Some deeds and wills destroyed in the Nansemond Co., Virginia fire, 1734

Submitted by Gwen Hurst <gwnj@shentel.net
 
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 [August 1734]
 
 CHAP. XXIII.
  An Act for the relief of such persons as have suffered, or may suffer,
 by the loss of the Records of Nansemond County, lately consumed by Fire.
 
 I.  Whereas in the month of April last past, the house of Christopher
 Jackson, clerk of the county of Nansemond, wherein the records of the
 said county were kept, was, together with the greater part of the said
 records, by accident of fire, burnt and consumed; and this assembly
 being willing to afford all possible relief to the persons concerned in
 the said misfortune, whose estates, titles, and interests, may be
 affected thereby:  Be it enacted.....
 
 
 [August 1736]
 
 CHAP. XVII.
 
 An Act for relief of certain persons, who were sufferers in the loss of
 the Records of the county of Nansemond.
 
 Whereas, by one clause of an act of the general assembly, made at the
 last session, for the relief of such persons as have suffered, or may
 suffer, by the loss of the records of Nansemond county, lately consumed
 by fire, for perpetuating the testimony of witnesses, in relation to any
 deed, will, inventory, or other writing, recorded in the said county
 court, where the original is lost, and no attested copy thereof can be
 produced, it was enacted That it should and might be lawful for the
 governor, lieutenant-governor, or commander in chief of this colony, for
 the time being, to issue one commission, or more, under the great seal
 of the colony, to twelve able and discreet persons directed, giving
 them, or any four or more of them, full power and authority, to meet at
 some convenient time and place by them to be appointed, and to adjourn
 from time to time, as they should think fit; and to summon, hear, and
 examine all witnesses, at the instance of any person whatsoever,
 touching the premises, and to take their depositions in writing; and to
 return the same with such commission, to the secretary's office:  And
 such deposition shall be laid before the general assembly, at the next
 session; to the end, that they might be enabled to give such effectual
 relief to the sufferers, by the loss of the said records, as to them
 should seem most just and reasonable.  And whereas, a commission hath
 issued under the great seal of the colony, bearing date the nineteenth
 day of April, in the eighth year of the reign of his present majesty, to
 William Wright, and eleven others directed, pursuant to the said act,
 who have made a return of their proceedings in the premises; whereby it
 doth appear, that they have examined divers witnesses to sundry deeds,
 wills, and other matters; and that the several deeds, wills, and other
 matters, mentioned in a schedule to this act annexed, have been well and
 sufficiently proved:  Therefore, for making the same effectual,
 
 II.  Be it enacted by the Lieutenant-Governor, Council and burgesses, of
 this present General Assembly, and it is hereby enacted, by the
 authority of the same, that from henceforth, the proofs of the several
 possessions, purchases, deeds, and wills; and the decree in chancery in
 the said schedule mentioned, shall and may be given in evidence in any
 court of law or equity, and shall avail for the benefit and advantage of
 all persons claiming under them, as much as the same can or ought to be
 avail:  And it shall and may be lawful for the clerk of the said county
 court of Nansemond, to record the several copies of wills in the said
 schedule mentioned, which have been proved to have been true copies,
 tho' not attested by any sworn clerk.
 
 III.  And to the end, that other persons, who have not yet been able to
 produce witnesses before the said commissioners, in relation to their
 deeds, and other evidences, which may have been lost among the records
 of the said county, Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid,
 That one other, or more commissioners, shall and may be issued and
 continued, by the governor, or commander in chief of this colony, for
 the time being, for examining other witnesses, and perpetuating the
 testimony thereof, in relation to all deeds, wills, inventories, or
 other writings, recorded in said county court, where the original has
 been lost, pursuant to the said act of assembly; to be executed and
 returned, as in the said act is directed.
    A schedule, containing the proofs of several deeds, wills, and other
 things, made before certain commissioners, by virtue of a commission,
 under the seal of the colony of Virginia, bearing date the nineteenth
 day of April, in the eighth year of his present majesty's reign, to them
 directed, pursuant to an act of assembly, in that case made and
 provided.
 
 Anno 1693.  Daniel Horton, purchased of William Hood, two hundred acres
 of land, on the north side of Nuckle's swamp, in the upper parish of
 Nansemond county; and the said Daniel Horton dying intestate, possessed
 of the said land, Joseph Horton, his son and heir at law entered, and is
 now in possession thereof.
 
