Note

A little light has been shed on the Courthouse at New Yarmouth on Eastern Neck which
we know was built by 1679 but nothing else. On April 20, 1679 William Key left the residue
of his estate to his executors Major [James] Ringgold and Samuell Tovy "for the finishing of
the Court house at New Yarmouth......." (Wills 10, Liber No. C. ff. 79-80). Key must have died
only a few days later for on May 15, 1679, Ringgold and Tovy assigned the residue of Key's
estate to "Michaell Miller high Sherriffe ... & William Raules his now sub-sheriffe & one
josias Lanham a carpenter [who] did become bound by Recognizance in open Court for the
said William Key for the building and finishing of a Court house & prison in the said
County......." (Testamentary Proceedings, 11, ff. 80-81).

The meaning of the above is clear; what is not clear is a will made February 18, 1678
(old style) and probated March 31, 1679. The testator was Roger Shacocke, Carpenter who
devised as follows: "I doe hear give & Bequeath unto my Loveing ffriend Wm. Key of Kent
County Carpenter all my personnall estate......." Key was named sole executor. (Wills 10, ff.
80-82) It seems probable that Shacocke was Key's partner in the building of the Courthouse
and his bequest was an effort to save Key who, alas! profited little from his friend's generosity.

Who finished the courthouse is still an unanswered question. But the time it was begun
has become a little more precise. The county levy approved October 30, 1677 allowed 600
pounds of tobacco to John Darby for keeping Court at his house. (Kent Comity Court Pro-
ceedings, Liber I, p. 32.) The next year 700 pounds of tobacco was allowed Thomas Seward
for the same service, and in this same levy, passed December 10,1678, 15,000 pounds of tobacco
is made available "Toward the building the Courtt house" (Op. cit., p. 65).

Circuit Court

LAND RECORD, 1648-85, 1692--. Most volumes indexed. C.H. 1648--. L.O. 1949-, microfilm.
H.R. 1648-1790; 1648-1949, microfilm.

INDEX TO LAND RECORDS, 1648-1955. Campbell. C.H. 1648-1955. L.O. 1648-1950, micro-
film. H.R. 1842-83; 1648-1955, microfilm.

INDEX TO LAND RECORDS, 1956-. Cottco Universal. C.H. 1956--. H.R. 1956-62, microfilm.
INDEX TO LAND RECORDS, 1648-1869. Liber index. H.R. 1648-1869; 1842-69, microfilm.

LAND COMMISSION RECORDS, 1716-21, 1826-37. See also Land Records. C.H. 1826-37.
H.R. 1716-21.

BONDS, INDENTURES, ETC. (MARKS OF CATTEL AND HOGGS AND OTHER SMALL
BUSSINESSES), 1694-1726, 1731-40, 1743-82. Record of miscellaneous instruments
brought into court to be recorded including bonds to pay filial portions, guardian bonds,
sheriffs bonds, indentures, powers of attorney, annual valuations, record of convicts, cattle
marks and publication of freight rates. Some volumes indexed. H.R.

BONDS, BILLS OF SALE, ETC. (RECORD FOR BILLS OF SALE OF GOODS AND
CHATTLES AND MORTGAGES, ETC.) [CHATTEL RECORDS], 1751-1851, 1857--.
Includes chattel records, commissions, bonds and certificates of qualification of county offi-
cials, recognizance bonds, annual valuations, powers of attorney, indentures, manumissions,
insolvent petitions, supersedeas and coroners' inquisitions. Most volumes indexed. C.H.
1857--. H.R. 1751-1851.

INDEX TO CHATTEL RECORDS (INDEX TO BILLS OF SALE, MANUMISSIONS,
BONDS), 1750-1845. Campbell. H.R.

132