Southampton County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Court.....Clerks, 1749 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ Southampton County Court Records Clerks of Court, 1749-1887 extract from "Memorials of Old Virginia Clerks" OLD VIRGINIA CLERKS. [p.] 371 SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. ____ Southampton was formed in 1748 [sic; 1749*] from Isle of Wight. The clerks have been: 1. Richard Kello, from 1748 to 1773, - - 25 years. 2. Samuel Kello, from 1773 [sic; 1774*] to 1798, - - 25 years. 3. Samuel Kello, Jr. from 1798 to 1815, - 17 years. 4. James Rochelle, from 1815 to 1835, - - 20 years. [dingbat}] See sketch of him below. 5. Littleton Richard Edwards, from 1835 to 1835, - - - - - - - - - - 48 years. [dingbat}] Born in Brunswick county, June, 5th, 1800; for several years deputy clerk in that county; appointed deputy under James Rochelle in 1827; and on his death in 1835 was appointed clerk of the courts of Southampton, which he continued to be until his death in 1883- the long period of forty- eight years. At the close of the late war, Major Edwards was disqualified from holding the office, but it was held under the military government [italicized] by others for his benefit, and he was really clerk during the period of his disability. As soon as he became eli- gible he was again elected to the offices, in name as well as in fact, when he was seventy years old. No higher tes- timony could furnished of the esti- mate in which he was held as clerk. 6. Joseph B. Prince, from 1883 to 1887, - 4 years. Re-elected in May, 1887, for six years. [page break] 372 [p.] OLD VIRGINIA CLERKS. MEMORIAL OF JAMES ROCHELLE. James Rochelle, son of John and Judith (Gilliam) Rochelle, was born in the year 1786, at his father's place, called "The Hermitage," in Soutampton county, Virginia. In 1815. at the age of twenty-nine, he was chosen by the magistrates of the county clerk of South- ampton, an office which he held for twenty consecutive years. On the 19th of April, 1817, he was married to Mrs. Martha Blow (Hines) Gray, daughter of William and Martha (Blow) Hines, and widow of Dr. Henry Miles Gray. James Rochelle died on the 17th of Au- gust, 1735, [sic; 1835] in the fiftieth year of his age, and was buried at "The Hermitage," the place where he was born. His widow, Mrs. Martha (Hines-Gray) Rochelle, sur- vived him. His only two children who passed the age of childhood, were two sons, John William and James Henry, and one daughter, Martha Blow. The name of James Rochelle has not been connected with any remarkable puplic [sic; public] events; but he has left a name irreproachable purity and integrity of charac- ter that is of priceless value to his descendants. He was a high model and type of the old Virginia clerk, intelligent, scrupulously careful and attentive to all his official duties, and with a polite and pleasing man- ner to all around him. He enjoyed the friendship and confidence of many of the most distinguished men of his day, not only in Southampton but elsewhere, and his office was regarded as the best of all schools for a young man who wished to make the law his pursuit in life. Among others who placed themselves under his instruc- tion was George H. Thomas, afterwards the distin- guished federal general in the late war, as to whom the [page break] OLD VIRGINIA CLERKS. [p.] 373 following extract from "Van Horne's Life of Major- General George H. Thomas," (page 2), makes interest- ing mention. "The first twenty years of his life were spent in a quiet home, subject to the moulding influences of a refined family and elevating external associations. In his twentieth year he completed with honor the pre- scribed course of study of the Southampton Academy, located near his home. Soon after his graduation he entered the office of James Rochelle, his uncle, who was county clerk at the time. While acting as deputy clerk he commenced the study of the law; but another career soon offered itself. At that time the Hon. John Y. Mason represented the congreesional district which em- braced Southampton county, and having an appoint- ment to a cadetship at the military academy at West Point to offer to some young man in his district, he called upon Mr. Rochelle, and offered it to his nephew. Mr. Rochelle said, in reply, 'Let us call the boy, and ascertain what he thinks of the proposition.' The 'boy' accepted promptly, and the legal profession lost a worthy candidate for its duties and honors, while the profession of arms gained one of its highest ornaments." As showing the estimate in which Mr. James Ro- chelle was held as a wise and judicious instructor of young men in the duties of the clerkship, the following extract is given of a letter addressed to him (dated June 12th, 1813) by the Hon. Edwin Gray, representative in congress: "Dear Sir:- Mr. Kello having been so kind as to permit my son, James, to write in the clerk's office for his improvement, and to prepare him for the study of law, I have sent him now for that purpose. He will live with his uncle, and it is my wish that he may ren- [page break] 374 [p.] OLD VIRGINIA CLERKS. der himself useful to you. Permit me to ask the favor of you to advise and instruct him in the business he undertakes." Other letters, addressed to Mr. Rochelle by persons of prominence and distinction at that day, have been placed in my hands to be used according to my discre- tion. Some of these are too long to be published en- tire, but extracts will be given sufficient to show that he was in correspondence with those persons who occupied public positions in the general assembly and in the con- gress of the United States, and that he was looked upon as a man of uncommon intelligence and influence, whose opinions and counsels were held in high esteem. (1) A letter from Hon. James Trezvant, member of congress, dated April 23d, 1826, refers to the Panama mission [italicized] as