History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests / compiled from the official records of the county, the newspapers and data of personal interviews, under the editorial supervision of Thaddeus D. Seeley.

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

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The territory of Michigan was set off from Indiana in 1805, a separate
government modeled after that of the Northwest territory being created
on June 3oth of that year. Under the provisions of its constitutions
the supreme court consisted of a chief and two associate justices appointed by the president of the United States. The judge holding the
earliest commission was placed at the head of the court. The term of
office depended solely upon "good behavior." No radical change was
made in the provisions governing the organization and jurisdiction of
the supreme court until 1824, Augustus B. Woodward having served
as chief justice during the entire period and James Wetherell as one
of his associates.
At first the supreme court had original jurisdiction in all cases involving
the title to land, capital criminal cases, and divorce and alimony suits,
and afterwards in all cases to which the United States was a party, as
well as in all cases of ejectment. During the existence of the district
courts, from 1805 to I8IO, jurisdiction in civil matters involving sums
to exceed $500 was divided and after the organization of county courts
in 1815 the supreme court had jurisdiction over ejectment and civil
actions when more than $I,ooo was in controversy. It also determined
all legal questions arising in circuit courts on motion for new trial, in
arrest of judgments or cases reversed, and issued writs of error to
circuit and county courts.
OLD DISTRICT COURT
Soon after the organization of the territorial government, on July
25, I805, an act was adopted establishing three district courts to be
held by the judges of the supreme court, Oakland county being included in the Detroit and Huron judicial district. Demands exceeding
$20 were to be adjudicated by that court. In 1807 two associate judges,
residents of the district, were added to the members of the court, but
proved really of small assistance in the settlement of controversies.
These courts were abolished in I8IO and for the succeeding five years
there was no intermediate judicial body between the supreme and justice
courts.
COUNTY COURTS
In 18I5 county courts were established, the members consisting of
one chief and two associates appointed by the governor. As stated by
the "Michigan Manual:" "They had exclusive jurisdiction over all
claims exceeding a justice's jurisdiction and not exceeding $I,ooo, but
no jurisdiction in ejectment. Until I818 final appeal lay to the county
court from justices' courts. Chancery jurisdiction was then given them
and provision made for the appointments of masters in chancery. When
the act to establish county courts was passed, Wayne county was the
only one organized and the district of Michilimackinac was excepted
from the provisions of the act. After the.establishment of circuit courts
(1824) the county courts began to decline."
By act of the governor and judges, July 27, I818, a court of probate
was established in each county. A "Court of General Quarter Sessions