Early Maryland County Courts.      xlvii


       A jury of inquest held in Talbot County in the summer of 1666 brought in
     a verdict that John Jenkins and his wife Elizabeth found murdered in their
     own house, were killed by Indians, judging from the things that had been stolen
     (Arch. Md. liz', 402). There is also a reference in the Charles County records
     to the wife and children of Thomas Ailcoks killed by the Indians in 1665 (pp.
     609, 616). Provision was made by the Talbot County court at the January,
     1667/8, session for two soldiers disabled in the Indian wars (Arch. Md. liv,
     415). At the June, 1668, session of this court there is a minute to the effect that
     there being no precedent, it is ordered that a boat be sent to know the pleasure of
     the Governor as to how the country shall meet the charge of the late Indian War,
     and the court issued a proclamation asking all those having accounts against
     the country to file them (Arch. Md. liv, 421). The Somerset Court at its Sep
     tember, 1668, meeting also ordered all those having accounts for the public ser
     vice in the late Indian wars to file them immediately (Arch. Md. liv, 719-720,
     729). A soldier, William Smith, who had been wounded by the Indians and
     disabled by his wounds, was allowed 1500 pounds of tobacco, by the Talbot
     County Court March 21, 1667/8, and Mr. John Edmundson, was paid 500
     pounds for his “ accomidation “while he was at his house (Arch. Md. liv, 419).
     The Kent County Court, January 28, 1667/8, ordered a payment of 380 pounds
     of tobacco due Heugh Jones for his service to Captain Burgess on his march
     (Arch. Md. liv, 242).
       The importance which the authorities attached to maintaining good relations
     with friendly Indians is well illustrated in the case of a certain John Boone,
     brought before the Talbot County Court in November, 1664, charged with an
     abuse done to certain Indians in taking corn from them and in beating one.
     The court ordered that five matchcoast be given to the Indians, three for the
     corn and two for the beating, towards the payment of which four justices and
     another gentleman present in court personally contributed (Arch. Md. liv, 375).
       There are a few references to Indians in these county court records which
     have no connection with the Indian wars. It was not unusual for the planters
     to employ Indians to hunt game for them, or to round up their cattle and hogs
     which ran wild in the forests. In a case heard by the Talbot County Court
     March 15, 1663/4, Anthony Griffin sued one of the justices, who had bor
     rowed his small canoe “ for the Indians to hunt for him “, and had failed to
     replace it with another as he had promised to do. (Arch. Md. liv, 365-366).
     Dr. Richard Tilghnian was sued at the June 1666 Talbot County Court because
     the Indians he had employed to bring his hogs home had brought with them
     hogs owned by the plaintiff, Christopher Denny. As Tilghman had already
     offered to pay for this neighbor's hogs, Denny was ordered to defray the costs
     of the suit (Arch. Md. liv, 396).
       At the November 4, 1663, Charles County Court session, Edmond Lendsey
     sued Winganatto, King of Nangemy, whose dogs had killed and eaten one of
     the plaintiff's hogs. The king promptly confessed judgement, and paid a fine
     of 6o arms' length of Roanoke and costs of suit. But of more interest is that
     when on this occasion the King was in court, “he acknowledgeth in open Court
     to have Receaved full satisfaction” from seven inhabitants of Charles County,