HOWARD COUNTY

Records

While Howard County did not become a County de jure until it was so constituted by the
Constitutional Convention of 1850, it was a county de facto after the passage of the Act of
1838 setting its bounds and naming it Howard District of Anne Arundel County. It is for this
reason that the earliest records begin in 1840 rather than ten years later, a situation unique
in Maryland History.

The county is also unique in that its courts still occupy—altered somewhat, to be sure—
the original courthouse. This fortunate state has prevented the great loss of records normally
attendant on the move from one building to another. Nor have any natural hazards ever
threatened the record vaults in Ellicott City. The records are full and complete.

Circuit Court

LAND RECORDS, 1839--. Includes mortgages except for period 1868-73 when they were re-
corded in separate volumes. Most volumes indexed. C.H. 1839—. L.O. 1949—, microfilm.
H.R. 1839-1949, microfilm.

MORTGAGE RECORDS, 1868-73. Earlier and later mortgages in Land Records. Each volume
indexed. C.H.

GRANTOR GRANTEE INDEX, DEEDS AND MORTGAGES, 1840--. Cottco Universal.
C.H. 1840--. L.O. 1857-1919, microfilm. H.R. 1840-1957, microfilm.

MORTGAGE INDEX, 1868-73. Liber index. C.H.

PLATS, 1840--. C.H.

PLAT BOOK STATE ROADS COMMISSION, 1932--. C.H.

CHATTEL RECORDS, 1840--. Also includes Civil Officers and Trustees Bonds, 1840-64; In-
corporations, 1840-95; Indentures, 1840-65; Manumissions, 1840-65; Certificates of Estray,
1840-65. Each volume indexed. C.H. 1874--. H.R. 1840-73.

INDEX TO CHATTEL RECORDS, 1840--. Liber index, 1840-1935; Cott, 1935--. C.H. 1915--.
H.R. 1840-1914.

PROCEEDINGS OF COURT, 1840, 1847--. Includes naturalizations, 1847-1902. Each volume
indexed. C.H. 1934-. H.R. 1840-1933.

JUDGMENT DOCKETS (LAW DOCKETS), 1840-. Each volume indexed, 1840-61, 1878-
1922. C.H.

INDEX TO JUDGMENT DOCKET (JUDGMENT INDEX), 1840--. Liber index, 1840-
1921; Cottco Universal, 1922-. C.H. 1909--. H.R. 1840-1908.

EJECTMENT RECORD, 1854-57. C.H.

COUNTY DOCKET, CIVIL DOCKET (CIVIL TRIAL DOCKET), 1840-49. Includes ap-
peals from magistrates judgments. Indexed by name of defendant. C.H.

CLERK'S DOCKET, 1852-53, 1855, 1859--. Only 1859-60 indexed. C.H.

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