Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1849-12-26
COM MUNIC TIONS.
Editors Of The Staunton Spectator


Gentlemcn-An interesting communication in
the Spectator of the 18th inst giving brief sketch
of one of the earliest Of Augustus public servants,
Burgess Wilson" induced me 10 ask the use of
your columns Cor the Insertion Of an article having
relation the same subject--the carly history Of
the County-to me always interesting, and doubt
no. more or less to many OF your readers. 1t is
taken from the Srd vol Amer. Archives, ~ series.
In note OF the editors to the article referred to- it
says, "the Court of the County was once held at
Pittsburg." | find in the s. vol. of Hen. Stat. at
large among several Acts OF the House Of Burgess
es of Va. from 1888 10 i74S that were repealed by
direction of his Majesty GEORGE H., through q
proclamation of the 1t. Gov. RoBERT DiNwIpDiE;
there was one in these words: "Aso, an Act, emit
tied, An Act for establishing town in Augusta
County, and allowing Fairs to be kept there p
The editor remarks, these acts were taken "rrom
book in the office of the Gen. Court. labelled PRO
claim Book l7iS,' pa. ST." Now whether Siaun-
ton or Pttsburg, either of them was referred to
by this Act, it is difficult 10 determine. | do not
remember Of meeting with any mention of Pitts
burg the place OF holding the Court for the ,chole
County Of Augusta, yet ii is probabeit was so.
]. NJ. McC.
AUGUSTA COUNTY (VA.) COMMITTEE.
"At meeting of the Inhabitants of that par, of
augusta County, that lies the west side of the
LaureH HiH at Pittsburg, the 10Th day of MAY.
l775, the following gentlemen were chosen \ cam,
mittee for the said District viz: George Cfochan
John Campbell, EdUa,d Hard. Tho. Smallman
Jno. Cannon, Jno Mccullough, VIM. Gee, George
Valandingham, john Gibson, Dorsey Pcnticost
Edward Cook, VIM. Crawford, Devereux Smith
Jno Anderson, David Rodgers, Jacob Vanmetro
lily. Enoch, Jas. Ennis, Geo. Wilson. w. Vance
David Shepherd, WIN. Elliott, Richmond Willis,
Sam. Sample, Jno. Ormsbey, Richard McNIaher
Jno Nevl and Jno. Sweringcr.
''Ihe foregoing gentlemen met in committee and
resolved that Jno Campbell, .Jno Ormsbey. I'D
Ward, 1'hos. Smalman, Sam'I Sample, John An
derson and ID. Smith, any four of them, be a
Standing Committee and shall have full power TO
meet al such things az they shall Judge necessary,
and In case oil any emergency, TO call the Commit
tee of this District together, and shall be vested
with the power and authority as the ether Standing
Committees and Committees of Correspondence are
in the other Counties within this Colony
"ResotUcd unanimously, That the cordial and most
grateful thanks OF this Committee are tribute due
10 John ffatrie, Esq, our worthy representative in
the late Colonial Convention held at Richmond FIR
his faithful discharge of that important trs, reposed
in him; and 10 JOHN Merrill, Esq, our other worthy
Delegate, whom nothing but sickness prevented from
representing us in that respectable Assembly
"Resolred unanimously, That this committee have
the highest of the spirited behaviour of their
brethren in .Ne,o England, and do most cordially
approve of their opposing the invaders of american
rights and privileges To the utmost extreme and
that each member of this committee, respectively.
will animate and encourage their neighborhood TO
follow the brave example.
''This committee therefore, out Of the deepest
sense of the expedency of this measure, most ear.
nesily entreat that every member of this committee
do collect from each ttheabe person in their several
districts, the sum of 2 pence, which we deem no
more than sufficient for the above purpose and give
proper receipts 10 all such pay the same into their
hands and the sum collected to be paid into the
hands of John Campbell, Esq, who is to give pro-
per security 10 this committee or their successors
for the due and faithful application Of the money so
deposited with him and this committee as your
representatives and who are most ardenly Iaborino
for your preservation call on YOU our constituents.
our friends brethren and fellow sufferers, nhle name
Of Ciod, OF every thing you hold sacred. or valuable
for the sake of your wives children and unborn oen
erations. that you WILL every one of you. in your
several stations TO the utmost of your power assist
IN levying such sum, by not only paying yourselves,
but by assisting those who are not a, present in
condition TO do We heartily lament the case of
all such as have not this small! sum al command in
this day OF necessity TO all such we recommend TO
tender security TO such Providence has enabled
to lend them so much; and this committee do pledoe
their faith and fortunes 10 you. their constituents
that we shall, without fee or reward, use our best
endeavors 10 procure with the money so collected
the ammunition our present eXigencies have made
so exceedingly necessary.
las this committee has reason to believe there is
quantity Of ammunition destined for this Mace FIR
The purpose of Government and as this country on
the west side of Laurel Hin, is greatly distressed
for want OF ammunition and deprived of the means
INF nrpc rIncrI hui e, -,
the lower Counties of this Colony they do earnest
~ request the committees of Frederick, Auous,a
and Hampshire, that they will not suffer the am
munIion TO pass through their Counties for the mr.
poses OF Government, but will secure il for the use
OF this destitute country. and Immediately inform
this committee of their having done So" =
The committee adopt another resolution annrov.
ing OF "a resolution of the committee of the other
part OF this County," cullivating friendly inter
course with the Indians.
They direct, also, the "Standing Committee to
secure arms and ammunition not EMPLOYED in actual
service, or private property and TO have them re-
pared, and put them into the hands Of such Can
'ains OF Independent Companies as may make ap.
picatlon for them They also raised "EyfIeen
Pounds" to transmit TO Robert Carter Nicholas for
the use OF the Deputies sent TO the Gen Cong from
this Colony" They also adopted constructions to
the Delegates" reported by Mr.. John Campbell. OF
the Select Committee the first part of which is as
follows:
'1o John Ha'rie and George Rootcs, Esqrs.:
Genttemen-You being chosen to represent the
people on the west side Of Laurel Hill, in the colo
NAL congress, for the ensuing year, we. the com
mItiee for the people aforesaid desire YOU will lay
the grievances hereafter mentioned before the Con.
gress at their first meeting as we conceive il bioh
y necessary they should be redressed to put us on
footing with the rest Of our brethren in the colony
They complain, first, of having had To supply the
soldiers IN the last Indian war with their provisions
and thereby having brought themselves well.niof
10 suffering. Second that the garrison maintained