Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-03
Nicholas Emerson, and Richard Russer

Nicholas Emerson, and Richard Russell
and wife. ito appear AT the next court
ana answer the charge OF being at an
unlawful meeting called Quakers at the
mouse OF said Russell" They were all
ad5udged guilty. Russell was fined
fioo and the others go pounds
OF tobacco each. Mr.. Hill's next move
was to report Mr. John Porter, ST., men,
Der OF the House OF Burgessea, as being
loving 10 the Quakers and attending
their meeting" The record shows that
Mr.. Porter admitted being loving to
them. but denied having attended their
meetings. lie refused. however, 70 take
the oath Of allegiance and supremacy
which was rendered him. and was ex-
PEELED on the 12th OF September, 1865.
SECOND OFFENCE.
On the i2th Of November, 1858, Mr.. HIN
found another Quaker meeting being held
at the residence OF Richard Russell. and
summoned John Porter, Jr.. Mrs Por-
ter. Richard Russell, Mirhartt Mason,
Mrs. Forby, Thomas Holloway and wife,
Richard Yates. Mrs. Mary Emperor. Ann
bodby Robert Spring, Mrs. Joseph John
son. and John Porter. Sr. with divers
other persons 70 the number OF twenty
TWO, whose names he did not know 10
appear at the next court. ana ut a court
held February 18th following. John Por-
ter Jr., and Mrs. Mary Emperor were
hned five hundred pounds OF tobacco
each, II being their second offence, Rich
ard Russell was fined 5000 pounds Of to-
bacco for permitting the meeting TO be
held ut his house. and the others were
fined 200 pounds Of tobacco each.
On the 22d OF November Mr.. IIill dis
covered a Quskcr-meeting being held on
ihe ship BLESSING, at anchor in the south
orn branch OF the Elizabeth river, and
summoned Mr.. John Porter Jr., who was
speaking. James Gilbert, master the ship;
Mrs. Mary Emperor. and James Sam
monds and wife 20 appear at court, and
at "a court held December 18th they were
fined 900 pounds OF tobacco each.
ON the 18th OF December the grand jury
presented benjamin Forby. Richard Yates,
Richard Russell. Ann Colby. John Porter,
Sr.. and Mrs. Mary Emperor for absent
ms themselves from public worship. and
they were fined 90 pounds Of tobacco each.
BANIsHED.
The same day the grand jury presented
I VIM. Robinson and wife, John Robinson,
Ann Colby, Tom Chiclyter and wife,
Bittus Bameby, Mary Emperor, Ann, the
wife OF Richard Jones' Mary. the daugh-
ter OF William Goldsmith. and John POr-
ter Jr.. who was speaking. for attending
a Quaker-meeting at the house Of Mrs.
Mary Emperor. and At a court held the
. 18th Of February following Mr.. John POr-
ter Jr., and Mrs. Mary Emperor were
ordered TO be sent out OF the colony, IT
being their third correction; Ann Colby
was fined COO pounds of tobacco. II being
her second correction, and the others We're
fined 200 pounds OF tobacco each. The
sentence Of expulsion from the colony
was not carried out against Mrs. Emperor
and Mr.. Porter They were persons OF
influence in the county, and as there was
no profit to the infOrmer In their trans
! portation the sentence was probably al
lowed 10 die Of itself
Mr.. Huis term as sheriff expired In
1864 and find no further record OF per-
secutions Of the QuGkers until 1876. when
John Edwards informed against John
Riggs FOR not having his children bap-
tized. BiEgs Was sent on to the General
Court az James City, and fined 1000
pounds Of tobacco for the use Of the
parish. 1000 pounds for the use Of John
Edwards. the informeT. and l,225 pounds
costs Of prosecution.
Richard Russell who was fined 10 the
amount Of 400 sterling end $3.50 pounds
OF tobacco. seems 20 have had something
left at his death. His will. which was re-
/ corded January -. 1861 gave one half
Of his property TO his wife and one eighth
10 his executor. 10 be applied. in the IAN
guagc OF the will. "to six Of the poorest
mems children in El!zabeth-Rive parish
10 pay for their teaching to read. and af-
ter these six are entered. If six more
come. | give one eighth also 10 enter
them i'm like manner. lie had also a
/ considerable library which he distributed
around among his friends.
WITCHCRAFT.
~ a court held May %, 1855, with the
! following Justices present-Colonel John
sidney. Lieutensnt-Colon Thomas Lam
bert, Mr.. Thomas Bridges Mr. John Por-
/ ter, Sr.. and Mr.. John Porter. Jr.-it was
ordered that Whereas divers dangerous
I and scandalous speeches have beene
raised by some persons concerning seve-
raj women In this cOuntle, termeing them
| % be witches. whereby THERE regulations
| have boone much impaired and THERE
| lives brought In question, for avoydeing
/ the Ike offence II is by this court order
Z Cd that what persons soevcr shall here
after raise any such like scandal con-
ccrneing any part'e wha tsoever, and shall
/ not be able 10 prove the same, both upon
/ oath and by sufficient witnesses, such
/ person 50 offending shall, in the first
| place. pale a thousand pounds Of tobacco,
sure Of the court" Doubtless II was the
] hard. common sense Of the Quaker which
! caused the enactment Of this order and
! put a stop I'm Norfolk county 20 the
/ foolish charges Of witchCraft which dis
/ graccd other portions Of the country.
JOHN w. H. PORTER.