This volume records costs associated with 8 mortgage foreclosure cases filed in Michigan's Second District Court in the early 19th century (20 pages); personal financial records of Michigan Supreme Court Justice George Miles, kept between May 27, 1839, and March 9, 1841 (16 pages); and notes on mortgage foreclosures and similar legal cases filed primarily in Washtenaw County, Michigan, between 1847 and 1858 (29 pages). One item laid into the volume documents the payment of costs associated with the case of Wilson & Cobb vs. Levi Rogers (February 19, 1848-August 24, 1852).
A. M. Gould, a clerk with Michigan's Second District Court, kept 20 pages of detailed records of filing costs and similar expenses related to 8 court cases, most of which were mortgage foreclosures. These include filing costs, the costs of creating copies of documents, and similar charges.
Partial List of Cases
- Frederick M. Sanderson vs. Harvey Norton and others
- James E. Hays vs. Mary E. Hays
- Ormsby & Page vs. Howard Norris, et al.
- Hawkins & Wilson vs. H. H. Neff
- Miles Wilson vs. David P. Hinson
- Jagger & Varrick vs. Calvin Townson
- Levi Walker vs. William J. Moody
- Calvin F. Austin vs. Charles T. Moffett
The second portion of the volume, 16 pages, is a record of cash received and expended by George Miles, in account with Miles & Wilson, between May 27, 1839, and March 9, 1841. Miles often traveled throughout southeast Michigan, including trips to Detroit, Adrian, and Ypsilanti. One entry mentions Michigan governor William Woodbridge.
The final part of the book contains 29 pages of notes on many court cases heard in the "Circuit Court for the County of Washtenaw in Chancery" between January 19, 1847, and March 1858. Most of the cases involved mortgage foreclosures, and notes often mention the plaintiffs and defendants, motions and related documents filed, and associated fees. A divorce case related to Murray Speer of Pinckney, Michigan, is mentioned, but with no associated notes. Though the majority of cases pertain to Washtenaw County, Michigan, others took place in Livingston, Kalamazoo, and Eaton counties. The case of Ebenezer Wells and Franklin L. Parker against James Fuller, Jr., of Eaton County, Michigan, relates to land held in Ionia, and is accompanied by a newspaper clipping (April 4, 1857). Two additional items are laid in: a scrap of paper with calligraphic writing, and a short note.
In 1845, A. M. Gould served as the register and clerk for the Supreme Court in Michigan's Second Judicial District, comprised of Washtenaw, Jackson, and Livingston counties. As part of his duties, he transcribed the costs of filing various kinds of paperwork for mortgage foreclosures and legal disputes.
George Miles, a member of the Michigan Supreme Court, was born in Allegany County, New York, where he practiced law before moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan, around 1835. He died in Ann Arbor in 1850.
The third owner of this volume worked with the Washtenaw County Circuit Court between 1847 and 1858.
