Grayson County, Virginia Court Order Book — 1813
Feburary 1813
At a court begun and held for the county of Grayson on Tuesday the 23rd day of February 1813.
Present: John Robinson, Joshua Hanks, Charles Nuckolls, & John A. Grigg} Gent. Justices
John A. Grigg who has been appointed commissioner of the Revenue in this county for the present year appeared in court and entered into bond with security according to law.
A deed from Martin Dickerson to John P. Comer was acknowledged in court by said Martin and ordered to be recorded.
Also a deed from the same to Stephen Bourn, Jr. was acknowledged in court by the said Martin and ordered to be recorded.
A deed from Philip Gaines to Daniel Sheffy together with a certificate of acknowledgement thereof was exhibited in court and ordered to be recorded.
Willis Alexander, plantiff
v
Edward Taylor, Defendant
On motion of the defendant notice of which was proven in court. It is ordered that a commission to award him to examine and take the depositions of Eding Crouse, Mary Crouse, Stephen Crouse, Allen Barton and Joseph Woodfork witnesses residing in the state of North Carolina to be directed and executed by Charles Toliver, John McBride and Joseph Doughton any two of whom to act, the plantiff having legal notice of the time and place of executing the same.
Ordered that court be adjourned till court in course.
John Robinson
March 1813
At a court begun and held for the County of Grayson on Tuesday the 23rd day of March 1813.
Present Joshua Hanks, John Fielder, William Ballard, and Joseph Elliott}Gent. Justices
A deed from Jonathan Kelly to John Spencer being heretofore proven was fully proven by Isaac Spencer another subscribing witness and ordered to be recorded.
A Grand Jury towit: Joshua Stoneman, foreman, Daniel McPherson, John Cairy, Samuel Garryison, Ebenezer Lundy, John Trimble, David Noblett, Anthony Wheeler, John K. Cunningham, Levi Johnson, Samuel Williams, James Cole, Arthur Parker, Joseph Ballard, Robert Smith, Jeremiah Coulson, and William Terrell who were sworn received a charge from the court and retired to consider their presentments.
A deed from John Hickman to Abel Carrico was proven in Court by three subscribing witnesses and ordered to be recorded.
A deed from John Pickrell to Anthony Ballard being heretofore proven in part was fully proven by John Morgan a subscribing witness and ordered to be recorded.
A deed from William Marshall to Zachariah Wright was proven in court by James Dinkins a subscribing witness.
A deed from John Cook to James Gray was proven in Court by Samuel Amburn a subscribing witness.
A deed from Elisha Bedwell to Micah Johnson was acknowledged in court by the said Elisha and ordered to be recorded.
A deed from William Stone to Nathaniel Vaughn, was proven in court by John Blair and William Carrico subscribing witnesses.
A deed from attorney for James Carter Spencer Tally and Martin Tally to Adam Ayhart was proven in court by Michael Ayhart and Daniel McBride subscribing witnesses.
A deed from Abner Hunt to Thomas Hunt was proven in court by three subscribing witnesses and ordered to be recorded.
A deed from Nimrod Newman to Timothy Dalton was proven in court by William Ballard and John K. Cunningham subscribing witnesses.
A deed from Abner Hunt to Jacob Hunt was proven in Court by three subscribing witnesses and ordered to be recorded.
A deed from Abner Hunt to Amos Hiatt was proven in Court by three subscribing witnesses and ordered to be recorded.
A deed from Abner Hunt to Jacob Hunt was proven in Court by three subscribing witnesses and ordered to be recorded.
A deed from William Sparks to William Howell was proven in court by Thomas Young a subscribing witness.
A deed from Moses Grigg to Daniel Davis was proven in Court by three subscribing witnesses and ordered to be recorded.
A deed from William Porter, Sen. To Robert Porter was proven in court by Robert Hill and Mark Johnson subscribing witnesses.
A deed from Benjamin Chance to John Chance was acknowledged in Court by the said Benjamin and ordered to be recorded.
