The Xiiith: day of November 1688 Comrs: as aforesaid 84
Came James Berry & Nicholas Carpenter & in Open Court did owne themselves to Stand
Indebted to
the Rtt: honoble: the Lord proprys as alsoe Thomas Milman the said Berry & Carpenter in the Sume
of
Twenty pounds Sterl: a peece and the said Thomas Milman in the Sume of fforty pounds Sterl: to
be
Leavyed on their and either of theire goods & Chattles Lands & Tennements for the use of the
Lord
propry: aforesaid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Condicon of the Above recognizance being Such that if the abovesaid Thomas Milman doth
will
and shall be of the good behaviour & abeareance towards all his Lordpps good people within this
province & more Especially towards his Lordpps Justices of the peace within this County of
Sumrsett
that then the Above Obligacon to be void otherwise to stand & remaine in full force & power &a
the abovesaid recognizance to stand in force for Twelve Mounths & a day &ca - - - - -
The peticon of John Johnson The Same Day
Shewing how that being Sumoned for a grand Jury man to the Court and being a long time sick
and
weake and soe doth still continue with a giddiness in his head and troubled with a greivous
Could
That he was not able to Travell without hazarding his life therefore he Craves his excuse ~
Whereupon his peticon was granted by this Court provided that what he alleadges be true & not
Otherwise - - - - - - - - - -
The Same Day
Came John Heath who being bound to his good behaviour in Open Court enters his appearance
The Rtt: honoble: the Lord propry The Same Day Comrs: as aforesaid
agy: warrt: read
Richard Harris & Susanna his wife
// Sumrsett County Ss Wherears it is Comonly reported that Richard harris or his wife or both
have
by extream ill and barbarous usage shortndd the daies of a Negroe girdle Called Anne & to
conceale
the same have buried her privately -- These are therefore in the name of the Rtt: honoble: the
Lord
propry: to will & require you imediatly & on sight hereof the aprehend the bodyes of the said
Richard
Harris & Susanna his wife & them Safely to Convey before me or Some other of his Lordpps Justices
of the peace for this County there to make answer to all such things as on the behalfe of his
Lordpp
shall be Objected against them hereof faile not as you will answer the Contrary at your perill
given under my hand & Seale this 27th: day of October 1688 James Round - -
To Jno: Robeson these to execute // Inquisition read vizt:
Sumrsett Ss/
` These are to Certifie all whome it doth or shall concerne that we William Round foreman
Nicholas
Cornwell Thomas Morris William Ingle James Barber John Smock Thomas Dunckin Clarence Gyles
Richard hill William Wouldhous Edward Evans & Richard Warren all Sumoned this 25th: day
of
October 1688 & Sworne as a Jury of enquest by James Round one of his Lordpps Coronrs: for the County
aforesaid to make enquiry into the reall cause of the death of a Negroe girdle agred 13th yeares or
thereabouts who was Slave to Richard harris dureing the Naturall life of his wife which Negro
girdle
as it is Credibly reported amongst the Neighbours hath been used after a very Violent &
barbarous
manner by the said Richard harris or his wife or both of them they Stripping the said girle naked
and teying her either to the well pole or well post did burne or Rost her with Straw till She was
as
Crispy as aroasted pigg as the report goes whereupon She was buried privately & as thy now
Confess
more then a forthnight Since in which time Severall of the Neighbours have made enquiry of the
said
Susanna Harris where her Negroe girle was but she Comonly repleyed either that She was gon abroad
or that She was in being or the like alwaise Concealing her death, & wee the jury before
menconed
being mett the day above written at the house of Richard harris & there did open the grave &
Take up the Corps which was buried very Shallow in the Earth in an Obscure place by the side of
a
greate poplar in the Corne field & three Chuncks of wood laid length waies over the grave &
upon
full view of her body doe find that from her wast downewards to her feet both before & behind likewise
upon her left Arme she hath been extremely burnt in soe much that most of the skin was peeld
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