Elbert County, Georgia, Inferior Court Minutes, February 4, 1791-July 14, 1801

On December 10, 1790, the Georgia General Assembly created Elbert County from a portion of Wilkes County, making Elberton the seat of its new government. The new county's Inferior Court, made up of five justices of the peace, tried any civil case except those involving title to land. The Inferior Court had jurisdiction over county business matters, such as care for the poor, building and maintaining the courthouse and jail, building and maintaining roads and bridges, establishing ferries, issuing licenses to sell liquor, appointing guardians, nominating justices of the peace and constables, authorizing indentures, and maintaining a register of wills. The Clerk of the Inferior Court kept minutes of its various proceedings. This book is a transcription of the first manuscript volume of Elbert County Inferior Court Minutes, February 4, 1791, through July 14, 1801.