A deed from Benjamin Chance to William Chance was acknowledged in court by the said Benjamin and ordered to be recorded.
A deed from John Curry and Rachel his wife to John Careyson was acknowledged in court by the said John & Rachel and ordered to be recorded, the said Rachel having been first privately examined as the law directs.
A power of attorney from Edward Bond & Benjamin Bond to Daniel McPherson was proven in court by John Green a subscribing witness and ordered to be recorded.
James E. Brown, Esq., licensed to pracice law in the courts of the commonwealth is granted leave to practice in this court and thereupon he took the oath of fidelity to the commonwealth of an attorney at law and the oath to support the constitution of the United States.
On motion of James Cox and for reasons appearing to the Court it is ordered that he be exempted from payment of taxes for a negro man named Handy.
On motion of Thomas Dinkins and for reasons appearing to the court it is ordered that be be exempted from payment of Couny levy and poor tax in future.
James Farmer v James & Robert Graham in debt. James Anderson came into court and undertook for the defendants that they shall pay and satisfy the judgment of the court in casee they are cast or render their bodies to prison in execution for the sam on that the said James Anderson will do it for them.
On motion of William Phipps and for reasons appearing to the court it is ordered that the fine imposed on him at May court last for failing to attend as a Grand Juror be remitted on payment of costs.
On motion of Annuel Edwards and for reasons appearing to the court it is ordered that the fine imposed on him at May court last for failing to attend as a Grand Juror be remitted in payment of costs.
Samuel Pugh, plantiff
v
David Segler, defendant
The constable having returned this attachment executed on Peter Ready and attached property to satisfy debt and costs, to wit: One sorrel mare, and the defendant being called and not appearing, the plantiff proven his debt amounting to Seven pounds eight shillings and four pence. Judgment is granted for the same and costs and order of condemnation of this property attached.
On motion of Byron Hawks and for reasons appearing to this court, it is ordered that he be exempted from paying county levy and poor tax in future.
Ordered that John Hash be appointed overseer of the road in place of Jonathan Anderson resigned and that he with the usual hands keep the sam in repair accordingly.
William Stone and James Livesay are appointed constables whereupon they entered into bond with security and qualified accordingly.
Jeremiah Wilson v Peter Cooley in debt. John A. Grigg came into court and undertook for the defendant that he should pay and satisfy the judgment of the court in case he is cast or render his body to prison in execution for the same or that he the said John A. Grigg will do it for him.
Samuel Fulton
v
Peter Cooley, in debt
Benjamin F. Cooley came into court and undertook for the defendant that he shall pay and satisfy the condemnation of the court or render his body to prison in case for the same or that he the said Benjamin F. Cooley will do it for him.
Jesse Hargrave v. Samuel McClure in debt. David Pierce enters (illegible) for costs for the plantiff.
Jabez Johnson, Adm., of James Wair, dec’d, plantiff,
v
William Cloud & Mitchell Thompson, defendants
George Currin, Daniel McBridge and Levi Johnson came into court and undertook for the defendant William Cloud that he shall pay or satisfy the judgment of the court in case he is cast or render his body to prison inexecution of for the same in that they the said George Currin, Daniel McBride and Levi Johnson will do it for him.
On motion of Anthony Wheeler and for reasons appearing to the court it is ordered that the fine imposed on him at May court for failing to attend as a grand juror be remitted on payment of costs.
The Grand Jury returned into Court and made presentments in the following words, towit: At March term 1813, We the Grand Jury impannel for the county of Grayson do present the overseer of the road leading west of the Ward’s Gap road near the Camping Spring down to the county line the same being out of repair by information of John Green, sen., and Thomas Baldwin, Jr. two of our own body.
Also do present William Evans, farmer, and John McMullin farmer, both of this county for breaking the peace by fighting together on the last Saturday in January last at this place by information of John Trimble and John K. Cunningham two of our own body.
Also do present Randolph Collins of this county, farmer for an assault and battery on the body of David English, labourer of Wythe County on the second day of November last at his place by information of David Noblett and John K. Cunningham two of our own body.
