Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-06-03

cite the Indians Jealousy, and they lived anc
hunted In peace with the savage. A wild
strange Life, with .but.few comforts, but freedom
was theirs for it they braved the unknown
deep and more terrible wilderness and we car
but believe them happy and that the lines thai
head this chapter describes the land they set
tied, their character, and the lives they lived
be ter than we can, and then as to-day:
'All places that the eye of heaven visits
Are to wise man ports and happy havens."
We turn again to Col. Christians invalua-
bic address and find, that
The unexplored records of the courts held
| for Augusta county, at Staunton, and church
wardeu's book for Augusta parish, furnish ma
terials, scanty as they are, that illustrate the
lives and characters of this peculiar people,
For the purposes of history these records are
necessarily insufficient, but give here and there
10 the technical and curt recital Of court pro-
ceedlngs some incidental cotemporaneous facts
which can be confirmed, explained and expan-
ded tFOm other sources; while around them all
the mellow light of tradition still falls to impart
to these quaint old papers something of the
sanctity and value of the illuminated manu-
scripts Of the middle ages
| ne court OF Orange county had jurisdiction,
and its Clerk Office was for whole decade the
depository Of the title deeds, and such other
papers pertaining to this territory as indispen.
sable necessity required to be recorded. In the
year l73S all Virginia West Of the Blue Ridge,
was laid OF into two counties, called Frederick
and Augusta, in honor of the Prince Of Wales,
and the Princess Augusta. Frederick embraced
| the Northeastern portion of the Valley, while
Augusta extended throughout the West to the
utmost limits of Virginia" The inhabitants
were exempted from ''a:i public levies for ten
years )" but ia lT42. 'at the humble suit of
the inhabitants Of Augusta" an act passed
appointing James Patton, John Christian,
and John buchanan to levy tax on each tithe-
| aoie, TO pay for destroying wolves, relieving the
poor, building bridges, and clearing roads
within said county.
The church-warden' book for the Parish of
Augusta commences early IN the year 1746.-
1t was doubtless difficult, if not impossible, at
| that date for the freeholders to fad twelve
able aud discreet men of the county" from
cholc comfortable to the doctrine and Giscl-
pline of the church Of England" to serve as
their vestry. 1t is not surprising, therefore,
that probably all Of the vestry elect were dis
senteEs, and certainly some Of the number who
continued as veSrymen for the succeeding quar-
ter OF century, were all the time ruling elders
In the Presbyterian churches Of Augusta.
In that day Of little seotarian excitement be-
tween Protestant denominations, it was not SO
unusual in any part ct Virginia to iad dissen-
ters take with the oatn Of secular Office decla-
ration OF conformity to the doctrine of the es-
tabllshed church, and yet retain their connec-
| tion with dissenting denominatlQns. The first
twelve vestrymen elected by the freeholdsrS of
the county 10 l745 were all, perhaps. desoen-
dants, and some bore the family names of con-
| splaa09s Presbyterian covenalters Of Scotland /;
aud for over twenty years no notice by the YES
try or the Assembly is taken OF the fact OF their
being noD-conformists The usual oaths of con-
r.
men remaining Zealens dissonters. But on the
2lst of November, 1851, tie following appears
on the vestgy book: Ordered, that miaute
be taken that the following vestrgmen hath
| subscribed declaration Of Vestry, to be con-
fornabie TO the doctrine and discipline of the
| Church OF England, according to law, viz: Col.
John Buchanan, Mr.. Gee. Matthews. Mr. JAS.
Lockhart, Mr.. John Buchanan, Mr. John
Archer, Dir. slohn poagua and Mr. William
| Fleming, and enter their dissent against Dir.
Israel Christians signing the proceedings of
| this Vestry, as he refused signing the deelara-
ton iu Vestry." The proceedings were signed
by all as before, but on the '2lst November,
1769-it is ordered that MIR. Thomas Madison
be chosen vestryman in room Of Capt. Israel
Christian, aud Capt, Peter hog In room OF
Maj. Robt. BreakinGldge, the said Breckenridge
aud Christian having refused subscribing TO the
d Oolrine and dsci pine Of the Church CT Eng
land. !" (Sig0edl WM PRESTON,
Clerk Of VestEy.
In November, 1862 the Assembly passed
an Act "dissolying the Yestry of the Parish o
Augusta, because 1t is represented that q
majority CT the Vestry are dissenters," &c,
and ordering IAN election OF twelve new yes
trymeD." But this Act seems to have beeT
totally disregarded by the ''ireeholdera,' ths
same vestrymen continuing in oflee Ions
| nj atfo
not a religious one, but simply 10 discharge
the duties 0s q magistrate of police, OF over
fseers OF the poor, TO lay the county levies, and
to collect iines for swearing, drunkenness,
aud other 'foibles, which official duties, from
the frequency Of their 'reearns," must bav
occupied no little Of their surplus time. Th
Vestry was Gnslly dissolved during the Royolu
tlolSry war.
The first court for Augusta county was he'll
at Staunton on the 9th OF December, 1745.-
The magistrates and officers were appointe,
by the Crown Of England, through the Cover
nor ct tae colony. The court when once oFga
nized went to work with will, and, true T.
Seotch-lrish instincts, seem to have executes
With special vengeance the Act Of Goo
Queen Anne for the effectual suppression o
vlce, and punishment OF wicked biasphemer
and dissoluta persons This Act seems to bav
been construed by them as cumulative of tn
divine decalogue, the 'presentments' bein
made mostly in the order OF the offences there
10 denounced. And the court meted out t
unfortunate offenders the full measure of th
law, in all its bearings Some extracts, take
: at random through series Of years from th
records, will illustrate at once the character
the courts, aud OF the people.
"May 17th, l746. The grand-jury, by Jane
Trimble, foreman, made the following 'presen
msnt, " (among others similarly
Robert Harper, for being drunk, and swear
ing prophane oaths"
, Sol. Thomas Chew, Ia lawyer and Joh
Bramham, deputy sheriff. as common swear
ers.
) James -, as commen disturber of th
| peace of the neighbours by carrying lies; an
t also as common lyer."
"Valentiue SEWER" (father of Gen'l Joh
, Sewer, Governor of Tennessee, and of the rev
olutiolary State of Frankand, ior swearin
8 prophane oaths.
John Bamham, deputy sheriff, for pro
r phanely desiring God to damn Capt. Geo. Rot
lnson and his company"
) Edward Boyle, for damning the court, an
f swearing four oaths In their presence" wa
5 put In the stocks tor two weeks, and lined 2
/ shillings."
} November 28th. l750-The Grand Jur
presented (among others) Samuel Hutts, IL
e breach of the Sabbath in singing prophar
g songs"
8 James Frame, for breach of the Sabhat
9 in unnecessarily travelling ten miles.
t Jacob Golfer. for breach OF the peace
L Il = II @