having occupied much of the time of con- gress, against which he states that he voted, as being "a depature from the settled policy of the country as recommended by Washington in his farewell address." (2) A letter from Albert Gallatin, dated 29th May, 1826, in which he advises with Mr. Rochelle as to a suggestion made by Mr. Gallatin to the secretary of war, with the approbation of the president, that "meas- ures be taken to collect comparative vocabularies of all the languages and dialects of the Indian tribes existing within the United States. Circulars will be addressed to all the Indian superintendents and agents, and to the missionaries with whom the department has cor- respondence. But they have no agent with the Not- toways, [italicized] and we are fortunate that you should be disposed to lend your aid as to them." (3) A letter from Hon. John Y. Mason (dated Jan- uary 11, 1828), then in the senate of Virginia, in which [page break] OLD VIRGINIA CLERKS. [p.] 375 the politics of the day are freely discussed, especially as to the appointment of presidential electors for the election [italicized] of that year; among other things saying: "The Adams convention isnow in session here. They have made out an electoral ticket on which the names of James Madison and James Monroe are placed. I have no idea that either of them will serve; but the Adams men are all anxious that their cause should be aided by great nems." Farther on, he says: "On the subject of the circuit court bill, I thank you for your confidence and friendly suggestions. I have not yet made up my mind on the subject. It is one of immense magnitude, and I fully appreciate the responsibility of my situation. For a novelty, I beleive that there will be no artillery opened on the clerks [italicized] this winter. If there be, I shall, as formerly, stand by them." (4) A letter from Hon. John Y. Mason, a member of the constitutional convention of Virginia, dated December 18, 1829. He expresses great fear that the convention will accomplish no good; [italicized] among other things saying: "The body is so equally divided into geographical parties, that every question is divided by nearly the same votes. Sitting by Mr. Madison the other day, and the house being nearly divided on some unimportant question, the old man remarked to me that he believed if a motion were made that two and two would make four, [italicized] it would produce a division of the house. Indeed, if any other argu- ment were wanting to show that this convention should never have been called, it would be found in this striking disparity of views. The idea of breaking up the foundations of a government which for fifty-four years has produced so much happiness, and against [page break] 376 [p.] OLD VIRGINIA CLERKS. which not one solitary charge of misrule can be brought, would, to an unprejudiced mind, seem the last extreme of madness and folly." (5) A letter from Hon. John Y. Mason, a senator in the general assembly of Virginia, dated Richmond, March 22, 1831, in which he says, among other things: "The general assembly have passed the bill fixing the tenure of the clerks' office at seven years, and author- izing two-thirds of the county court to dismiss. You can form no idea of the violence of many of the mem- bers against judges, clerks and sheriffs. You need not give yourself any uneasiness as to your office, for no opposition can affect you." At the time of Mr. Rochelle's death, highly compli- mentary resolutions were adopted by the court of which he was clerk, and the following obituary, [italicized] prepared by James Strange French, Esq., was published in the Richmond Enquirer [italicized] of August 20, 1835: Died, at his residence in Southampton county, on the night of the 17th instant, in the fiftieth year of his age, James Rochelle, Esq. For twenty years he was clerk of the superior and inferior courts of his county, and discharged the various duties with so much ability and urbanity of manner as to win the confidence and regard of all who knew him. A victim of pulmonary consumption, he lingered for about five years, the greater part of the time confined to his bed; yet he murmured not at his fate, but sustained himself through- out with the most unshaken fortitude, even cheerful when not suffering acutely with pain. One who long knew him can say, that a more remarkable example of patience was never exhibited. Confined so long, and under circumstances so well calculated to irritate the [page break] OLD VIRGINIA CLERKS. [p.] 377 mind, he was never seen out of temper witha servant, or heard to utter an unkind syllable in reference to an acquaintence. No man has ever left us whom the country has more just reason to regret. No man was ever watched over with more untiring devotion; no man ever had more dearer friends, or qualities better calcu- lated to inspire the warmest friendship. No man ever lived who, in all the relations of life, was mre scrupu- lously honest, and I have never known one so pure, so gentle, so benevolent. As a husband, father, friend, and master, his example was all that is beautiful and bright; and long, long will his memory be cherished with the deepest affection by each one who stood in the above relations. He has left a wife, three children and numerous friends to mourn his irreparable loss, and their greatest consolation must be in contemplating the purity of his character." James Rochelle [reproduction of signature] _________________ [work continues with Spotsylvania Co. & Fredericksburg.] "Memorials of Old Virginia Clerks" compiled by F. {Frederick} Johnston, formerly clerk of Roanoke Co. {1838-1865} J. P. Bell Company, printers, {Lynchburg, Va.