Daily AncestorDeposition
A deposition is a witness's sworn testimony taken in writing outside the courtroom, usually by question and answer, to be used later in a case.
When a witness lived far away or could not attend, the court authorized someone to take his testimony under oath, often by written questions called interrogatories. The answers were written down, signed and sent to the court. The witness is the deponent.
Depositions often open with the witness's name, age and residence, so they can add facts about people who are only names elsewhere.
As seen in a recordChancery case file, 1800s
The deposition of Jno. Hart, aged about 70 years, taken at the house of Eli Tuttle, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Deposition." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/legal-land/deposition. Last checked 2026-10-12.