Volume 65, Preface 42 View pdf image (33K) |
xlii Introduction. follow an order for the correct marking of a boundary tree, indentures of sale for land, and the settlement made at the marriage of William Bretton to Mrs. Temperance Jay. The appendix closes with an indenture for the sale of land and the assignments on the backside of it; and the already published text begins with the last two assignments to this indenture, the last one dated January 17, 1659/60, evidently between sessions of the Court. So the final date for this appendix is January 1659/60. Because the contents of the appendix form a part of the already published volume, the enquiring reader is referred to it, and not much need be said here. There are, however, several matters interesting enough or important enough to deserve comment. John Norwood, sheriff of Anne Arundel, humbly petitioned the Governor and Council, saying that there was owing to him “seuerall summes of Tob due . . . for the apprehending & imprisoning of Certaine persons called Quakers”, and asking for “some releife & satisfaction”. The Governor and Council, who were the same persons as the Provincial Court, referred the matter to the General Assembly, of which the Council in another incarnation formed the Upper House. Although the Assembly proceedings do not specify whose imprisonment it was for which Norwood presented his charges, in April—May 1661, it is probable that it was the Quakers. At any rate, his peti tion and account were referred by the Upper House to the Lower House (Archives, I, 400), and it was voted a little later that Mr John Norwood be payd 5975 lb tob out of the County of Anne Arrundell and 3351b tob. out of the publike Leauy according to the Journall 30th Aprill” (ibid., 420). Two men, who could not agree on the division left to heirs, submitted to the decision of umpires. There were seven cows and three yearling heifers, truly a hard number to divide. Humphry Howell got “ifower Cowes named Old Dazie, Mopus, Browne Dazie, young Browning”, and Nicholas White got three cows and two of the heifers: his cows were “Old Cherry, young Cherry, Black Dazie”. The third heifer was given to Nicholas White's daughter Ellinor (post, p. 675). Truly, the Provincial Court did not hesitate to take cases of small amounts. Dr. Jacob Lumbrozo, the unsavory person who runs in and out of the early history of the Province, demanded and got two warrants against Richard Smith, one for defamation, the other for assault and battery. Both were returnable next Provincial Court, February 28, 1659/60, but volume XLI is entirely silent about them. Also in these 1659/60 proceedings are found the documents connected with the approaching marriage of William Bretton and Mrs. Temperance Jay. Al though Bretton is often described as lord of the manor of Little Brittaine, this is an error: he was owner of the plantation of Little Brittaine which he held as of the manor (Land Office records, Liber A, fol. 209). The lady may have been married, or she may not: at any rate, she is always referred to as Mrs. Jay. Bretton, clerk of the Assembly, made over to two St. Mary's County men, Cuthbert Fenwick and Dr. Thomas Mathewes, for the use of Mrs. Jay and “such Child or Children (if any) as it shall please god to giue between her & mee all ye . . howses, Lands, goods, cattle & chattells hereafter sett downe & |
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Volume 65, Preface 42 View pdf image (33K) |
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