Talbot County Court Proceedings, 1662-1674.  373







   Could not beleeve it, with that your deponant went along with the Liber BB
   said Fishborne, and found the said Haukings under the Banke hang- No.2
   ing doune his head, and Called to him, and he did nott answere;
   soe your deponant stepped doune the banke and took him by the Arme
   and Lifted him up, he gaue A growne; we heareing, yor Deponant
   Called to the said Fishborne to Come and help them for he was nott
   yett dead, soe heareing that he stepped doune; Looking on his face
   your deponant espied A string about his neck, and Clapped his finger
   on the string and brook it, and slaked it about his Neck and further
   Saith nott

    Ralph Fishbourne, aged Twenty Two yeares or thereabouts sworne
   and Examined.
    Saith That hee was mauling A Cutt of Timber, and the ouerseer
   gaue hini orders as soone as hee had mauled that Cut, and Carried A
   Quarter to the Tobacco house, he should bring some fier and watter
   where the Overseer was att worke; your deponant being att the
   springe for watter, the boy Came to him and told him that Robert
   was fallen doune dead in the field by the Bay side soe that yor
   Deponant Came to the house and told his Master of what the Boy
   had told him, butt his Master Could hardly beleeve him (And went
   nott, along with him) butt your Deponant Called the Overseer, and
   both of them went to the Bay side; And the Overseer Called to Rob
   ert: And he nott makeing answere, nor stering, hee went doune the
   banke to him, and tooke him by the Arme and Lifted him up; and
   hee gaue A groan, soe heareing that he Called your Deponant, and
   said hee was nott yett dead; soe your deponant took him by the arme
   and Lifted him upp then the ouerseer saw A string about his neck,
   and Clapped on his fingers upon it and it broake soe seing him dead
   we Lett him Lye; for any threatning words or Blowes he saw neither [p. 25]
   the ouerseer or his Master giue him any and further Saith Nott
                        Jut Coram me Seth S Forster

    Wee of the Jury before mentioned by virtue of these depositions
   haue unanemusly agreed, and doe find that Robert Haukins Late
   servant to Edmund Webb is a Fielo Desi and this is our virdict that
   hee ought nott to haue Christian Buriall.
                 Willm Leedes foreman

   A Court held for Talbott County on the 21th of September 1664
                        Present
     Mr Willm Coursey                 Mr Seth: Forster    .
                     Commissioners
    Mr Tho: South Mr James Ringold

    This Court sitting and haueing no Bussiness haue appoynted the
   next Court to bee held att mr Wm Courseys house in Wye River upon
   the Third Tusday in Nouember 1664/