Catalogue description Exchequer and Supreme Court of Judicature: King's Remembrancer: Affidavits

This series consists of affidavits in equity and revenue causes in the Exchequer. Until 1841 it contains affidavits in both equity and revenue suits. After 1841, and the abolition of the equity jurisdiction of the Exchequer, it contains revenue matter alone.

The affidavits were headed with the name of the court and the title of the suit, that is, of the plaintiff(s) and defendant(s) in the action, and signed by both the person making the affidavit and the person before whom it was taken.

While the majority are procedural, some affidavits supplement or explain information given in the formal pleadings or prove exhibits by stating, for example, the circumstances under which a particular deed was made. Most affidavits after 1841 relate to actions brought by the solicitors for the Inland Revenue or the Post Office.

Affidavits can be a rich source for social, economic, and family history, but are not readily accessible.

There are no indexes to affidavits before 1841. From 1843 to 1925 there are original indexes in IND 1/6717-6723/2. They are arranged by terms, and entries are made alphabetically by plaintiff or subject matter, with a marginal note of the deponent's name. From 1926 to 1951 the indexes are in E 103/159-160.