Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-01-16
SCRAPS FROM THE RECORDS.

Several years ago NUMBER oI exlrac's iioui VIC
early records Of Augusta County Court were pub
lished in thispaper, which we have reason to be-
Iieve were generally read with interest. We are
enabled to give few more copied at the same time
and similar in character TO the others. Unimpor-
,ant, and even triflingas some ofttsm may appear,
they yet serve to illustrate, in some degree, the
state Of society in our County in former times and
show the great changes and Improvements which
our laws and customs have undergone.
Every one is aware Of the fact that previous to
the Revolution the Church Of England was esiab-
lished by law in Virginia, yet in this age perfect
religious liberty it strange TO find the two
following entries among the records OF Augusta
County:
"AtaYesry held for Augusta Parish the 9th day
Of April. l747, the Rev. MIR. John Hindman hav-
inp produced letters from under the hands Of the
Hon. Governor and Commissary objected TO Col.
James Patton setting forth his ability as minister,
the Ves,ry agree to accept him condtiohally, VIZ !:
that the said Hindman will not insist on the Par
ish's purchasing gebe lands, building glebe and
such other necessaries prescribed by law, for the
SPACE of Two wears until the Parish be more able to
bear such charges, and that he agree to preach in
this Courthouse aud in peoples houses ofthe same
persuasion in the different quarters Of the Parish as
Shall be most convenient, and that he administer
the sacrament in the Court house instead ola church
and in different quarters Of the Parish, as aforesaid
unless his Honour the Governor thinksproper IL re-
verse the same which shall not be by the complaint
Of said Hindman or any person Tor him, and mat
he ,ciN bring his charge at ayingM County tecy'
He was allowed twenty pounds annually, ior board,
Gill the glebe was completed.
Aug. 9Th, l757.-"Peter Horse having produc-
ed certificate of his hauing taken and rece1ued Me
sacrament of the Reverend John Bernard, and hav-
ing taken the usual oaths 10 his MaJesty's person
and government and subscribed the aejWdtaon odth
and test, certificate is granted him IN order to OBJ
tain letters of naturalizaon."
In order to secure the established church against
perils from non confornist, infGes, herellcs, pa
pisls &c. all officers were required by the testact
to take the oa,hs aud make the declaration against
MISREPRESENTATION, and also to receive the sacra-
ment according to the usage OF the church oil Eng
land and no person was permitted to be naturalized
but such as underwent like test.
The following is copy The mutual obligation
between the Presbyterian Congregation and their
Commissioners, taken from paper filed in the suit
of the Commissioners against Robert Turk:
"Know all men by these presents vt we ye un-
dernamed subscribers do nominate, appoint and con-
s,ilute our rus,y and we'll beloved friends James
Patton, John Finly, George Hutchinson, John
Christian and Alexander Breckenridge, to manage
our public affairs, to choose and purchase piece OF
GROUND and 10 build our meeting house upon II to
coec, our minister's salary and 10 pay off all charg-
es relating 10 said affair 10 lay of the people In
proportion to this end 10 place seats In said meet
lug house, which we do hereby promise to reim'
burse them. they always giving US months warn
ing by an advertisement On the meeting house door.
A majority of the above five persons. provided all
be appraised of their meeting, their acting shall stand,
and these persons abuve named shall be accountable
to the minister and session twice every year for all
their proceeds relating to the whole affair. 10
which we subscribe our hands in the presence oil The
Rev. MIR. John Craig, August llh l74l."
The commissioners on their part entered into
corresponding agreement. Turk was sued for the
amount of his subscription, or the assessment a.
gains him by the commissioners, at the rate OF 81
year fbI six years. The jury found TOR the plain
tiffs, &c damages.
The prices of several articles Of merchandise in
Staun,on in the year l745, are ascerained from an
account filed in the suit of Thompson VS.. Looney.
Sugar sold for Is per h., nutnegs al Is 4d, 10.
powder Is, h. lead Is Cd, | OF. indigo Is cd.
In the year l75l, the Sheriff. on an execution is
sued in the case OF johnson VS.. Brown, made re-
turn, "No, executed by reason there is no road to
the place where he lives" Other executions were
returned as follows :--"Not executed by reason OF
excess OF weather." "Not executed by reason OF
an are" "Not executed BY reason Of a gum
"Not executed by reason of the aux being in the
house." Emlen VS.. Miller-"Kept off from Mil
Ter with club and Miller not found by Humphrey
Marshall.'' Bell vs. John Warwick-"Executed
on the within John Warwick and he is not the
man." In August 1855, forty mine executions were
returned mot executed by Of the disturbance
of the Indians"
The following barbarous order was made so late
as February 18th, l7o0-Vole,, negro woman
belonging to Sampson Sawyer being condemned TO
death for burning her masters dwelling-house-
"Ordered that she be hung on the 4th Of March
next at l2 O'Clock till she BIZ dead, and after she is
cut down that her head be severed from her body
by the neck and stuck upon pole in the public
place near S,aunon."
July l3, l79l.-William Ward and Lewis Ba-
ker were found guilty Of treason in levying war a
panst the Commonwealth and sent on for trial.
KENTUCKY AND THE UNIoN.-ln his lato mes
sage to the Legislature of Kentucky, Gov Crtten'
den expressed the following patriotic sentiments;
"Dear as Kentucky is to US, she is not our whole
country. The Union, the whole Union, is oul
country and proud as We justly are Of the name o.
Kentuckian, we have lofiier and more far-tamet
title, that of .4nerican citizen name known and
respected throughout,h the world, and which wheIev
err we may be, has powe! to protect us from the des
pOtism of Emperor or King.
"Kenlucky is no, insensible to the causes which
have produced SO much sensibity and irritation
with her brethren of the Southern States, nor is she
wi,hou, her sympathies with them. But she does
not permit hersf 10 harbor one thought against the