15 MARCH 1692/63

 

178 ~  Court convenes. Commissioners present: Francis Jenckins; James Dashiels; James Round; Samuel Hopkins, Capt. John King.

 

178 ~  Assignment by Thomas Taldersby (Taldersbe) dated 11 October 1692 of all rights to services of Mary Hues to Bernard Ramsay; witnesses: Estrea Lewes, Alexander Massey.

 

178 ~  Bernard Ramsay requests apprenticeship agreement for Hues to work for him; both of Hues parents deceased, but had asked Ramsay to care for her; he will provide her with learning as for his own children; Court action not recorded.

 

179 ~  Petition of William Wouldhave requests Thomas Oxford’s 60 days assigned work on Pocomoke bridge be postponed since the great flood of the winter prevents it; Wouldhave and John Goddin are overseers of the road, but Wouldhave lives at a distance from the bridge; also asks to use the assigned work of Maud McGowen on the causeway of the bridge; granted; work to be completed by Fall.

 

179 ~  Richard Russ receipt proved by oath of Somerset Dickinson (no specifics).

 

179 ~  Petition of Thomas Oxford to be released form bond for good behavior; granted.

 

179 ~  Case against John Pope, planter of Mattapony, for adultery with Elizabeth Lawrence, servant to Pope, at Pope’s house; recognizance bond on Pope, Roger Odowey and William Stevenson for Pope’s appearance in court, dated 21 May 1692; James Sangster Clerk of Indictments; Pope pleads not guilty; Jury summoned: James Curtis (foreman), Alexander Thomas, Lawrence Gary, James Langreen, George Goddard, William Venables, Richard Cary, Somerset Dickinson, John Gray, Thomas Gordon, Roger Odowey, William Bowden; evidences: Walter Reed, Elizabeth Lawrence.

 

181 ~  Petition of Elizabeth Lawrence recounting the “incessant, unwearied, pationate & violent alurements & temptations” by  John Pope to which she ultimately succumbed.

 

182 ~  Deposition of Elizabeth Lawrence, age 20, dated 21 May 1692; states that she had made several complaints about Pope to Samuel Hopkins but had been with Pope in January and become pregnant; witnesses: James Round, Samuel Hopkins.

 

182 ~  Jury returns guilty verdict on Pope; required to make bond for £50; securities Benjamin Idlett (Aydolett), Walter Read; obliged to maintain the child of Elizabeth Lawrence and keep the County indemnified from all charges and trouble that might result, and to be of good behavior. 

 

182 ~  Jurors to be allowed their accustomed fees.

 

183 ~  Case against Elizabeth Lawrence, who acknowledges her bearing a bastard child; Court orders 20 days work and diet, mending Coleman’s bridge; George Benson agrees to pay the days on her behalf; John Goddin to oversee the work.

 

183 ~  Henry Sassnett and John Worthington sworn onto Grand Jury against Capt. Piper.

 

183 ~  Brief Court recess; reconvenes with Commissioners Francis Jenckins, Capt. John Winder, James Dashiels; James Round, Samuel Hopkins, Capt. John King, Stephen Horsey.

 

183 ~  Case against Jone Needham for fornication and bearing a bastard; Peter Dent Clerk of Presentments; Needham acknowledges guilt; is assessed 20 days work; say John Poore is the father; Court orders Poore to appear at next Court; Needham to serve extra year with her master Stephen Horsey, who will pay fine.

 

184 ~  Presentments of Grand Jury:

Elizabeth Hines for bastardy, servant of John Winder; Informer John Timons;

Samuel Worthington for taking 120 lbs/tbco from Thomas Roberts; George Noble Informer;

Samuel Worthington for taking hogshead of tobacco of Thomas Tulls; informer Bryan O’Dougherty;

Thomas Williams for unwanted advances on daughter of Andrew Spears; informer Patience Williams;

David Richardson for being drunk in his own house;

Margarett Ellinsworth for bastardy;

Ellis Coleman for suspicion of murdering one Darby;

Court orders Presentments be processed; Grand Jury dismissed.

