Botetourt County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Court.....Minutes, County Court April 1780
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Source: Annals Of S W Virginia
Written: April 1780

At a court held for Botetourt County the 13th of April, 1780.    Present: Geo, Skillern, Robert Poage, Wm. Davidson, Wm. Neelly & Wm. Walton,the Revd. Adam Smyth & Wm. Ward, Gent. Justices.    Ordered that it be added to the order made at February court allowing JamesBarnett land as a Sergeant in Captain's Company of Regulars, that due proof wasmade of his having served, but the Regement was disbanded, and that he is aninhabitant of this State, and never obtained any land for the said service.    David May is recommended to his Excellency the Governor as Capt., RobertSteele First Lieut., Wm. McArnold Second Lieut., and Alexr. Semley in CaptainArmstrong's late Company of Militia.    John Cartmill, Captain in Logan's Company, Henry Cartmill Lieut, and DavidWallace Ensign.    Geo. Rutledge is apptd. Lieut, in Captain Wm. Robinson's Company in the roomof Samuel Robinson.    Ord. that it be added to the order made at November court granting land toZopher Carpenter for Military services performed as a Drummer, due proof wasmade that he served till he was legally discharged and the Company disbanded,and that he is an inhabitant of this State at the time of the passing the Actgranting land &c.    Ord. that it be added to John Pryor's claim allowed at March court last forland that he made due proof that ho served in Capt. Preston's Company of Rangersas a soldier in the year 1757, 58 & 59 till the Company was regularly disbanded,and that ho is an inhabitant of this State and hath obtained no land inconsideration thereof.    Wm. Hutcheson's claim who made proof to this court that ho served in Capt.Preston's Company of Rangers last war on the frontiers of this Colony as asoldier till it was disbanded in the year 1759, & that he is an inhabitant ofthis State, & it is ord. to be ccrtfd. that he obtained no land for the same.    John Taylor's claim who made proof to this court that he served in Capt.Dickerson's Company of Rangers raised in Virginia, on the frontiers of thisColony last war as a soldier till it was disbanded, and is ord. to be certfd. &that he never proved the same nor obtained any land, & that he is an inhabitantof this State.    Peter Looney, heir at law of Peter Looney, deed., proved to the court thatthe said Peter Looney, decd., served in Capt. Smith's Company of Rangers lastwar on the frontiers of this Colony as a Sergeant till he was taken prisoner bythe Indians in the year 1756, and that he did not return from them for near twoyears, and that he never proved such service nor obtained any land, and is ord.to be certfd.    James Rowland, Admr. of Francis Riley, decd., pvd. to this ct. that the sd.Francis served in Capt. Preston's Company of Rangers on the frontiers of thisColony last war till he was disbanded as a soldier, and that he never beforeproved said service nor obtained any land for the same, which is ord. to be certfd.    Israel Christian proved to this court that he served in the year 1769 aCommissary to the Battalion commanded by Colo. Peachey till legally dischargedand afterwards occasionally for the Troops of the First Virginia Regement lastwar, & that he never proved the same nor obtained any land for the sd. services,it is ord. to be certfd., and that he is an inhabitant of this State.    Ord. that it be added to Charles Ellison's claim allowed last court that heserved till he was legally disbanded, and that he never proved the said servicesnor obtained any land in consideration thereof, and that he is an inhabitant ofthis State, which is ord. to be certfd.    On the petition of James Barnett leave is granted to keep an ordinary at hishouse in this County, bond entd. into with William Walters, his security, in thesum of fifty pounds accdg. to law.    Tho same is granted to William Walton, bond entd. into with Junius Barnett,his security, accdg. to law.    The same to Thomas Millen, bond entd. into with James Barnett, his security,accdg. to law.    Ordered that it be added to the orders of a former court granting land toChristopher Best, Christopher Finnie, Edward Gill, Solomon Simpson, Wm. Crossand John Tatham that duo proof was made to this court that they severally servedtill legally discharged, and that they are inhabitants of this State and thatthey never before proved the same nor obtained any land for the same &c.    David Robinson having made it appear to this court by satisfactory proofthat he served as a Lieut. in Company of Rangers raised by Act of Assembly underthe command of Colo. Wm. Preston from the month of July, 1755 until the 26th ofJune following, when the said Company was regularly disbanded by order of theGovernor of Virginia, and that he obtained of Lord Dunmore, formerly Governor ofVirginia, a warrant for two hundred acres of land for said service, the saidDavid Robinson's father made it appear by satisfactory proof to the court thathe was appointed a Lieut. in a Company of Rangers under the command of Capt.Dickerson, raised by Act of Assembly in June, 1757, in which Company he servedin that station from the time of his appointment until the same was disbanded byorder of the Governor in May, 1759, that the said company was raised inVirginia, of which the said Robinson has been an inhabitant ever since that timeand that he never before proved such service nor obtained certificate or warrantfor any land for said service according to the King of Great Britain'sProclamation of the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty three.    