Charles County Court Proceedings, 1658-1662.     27

       William Empson Aged 28 years or thearabouts Sworne and ex- Liber A
     amined in open Court Sayeth tht about three years agoe Wi!liam
     Robisson & Edward Parker beeing at the hows of Thomas Baker this
     deponant asked them wheither thay wear going, and William Robis
     son made Answer and Sayd to goodman Smoots to fetch up a boate
     tht thay had baught of goodman Smootc & further Sayeth not

       Samuel Parker Aged 24 years or thear abouts Sworne & examined
     in open Court Sayeth tht about 3 years agoe this deponant asked the
     Sayd Robisson and Edward Parker thay beeing at this depo: brother
     Bachelers hous whear thay had tht boate thay came up in and William
     Robisson made answer, and Sayed tht thay had baught it of goodman
     Smoot and further Sayeth not.

     The Lourt is Reiourned until the 24th of thts instant


           Nouember 24 the Same Court Proceedet
        Mr John Hatch     . .     Mr James Linsey
                       Commissioners
        Mr James Waken            Mr Edward Parkes


     William Robisson Plantiue The Plantiue aresting the defendant
     William Empson DefendantJin an action of the Case for 6oo lb
     of tob as by bill did apeare which the defendant confessed to bee 81
     dew, and immediatlie produced a Conditione which was wrighten by
     the Plantiue which Conditione was neither dated nor any name thear
     unto wrighten, but the P!antiue owned the Sayd Conditione to bee
     his to bee his owne act and deede, by which conditione he the Sayd
     Plantiue had couenanted with the defendant with the defendant to
     build him a dwalling hows of of twentie flue foot long and twentie
     foot wide, with a Shed at the end thearof of ten foot long which
     howse was to bee built after August Ao 1655 at a mounths warning [p32]
     for 8oo lb of tob and in the Sayd Condition the Plantiue did acknowl
     edg to haue neceaued 3OO lb of tob: in part of Payment for the Sayd
     Conditione, and yet the Plantiue had not Strooke one Stroake towards
     the building of the aboue mentioned hows; for which hows and a bead
     Stead of one hundered pounds of tob: price the aboue mentioned bill
     of 6oo lb of tob: was past the p!antiue braught in an account of
     thing which the def: had of him videlicet for butter jooth of tob:
     item for a Smothing Iron 50 lb ithem for a looking glas 30 item for
     a tob: hogshead 25 the Some of this account amounts unto 205 lb
     of tob: So that it appeared unto this board tht the defendant (after
     the building of the Sayd hous according to the condition) is indebted
     unto the Plant: lb 8o5 lb of tob by bill and account
       Thearfor it is ordered that the Defendant pay unto the plant: three
     hundered and flue pounds of tob: reddie downe and when the Plant
     hath finished the aboue mentioned hows according unto his condi