VPRS 5037 Suitors' Cash Book

Full description

According to Instructions to Clerks of Courts a suitors cash book was to be used to record every sum of money received by the Clerk from any person for, or on account of, or for the use or benefit of, any other person; and also every payment out of such money. Essentially this record was used for the collection and disbursement of payments awarded in civil suits.

Entries are made within folios of these books. The left hand page of each folio (the debit side) was used to record payments made as ordered by the Court. The right hand page (the credit side) was used to record disbursements to whom payments had been awarded or authorised by the Court. Entries also identify the dates of debits and credits and the case number, as reported in the relevant Court register, pertaining to the case. Some suitors cash books were used to record details from cases in different court jurisdictions (for example, Court of Petty Sessions and County Court) and this would also be recorded when relevant.