Botetourt County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Court.....Minutes, County Court May 1783 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 19, 2007, 5:13 pm Source: Annals Of S W Virginia Written: May 1783 May 8th, 1783. Last will & testament of Colo. John Smith further proved by oath of Wm. Watson. Conrad Wall is exempted from payment of County levies in future on acct. of his age & infirmity. Benjamin Huff the same as next above. John Talbot a base born child of Elizabeth Talbot (alias Andrew) was bound to Thomas Hammen. Robert Harvey, Gent., exempted from payment of taxes of Negro woman named Wonder in future on account of her age. The Grand Jury appeared in court and were sworn, towit: Andrew Armstrong, John West, Jesse Clark, Saml. Baldwin, Joseph Ward, Wm. Campbell, Robert Calvert, James Bryan, Jonathan Tosh, Rene Leferce, Isaac Smith, Saml. Kinnerly, Moses Tullis, James Simpson, and Isaac Kelly, having reed. their charge went out of court to consult of their presentments &c. John Sturling, Caleb Worley, Thomas Lerkley, James Kenney and John Leatherdale were fined for not attending court as jurymen. Andrew Henry bound for his good behaviour for 12 months and 1 day from date. The Grand Jury appeared in court and presented the following persons, towit: William Francis for retailing liquors unlawfully. Also the same for permitting gaming in his house on the Sabbath day. Also Joseph Horton for selling liqours by retail. Also the Surveyor of the Road from James Dalzell's to Mrs. Breckinridge's for not keeping same in repair according to law. Also the Surveyor of the Road from Michael Cloyd's to the Beaver Dams. Also the Surveyor of the road from the Short Run on Catawba to the head of the Creek for not keeping same in repair as the law directs. Henry Reaburne is exempted from paying County levies in future. John Robinson do. for the year 1782, it appearing to the court that he paid them in the County of Washington, and not to pay County levies in future on account of his age & infirmity. Joseph Snodgrass Plff. ) agst. ) In Case James Bryans Deft. ) This day came the parties &c. & also a jury, towit: Leonard Fleming, James McCaul, James Looney, Alexander Smiley, Robert McNeelly, Samuel Leferce, Adam Peck, Jesse Robenets, John Moore, Saml. McFarran, Wm. Fletcher and Wm. Martin, Gent., retd. verdt. in favor of plff. for six lbs. and costs. Judgt. accdgly. Caleb Worley excused from paying fine laid on him this day for not attending the court as a juryman. Nicholas Carper Plff. ) agst. ) In Case James Cloyd Deft. ) This day came the parties &c. & also a jury, towit: James Mitchell, Saml. Conner, James McConnell, Wm. Aston, Nathan Akin, James Taylor, John Muldrought, Wm. Cross, Joseph Kyle, Edmund Sturns, Thomas Kelley and Thomas Patterson, and awarded verdict in favor of plff. and damages agst. deft, of 7 lbs. and 10 shillings. Judgt. accdgly. & costs. Upon motion of John Brown, Gent. Attorney, and agreeable to report, road established from the Great Road below Purgatory Creek to the County line, except through Kenney's field, where it is to go along the river bank. Wm. Campbell is apptd. surveyor thereof, who with tithables petitioning for said road is to open and keep the same in repair as the law directs. Ord. that Henry Pawling, Saml. Crawford, James Cloyd & Joseph Richardson view the way from Daniel Jamises to the first publick road leading to this Town & make report to the court of the same. May 9th, 1783. Present: Geo. Skillern, Revd. Adam Smith, Pat Lockhart, Robert Harvey & Samuel Todd, Gent. Justices. Ord. that Isaac Dcpew, John Logan, Nathaniel Jones, James Skidmore, Geo. Willson, James Mitchell, Bartley Shepherd, Edward Tummins and Mr. Harlet work on road of which Wm. Campbell is Surveyor, including their tithables. Cornelius Dougherty Plff. ) agst. ) In Trespass David Glassburne Deft. ) This day came the parties &c. & also a jury, towit: Isaac Vanmeater, Wm. Webb, Derbutus Shepherd, Andrew Henry, Jesse Clark, John Smith, Saml. Baldwin, Thomas West, Benjamin West, Wm. McCaul, Francis Dougherty and John West retd. verdt. in favor of plff. awarding him damages of one penny, besides his costs. Judgt. accdgly. Thos. Carney Plff. ) agst. ) In Debt John West Deft. ) This day came the parties &c. & also a jury, towit: Isaac Vanmeater, Wm. Webb, Derbutus Shepherd, Andrew Henry, Jesse Clark, John Smith, Samuel Baldwin, Nicholas Carper, Wm. McCaul, Francis Dougherty, Alexander McDonald and Malcom Allen. Plff. awarded damages of "one hundred and five seven shillings & eleven pence." Judgt. accdgly. & costs. Barton Shaver, ordinary licence at his house, Saml. Walker, sty. Wm. McClenachan Plff. ) agst. ) In Case James Hayes Deft. ) This day came the parties Ac. & also a jury, towit: John West, John Ingram, Wm. Ralston, Samuel Kennerley, James Hutcheson, James Robinson, Archibald Kyle, John Taylor, Benjamin West, Thomas West, Thomas McCaul and James McCaul. Plff. awarded verdict for damages of 53 pounds, 18 shillings & 8 pence 1/2 penny, besides his costs. Judgt. accdgly. Samuel Baldwin Plff. ) agst. ) In Case Thomas Patterson Deft. ) This day came the parties &c. & also a jury, towit: Isaac Vanmeater, Dubertus Shepherd, Francis Dougherty, Wm. Webb, Wm. McCaul, John Smith, Joseph Snodgrass, Jesse Clark, Alexander McDonald, Andrew Henry, James Thumer, and Nicholas Carper, who went out to consider their verdict and returned into court, whereupon the plaintiff was solemnly called but came not. On motion of deft, plff is nonsuited and assessed damages of five shillings and costs. James Mills is recommended to the Governor as a fit person to act as an Ensign to the militia of this County. Rates to be observed by the ordinary keepers of this County: To Rum pr. gain - 16 - Brandy do - 10 - Whiskey do - 8 - Common Diet - 1 6 a good Dinner - 2 - Beer pr. quart - 6 Lodging pr. night - - 7 1/2 Grain pr. galln 9 Pasturage pr. night - - 7 1/2 The court proceeded to fix the price of commutable articles to be applyd. in discharge of executions for debts contracted before the first day of Jany., 1781. Do agree that tobacco pr. hundred shall be recd, at twenty one shillings, hemp at forty shillings, superfine flour at sixteen shillings and eight pence pr. hundred and flour of an inferior quality at twelve shillings pr. hundred. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Annals of Southwest Virginia 1769-1800 BY LEWIS PRESTON SUMMERS Member of American Historical Association, Virginia Historical Society; Alumnus University of Virginia and Tulane University (Louisiana); Member American Bar Association, Virginia State Bar Association Author of HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA 1740-1786 WASHINGTON COUNTY VIRGINIA 1777-1870 PUBLISHED BY LEWIS PRESTON SUMMERS ABINGDON, VIRGINIA 1929 COPYRIGHT, 1929, BY LEWIS PRESTON SUMMERS MANUFACTURED COMPLETE BY THE KINGSPORT PRESS KINGSPORT, TENNESSEE United States of America File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/botetourt/court/minutes103gwl.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/vafiles/ File size: 8.0 Kb