76 Kent County Court Proceedings, 1656-1662.





        Liber B Folios 1 to 33 of the present liber constituted originally a single record booklet
               described in 166o as “one littill Booke Begining 1656.” It was begun by Clerk
               Thomas Hill, apparently in October, 1656. Rather oddly, Hill's entries appear
               only on folios 10 to 13, and are preceded by entries of later date. The booklet was
               continued by Thomas Hinson (Hynson) and by William Leeds, and was concluded
               by John Cowrsev (Courcy).
                Folios 34 to 77 once constituted a second record booklet mentioned in 1660 as
               “one Booke more Begining 1658.” It covers the time of John Cowrsey's clerkship,
               and at its end bears a memorandum of his successor Tobias Wells. Cowrsey
               utilized its flyleaves for vital records entries and those entries were extended by
               Clerk Tobias Wells and his successors to a date as late as 1673. The court minutes
               close in February, 1660.
                Folios 78 to 109 constituted one, or possibly two, booklets, penned by Clerk
               Tobias Wells. His earliest entries are for December, 1660. The noticeable gap
               of nine months preceding represents the period of Fendall's nonproprietary gov
               ernment. for which court records became invalid. The booklet record was com
               pleted in December, 1661, but Wells later added the record of a special session in
               June, 1662. Differing paper and watermarks in this booklet show that its
               folios were obtained from two earlier blank books.


          [fol. 1]* Att a Court houlden for Kentt the first of Desember 1656
                    prsentt   Phitt Conner   Comander
                            Capt Josiph Wickes
                            Mr Tho Ringgold
                        Mr Hen Morgan         Comissiors
                            Capt Jo Russell
                            Mr Will Elleyett

                Whereas Mr Tho: Hinson Plantiue at The last Court the 1 1th of
               Octobr Did sew Mr Tho: Warde in an Action of Trespas: And The
               sd Mr Ward prtending further evedence Craued a Reference the
               last Court And Both pties now Appearing The Plantiue before
          Hinsons Judgmt Craued an Appeall to The next Proventiall Court houlden
          Appeall at Prouidence And By reson The Plantiue hath pduest A former
               prsedent with The Gouernor And Councells Alowenc: The Court
               hath therefore granted The same: he puting in bond with security
               for Treble Damegis if he be Cast in the suit:

                Whereas W Tho: Bradnox did sew Anfti Callaway The last
               Court the 11th of Octobr 1656 for the prformance of a bargon for
               a yeares service The sd Anfti Crauing A referenc prtending further
               Euedence: But at This Court mr Carlien being his Atturny And
               hath Made nothing Appeare further: The Court hath Therefore
               orderd That the sd Anth shall serve mr Thomas Bradnox This
               insuing yeare for The wages formerly Agred Between Them which
               The sd Anth hath Acknowledgd in open Courtt: And Vpon refusall

                * Clerk Thomas Hinson begins here the series of court minutes for ordinary
               sessions. Italics indicate editorial substitutes for illegible or damaged portions of
               the original record book.