug 1805 - 22 Apr 1815) 5 v.22-24 (5 May 1815 - 2 May 1818) 6 v.24-26 (2 May 1818-Apr 14 1820) 7 v.27-29 (1 May 1820 - 20 Aug 1823) - Originals:
The original records are held by the Nova Scotia Archives.
- Archival Ref. No.:
NSA RG 39, Series J, Volumes 2, 6-15, 17-18, 21-29.
- Finding Aids:
An index alphabetically arranged by name of the defendant, is located at the end of each of the volumes.