New York State Court of Chancery Transcriptions of Enrolled Decrees into Libers

Numerical by liber (volume) number, then numerical by assigned case code (prefix "AL") in each liber. The records are not in alphabetical or chronological order. The cases were transcribed in random order.

Transcriptions were produced between circa 1889 and 1931. In libers 1-224 the transcriptions are handwritten. Starting with liber 225 the transcriptions are typewritten. The transcriptions were made and certified as accurate under direction of the New York County Clerk (before 1906) or the Commissioner of Records for the County of New York (starting 1906). Original case files from which the transcriptions were made are in Series JN307, Court of Chancery Enrolled Decrees. Those case files are in generally poorer condition than comparable files in other series, which may explain why they were selected for transcription.

This series contains handwritten and typewritten transcriptions of enrolled decrees, the final determinations in equity cases involving a complainant and defendant. The decrees were issued by the Chancellor, the Circuit Judge in the 1st Circuit (1823-1829), the Vice-Chancellor in the 1st Circuit (1830-1847), or (after July 1, 1847) a Justice of the Supreme Court. Most of the enrolled decrees in this series were filed by the Register (before 1802), Assistant Register (starting 1802), and Clerk of the 1st Circuit in New York City (1823-1847).

A few decrees were issued in the Supreme Court, Equity Term, New York County, in cases that were commenced before the Court of Chancery was abolished effective July 1, 1847. Those decrees were filed by the New York County Clerk. The transcriptions also include a few case documents from other courts, including the Supreme Court of Judicature.

A transcribed case file typically includes the bill of complaint that originated a case; answer by the defendant; any amendments to the bill or the answer; affidavits; orders; bonds; and notices. Depending on the proceedings and complexity of a case, other transcribed documents may include a Master's report; depositions by witnesses, transcripts of testimony, and evidence submitted (e.g. wills, deeds, maps, or accounts); and other filed documents. A small number of procedural documents were not transcribed. The transcriber noted if any case documents were missing or damaged.

Most of the transcribed case files concern equity proceedings in the Court of Chancery and the Supreme Court, New York County. There are a few cases from other courts, including the Supreme Court of Judicature. Most cases concern disputes arising in New York City and in other counties in the 1st Circuit, but some cases involved parties residing in other parts of New York State or out-of-state. The most numerous case category is mortgage foreclosures. Less numerous case categories include matrimonial proceedings (divorce, separation, annulment), commercial disputes, wills, trusts, injunctions, and receiverships.

J0059Series J0059, Court of Chancery Register's Minute Books

J0063Series J0063, Court of Chancery Chancellor's Enrolled Decrees After 1800

J0090Series J0090, Court of Chancery Orders and Minutes in Chancery

JN307Series JN307, Court of Chancery Enrolled Decrees Transcribed into Libers

JN310Series JN310, Court of Chancery (1st Circuit) Clerk's Minute Books

JN312Series JN312, Court of Chancery (1st Circuit) Decrees

JN319Series JN319, Court of Chancery Register's and Assistant Register's Minute Books.

Series JN109, Spreadsheet index to Supreme Court judgment rolls and other documents on parchment, Court of Chancery and Vice-Chancery filed and transcribed documents, and New York City of Court of Common Pleas and New York City Superior Court filed documents serves as the main index to this series.

Other indexes containing references to file codes are JN103, Card index to Court of Chancery enrolled decrees and filed papers; JN303, Index to Chancellor's decrees filed in New York City; and JN313, Indexes to Vice-Chancery decrees filed in New York City.

Published indexes to Chancery cases lacking references to file codes are in JN111, Consolidated index of court judgments docketed in New York County and City; JN112, Indexes to notices of equity suits in Court of Chancery (1st Circuit) and Supreme Court (New York County).