388Talbot County Court Proceedings, 1662-1674.





           Liber BB Elizabeth Crookshanks hath Charged William Bagley to haue had
             No.2 Bodyly and Carnall knowlidge of her severall times since May the
                 first, Last past; and that shee is Child by him this declared
                 upon her examination by mee duly taken. James Ringold


             [p.43] A Court held for Talbott County November the 22d 1665
                                    Present
                  Henery Coursey Esqr
                  mr Seth Forster Mr Willm Coursey
                  mr Tho: South   Mr Tho: Hynson
                                                    Commissioners
                  mr Symon Carpender     mr Tho: Powell
                  mr James Ringold  mr Phitt: Stephenson

                 Richard Jones planff
                         an action of the Case
                 Ann Hilly ard dcf

                   To the Worshipfull Commissioners for Talbott County the humble
                 petition of Richard Jones.
                   Shewith That your petitioner haueing bought A servant maid
                 named Ann Halyard, being yeoung and of small growth, for the
                 term of flue yeares, & your Petitioner knowning that the Custome
                 of the Country where hee then Lived was the same he never inquiered
                 after any Indenture; the servant also being very willing to serve the
                 time aforesaid; butt after the expireation of one yeare your Peti
                 tioner intending to transport himselfe for Maryland, inquiered of
                 her whether shee was willing to serve the Last of her time in this
                 province which shee was willing to, as by Evedence yot petitioner
                 shall make appeare upon which agreement made outt of the province,
                 and, since here Confirmed ought to stand good according to Law as
                 hee doth humbly Conceiue or elce hee would nott haue brought her
                 into the province; butt now soe it is that the said servant hath
                 absented her self e, from her masters service withoutt Leaue or Li
                 cence pretending shee hath served her full time; although nott
                 according to the aforesaid agreement; yor petitioner humbly Craueth
                 order that the abouesaid servant may bee Compelled to make good
                 her aforesaid time, and such damages and Charges as the Court in
                 such Cases is accustomed.

                   The plea arriseing from this declaration is, that the planff haue
                 ing transported the said servant outt of Virginia hither and nott
                 bringing of her to Court within six months as the Law of this
                 Province haue in that Case provided, and shee haueing served the
                 time of Fower yeares; whether shee ought to serve an other yeare
                 or floe. The Major vote of the Courts oppinion and Judgment is
            [p. 44]  that shee ought to serve an other yeare. It is therefor ordered by
                 the Court, that shee Returne to her said Masters service dureing the
                 terme of on yeare &c.