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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Minutes of the General Court of North Carolina
North Carolina. General Court
November 01, 1720 - November 03, 1720
Volume 02, Pages 408-416

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North Carolina ss.
At a Genll Court of Oyer & Terminer held & Continued for the sd Province at the General Court House at Queen Ann's Creek in Chowan Precinct the 1st day of November 1720 Contd to the 3d

Present ffredrick Jones Esqr Ch. Justice Jno Blount Jno Worley & Robert West Esqr

The Court being opend adjournd till to-morrow morning eight a clock

Nov 2d The Court mett according to adjournmnt present as above.

The Grand Jury are Impannelld & Sworn.

Nics Crisp fforeman

Thos Rountree Thos Luten, ffras Branch Wm Stewart, Hen: Bonner, Thos Matthews, Wm Charleton, Laus Sarson, Nics Hunter, Henry Clayton, Samll Pagett, Jams Peek, Jams ffarlow, Thos Yates, Geo Turnedge.

Adjourned till tomorrow morning 8 a clock

Thursday Novr 3d. The Court mett according to adjournmt. Prest as above

The Jurors for our Sovereign Lord the King upon their oath do present that Thomas Stoneeham of the Precinct of Chowan in the Province afsd Planter did on or about the 1st day of Aprll 1720 at Chowan afsd by force & Armes violently threaten kick and otherwise abuse one Richard Washington then & there a Constable in the Execution of his Office & other Inormitys to him the sd Richard Washington did then and there do with like force & Armes agst the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King his Crown & Dignity &c

Billa Vera
NICs CRISP fforeman

The Jurors for our Sovereign Lord the King on their oaths do Present That Wm Braswell of the Precinct of Chowan in the Province afsd Planter did on or about the 1st day of Aprill 1720 at Chowan afsd by force & Armes kick & otherwise abuse one Richard Washington yn & there a Constable in the Execution of his office & other Inormitys to him the sd Richard Washington did then and there do with like force and Armes agst the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King his Crown Dignity &c

Billa Vera
NICs CRISP foreman

The Jurors for our Sovereign Lord the King on their oaths do present that Caleb Stephins of Chowan Precinct Planter on the 29th day of ffebr at Chowan afsd did by force & armes &c one pair of boxes or knaves to the Value of fforty Shillings Clandestinely or ffeloniously belonging to one Archabald Campbell of the same Precinct Planter take & bear away

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contrary to a statute in yt case made & provided & agst the peace of our Sovereign Lord the King yt now is his Crown & Dignity &e

Billa Vera
Nics Crisp fforeman

The Grand Jury are Discharged & another Impannell'd & Sworn

Wm Charleton fforeman Thos Rountree Thos Luten Wm Stewart ffras Branch H Bonner Thos Matthews Laus Sarson Nics Hunter H :Clayton Samll Pagett J Peek J ffarlow Thos Yates Geo: Turnedge Wm Bonner

The Jurors for our Sovereign Lord the King on their Oaths do present that Cush als Quashey a Negro Man Slave belonging to Paul Palmer of the Precinct of Pequimons on the 3d of Apll 1720 did feloniously seduce take carry & convey by force & Armes &c from the Plantation of Nics Crisp of the Precinct of Chowan Gent. a negro man Slave named Sambo together with one new Rugg to the value of twenty five shillings one coat one shirt one pair of New Lether Breeches one pair of Stockings one pair of New shoes & one hatt value one pound twelve shillings & six pence the proper estate & goods of the sd Nics Crisp & yt the sd Cush als Quashey so having seduced & taken the sd Negro Sambo & all the afsd goods him and them did carry & convey to the Plantation & Dwelling house of the sd Paul Palmer at Pequimans afsd & then & there the said Negro Sambo and all the sd goods did deliver to the sd Paul Palmer & Joanna his wife who not being ignorant yt the sd Negro Sambo & all the sd Goods were by the sd Negro Cush als Quashey feloniously taken & carryed away from the sd Crisps Plantation did then at the sd Paul Palmers Plantation & Dwelling house receive & take the sd Negro Sambo & all the sd Goods from him the sd Cush als Quashey & keep the same contrary to the Laws in such cases made & Provided & agst the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King his Crown & Dignity &c

