Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1907-01-11
TABLET UNWILLING.

HULL OlNt AELELEOs
paper prepared by RS. Brent, at the request
of Judge I. X. B. Wright. for the unveiliug of
the Tablet to the Clerks of Northumberland
CountyJ
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
In 1885, on May 21st, James Fon-
taine, Gent, presenting a commission
from Hon. John Garter, ESQ.,, Secre-
tary of this Colony of Virginia, for
the Clel kship of Northumberland
County, was sworn according to law
and subscribed "ye test" next dav.
May %, ordered that James Fontaine,
clerk of this corrt, stake all We
records and papers belonging to the
county into his possession and that
they be delivered TO him in the pres
ence of Geo. Ball and Vim. Eustace.
Gentlemen" Mr.. Fontain's name
seldom appeared in the records and
ne left 10 will. In his inventory
were these items:
To small chainey bowl. As
One old trunk with a lock and key. z
z old wiggs (not valued.
In 1740, the Grand Jury presented
Bennett Boggs "fort not going to the
parish church in one month last
paste"
In 1743, a negro man slave belong
ing to Hannah DoWningswas tried
for stealing. after hearing the
evidence, the following sentence was
pronounced: "The court having fully
deliberated the testimony and ye force
of the Act of Assembly to the facts
whereof he stands charged, it is con-
sidered that the prisoner forthwith
receive 80 lashes we'll layed on at the
public whipping post, and thereafter
hand in the pillory one hover, and
have both his ears nailed thereto and
cut of, and have the Great toe cut
from each foote and be discharged. {"
On the Sth day of September, 1746,
the next Clerk, Billy Claiborne, "pro-
duced a commission from Mr.. Secre-
tary Nelson, to be clerk of this Court
and thereupon he took the usual
oaths to his magesty's person and
Government, and took and subscri bed
the abjuration oath and subscribed
the test and was then sworn Clerk of
this court accordingly"
On March s, 1747, Billy Claiborne,
wherever his name appears in the
records he is always called "Billy,")
leases from Jno. Cralle, ct. ais,
"a certain tract of land containing
$50 acres lying in st. Stephens
Parish from the day next before the
day of the date of these presents
unto the full ende and terme of one
whole year from thence next Insuing
and fully to be complicated and ended
Yielding and Paying unto the said
John Cralle and others, their heirs
or assigns the rent of one ear of
Indian corn the last day of the said
term if Lawfully demanded"
Sometime in the early part of 1850
Billy Claiborne departed this life Che
was living In December of the pre-
vious year, for on the 10th of May,
1850, the following entry was made:
"Tne petition of Billy Claiborne
Gent, vs.. David Galloway, admir-, of
Wm. Jones, decd, abates by Plain
tiff's DEATH" He was in office only
three years.
On the 18th day of March, 1749,
"Thos. Jones, jr., produced a COM
mission from Mr.. Secretary Nelson
to be clerk of this court and took the
usual oatbs to his Magesty's person
and Government and subscribed the
test and was then sworn Clerk of this
court accordingly"
This Thos. Jones. jr., had three
brothers and three sisters. One of the
brothers, Walter Jones, was physi-
clan. His father was Col. Thos.
Jones and his mother was q Miss
Elizabeth Pratt.
On the 14th day Of April, 1778.
Thos. Jones, Gent, came into court
and resigned the Clerkship of this
county, upon which Catesby Jones,
Gent, was chosen in his stead, where
upon he qualified himself by taking
the oaths In that case provided by law.
On August 10th of same year
Charles Clarke was sworn Deputy
Clerk. About this time the Grand
Jury presented one Robert Jones for
being drunk and swearing one oath.
They also presented the Rev. Benz.
Sebastian "for not reading the Regis
try law, according to law"
In March, 1870. 1t was ordered by
the court that the Clerk employ some
person to build two presses of such
dimensions as he may choose for
holding the Record Books of this
county and that he bring in his ac-
count for the same at laying the
County Levy. In this levy appeared
this item: "To 2 Presses for the
County Records when the work done.
600 lbs tobacco.
Catesby Jones was large land
owner and slave holder. His home
was at "Mt. Zion" (then spelled with
an $50, the same place now owned
by Mrs. Slaughter and so admirably v
managed by her. In 1898 he gave a
lien on this property, as also on II
negro slaves, so head of cattle and
so sheep and hogs. to secure Jekyell
and Shelton Jones in the sum of