 

184 ~  Case against William Burch, laborer, for stealing and killing two shoats of Francis Jenckins, valued at 200 lbs/pork, on 5 February 1691; Peter Dent, Clerk of Presentments; Burch pleads not guilty; evidences: Dennis Ohigerty, Edward Cary, Charles A---, William Layton; Jury summoned: James Curtis (foreman), Alexander Thomas, Lawrence Gary, James Langreen, George Goddard, William Venables, Richard Cary, Somerset Dickinson, John Gary, Roger Odowey, Richard Tull, Sen., Thomas Smith; finds Burch guilty; Courts orders him to pay fourfold, with loss valued at 50 lbs each shoat; Burch to be taken into sheriff’s custody until security given; corporal punishment remitted.

 

185 ~  Case against William Layton for receiving stolen shoats of Francis Jenckins, killed by John Cary, valued at 200 lbs/pork; Peter Dent Clerk of Presentments; Layton pleads not guilty; Jury summoned (same as previous); renders guilty verdict; required to pay fourfold - 400 lbs/pork and make bond of £10 for his good behavior, security Cornelius Layton; corporal punishment remitted.

 

186 ~  Petition of Mary Huett to be released from her indenture, set for four years; she claims to have served three years with George Barrett and one with Francis Roberts; Barrett, from Great Wiccocomico, Northumberland County VA, had acquired her from a Richard Bray who said she was “firm and sound” but she suffered from serious symptoms ascribed to “Morbis Gallicus” (syphilis), and Barrett had her treated by Doctor Thomas Fulkes, from whom she received “the cure”.

 

186 ~  A copy of Huett’s indenture entered on record; dated 21 March 1688/9, with a three year term after completion of current agreement; witnesses: Peter Knight, Leo’d. Howson.

 

187 ~  Copy of assignment of Huett by Barrett to Francis Roberts; dated March 1691/2 and set “for full and whole term & time of four years”; witnesses: William Browne, John Roberts; Huett and Roberts appear in Court which rules Huett have her freedom, Roberts pay her corn and clothes.

 

187 ~  Deposition of Lawrence Gary, aged about 55, attesting that he had read the Indenture agreement between Barrett and Huet and it was for a four year term.

 

188 ~  Petition of Arnold Elzey to have guardian appointed for Sarah Whitty, orphan daughter of Capt. Richard Whitty; Sarah and her mother Dorthea were joint executrixes of Whitty’s estate, Sarah had been turned out by Dorthea and Elzey is currently providing for her; Court orders she remain with Elzey until June Court; summons Dorthea Whitty to appear following day.

 

188 ~  On 17 March Sarah and Dorthea Whitty appear in Court; Whitty’s will is read; Court asks Sarah where she wishes to stay and she says with her brother, Arnold Elzey; Court rules she remain with Elzey until June Court; directs John Bozman and George Betts to make an account of Whitty’s estate.

 

188 ~  Several depositions sworn against Ellis Coleman (not entered).

 

189 ~  Petition of Thomas Roberts asks to be released from his bond for good behavior; granted.

 

189 ~  Case against Mary McMillion for stealing 4 yards of Virginia woolen cloth from William Knox (Nox), valued at 200 lbs/tbco, on 27 Sept 1692 at Manokin; Peter Dent Clerk of Presentments; McMillion pleads not guilty; Jury summoned: William Bozman (foreman), John Kellam, John Jones of Mony, John Starlin, George Lane, Miles Gray, Samuel Johnson, Anthony Jones, Teague Quillane, Francis Roberts, Teague Riggen, Jun., Thomas Gillett; evidences: Rhodiah Franklin, John Coleston, Ann Coleston, Agnis Davis, William Knox, Edward Davis, Jane, Wife of James Barry; Jury returns guilty verdict; McMillion to pay fourfold and make security for £10; Thomas Coleston and Thomas Roberts are securities.

 

190 ~  Rhodiah Franklin asks payment for four days attendance at Court for trial of Mary McMillion.

 

190 ~  Edward Davis and Agnes Davis ask payment for 10 days attendance at Court; trial of Mary McMillion.

 

190 ~  Case against George Noble for taking 72 pounds of tobacco from Thomas Roberts at Manokin in 1691; Peter Dent Clerk of Presentments, asks for fine of 6000 lbs/tbco “as by a certain Act of Assembly in that case made & provided”; Noble pleads “innocently guilty”; Court orders he pay treble damages and fined according to Act of Assembly.

 

190 ~  Petition of Mary Cranshaw to be released from service to Leonard Jones who she had served for 6 years and 5 months; Court summons Jones to answer and John Brown as evidence.

 

190 ~  Court adjourns for the day.