Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-02-11
COMMU NICATION.
ron THE srAcSToS SPECTATOR.
SCRAPS FROM THE RECORDS.
TCoNrINurn.1


Harrison deliver the several goodsin his possessit
(suppoSed to belong to the said Perkins or some
his foowers,) to the said Scholl, he being one
the coroners, till further order"
Feb. 18th, l75l.--"Ihe petition Of John an
Reuben Harrison praying reward for killing tw
persons under the command of Ute Perkins, VIII
We're endeavorlng to rob them, was read and order
ed to be certified" The foregoing entries clearl,
prove that there was once in Augusta county q
band OF robbers. We cannot ascertain that there
Is any tradition relating to them. 1t is probable,
however, that the scene of their operations is not
within the present limits OF the county,
Nov. 18th, l750.-''Ihe grand jury for this
county present Jacob Coger for breach Of the
peace, by driving hogs over the Blue Ridge ON the
Saooa'h day, within two months last past.'' At
the succeeding May court, James Frame was pre-
scented ''fOr breach of the Sabbath in ,nnecessri-
~ travelling ten miles, and was fined five shil-
! lings.
May oUth, lT5l.-''The petition Of John David
Wi'pr' setting forth that he had been at consider
aoie trouble and expense in coming from the North
ward and settling in these par;s-and that he has
rented three lots in the new erected town of Saun-
ton. through which runs good and convenient
stream OF water for building a mill-and prayinp
leaVe TO build grst and fung mill was read -
exc. L ne petition was opposed by John Lewis,
VINO mad mill within mile OF town, and the case
was taken to the General Court.
Aug. 2Sth.-"Robert McClanaban. Gent. cher
III, having informed the court that Henry Witber-
ing'on, servant boy belonging to John Stevenson.
was In JAIL and that he had an iron lock around his
neck with a gag in his mouth--it is ordered by the
court that he immediately take of the same' The
numerous applications to the court in relation TO in
dented servants, show that there were MANY of
them In the county at that dav.
aug. Ordered that the Sheriff employ
workman to make duckng stool for the use OF
this county, according to law" The use of the
Sucking stool is explained in the following extract
m thp 81 4 \
century "A common scold, c0mn,unis riratyir
(or our law latin confines it to the feminine oen-
der0 Is public nuisance TO her neohborhoo
For which offence she may be indicted and if con-
Victed, shall be sentenced to be placed in certain
engine OF correction called the tr, blcket casiigato-
ry, OF quoting stool, VIII CHI in the Saxon lanoilaue
is said signify the scoldng stool though now it
Is frequently corrupted into d,chiag STOOL because
Inc residue OF the judgment is that when she is
50 placed therein, she shall be plunged in the water
for her punishment
Next we have specimen of Scotch Irish loyal
y: NOV ~ th-"1he grand jury present Owen
Crawford for drinking health to King James and
refusing TO drink health to King George.' Owen
found 1t TO his interest 10 leave the county about
That time, and at the succeeding June court, the
Presentment was dismissed, on the motion of the
Kings attorney. The King James referred 10
was the Prelendcr. son of James III, who was de,
clared King with the title OF James ILL., by the re-
bells In Scotland. in l745
Nov. 9th, T5l.-f.The court proceeded TO law
the county levy, and allowance was made for 221
wolves heads. Robert breckenridge produced
sixteen, and Alex Wright fifty-one which were
assigned TO them. Fifty thousand and six hundred
POUNDS OF tobacco was the amount paid for them
Feb. 18th, '5l.--"- - beipr nroson,od
by the grand jury for having bastard child, and
refusing TO pay her fine give security for the
same according TO law, it is ordered that she receive
on her bare back at the public whipping post OF this
county twenty lashes well laid on in lieu of said
nne--and 1t is said to the Sheriff that execution
thereof be done Immediately" There are several
similar cases. In the year l74o, servant woman
DeiHnging TO one James Beard for The same offence,
was ordered TO serve her master '.or the trouble Of
his house" one year after the time of her scrvitude
by lndeniure had eXpired-and then, the Church
wardens were directed to sell her.
Nov. 29ih, l750.-.The Rev. John Todd. a
Dissenting minister, came into court and took the
oahs prescribed by act Of Permanent TO be taken
instead OF the oaths of allegiance and supremacy
and the abjuration oath, and made and subscribed
the test, which on his notion is ordered to be GER
tilted.
March 22nd. l753.-"Henry Lancisco. Ger
man Protestant, havn, produced certificate from
Protestant clergy man of his having taken the sa
crament, and made oath Of his being an inhabiiart
oil ms colony upwards of twelve wears and hayino
taken 'he usual oaths, certificate is granted hi for
obtaining letters OF naturalization
May 18th, H54.-"Anne -, wife OF James
80 hdVlii9 come INTO court and abused William
wilson, Gent, one of the Justices for this county
by calling him rogue, and that on his coD,inr off
the bench '.she would give it to him with the
devil Its therefore ordered that the Sheriff take
her into custody" SC.
March 9TH, l756-"Francis Farguson BEING
brought before This court by warrant under the
hand OF Robert McClanahan, Gent for damning
robert DinwlddIe, Esq, Governor of the colonyI
tor a 'Scotch pediing son Of a bitch" was found
guilty, but was excused on apologizng and civinr
security to keep the peace
November Path, l755.--f' Ordered that tie court
be adjourned until tomorrow morning ut sercn o.,
clock" Eight was the usual hour Tor meeting,
and even that. in these degenerate times would he
considered most unreasonably early.
In those days people came to Staunton to attend
Court from the waters of New River on the one
hand, and from The Pennsylvania line on the other
and from the West as far back as the settlements
extended Among the business which they came
70 transact, not the least important was 10 EXCHANGE
their Woit scaps and petries for the few necessa-
RES oil lite which they could not raise or manufac
lure at home, and which were brought across The
mountain of pack horses. On such occasions the
toWn was crowded with people, most of whom
wore hunting shirts and rnCccasons. and many ~
them, doubtless, had rather the appearancc ~
savage than Of civilized men. But under ride ov
terror they bore brave and honest hearts. They
were men OF stern integrity, of untriug energy OF
fuuoml'aDle resolution. The descendants Of the
Scotch IRISH settlers Of the Valley OF VIRGINIA have
no reason to BE ashamed OK their ancestry
X.