Also do present William Leonard, Jr. of this county for an assault on the body of John McMullin labourer of this county on th last Saturday in January last at this place by information of John Trimble of our own body and Robert McMullen sent for by the grand jury.
Also do present Robert Warden, laborer of this place for swearing two profane oaths at this place on Friday week ago by information of Martin Dickinson sent for by the grand jury.
Also do present William Sumner of this county for profane swearing one oath on fridaylast by information of Robert Smith and Jeremiah Coulson two of our own body.
Also do present Nehemiah Sumner and William Sexton both of this county labourers for breaking the peace by fighting together together in December last on the plantation of Benjamin Sexton of this county by information of William Taylor, Sen. Of this county, labourer sent for by this grand jury.
Also do present William Bobbett, Jr., surveyor of the Dug Spurr road the same being out of repair from Big Reed Island to little Reed Island by information of Thomas Baldwin, Jr. and Meredith Shockley two of our own body.
Also do present Esau Worrell surveyor of the road from Little Reed Island to Crooked Creek the same being out of repair by informaiton of Thomas Baldwin, Jr. and Meredith Shockley to of our own body.
Also do present Levi Durnell for committing a trespass by taking rails of Robert Warden’s fence and swearing one profane oath both of this place in the present month by information of Robert Warden who came voluntarily before us.
Ordered that process issued against the persons presented this day by the grand jury to answer the same.
Andrew Cock v John Bolt in chancery. General replusation? And general commission.
Ordered that Court be adjourned till tomorrow morning 10 o’clock.
J. Hanks
Wednesday the 24th Court met according to adjournment.
Present: Joshua Hanks, John Fielder, Joseph Fields, George Curren & William Ballard} Gent. Justices
A deed from Martin Dickinson to Jeremiah Stone, Sen was acknowledged in court by the said Martin and ordered to be recorded.
A deed from Martin Dickinson to James Porter was acknoweldged in court by the said Martin and ordered to be recorded.
A deed from Martin Dickinson to Abraham Wright was acknowledged in Court by the said Martin and ordered to be recorded.
A deed from Philip Gaines to Martin Dickinson was proven in court by three susbscribing witnesses and ordered to be recorded.
On motion of Amos Cadwalader and Amos Ballard a certificate is granted them for obtaining letters of administration for the estate of Mary Cadwalader dec’d whereupon they entered into bond with security accordingly and qualified.
Ordered that William Williams, William Kenny and John Green all being sworn to appraise the personal estate of Mary Cadwalader and make report thereof to court.
The court proceeded to the examination of William Smith charged with having on the fifth day of February last past feloneously passed to William Lounsberry one counterfeit Federal Eagle (a court summoned for his examination on the 6th instant having failed to meet). Present William Bobbett, William Vaughn and Samuel Amburn, gent.
The prisoner being brough into court in custody of the sheriff and several witnesses were sworn and examined and the court after hearing the same and the arguments of counsel are of oppinion that the said William Smith is guilty of the charge aforesaid and that he ought to be tried before the Superior Court, and on motion of the prisoner’s counsel, it is ordered that he be admitted to bail himself in the sum of five hundred dollars with sufficient security in the penalty of five hundred dollars and that he reamin in custory of the jailor until he comply with that order.
William Lounsberry, John Trimble, George Keith, Robert Nuckolls and Benjamin Cooley came into court and acknowledged themselves indebted to the commonwealth of Virginia in the sum of one hundred dollars each to be levied of their respective lands and tenaments, good and chattels but to be void on condition that they make their personal appearance before the Judges of the next Superior Court to be held in Grayson County on the first day of next term and give evidence in behalf of the commonwealth aginst William Smith and not depart withour leave of this court.
Matthew Dickey entered into bond with security for the (illegible) by law in this county.
Ordered that court be adjourned till tomorrow 10 o’clock.
G. Currin
Thursday the 25th Court met according to adjournment.
Present: George Currin, William Ballard, John Blair, & John A. Grigg} Gent. Justices
(P. 86)