Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-06-10
The Great Valley of Virginia.
OLD AUGUSTA.
NO. ".
THE SCOTCH-IR1sH OF THE VALLEY,
AND THE
ssFairy Land they'd AOnged TO see.''

The enforcement Of the LaaO an Oldeal
Ismes-Indian Vars and Heroes
Battle Of Point Pleasapt-TAe Reuo-
z4tion Of '76-BY YpNAs.
In our researches AMID the musty records oi
the heroic past, we fad that Col. Bolivar Chris
tian, 10 his address before the Alumni of Wash
ington College in 1859, upon the "Scotch-Irish
Settlers of the Valley has so cleaned the
field, as to leave us no resource but to repro
duce the greater portion Of it, or give the same
facts in less elegant style. We take the liberty
of adding incidents here and there and gener-
ally arranging the matter, to suit the form Of
these sketches, but congratulate our readers
upon being able to give the principal portions
of Col. Christians mastery EFFORT, WHICH is
now nearly out of prinf
THE COURTS, COUNTY LEVIEs, &c.
Next. we find that the county lavies, as laid by
the courts, are also suggestive OF historic Incl
dents:
On the goth November, 1746. the levy was
laid on 961 tithables, at ''34 pounds of tobacco,
Or shilIings and l penny per poll" In l747
the levy was on 1910; in 1850 on 2l22; in
1852 on 23l7 tithables.
The usual aubieots or county expense were
premiums On wolves heads salary of the
deputy attorney of the king Gabriel Jones)
-''Burgesses' wages james PattoD) land
the following as standing item. viz: ITO Rob-
ert McClenahan to fnd small beer candles
to keep the couEt-hsass in order; to find sta
bledge for JUSTICES; attornies aud officers hor-
ses 1000 pounds of tobacco"
In levy made November 10Th, 1855, are the
following items:
TO John Harrison for burying some Rob
bers by him killed and for expenses to Dr.
Lynn for dressing the wounds OF one OF them.
$40 pounds. TO John Harrison tor going fol
coroner, and other expenses about the above
mentioned Robbers, 80 pounds of tobacco. y
Making about $40 In money for the complete
cords concerning this killing of some Robbers.
But the lob has been done cheaper by then
descendants now living But at a court hello
previously, Wig: February 10th, 1851, is this
entry-''The petition of j ohn and Reuben Har
rison, praying reward for killing two persons
under the command of Utes Perkins, who were
endeavouring to rob them, was read and order
ed to be certified.
From these, and other frequent entries con
cernipg "Utes Perkins and his followers" it il
obvious, that during several years about tina
date there was an orgaozed band Of robbers
within the then limits of Augusta county. Il
is not known that any tradition is extant CON
cerniDg the matter. Ia l744 an Act Of Assem-
bly, was passed, ito punish horse-steallng, anc
receivers of stolen cattle and horses, and re
cites in one section that 'the crime OF horse
stealing is Of late years much increased, espe
pecially in the frontier counties OF this colony
&C." This has reference doubtless to August;
fbot ADoriyInO orI p1o
pany" were principally horse thieves, as entrie
show that they generally appeared with horse
in possession.
The sheriffs' returns upon unsatisfied execu
| tons were likewise Illustrative OF the times
Discardipg such classic technicalites OF th;
profession as ''Nula bona, and mon est In
yentus." and the like, they adopted NOR
| practical and pointed style. few specimen
must suffice:
august 18th, 1749. Our SOVEREIGN Lore
| the King vs. Sam. Stanaker, ca. sa. Not ex
ecuted by reason of badness OF the weather ant
| freshets. Ro Breckinrldge, u. 5.
Elliott rs. johnson. Not executed by rea
son of the hux being in the house.
| Ro Breckenridge, D. S."
Nov, 1852 Williams vs.. Bulger. Not ez
John Lewis, D. s."
| NAV, 100 w llllGIuo fo' 41ui5S1. AfOG GA
ecuted by reason of gun.-J. Lewis, D. S.
Nov, l756.-Not executed by reason tn
defendant outrode me- so that could not catcl
him. Sampson Matthews, d. 81
Feb. Very many returns are mad
mot executed by reason the river is no
rideable. IA. BoWyer, u. s.
"Feb'y. I763-Reed Va. Clendening. No
executed by reason the fellow gave me hee
pIay. George Skiliern ID. S"
(He was afterwards Col. SkiLern of the Rev
"Nov'r, 1862. Young VS.. Greer. Not exc
cused. Issue this against cousin again, ant
perhaps after next court We may have bette
jnck. Ct. Skillern, d. S..
But the ''luck" seems to have remained wit
cousin throughout, judging by the followin
j returns in the same case:
"Feby, l763.-This is my friend's-issue
again, and shall storm his castle once more
Geo. Skillern, ID. s."
sJune, I763-Issue this against the bod
once more, and / will lie at his house all nigh
but will have him. Geo. Skillern, ID. S.
The sheriffs were also evidently disposed
exercise equity powers ION horseback" 10 thos
DAYS, as the following returns would indicate
''Schall VS.. Miller Executed, but it
wrong. Mr.. Jones can inform you.
| VIM, Lusk, ID. S."