NC STATE WIDE - COURT - Colonial Court Papers, Group 1: Witchcraft, Treason, Piracy, Citizenship, Roads, Indentured, Servants, Whaling --------------¤¤¤¤¤¤-------------- Colonial Court papers CCR 192 Miscellaneous Papers Papers concerning Witchcraft, Treason and Piracy • Petition related to Edward MOSELEY acting against Governor EDEN in relation to Edward THATCH, former pirate. This document is transcribed in Colonial Records Vol. II p. 359-60. 28 Jul 1719 • Petition of Edward LOW stating that he had been charged with treason and asking to be brought to tryall. n.d. • Petition of Henry LOW and wife Amy against Christopher GALE and wife Sarah for defamation of character, Sarah GALE having accused Amy LOW of witchcraft. n.d. • Petition of Jno. EVANS showing that his wife has been brought to court as a convicted person being concerned with familiars & spirits under notion of witchcraft, prays that proof be brought. n.d. • Petition of Susannah EVANS against Tho. BOURTHIER. BOURTHIER charged EVANS with witchcraft to her great damage and distress. n.d. Petition for Citizenship 1690 (Approximately) • Jno. HURROSE, a Frenchman, states that he was brought to this province when he was very young by his father Peter, a Protestant who was compelled to leave his own country on account of his religion. Jno. HURROSE petitions for citizenship. Road Petitions and papers, Undated, 1694-1725, various dates • Petition of Thos. PEIRCE objecting to requirement to participate in laying off or working on roads in Chowan Precinct. n.d. • Petition of Thomas CLARKE for an overseer of Queens Rd., there being a mill on the road, and many people traveling on the road, and he himself being out considerable personal costs in trying to maintain the road. n.d. • On motion of Capt. John WORSLEY, Thomas WYNN is to be overseer of the Highway on South shore from Mr. Spruols back landing to Chapple and all inhabitants of SS of Scuppernong R. maintain sd. road. Jacob BLUNT is overseer from Fry Legs Bridge to left side of the Chapple Swamp. On motion of Capt. John WORSLEY on behalf of Eliz. LONG widow agt. John HAMILTON for obtaining litewood off her land by one Thos. BRODY…October Court, 1720 • [Handwriting very hard to read] Appears to be a response to a request by William GASKINS to lay out a site for a landing. “Jurors” who signed description of the site were George BRANCH, Thomas GARRETT, Thomas [X] HOPKINS, Nicklos [N] GONT, Thomas GALYARD, Thomas [TM] MORROW?, ? OFFORD, [Creased] Hannibal SLOBKIN. 9 July 1694 • Petition by James COLE stating that a road previously passed over a bridge by Jno. HAWKINS, and the bridge had been washed away by a great flood. COLE (with consent of other inhabitants) petitions that the road now be altered to allow it to pass over the mill dam; this would be more convenient for the residents. n.d • Order for building a road between Paskotank and Coratuck Rivers. Describes how it will be paid for and maintained. Names mentioned as landmarks are Wm. BRANDO and Richd. SANDORFORD. n.d. • Inhabitants of Bath Co. show that the road between that county and Pampticoe is in very good condition with bridges madeand that the Nuse River continually having Inhabitants coming thither and the road from Pamtico thither being very obscure, petition that the inhabitants of the SS of Pamticoe be required to clear a way to the road. S/Levi TRUEWHITT, james LEIGH, Thomas DURHAM, Umphrey LOGG, John LAWFORD. n.d. • Inhabitants of Pamlicoe petition for a high road to be built from Pamlicoe to allow them to attend government functions and assemblies. Signed by Atty for Francis PRITCHARD, Sam. PRITCHARD, Sen., Sam. PRITCHARD, Jun., James FREEMAN, Atty for Sam. PRITCHARD, Henry BUTLER, Robert ROBINS, Bens NEGRO, Sarah NEGRO, Lawrence ARNOLD, Anne POLLY[faded] Eliz. REBOUR, Thos. LAKERS, Henry HUDSON, Juliana HUDSON, John TAYLOR, Anne TAYLOR, James WALTON, John BLYTH, Sarah A. NEGROS, [Last name creased; can’t read]. n.d. [The word “Negro” looks clear to me—I am not sure if this signifies race, last name, or both. There was no other last name there, however]. This was a list of names, not signatures. • Statement by surveyor that he, with others listed, have surveyed the highways as ordered. Signed by Henry NORMAN, surveyor. Also signed by J. ?MINGER, Robt. FORDAM, Edward WILSON, 1 name torn out, Richd. last name torn, Thomas NORCOM, Robt. [R] JONES. Other names listed [not signatures] included Joseph POINE, Janios WRIGHT, Mr. (or Wm.) JONES, Negro [In this case, Negro seems to be race]. n.d. • Petition by Edward MOSELEY, Jeremiah VAIL, and other inhabitants of Youpain Neck of Chowan R. describing a road built and maintained by them at great effort and expense, and protesting a petition by John BLOUNT, James BEASLEY, Wm. BENBURY, & Henry HAUGHTON which they made secretly for another road that would benefit them only. MOSELEY petition signed by Petticom HARRISON, Thomas PERRIE junior, William SMITH, smeared, John [S] AMES, John [I] BENNETT, E. MOSELEY, Jm. VAIL, Peter [Y] ?HENRY, Joseph ?CHATOS, William [X] HARRISON, Thomas [H] HORTON. No date; however, refers to order for first road in 1717. • [Much of this short document has been marked through and written over, making it difficult to read]. This seems to refer to the previous petition, or at least to the same road, and orders oversight and maintenance. Only names mentioned are E. MOSELEY as atty. for the inhabitants, and Jos. ?KING as overseer. n.d. • “An account of the males that is to work on the three miles District in Shouth?: Jacob BLONT (1), Sam LONG (1), Mrs. Longs Son and her Negro (2), Tho. LONG (1), Tho. HOKINGS (1), Sam. SMITH (1), Jon. SWAIN (1), John CROWN (1) Sam. HOKINGS (2), Jon. WORLEY Junr. (1), Capt. WORLEY’s 2 slaves (2), Ro. WEWSTON, Laz. TURNER (1), Tho. STEELEY (1), Jon. VOLEWAY (1). n.d. • Order by Christopher GALE to justices of Chowan precinct to appear and respond to a petition by Edward MOSELEY, Jeremiah VAIL and others regarding a road ordered to be laid out to the great damage of the inhabitants. 