New York State Supreme Court of Judicature (Geneva) Writs of Possession

This series consists of writs of possession (habere facias possessionem) issued under seal of the Supreme Court of Judicature commanding a sheriff to give possession of a parcel of land to the person who was entitled to it by a judgment of the Supreme Court of Judicature after having won an action of ejectment.

The location and boundaries of the parcel are described in the writ. The sheriff's certificate of execution of the writ (normally by putting the rightful owner into possession) is found on the dorso of the writ. Some of the writs include a clause of fieri facias, directing the sheriff to levy costs of the action from the personal property of the person wrongfully in possession of the parcel; or a clause of capias ad satisfaciendum, directing him to arrest and imprison that person until costs were paid.

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

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