Colo. John Smith having made it appear to the court by satisfactory proofthat he served as a Captain of a company of new lines in the year 1760 under thecommand of Colo. Byrd on the Expedition against the Cherokees and was legallydisbanded, for which service he obtained a warrant from Lord Dunmore for threethousand acres of land. It further appears to this court by due and satisfactoryproof that the said John Smith had been appointed a Captain of a Company ofRangers in August, 1766, that he raised the said Company in Augusta County andcontinued on duty untill ho was ordered on an expedition against the Shawneesunder the command of Major Andrew Lewis and incorporated with a detachment ofthe Virginia Regement and served untill the expedition was at an end. And thathe was furthher continued on duty by the Governor's orders till the 24th day ofJune, 1756, when the Fort he then commanded was attacked by a body of French andIndians and the garrison were made prisoners and taken to Canada, and that hedid not return to his family untill the year 1758, that he never received orobtained any warrant for land for said service, and that he has been aninhabitant in Virginia ever since his return from his captivity.    Ordered that it be added to the order of last court granting land to JohnMorris that he served till legally discharged and that he never obtained anyland for said service, which claim is assigned to Francis Smith, who is aninhabitant of this State.    The persons which Patrick Lockhart and Martin McFarran assign for enteringtheir dissent are that it did not appear to them that they served in any otherCorps than Militia.    Wm. Skillern having made it appear to the court by due & satisfactory proofthat he served as an Ensign in a Company of men enlisted under the command ofCaptain Robert Breckinridge, raised in Augusta County by order of Colo. Wm. Byrdto garrison Fort Chiswell, in the absence of the Army in the Expedition againstthe Cherokees in the year 1761, that he continued in sd. service from the timethe Company was engaged untill they were legally disbanded, that he neverreceived any warrant or bounty of land for said service agreeable to the King ofGreat Britain's Proclamation 1763, and that he has been an inhabitant ofVirginia from then to the present time (from which Pat Lockhart and MartinMcFarran dissented). Wm. Ward, First Lieutenant in said Company, the same asabove.   (The warrant for this ussued.)    John Thompson, 2nd Lieutenant in said Company, the same as next above, fromwhich Pat Lockhart and Martin McFarran, Gent., dissented.    John & James Smith, orphans of Jas. Smith, decd., came into court and withthe assent of the court choose John Taylor and Wm. Walker their guardiansjointly, who with Colo. Wm. Preston and Jas. Norvill, their securities, enteredinto & acknd. bond in the sum of two thousand pounds for securing the saidorphans' estate and for endemnifying the court.    Ord. that Wm. Miles bo apptd. Overseer of the Road from the head of theNorth Fork of Roan Oake down Catawba as low as James McCounts formerly worked,and that he with the usual hands keep the same in good repair as the law directs.    Ord. that Robert Steel be apptd. Overseer of the Road in the room of JamesMcAfee and that he with the usual hands to keep the same in good repair as thelaw directs.    Ord. that James Welsh, son of Thomas Welsh, who is supposed to be dead, bebound to James McConnel accdg. to law.    Ord. that the Sheriff summon twenty four of the most capable freeholders inhis bailiwick to appear at next May court to serve as a Grand Jury of Inquestfor the body of this County.    Ord. that it be certfd. that the Acts of the last session of Assembly nevercame to this County for the use of the same till yesterday.    Ord. that the High Sheriff of this County be informed that the Act ofAssembly requires he should appear and give bond at next court for thecollection of the taxes imposed on the inhabitants of this County for borrowingmoney for the United States and for other purposes.    Ord. that the ct. be adjd. till tomorrow morning, eight o'clock. The mins.of these prcdgs. were signed by                            George SkillernAt a court continued & held for Botetourt County the 14th day of April, 1780.    Present: Geo. Skillern, Adam Smyth, Pat Lockhart, Wm. Davidson, Wm. Ward &Martin McFarran, Gent. Justices.    John Reaburn prvd. to this ct. that he served in Captain Peter Hogg'sCompany of Rangers last war as a soldier till the Company was disbanded in theyear 1759, & that he hath been an inhabitant of this State over since and thathe never obtained any land in consideration thereof under the King of GreatBritain's Proclamation of 1763, & it is ord. to be certfd. and that he neverbefore proved such service.    James Johnson proved to this court that he served as a soldier in CaptainThrogmorton's Company of Regulars last war till it was regularly disbanded, andthat he hath been an inhabitant of this State ever since, and that he has neverbefore proved such service nor obtained any land in consideration thereof underthe King of Great Britain's Proclamation of 1763, which is ord. to be certfd.    Alexander McDonald proved to this court that he served in Captain Preston'sCompany Rangers last war from the time ho was engaged till he was legallydischarged in the year 1756, and that he hath been an inhabitant of this Stateever since his discharge, and that he never before proved such service norobtained any land in consideration thereof under the King of Great Britain'Proclamation of 1763, which is ordered to be certified.    