16 NOVEMBER 1695

88 ~  Court convenes; Commissioners present: Francis Jenckins, Thomas Dixon, George Layfield, Thomas Newbold, Samuel Hopkins, Thomas Jones, John King.

88 ~  Petition of John Meclaster, guardian of James and Margarett Traine, to be also appointed guardian of Roger Traine and Magdalen Traine, and to have their estates put into his care; Court so orders; Meclaster to post bond for security.

88 ~  Court orders John Perkins pay 30 days work on the Courthouse, per bond on him.

88 ~  Court orders Stephen Costin, overseer of highways for (unnamed) district, construct bridge at Perrahawkin as requested by John Harris at last Court.

88 ~  Hough Tingle appointed overseer of highways in place of Capt. Samuel Showell in Bogatee Norten.

88 ~  John Emmett (Emett), Pltf. vs. Joseph Staton, Deft. for debt of 19 shillings & sixpence; Peter Dent, attorney for Emett, presents note signed 28 July 1692 by Staton; witness Hough Conner; Samuel Worthington, attorney for Staton, admits debt; Court orders payment, with costs.

89 ~  John Emmett (Emett), Pltf. vs. Howell Francis, planter, Deft. for debt of 100 lbs/tbco; Peter Dent, attorney for Emett, presents bill of debt signed 5 June 1692 by Francis, promising delivery by 10 November following; Robert Pirrie, attorney for Francis, admits debt; Court orders payment, with costs.

90 ~  Elizabeth Baker, of St. Maries County, Pltf. vs. Edward Day, Deft. for debt of 280 lbs/tbco; Peter Dent, attorney for Baker, presents bill of debt signed 9 October 1692 by Day to be paid by 10 October following; witnesses John Valliant, Joseph Waddington, Joseph Wordin; Sam Worthington, for Day, admits debt, but says Day offered payment when Ephraim Wilson came to him with the bill, using credit due him from William Whittington, asks for a non-suit; Court rules for Baker; Day to pay costs.

91 ~  Peter Dent, Pltf. vs. Edward Day, Deft. for debt of 300 lbs/tbco; Dent presents account for fees due for legal services in cases against Edmund Butler, Pope, and Patterson; Samuel Worthington, for Day, says Assembly passed Act on 1 October 1694 excluding any legal cases for debts not exceeding 200 lbs/tbco, and  Day has already paid part of the bill; Court rules a nonsuit; Dent to pay costs.

92 ~  John Bishopp, Deft. vs. John Poplewell, planter, Deft. for 1000 lbs/pork;  Robert Pirrie, attorney for Bishopp, presents bond for said amount signed 8 January 1693/4 by Poplewell at Manokin, promising to dig and furnish a well near Bishopp’s house by the end of September; witnesses John Turpin, Robert Pirrie; Sam Worthington, for Poplewell, claims that the bond had an interline insertion and was voided thereby; Pirrie says the interline was there before the bond was signed; Court rules for Bishop in amount declared.

93 ~  John Turpin requests payment for thirteen days attendance at Court for foregoing case.

94 ~  Col. David Browne, Pltf. vs. Elizabeth Lynch, Admx of Henry Lynch, merchant, Defd. for debt of 561 lbs/pork; Robert Pirrie, attorney for Col. Browne, presents account for  merchandise provided Lynch, in 1694; mentions payments to Capt. John King, Francis Jenckins, John West; Peter Dent, for Lynch, claims estate has been fully probated and presents certificate (“quietus”) signed 17 September 1695 by Samuel Hopkins, Deputy Commissary for Somerset, for completion of probate account; Court considers that Browne’s claim was submitted too late, rules a non-suit.

95 ~  Bill of debt dated 11 May 1695 of Swan Swanson, planter,  for 435  lbs/tbco to Edward Green, Gent. entered in record; promises payment at Snow Hill by 10 October following; witnesses Leonard Johnson, John Webb; Clerk makes note that this should have been entered on f.87 (case of Green vs. Swanson).

95 ~  Archibald Holmes, Pltf. vs. James Henderson, Deft; declaration not filed; Court declares a non-suit.

95 ~  Mr. Francis Jenckins, Pltf. vs. James Inglish, Deft. scieri facias for 1348 lbs/tbco per judgement of 15 September 1692; confirmed; William Waller, James Rawley, William Bozeman were notified by Subsheriff.

96 ~  Mr. Francis Jenckins, Pltf. vs. James Inglish, Deft. scieri facias for 184½ lbs/tbco per judgement of 15 November 1692; confirmed; William Waller, James Rawley, William Bozeman were notified by Subsheriff.

96 ~  Mr. Francis Jenckins, Pltf. vs. Walter lane, Deft. scieri facias for 5336 lbs/tbco per former judgement; confirmed; made known by Sheriff, William Whittington.

96 ~  Mr. Francis Jenckins, Pltf. vs. Walter lane, Deft. scieri facias for 4654 lbs/tbco per former judgement; confirmed; made known by Sheriff, William Whittington.

96 ~  Mr. Francis Jenckins, Pltf. vs. Walter lane, Deft. scieri facias for 220 lbs/pork; confirmed; made known by Sheriff, William Whittington.

96 ~  Lawrence Crawford, Pltf. vs. John Colson, Deft; declaration not filed; Court declares a non-suit.

96 ~  Proclamation by Governor Francis Nicholson dated 17 October 1695 concerning persons leaving Maryland for the Carolinas or Pennsylvania because of “a comon empty rumour and report of the great plenty these two places live in”; mentions the “vain and giddyheaded notion and noise of great and heavy taxes of a hogshead or more a head” which has “perswaded and terrified” some to leave the Province, to their great regret; intimates that the high taxes since the late revolution will “become as easy and light as formerly”;  declares that persons coming from Pennsylvania or Carolinas to entice settlers from the Province, and other divulgers of false news, will be prosecuted and committed to prison; commands Sheriffs to publicize the proclamation. (See Transcription)

98 ~  Proclamation by Governor Francis Nicholson dated 15 October 1695 prohibiting the export of corn, wheat or other English grain because of shortages caused by the “unseasonableness of the late Summer” and  “excessive sharpness of the late Winter season”; violators to be prosecuted for contempt; directs Sheriffs to publicize the Proclamation forthwith. (See Transcription)

99 ~  Order from House of Burgesses to the Counties to make rules for expedient hearing of actions concerning merchants and traders; signed by W. Bladen, Clerk of Assembly; assented to by Governor & Council, per Henry Denton, Clerk of Council, 8 October 1695.

99 ~  Order from the Governor and Council requiring Counties to report on their compliance with previous order to expedite pending business; signed 19 October 1695 by Henry Denton, Clerk of the Council. 

99 ~  Order by Governor & Council concerning recording of dissenting opinions in Court proceedings; requires that note be made of such opinions, without explanation; signed by Henry Denton, Clerk of the Council. (See Transcription)