} 1888 pp. 371-77 *Additional information: Southampton Co. Court first met 8 Jun 1749. Order Books for (parent co.) Isle of Wight Co. for the period are apparently not extant. Southampton Co. Court Order Book 1749-54:1 At the House of Elizabeth Ricks in the County of Southampton on Thursday the eighth Day of June 1749 [...] Richard Kello produced a Commission from Thomas Nelson Esqr. Deputy Secretary of this Colony to be Clerk of this County during Pleasure which was Read And Thereupon the said Kello having first taken the Usual Oaths to his Majesty's Person and Government and taken and Subscribed the Abjuration Oath and Test was sworn Clerk of this Court. - [...] Southampton Co. Court Order Book 1772-77:376 [p.] 376 At a court held for the county of Southampton the 14th July 1774 Present James Ridley Henry Taylor Nathl. Ridley Benjn. Ruffin Samuel Blyth Kello produced a commission from Willm. Nelson Esqr. deputy Secretary of this colony to be clerk of this county during pleasure which was read and thereupon the said Kello having first taken the usual oaths to his Majestys person and government and taken and subscribed the abjuration oath and test was sworn clerk of this court accordingly - [...] Southampton Co. Court Minute Book 1793-99:317 At a court held for the county of Southampton the 18th day of Decbr. 1797 [...] Samuel Kello jr was appointed deputy cl. of this court & took the oaths as by law prescribed &c. - [...] Southampton Co. Court Minute Book 1793-99:357 [At a court cont.d and held for the county of Southampton the 22d day of May 1798] [...] On motion of Samuel Kello a license is granted him to keep at his house a tavern ^ in Jerusalem on giving bond &sec'y - [...] Millfield Plantation was KELLO homestead for many generations, and considerable research is cited on the annotated cemetery list. Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project, Miscellaneous Cemeteries, Vol. 1 (I-11): http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/miscvol1.txt Southampton Co., VA, Minute Book 1813-16, p. 152 At a quarter Session court held for the county of Soton. the 19th. day of September 1814 [...] James Rochelle is by this court appointed clerk thereof, whereupon James Rochelle, together with John Rochelle, Clements Rochelle, John Thomas William Blow & George Gurley, his Securites entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of three thousand dollars for the due & faithfull perfor= =mance of the duties thereof & thereupon the Said James Rochelle took the oath to Suppress dueling, the oath to support the constitution of the United States, the oath of fidelity to the Commonwealth & the oath of office - -//-- James Rochelle here in court refuses longer to act he being elected appointed clerk of this Ct. as coroner & Escheator of this county which ^ is ordered to be entered of record - -//-- [...] James ROCHELLE is buried in the family cemetery on Hermitage Plantation, on Gen. Thomas Highway (Rt. 671), near Handsom. Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project, Miscellaneous Cemeteries, Vol. 2 (II-39): http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/miscvol2.txt Southampton Co. Court Order Book 1835-39:16, 21 [p.] 16 At a Court held for Southampton on the 21st day of September 1835_ Present James Clayton Saml.B. Hines } Jeptha Darden and William A. Spark} Gent: Littleton R. Edwards is unanimously appointed Clerk pro tempore to until a Clerk Shall be appointed to supply the vacancy created by the death of James Rochelle esqr. late Clerk_ - Ordered that the Sheriff Summon all the acting Justices of the Peace for this County to the first day of October Court next to elect a Clerk to Supply the vacancy created by the death of James Rochelle esquire late Clerk of this Court. - [...] [p.] 21 [...] - Ordered that the Court be adjourned till the first day of the next Term_ The minutes of the foregoing proceedings were Signed by James Clayton. Teste L.R. Edwards Clk P.T. At a Court held for Southampton on Monday the 19th day of October 1835. Present Jeremiah Cobb. James D. Massenburg, William Briggs, George A.C. Barham, Samuel Drwery, Jesse Parker. Nicholas M Sebrell. Solomon D Parker. Robert T. Mus= grave, Samuel B Hines .Benjamin Griffin, James Clayton, Jacob Barnes. Benjamin L. Drew and Joseph T. Claud. Gent: - The Court proceeded to elect a Clerk to Supply the vacancy created by the death of James Rochelle esquire late Clerk of this Court and upon taking the vote of the Court viva voce Littleton R. Edwards was unanimously elected. Whereupon the said Littleton R. Edwards was declared duly elected Clerk of this Court for the term of Seven years next ensuing; and thereupon the said Littleton R. Edwards together with Augustus Claiborne, Edwards Butts. John Y Mason and Samuel B Hines his Securities entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of three thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs which bond is ordered to be recorded. The said Littleton R. Edwards also took the oath of fidelity to the Commonwealth. the oath to Support the Constitution of the United States, the oath against duelling and the oath of Office - - Littleton R. Edwards Clerk of this Court together with Augustus Claiborne, Edwards Butts, John Y Mason and Samuel B Hines his Securities entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of three thousand dollars conditioned for his faithful accounting for and paying into the public treasury in the manner prescribed by Law, the taxes on law process &c. and all the public memos which may come into his hands during his continuance in Office, which bond is ordered to be recorded_ - [...] Maj. L.R. EDWARDS & Joseph Brown PRINCE are buried in the Episcopal Section of Riverside Cemetery, Courtland- EDWARDS, with James ROCHELLE's son James Henry, in Plot 17, and PRINCE in Plot 11. Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project, Riverside list: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/riverside.txt Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Matt Harris (zoobug64@aol.com). file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/court/clerks.txt