Mississippi Code Title 25. Public Officers and Employees; Public Records § 25-55-5

In any county in which the record of deeds, or any material part thereof, may be destroyed, the chancellor may examine into the matter; and if he find any abstracts, copies, minutes, or extracts from said records existing after such destruction, he shall appoint two (2) persons learned in such matters to act with him, and the three (3) shall investigate the same. If they find that the abstracts, copies, minutes, or extracts were fairly made before such destruction of the records, and that they contain material and substantial parts of the destroyed records, they shall so certify to the board of supervisors; and thereupon the board of supervisors shall have power to purchase such abstracts, minutes, copies, or extracts, or any part thereof, or to procure copies thereof and to pay therefor, out of the county treasury, a reasonable compensation.