 1695  Benjamin Clark, was in quiet possession, and continued until the
 time of his death, of a parcel of land, in the parish of Suffolk, in the
 county of Nansemond,joyning on the head of Bennet's creek, near Jordan's
 mill; and Edward Clark, his son and heir at law entered, and is now in
 possession thereof.
 
 1696  James Doughtie, father of Edward Doughtie, purchased of Thomas
 Jornigan, son of Thomas Jornigan, the plantation whereon the said Edward
 now lives, lying on Evan's creek, in Nansemond county, being part of a
 patent for seven hundred acres of land, formerly granted to one Mulford.
 
 1704  John Webb, purchased of Epaphraditus Benton, a parcel of land
 whereon he now lives, on the middle branch of the Cross Swamp, in the
 upper parish of Nansemond county.
 
 1707  Aaron Blanchard, purchased of Lewis Williams, eighty acres of
 land, on Crany creek, in the upper parish of Nansemond county; and since
 conveied [sic] the same to John Parker, who is now in possession
 thereof.
 
 1719  William Ragdale, by his last will and testament, devised to
 Margaret Sullivan (now the wife of Jethro Sumner), a parcel of land, in
 Tucker's Neck, in the upper parish of Nansemond county, to her, and her
 heirs, for ever.
 
 1719  The last will and testament of John Peters, deceased, bearing date
 the twelfth day of April, 1719, was proved in the court of Nansemond
 county, and admitted to record; and a true copy thereof proved.
 
 1721  Thomas Martin, purchased of John Odam, son and heir of John Odam,
 the elder, a parcel of land, lying in the place called Summerton, in the
 old field where Summerton chapel now stands, in the county of Nansemond.
 
 1724  The last will and testament of John Brinckley, deceased, bearing
 date the ninth day of April, 1724, was proved in the court of Nansemond
 county; and admitted to record.
 
 1725  William Shivers, by deed of gift, recorded in Nansemond county
 court, gave to his son Thomas Shivers, a parcel of land, lying at a
 place commonly called South Key, in the county of Nasemond aforesaid;
 being the land whereon the said Shivers now lives.
 
 1728  Henry Jenkins, purchased of James Murray, and Elizabeth his wife,
 fifty acres of land, in the parish of Suffolk, in Nansemond county,
 adjoining to Solomon Shepherd's land.
 
 1729  Henry Jenkins, purchased of Charles McDuel, fifty acres of land,
 (being a tract of land the said McDuel purchased of James Murray, and
 Elizabeth his wife,) lying in the parish of Suffolk, in Nansemond
 county, adjoining to Solomon Shepherd's land, and the land the said
 Jenkins purchased of the said Murray, and his wife.
 
 1729  Nathan Mires purchased of James Murray, and Elizabeth his wife,
 fifty acres of land, in the parish of Suffolk, in Nansemond county,
 adjoining to Shepherd's land.
 
 1729 or 1739  Edward Moore purchased of William Moore, a parcel of land,
 being the land whereon the said Edward lives, in the county of
 Nansemond.
 
 1731  Joshua Jordan purchased of Charles Jordon, a parcel of land, in
 the parish of Suffolk, in the county of Nansemond, on Chuckatuck creek,
 adjoining Thomas Jordon's, Benjamin Jordon's, and William Jordon's
 lands.
 
 1732  Theophilus Pugh purchased of William Hickman a parcel of land, in
 the county of Nansemond, on a branch of the Beaver Dam Swamp.
 
 1733  Jonathan Roberts purchased of James Babb, a parcel of land, being
 the land whereon the said Roberts lives, in the county of Nansemond.
 
 1733  John Pinner purchased of Henry Gray, and Mary his wife, and
 Godfrey Lee, and Sarah his wife, a parcel of land, being the land
 whereon the said Pinner now lives, in the county of Nansemond.
 
 1733  A decree in chancery, passed at the suit of Theophilus Pugh,
 against Peter Plackiter, in the court of Nansemond county, to foreclose
 the said Peter's equity of redemption in certain lands, lying in
 Nansemond county, mortgaged by the said Peter Plackiter, to the said
 Theophilus Pugh, (except the said Peter's wife's right of dower in the
 said land,) as also to all the goods and chattels of the said Peter.
 
 1733  A copy of the last will and testament of Nathan Newbry, deceased,
 bearing date the sixth day of July, one thousand seven hundred and
 thirty three, was proved in the court of Nansemond county, and admitted
 to record.
 
 
 Hening, William Waller
 1820  The Statues at Large; Being A Collection Of All The Laws Of
 Virginia, From The First Session Of The Legislature, In the Year 1619. 
 Franklin Press, Richmond, Virginia, pages 448, 526-530).