10 AUGUST 1693

 

14 ~  Court convenes; Commissioners present: Francis Jenckins, Thomas Newbold, Samuel Hopkins, Thomas Jones, Edmund Howard, Capt. John King.

 

14 ~  Letter from Governor Copley dated 15 July 1693 to the inhabitants of Somerset requiring they support newly appointed Sheriff Ephraim Wilson. 

 

14 ~  Sheriff brings William Lawrence before Court; fined for swearing two oaths; posts £10 bond for good behavior; security Francis Joyce. 

 

15 ~  Richard Robinson of Virginia, Gent.,Pltf. vs. Henry Hath, Deft. for 10,000 lbs/tbco. fine due for retaining a runaway slave for 20 days; Peter Dent attorney for Robinson cites 10 May 1692 Act of Assembly which provides fine of 500 lbs/tbco for each day assisting runaways; states that Hath had detained an Indian slave belonging to Richardson in Sept 1692; Samuel Alexander, for Hath, denies claim.

 

15 ~  Sheriff calls Jury: Richard Chambers (foreman), William Planner, John McKnitt, Robert Smith, William Law, William Alexander, Jun., William Curre, Francis Joyce, Richard Holland, William Lawrence, John Macbride, Stephen Costine; evidences: Samuel Hopkins, Matthew Scarbrough; letter from Henry Hall to Richardson dated 28 October 1692 presented; describes seeing the Indian in Englishman’s apparel accompanying two other Indians back to Indian town and informing Hopkins who promised a Hue and Cry; Jury returns verdict of no cause, which Court confirms.

 

16 ~  Grand Jury returned by Sheriff: John Franklin, Jonathan Towers, John Kellam, Edward Wheeler, John Harris, Teague Riggen, Sen., William Dempson, Thomas Oxford, Thomas Smith, John Gray, Stephen Page, Samuel Johnson, Nicholas Evins, Miles Gray, William Kenon, Richard Tull; after being sworn in and hearing charges Grand Jury returns following presentments: Esther James for “having to doe with a dogg”; evidences: Richard Terry, Jenckin Morris and wife; Capt. John Winder “for punishing of Esther James for the above sd fact, contrary to the Law”; Evidences: Richard Terry and Jenckins Morris, Col. David Browne, informer; Court orders charges be processed.

 

16 ~  John Kirke, Pltf. vs. George Wilson and wife, Jane, Deft. for debt of thirteen bushels of salt; Samuel Alexander, attorney for Kirke, states that Jane, formerly Jane Cooper, promised the said salt to Kirke before her marriage to Wilson; presents note signed by her 4 June 1689; witness John Lane; Peter Dent, for Wilson, denies charge; Court orders a Jury be called: Richard Chambers, William Planner, Sen., John McKnitt, Robert Smith, William Law, William Alexander, Jun., William Curre, Francis Joyce, Richard Holland, William Lawrence, John McBride, Stephen Costine; evidences: John Lane, William Scott, Sam Wheatley; Jury finds for plaintiff; Court confirms.

 

17 ~  Nehemiah Covington brings servant Thomas Hall before Court, having arrived without indenture; judged to be 13 years old.

 

17 ~  Court adjourns briefly and reconvenes with  Commissioners Francis Jenckins, Capt. William Whittington, Thomas Newbold, Edmund Howard, Capt. John King.

 

17 ~  Margarett Drue. Pltf. vs. Capt. Henry Smith, her master, Deft. for “sundry complaints ag’t her said Master, but making nothing appear, was ordered tenn lashes on her bare back well laid on, which was per Sheriff executed”.

 

17 ~  Mr. Thomas Jones, Pltf. vs. Richard Wharton, Deft. for debt of two hundred lbs/tbco; Edward Jones, attorney for Jones, says debt acquired from goods delivered to pltf. by Samuel Cooper for which deft. assumed debt; James Sangster attorney for Wharton; evidences: Sam Marchment, and Francis Jenkins; Court finds no cause for action.

 

18 ~  Grand Jury dismissed.

 

18 ~  Margaret Drue taken into custody; Court adjourns for the day.