Billa Vera Nemine Contradi
Wm CHARLETON fforeman

The Jurors for our Sovereign Lord the King do present upon their Oaths That on the 2d day of Aprll 1720 at the Precinct of Pequimans in the County of Albemarle in this Province of North Carolina Paul Palmer of the sd Precinct did instigate order and com̄and a negro Slave belonging to him the sd Palmer nam'd Cush als Quashey to go with two horses to the Plantation of Nics Crisp in the Precinct of Chowan in the sd County of Albemarle & by force & arms &c to take bring & from thence convey & carry away a negro man nam'd Sambo with his Cloaths & bedding, which sd Negro Sambo, cloaths & bedding are the proper estate of the sd Nics Crisp, And yt on ye 3d day of Aprill afsd in ye year

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afsd the sd Negro Cush als Quashey at the Instigation & by the order & com̄and of the sd Paul Palmer did go to the Plantation & Quartor of the sd Nics Crisp & did then & there seduce & feloniously carry & convey from thence to the sd Paul Palmers House in Pequimans afsd the sd negro man named Sambo & also one New Rugg value twenty five shillings one coat one shirt one pair of new Leather Breeches one pair of Stockins one pair of new shoes & one hatt value one pound twelve shillings and six pence by reason of which seducing the sd Negro Sambo & the taking conveying & carrying of him & the sd Rugg Coat shirt Breeches Stockings shoes & Hatt by the sd Negro Cush als Quashey by the sd instigation order and com̄and of the sd Paul Palmer he the sd Nics Crisp a true & faithfull Servt of our Sovereign Lord the King is much damaged in Contempt of our Sovereign Lord the King to the great terror of many of the Kings Subjects & agst the Peace &c

Billa Vera Nemine Contradic
Wm CHARLETON foreman.

The Jurors for our Sovereign Lord the King Present upon their oaths That the Honble ffredk Jones Esqr of the County of Albemarle Ch. Justice of this Province ye 14th day of Aprll 1720 to keep the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King in the sd Province & also to hear and determine ffelonys Trespasses & other evil crimes in the sd Province the sd 14th day of Aprll in the year afsd a certain warrant or Precept to one Charles Wilkins Planter yn Constable made directed & Deliverd & by his sd warrant Com̄anded him the sd Charles Wilkins to make diligent search for the body of one Cush als Quashey a negro man belongg to one Paul Palmer of Pequimans Precinct & him the sd Cush als Quashey to attach and to bring before him the sd ffredk Jones Esqr to be Examined for seducing & feloniously taking & carrying away a negro slave namd Sambo together with one New Rugg value twenty five shillings one coat one shirt one pair of New Leather Breeches one pair of stockings one pair of new shoes & one hatt of the value of one pound twelve shillings & six pence all the proper estate of one Nics Crisp of Chowan Precinct Gent & also to bring the sd negro Sambo & the sd Goods before him the sd ffredk Jones Esqr which sd Chas Wilkins Constable afterwards (to witt) the 18th day of Apll in the year afsd at Pequimans afsd by Vertue of the afsd Warrant to him directed & Deliverd the sd Cush als Quashey with the sd Warrant did take and attach and him the sd Cush als Quashey for the cause afsd in his custody then & there had kept and also yt he the sd Chas Wilkins Constable the 23d day of Aprll in the year afsd by vertue of the afsd Warrant with the sd Warrant did take & attach the above

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namd negro Sambo & him had in his custody Nevertheless Johanna Palmer wife of the sd P. Palmer then & there well knowing the sd negro Sambo to be arrested and attached by the sd Charles Wilkins Constable with the sd Warrant by force & armes &c the afsd 23d day of Aprll in the year afsd at Pequimans Precinct afsd the sd Negro Sambo out of the Custody of the sd Charles Wilkins Constable agst his will then & there feloniously took & rescued & him the sd Negro Sambo then & there at large to run & go away did permitt in great contempt of our sd Sovereign Lord the King & in evil & pernitious example to others in the like case and also contrary to the Peace of our sd Sovereign Lord the King &c

Billa Vera Nemine Contrade
Wm CHARLETON fforeman.

