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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Minutes of the General Court of North Carolina
North Carolina. General Court
August 02, 1716
Volume 02, Pages 261-264

[Records of General Court.]

At a Generele Court of Oyer & Terminer & Genell Gaol delivery held at the House of Wm Branch in Chowan Precinct the 2d Augst 1716
Prest Christopher Gale esqr Ch Justice
Jno Worley Esqr his Assistant
Thos Harvey Esqr his Assistant

The Grand Sury Impaneled and sworne

Josph Sanderson fforeman
Rd Lewis
Joa Porter
Thos Luten Junr
Jams Ward
Jams Blount
Thos Yates
Wm Yates
Jno Robinson
Thos Rogers
Edwd Howcott
ThosEveritt
ffras Branch
Geor Houghton
Rd Sewell
Davd Jones
Jno Jennet
Martin ffredk Razon
Wm Leary
no Woodhouse
J Walis Bray

Jacob Rightley Bound to appear at ys Court appeard, and is dismissed without day paying costs

Jno Worley esqr is appointed overseer of the Highway from Mr Longs on the South shore to the fflatt swamp and all person within the sd Limits are required to work on the same Roads

Jno Worley esqr desiring a road to be cleared from the Paupan Neck to Kendricks Creek.

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Ordered that Jams Long, Thos Long, Jams Hooper Tho Hawkins Thos Stealey Benjm Blount Rd Canaday, Rd Swinson Jno Browney Nicho Brightman Jno Swain & Jno Simpson be appointed a jury to lay out the same being first qualify'd and that they observe the Law in that case made and Provided.

Upon the Petition of Wm Stephens setting forth that an apprentice of his Jno Rutter deserted his service and is detained by Jams Thickpen and the sd Thickpen appearing and shewing no Lawfull cause for detaining him, Ordered that the sd Apprentice be returned to his sd Master and continue with him according to his Indenture

Upon the hearing of sundry complaints of Wm Wilkison and Sarah his wife, & Jno Hassell.

It is ordered that the sd Jno Hassell give security that he shall not cohabitt. with the sd Sarah Wilkison

And now here at this day Jno Wattson in Custody of the Marshall to the barr here brought in his proper person came and being asked how of the Crime afsd he would acquitt himself, said, that he is not thereof Guilty & of this he putts himself upon the Country and Danll Richardson who on this behalf followeth for the King likewise

Therefore immediately came a Jury thereof, and the Jurors of that Jury by the Marshall Impanneled being called (yt is to say) Henry Bonner Lemll Taylor Tho: Spight, Jno Harlow Xphr Dudley Edwd Jackson ffras Pridgeon, Chas Hopten, Wm Thompson John Goodin, Orlando Champeon, Jno Beverly Appeard, who to speak the truth of and upon the premises chosen, tryed and sworn say upon their oaths

We of the Jury find the Deft not Guilty

Ordered that the sd Wattson be dismissed without day paying his fees

And now here at this day Danl Richardson Esqr Attorney Generall of our Lord the King being prsent here in Court in his proper person and being spoken to and asked if he against the said Mary Lee had any Information or presentment to make that the same might be laid before the Grand Jury answered, No. Whereupon by the Court here the said Mary Lee is dismist without day

To the Honble Christopher Gale Esqr Ch: Justice & to his assistants for holding the Genell: Court for this province

The Jurors for our sovereign Lord the King that now is presents Hugh Davis of the Precinct of Pequimons in the County of Albemarle in the Province afsd ffor that he the sd Hugh Davis on or about twentieth day of Novr 1715 did unlawfully mismark seven pigs belonging unto

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Captn John Pettiver Esqr Contrary to an act of assembly in that behalf made and provided.

DANl RICHARDSON Attorney Genll

And upon this at the self same Court before ye afsd Justices the afsd Hugh Davis in Custody of the Marshll to the Barr there brought in his proper person came and being asked how of the crime afs he would acquitt himself said that he is not thereof Guilty and of this he putts himself upon the country and Danl Richardson who in this behalf followeth for the King likewise

Therefore imediately came a jury thereof & the Jurors of that Jury by the Marshall Impanelled being called (that is to say) Henry Bonner Lemll Taylor, Tho. Spight, Jno Harlow Xphr Dudley Edwd Jackson ffras Pridgeon Chas Hopton, Wm Thompson, Jno Goodin, Orlando Champion, Richd Batchelor appear'd who to speak the truth of and upon the premises chosen tryed and sworn say upon their Oaths

We of the Jury find the Deft not Guilty

Ordered that the sd Davis be Dismissd without day paying his fees

To the Honble Christopher Gale Esqr Ch Justice & to his assistants for holding the Genll Court for this Province

The Jurors for our Sovereign Lord the king that now is presents Mr Thos Lee in the Precinct of Chowan in the County of Albemarle in the Province afsd for that he the sd Thos Lee on the tenth day of July 1716 at Chowan afsd maliciously a certain false Libell in writing to the Defaming of Capt Jno Worley Esqr one of the Justices of the afsd Generall Court did issue forth and Publish containing Inter alia these false and scandalous words following Thro' his ignorance and spight to me (meaning him the sd Thomas Lee) I am like to be a great sufferer in many particulars for he takes opportunity (meaning him the sd John Worley) of giving ill advice to my servants, and to give it to the prejudice of their master, and upon complaints made to him for debts above the Value of Twenty shillings he does not stick (meaning him the sd Jno Worley) to intermeddle without law on his side but grants orders for the same and severely reprimands the Constable and Comands him not to give Copies of the Warrants & Orders he Executes, he exacts more ffees than the law allows which is contrary to the Oath, and when Goods are taken in Execution and the money Tendered he orders the officers not to Deliver them, & yt Instead of doing his duty (meaning him the sd John) he broke the Peace whereby the sd John is Scandalisd &c And is against the Peace of our Lord the King that now is his Crown and Dignity.

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Wee the body of the Grand Jury for Albemarle County in the Province of North Carolina do present Charity Brown for that she hath a Bastard Child at the House of Mr Thoss Rogers in this Precinct of Chowan

Also in Currytuck Precinct one Edwd Boune leaving a wife in Virginia and keeps a whore in this Governmt by which it very plain appears that She hath severall Bastards by him the sd Boune.

Also one Susanah Brown living at Petty Shore hath two Bastards

Information of Capt Jno Worley also who keeps in his house the wife of Jno Hawkins she having severall children Contrary to Law.

JOSph SANDERSON

Adjourned to the Court in Course

C. GALE Ch: Just: