FREDERICK COUNTY

Records

In spite of the fact that there have been two major fires in the courthouse—that of May
8, 1861 destroyed the building—none of the major record series seems to be incomplete. Scisco,
who examined the early records with great care concurs in this opinion.¹ Certain records
which Scisco found in the second floor storage room in relative disorder and inaccessible to
searchers (because the stair passage was through the ladies' room) have now been organized
properly. Fortunately, the city fathers of Frederick acceded to the demands of the Conferedate
army then in possession of the city and paid the ransom of $200,000 demanded on pain of
destruction of the town. Had they refused the records up to that date, July 9, 1864, would
surely have gone up in flame.

Note

No description of the earliest courthouse of Frederick County has been found. However,
S. Somervell Mackall in his Early Days of Washington, D. C. (p. 126) prints the drawing of
a small building of its period which is herewith reproduced. There is no proof, documentary
or otherwise, but it is a possibility which cannot be overlooked.

Circuit Court

LAND RECORDS, 1748-. Includes Mortgages until 1897. Liber W also includes Court Min-
utes, November Term 1771. C.H. 1748--. L.O. 1949--, microfilm. H.R. 1748-89; 1748-1949,
microfilm.

INDEX TO LAND RECORDS, 1748-1915. Campbell. C.H. 1748-1915. L.O. 1748-1867, micro-
film. H.R. 1748-1803, 1845-1915; 1748-1867, microfilm.

INDEX TO LAND RECORDS, 1867-. Cottco Universal. C.H. 1867--. L.O. 1867-1960, micro-
film. H.R. 1867-1959, microfilm.

RELEASES AND ASSIGNMENTS [OF MORTGAGES AND BILLS OF SALE], 1903--.
Each volume indexed by name of grantor. C.H.

DESCENT RECORD [COMMISSION TO DIVIDE ESTATES], 1795-1836. C.H.

PLAT BOOKS, 1909--. Each volume indexed. C.H.

PLAT BOOK STATE ROADS COMMISSION, 1932-. C.H.

COURT MINUTES (MINUTE BOOKS), 1750-86, 1788, 1795, 1797-98, 1801, 1807-14, 1816-
21, 1828-32, 1835-41, 1856-61, 1867-85, 1891-94, 1897-1900, 1906-09, 1919-20, 1925-26,
1934--. In early volumes a list of persons naturalized appears at end of each term of court.
C.H. 1937--. H.R. 1750-1936.

JUDGMENTS, 1748-71, 1780-83,1787-88, 1801-08,1815-22, 1827--. Some volumes indexed. C.H.
1763-66; 1851--. H.R. 1748-1851 (1763-66 on microfilm).

¹ "Colonial Records of Frederick County," Md. Hist. Mag.,
XXV, 206-208.

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