Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29
Earliest County Justice Used
Lash and PilIo1y to Keep Lam

Present day Countians would
probably look upon the punish
ments melted out by early courts
as excessively cruel
Let's sit in on court session
at the Leonard Davis home (the
Montgomery Court House at
Rockville was not completed I'M
til 1879 and note the treatment
of defendants.
In the summer of 1777 Mary
Riley, servant of Paul Hoy, ran
away. He had her hauled into
court, which commanded her to
serve her master two additional
years after her current servitude
expired.
Upon the charge of Leonard
Richard, servant Ann Graham
was fined and sentenced to 13
months additional servitude for
having base born child"
Dinah "A mulatto, aged three
years" was sold to Simon Nichols
until her thirty.first year for
twenty pounds, and Dick Hodney,
"a mulatto, aged one year" was
sold until his thirty.first year for
ten pounds.
In the Fall of TIT Daniel Hen
ry appeared before the court,
charged with stating he wished
John Hancock and Samuel Adams
were taken by the enemy as they
were the beginning of the war"
No proof could be provided,
though, and he was released.
Sedition again was tested when
the court examined George Nit
chel for speaking inimical
against the States" In default
of 1000 pounds bail to appear at
the next court "he was committed
to the gaol."
In 1779 for Indecent behavior
to the court" James Pelly was
fined five pounds.
The first deed was recorded
only July 3, 1777 from Benjamin
Spyker to Andrew Rented for
Lot rs in Georgetown, considera-
ton IS pounds" The first in
ventory recorded is that of John
Cook for 95 barrels of corn Valu-
ed at 38 pounds on Jan. 18, 1779.
The first will admitted to pro-
bate was that of Edward Gather
on June II, TIT.
No matter escaped the atten.
ton of the conscientious early
jurists. Rates on liquor were
set. ("Good strong beer, per gal
Ion, a SD License fees for tav-
ern-keeping were collected. Gao
pounds for Lucy Dunes keeping
a sufficient house of entertain
ment.~ William Holland, Nath-
an Thompson, John Litmor, Seth
Gather, Ananias Ogdon, and Levi
Hays appeared before the judges
and SWore "the oath of fidelity
and support to the State of Mary
land"
And, of course, real crime rear.
ed its head in the county, too.
The defendant in the first Grim
inal trial, was found guilty of
felony and sentenced to receive
at the hands of the sheriff 400
lashes at the common whipping
post on his bear back, and be
put five minutes in the pillory."
Montgomery County's most
learned gentlemen sat on those
early courts. Charles Jones, Eli
sha Williams, Richard Thompson,
Edward Burgess, Samuel w. Mag
ruder, William Deakins, and
James Offutt donned the judicial
robes and sat down on May 20,
TIT in the home of Leonard
Davis as the county's very first
court.
Not only was Davis inconven.
fenced by having to keep prison.
ers in his home, but the courts
first clerk, Brooke Beall, was
ordered ito take charge of the
records and other papers belong.
ing to his office until there was
sufficient public building pro-
vided for that purpose"
The first petit jury was sum.
moned in August, 1777, and sat
for two days, In the box were
Samuel Turner, Thomas Nichols,
John Watkins, Charles Gassaway,
Zachariah Offutt, Nat h aniel
Crawford, Charles Jones, Zacha-
riah Thompson, John Hawkins,
Walter Smith Greenfield, William
Talbot, Joseph Magruder, Ninian
Magruder, Stephen Kisor, Thorn.
as Graves, Zephaniah Wallace.
Jacob Upright, Richard Magrud-
er. Joseph White, James Wallace,
TOchna Hafbip Tnb,, Paw Caf1o