Orderd that if Wm Charleton, Henry Lysle, Jno Winston, Patrk Eggerton, Christopr Butler & Jams ffarlow do pay unto Jno Blount Esqr the fine appointed by law being presented by the Grand Jury for swearing &c they shall be hereby discharged.

Orderd that if Wm ffryley Saml Monlier do pay unto John Worley Esqr the fine appointed by Law being presented by the Grand Jury for swearing &c they shall be hereby discharged

Orderd that if Martin Cromen do pay unto Robt. West Esqr the fine appointed by Law being presented by the Grand Jury for swearing four oaths he shall be hereby discharged

Ordered that if Emanll Low, Henry Pendleton & Benj. West do pay unto John Palin Esqr the fine appointed by Law being presented by the Grand Jury for breaking the Sabbath they shall be hereby discharged

Orderd that if Wm̄ Smith, Jno Relf, & Edwd ffaircloth do pay unto Jno Palin Esqr the fine appointed by Law being presented by the Grand Jury for not keeping the Roads in Repair in the severall Districts they shall be hereby discharged

Charles Wilks being calld to answer a Presentmt of the Grand Jury for living in open Adultery faild to appear Upon motion of the Attorney Genll Orderd yt a Distringass do issue agst the next Court

Mary Brinn being called to answer a Presentmt of the Grand Jury for cohabitting with Chas Wilks faild to appear. Upon motion of the Attorney Genll Orderd that a Distringas do issue agst the next Court

Abraham Spivey being calld' to answer a Presentmt of the Grand Jury for Hoggstealing faild to appear. Upon motion of the Attorney Genll Orderd that a Distringas do issue agst the next Court.

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Abraham Spivey being calld to answer a Presentmt of the Grand Jury for breaking ye Sabbath faild to appear. Upon motion of the Attorney Genll Ordd a Distringas do issue agst the next Court

Thomas Spivey, Benjn Spivey, and Jacob Spivey being bound by Recog. to appear at ys Court to answer a Presentmt of ye Grand Jury for Hoggstealing appeard. Upon motion of the Attorney Genll Orderd that they appear here the 3d day of the next Genll Court upon the same Recognizance to answer the sd Presentmt

Thomas Spivey, Benjn Spivey, and Jacb Spivey being bound by Recognizance to appear at this Court appeard. Upon motion of the Attorney Genll Orderd that they appear here the 3d day of the next Genll Court upon the same Recognizance to answer the sd Presentmt.

Jeremiah Vail being calld to answer a Presentmt of ye Grand Jury for abusing Jno Blount Esqr one of the Justices of ys Court faild to appear, And the Marshall having faild to take him into Custody according to the order of Last Court, Orderd that he be now taken and be in Custody of the Marshall till he enter into Recognizance to appear here the 3d day of the next Genll Court to answer the sd Presentmt And be of his good behaviour in the mean time.

Jams ffleming being calld to answer a Presentmt of the Grand Jury for abusing Thos Rountree Esqr a Justice of the Peace for Chowan Precinct faild to appear, And the Court being satisfied of his Incapability to attend this Court by reason of sickness. Orderd that the same be continued till the 3d day of the next Genll Court.

The Jurors for our Sovereign Lord the King Present yt on the 13th day of March 1718 being Sunday at Chowan Precinct in ys Province one John Hassell of the sd Precinct having not the fear of God before his eyes but by Instigation of the Devil & agst the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King divers & Sundry prophane & irreverent words & speeches to the Dishonour of God Almighty himself and his Attributes and against the holy writt Profession and Religion now allowed & profest by authority in his now Majty of Great Brittain's Dominions & subverting of all the faithfull an true believers & professors of the Protestant church & Religion now by Law Established & Confirmd did utter, speak forth & give out Vizt That he was never beholden to God Almighty for a blew. shirt for that he never had anything from him but what he worked for) and further being asked by one Rd Batchelor, how he liked the sermon he had heard yt day (He answered what good did it do him if he thought (He meaning the man who preacht) had come to save his soul out of hell he would goe a hundred mile to destroy him.

