10 Kent County Court Proceedings, 1648-1656.








          Liber A Wife of said Hunt, which was lately slain by the Indians upon the
                Isle of Kent, the — of October, wherefore this Court hath granted
                her lawful request: These are therefore to certify your Worships,
                and the rest of the Council of the certainty of the premises.”

          [fol. 571 In 1652 a hogshead of tobacco contained three hundred pounds.
                In the same year St. Mary's is called by Kent Islanders “Maryland.”
                To prevent the case between Major Joseph Wickes and Doct. Th.
                Ward being heard there, an arbitration is made by Thos. Marsh and
                jno. Russell.

                 At the November Court, 1652, “Thos. Ringgold, aged 43 years,”
                deposed, that about the 1st of the preceding July, he heard Wm.
                Jones at Thos. Hinson's house, say, that he would question Thos.
                Ward, about the death of his “maid” for he would bring him to
                his twelve God-fathers, which was John Hood, and Elizabeth Risby,
                and Richard Blunt, and he would prosecute the suit.

          [fol. 58] The deposition of Henry Carlein retails a conversation at his
                own house with Jane the wife of John Hood. Jane Hood asserts
                the innocence of Elizabeth Risby, and insists that the latter is the
                lawful wife of Ed. Coppedge, “but only for the ceremony.”

          [fol. 60] At the December Court, 1652, Thos, Weest, servant to Henry
                Morgan, gentleman, obtained his freedom, and freedom corn, with
                whatever besides may “be usual according to the custom of the
                Country.” The order is conditional, the Master being allowed a
                certain time to produce the indentures.

         [fol. 61]  It appears that “ague” was upon Kent Island as early as 1651.
                 At the December Court, 1652, the following deposition was made:
                 “The deposition of Thos. Pett, aged 40 years or thereabouts,
                sworne, examined, saith, that a little after Will'm Jones came from
                the Susquehanahs, deponent did hear the said Jones say, that he
                did see Andrew the Sanyeard (Spaniard), and he asked for the
                boy Salter, and he said, that if he had him there, he would clothe
                him, and further saith not.”

          [fol. 641 Thos. Hill testified to the same facts as his mother. And the
                Jury gave the following verdict:
                 “That the said Thomas Farington came by his death, as far as
                they can discern, not by his own will, intent, or purpose, nor by the
                intent of any other, but according to the evidence, fell through the
                ice, and perished, before any help could come to save his life.”

                Deeds Liber A, pp. 5-8.
                    January the 19th 1652 —
                 This Day Giles Bleake came and demanded of the Lord proprietary
                one hundred acres of Land for the Transporting of himself into this
                Province and desires Warrt for the same