7 Sept 1722. • Statement by Joshua LONG that he voluntarily [?worked for—can’t read word, but that seems to fit context] Paul PALMER on the Yapine Road. 22 Jan 1724. • Linard PALMER desires that you lend your hands on our Road on ? Saterday in September or if fowle wether on the next Saterdady following. s/Joshua LONG. 12 August 1724 • Summons for Paul PALMER, who by complaint of Saml. PHELPS, overseer of the Highways is not doing his work on the road with his company. 27 Aug 1724 • Certification that Paul PALMER’s hand has worked on he road for this yeare according to warning given by Joshua LONG. 1 Jan 1724 • Report of appeal by Paul PALMER against fine for failing to work on road for 3 days based on illegality of proceedings (he did not have a chance to respond), and the fact that he was instead living in another district and working on the road there as ordered. Oct court 1725. • Verdict and fine against Paul PALMER for failing to work road. 12 Jan 1724/25. • Accusation that Paul PALMER refused to work on road. n.d. • Certification that Paul PALMER with his slaves was returned tythable for the District of Yuwpine by Jno. BANKS and not by Ralph BOZEMAN, 8 Sept 1724. Indentured Servants—No dates, 1699, 1705, 1722 • Order to search for runaway indentured servant of [torn—appears to be __mund JENNINGS] of Bruton Parish in York Co. named David ROSS, by trade a carpenter “being a Lusty Scotchman has his native tong in speaking, between thirty and fourty years of age pale faced having been lately sick, short brown hair, a tear on one side of his head near the temple.” Described a long list of things that ROSS took with him, including “a pair of very large plain shoes being made for him his feet being lately swoled.” He has been taken and examined and pretended his name John HUNTER; he was apparently released. 1699 • Petition of Adam COCKBURN and John GIBSON against William MOARS for sum of 10 pounds. MOARS is servant of COCKBURN and GIBSON, and they paid 10 pounds on his behalf to Thos. GIBSON, but MOARS has not repaid. March court 1722. • Petition of Mary VALAWAY stating that some years ago she bound her son William JACKSON to Mr. Thomas SNODAN of Perquimmans Precinct, and Thomas SNODAN dying, Doctor James WILLIAMSON by marrying his widow became the new master. By his harsh inhumane usage, obliging him to take such courses that unless some speedy stop is put thereto, may terminate in his ruin. Petition that Dr. WILLIAMSON sell the lads indenture to some other person. n.d. • Order to pursue diligently Mary JONES as servant woman belonging to Doctor George ALLEN of Edenton. Described as short stature, fresh collourd, thich sett, black hair and curles very much. n.d. • Petition of Wm WILLSON for his freedom. Most of document is too faded to read. Refers to Corratuck. March 1698. • Petition of Jno. ?JONES states that Eliz. ROADS was bound to him. Can’t read rest of petition. n.d. • Petition of John ? stating that Mary Ann DOWTON is his servant by way of judgement. This document has holes over top half and handwriting is hard to read, but it appears that DOWTON was indicted for debt, and that’s how John got indentures from her. Date 1703 is mentioned in document • Summons for Josuah SPIVER based on complaint by James MAGLAHAN of Chowan precinct that last Christmas SPIVER by force and arms seduced and carried away MAGLAHAN’s servant girl Thomasan WILLLIAMS. 10 Jul 1721. • Long document, very difficult to read. Gist of petition seems to be that John BENNET, petitioner, sold Bengeman CULLE a servant girl named Margaret BASSIT for the term of 8 years and 4 months. Later, BENNET received a note from CULLE that BASSIT intended to petition for her freedom. BENNET states that in her petition, BASSIT falsely states that she was transported from Europe on the 29 day of Apr 1701, when in fact she was transported from Ireland into Stafford Co. VA, where she was sold by the mate of the vessel to Mr. William DICKARDSON. Petition goes on to complain that BASSIT should not have been freed, and complains that he himself was arrested improperly in relation to the matter. License to Whale—1725 Receipt for license to work on millstone rocks in Gen. Court 1740 • August 25th 1740 recd. of Mr. James CRAVEN a license from Maurice MOORE to George CORNEGY to work on millstone rocks that was lodged in the General Court office s/ An HAMILTON • To Samuell CHADWICK you are hereby permitted with three boats to fish for whales or other Royall fish on the Coast of the Government and whatsoever you shall catch to convert to your own use paying to the Hond the Governor one tenth parte of the Oyls and bone made by Virtue of the license. s/Richd Rufullford. Back: From Decembr the 29 1725 to the 1st of Aprill … ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. 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