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He had never been beholden to God for any thing. If an Angell should come down from Heaven & tell him face to face yt he should dye & be Damned to all Eternity he would not forbear swearing at sometimes which are against the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King that now is his Royall Crown & Dignity & agst the Law now in force both of God & man &c

DANll RICHARDSON Atty Genll

To which Indictmt Jno Hassell Pleads not Guilty

John Hassell & Wm Yates acknowledged themselves to be indebted to our Sovereign Lord the King in the sum of twenty five pound each to be Levyed upon their Lands & Tenemts goods & Chattells with condition that the sd John Hassell do personally here the 3d day of the next Genll Court & not depart the Court untill therefrom & that in the meantime he be of his good behaviour.

The Jurors for our Sovereign Lord the King Present yt Jno Hassell of Chowan Precinct in ys Province at Chowan afsd agst the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King in a Lewd & Dishonest maner live cohabit & keep company with one Sarah Wilkinson the wife of Wm Wilkinson late of the same Precinct in Contempt Disobedience & contrary to an order or Com̄and or Orders or Comands of the Genll Court of ys Province for yt purpose made & now on Record in the sd Court ready to be produced all which actings of his the sd Jno Hassell are agst the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King yt now is his Royall Crown & Dignity & against the Christian Religion and the force of the Laws of Great Brittain &c.

DANll RICHARDSON, Atty Genll

To which Indictmt Jno Hassell Pleads not Guilty.

Jno Hassell & Wm Yates acknowledges ymselves to be indebted to our Sovereign Lord the King in the sum of twenty five pounds each to be levyed upon their Lands and Tenemts, goods & Chattells with condition That the sd Jno Hassell do personally appear here the 3d day of the next Genll Court and not depart the Court untill discharged therefrom & yt in the mean time he be of his good behaviour

Wm Alexander being called to answer a Presentmt of the Grand Jury for fforgery faild to appear. Ordered, that a further capias do issue for his appearance here ye 3d day of the next Genll Court to answer the sd Presentmt

David Ambross being called to answer a Presentmt of the Grand Jury for selling Liquor without Lycence appeared and paid the fine by Law appointed Ordered, that he be Dismist.

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Robert Barnes & Jno Price being called to answer a Presentmt of the Grand Jury for conveying away Chas Wilks Presented by the Grand Jury for Living in Adultery Upon motion of the Attorney Genll Ordered that they appear here the 3d day of the next Genll Court upon the same Recognizance to answer the same Presentmt

Danll McDaniel & Robert Atkins being bound by Recognizance to appear at this Court and thereof failed, Ordered that a Scire fax do issue agst the same Recognizance.

Caleb Stevins being called to answer an Indictment found agst him by the Grand Jury for taking a pair of Boxes appeared and acknowledged himself to be indebted to our Sovereign Lord the King in the sum of twenty pounds & ffras Branch & Edwd Pagett in the sum of ten pounds each to be levyed upon their Lands and Tenemts goods & Chattells with Condition That the sd Caleb Stevins do personally here the 3d day of the next Genll Court and not depart the Court untill Discharged therefrom and that in the mean time he be of his good behaviour.

Frans Branch being bound by Recog: to appear at ys Court to answer a Presentmt of the Grand Jury for Retailing Liquor without Lycence appeard Orderd yt he appear here the 3d of the next Genll Court on the same Recognizance to answer the same Presentmt

Joseph Jessop being bound to appear at this Court and the Atty Genll being present was askd if he had anything to say agst him Answerd No. Orderd that he be Dismist paying costs.

John Relf being bound by Recog: to appear at ys Court and the Atty Genll being prsent was askd if he had anything to say agst him Answerd No. Orderd that he be Dismist paying Costs.