Do for Thomas Loyd having made it appear to this court by due andsatisfactory proof that he engaged in a Company of Rangers in July, 1755 underthe command of Capt. William Preston and continued therein until the same werelegally disbanded in June, 1756, during which time he acted as a Surgeon in thatand other Companies then on duty, as well as among such of the inhabitants whohad been wounded by the Enemy in their attacks in that part of the Countrywithout fee or reward. That he engaged and served time in another Company ofRangers under the command of the said Preston, raised by Act of Assembly inJune, 1757 and continued therein on the frontiers of Augusta untill May, 1759,when the said Company was legally disbanded, during which time he acted as aSurgeon in said Company and the neighbouring Companies of Rangers and ingarrison and attended the sick therein as well as the countery people who werewounded by the Enemy without any fee or other gratuity or expences of medicinesto the countery. That he never received any warrant or bounty of land for theabove services agreeable to the King of Great Britain's Proclamation of the 17thof October, 1763. Ordered that the samo be certified to the Register of the LandOffice for this State, that the said Loyd may obtain the bounty of landaccording to the said Proclamation of 1763 and agreeablo to the Act of Assembly,he being an inhabitant of this State from thereto to the present time.  Itfurthor appears to the court during the above services of the said Loyd acted asa Sergeant, for which he has received a warrant for two hundred acres of land,which is ordered to be certified.    James Barnett, Deputy Sheriff of this County, with the consent of tho court,declines acting any further in that business, who being one of the Gentlemennamed in the Commission of the Peace for this County took the oath of a Justiceof the Peace of the County Court in Chancery, and of a Justice of Oyer and
Terminer.    David May, Captain, and Henry Cartmill, Lieut, in the Militia of this Countytook the oath accdg. to law.    Ord. that Peter Lanthren, son of Mordica Lanthren, be bound to Edward Greenaccdg. to law.    And that also Anne Lanthren, daughter of the said Mordica, be bound to JohnCartmill accdg. to law.    Also Mary Lanthren do. be bound to Henry Cartmill accdg. to law.    Ord. that Walter Stewart he apptd. Surveyor of the Road from the head ofCatawba as far down as the North Fork of Roan Oak as well that neighbourhoodusually wrought, and that he with the usual tithables open and keep the same inrepair as the law directs.    James Green is apptd. Constable in the room of James Pearie, who is dischd.from that office.    Israel Christian this day took the oath reqd. by law as a citizen and tothis State.    On the petition of (Pat) Lockhart leave is granted him to keep an ordinaryat his house in the County Town of Fincastle, who with David May, his security,entered into bond in the sum of five hundred pounds according to law.    Tho same to Mrs. Lettie Breckinridge to keep an ordinary at her house inthis County, bond entd. into with Wm. Preston her security, in the sum of fivehundred pounds accdg. to law.    Ordered that it be added to the former order of this court that SamuelConner, John Edwards, Peter Willey, John Willey, John McMullin, Edward McMullin,John Tygert, Joseph Ward and James Ward, Thomas Mann and John Mann, decd., DavidGalloway, Junr., David Galloway, Senr., John Baller, Thomas Curaday and Wm.Galloway, granting lands to them severally proved to this court that theyrespectively served in their several stations till legally discharged, and thatthey never before proved such sorvice nor obtained any land in considerationthereof under the King of Great Britain's Proclamation 1763, and that they andtheir heirs are still inhabitants of this State and hath been ever since theirdischarges, and never before proved the said sorvice nor obtained any land inconsideration thereof under the King of Great Britain's Proclamation of 1763.    Ordered that a certificate from under Captain Thomas Bowyer's hand of the12th Virginia Regment setting forth that Samuel Blair a soldier under him diedin the sorvice of the United States, be admitted to record.    Ordered that it be certified that Rachel Gaunt, widow and relict of JamesGaunt, decd., made it appear by satisfactory proof that her said husband, decd.,kept an infant male child of Thomas Welsh some time before he departed thislife, the said Welsh being at that time a soldier in the Continental Army but issupposed to be dead at this time and since her said husband died that she keptthe said infant ten years at her own expence and that she never received anyreward for that trouble & expence from this court agreeable to an Act ofAssembly made and proved, and that this court doth recommend it to the Assemblyto make some allowance for the same.    Ord. that this ct. be adjd. till court in course.    The mins. of these prcdgs. were signed by                                  Geo. Skillern

Additional Comments:
Extracted from:Annals of Southwest Virginia1769-1800BY LEWIS PRESTON SUMMERSMember of American Historical Association, Virginia Historical Society; AlumnusUniversity of Virginia and Tulane University (Louisiana); Member American BarAssociation, Virginia State Bar AssociationAuthor ofHISTORY OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA1740-1786WASHINGTON COUNTY VIRGINIA1777-1870PUBLISHED BYLEWIS PRESTON SUMMERSABINGDON, VIRGINIA1929COPYRIGHT, 1929, BYLEWIS PRESTON SUMMERSMANUFACTURED COMPLETE BY THEKINGSPORT PRESSKINGSPORT, TENNESSEEUnited States of America

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