Wm Braswell being calld to answer an Indictmt found agst him by the Grand Jury for abusing Rd Washington a Constable in the Execution of his office Appeard & acknowledged himself to be indebted to our Sovereign Lord the King in the sum of twenty Pounds and Jno Birkett in the like sum of twenty pounds to be Levyed upon their Lands & Tenemts Goods and Chattells wth condition, That the sd Wm Braswell do personally appear here the 3d day of the next Genll Court & not depart the Court untill discharged therefrom. And that in the mean time he be of his good behaviour.

Thomas Stoneeham being calld to answer an Indictmt found agst him by the Grand Jury for abusing Rd Washington a Constable in Execution of his Office. Appeared and acknowledged himself to be indebted to our Sovereign Lord the King in the sum of twenty pounds & Jams Bate in the like sum of twenty pounds to be levyed upon their Lands & Tenemts

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Goods & Chattells wth Condic̄on That the sd Thomas Stoneeham do personally appear here the 3d day of the next Genll Court & not Depart the Court untill discharged therefrom & that in the meantime he be of his good behaviour

Jno Birkett Senr & Jno Birkett Junr calld to answer an Indictmt found agst them by the Grand Jury for fforceably Entring the House of Jenkin Williams &c and acknowledged themselves to be indebted to our Sovereign the King in the sum of Two hundred pounds each and Thos Paris in the sum of one hundred pound to be Levyd upon their Lands & Tenemts Good & Chattells wth condition That if the sd Jno Birkett Senr & Jno Birkett Junr do personally appear here the 3d day of the next Genll Court and not depart the Court until discharged therefrom. And that in the mean time they be of their good behaviour.

John Birkett Junr being called to answer an Indictmt found agst him by the Grand Jury for forceably Entring &c the House of Jenkin Williams, Appeard and acknowledged himself to be indebted to our Sovereign Lord the King in the sum of three hundred pound & Thos Paris & Patrick Oglesby in the sum of one hundred pounds each to be Levyed upon their Lands & Tenemts Goods & Chattells with condition That if the sd John Birkett Junr do personally appear here the 3d day of the next Genll Court & not Depart the Court untill Discharged therefrom And that in the meantime he be of his good behaviour

Jams McDaniel being called to answer for felloniously taking some money belonging to Eben. Ezar Taylor & having broken out of the Custody of the Marshall faild to appear. Orderd yt he be taken into the Marshall's Custody and appear here the 3d day of the next Genll Court

Paul Palmer & Joanna his wife being calld to answer an Indictmt found agst them by the Grand Jury for felloniously taking a Negro man Nam'd Sambo with other Goods the estate of Nics Crisp the sd Paul appear'd and acknowledged himself to be indebted to our Sovereign Lord the King in the sum of one hundred pounds & Thos Luten & Wm Stewart in the like sum of one hundred pounds each to be Leveyed upon their Lands & Tenemts, Goods & Chattells with Condition That the sd Paul Palmer & Joanna his wife appear here the 3d day of the next Genll Court & not Depart the Court untill discharged therefrom & be of his good behaviour in the mean time.

Paul Palmer being call'd to answer an Indictmt found agst him for a misdemeanour appear'd & Acknowledged himself to be indebted to our Sovereign Lord the King in the sum of one hundred pound & Thos Luten & Wm Stewart in the sum of one hundred pound each each to be

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Levyed upon their Lands & Tenemts, goods & Chattells with Condition That the sd P. Palmer do personally here here the 3d day of the next Genll Court & not Depart the Court untill Discharged therefrom and in the meantime he be of his good behaviour

Joanna Palmer being called to answer an Indictmt found agst her by the Grand Jury for a Rescons fail'd to appear. Orderd that a Venire do issue out for her appearance here the 3d day of the next Genll Court to answer the same

Charles Hopton being bound by Recognizance to appear at ys Court Appear'd Order'd that he appear here the 3d day of the next Genll Court upon the same Recognizance

David Ambross being bound by Recognizance to appear at ys Court appear'd, And the Attorney Genll having nothing to say agst him Orderd that he be Dismist paying Costs.

Adjourned to the Court in Course

FFRED JONES Ch: Just.