Friend of Friends Friday: Forty Dollars Reward (Jess)

Virginia Chronicle (Norfolk, VA)
21 September 1793

FORTY DOLLARS REWARD

IN consequence of a hue and cry from under the hand and seal of Alexd. Lithgow, esq. one o the Magistrates of P. William County, bearing date the 6th instant, wherein I have made oath that I suspect that on the morning of that day, a certain Daniel Tebbs did steal from me one Negro man named JESS, and convey'd him on board his boat the Freemason, then lying in the harbor of Newport on Potomack river near to where I live; and said Jess having been seen with the said Daniel the same day aboard of his boat -- The said Daniel was formerly an inhabitant of P. William county but for some years hath been generally employed as a river and bay pilot; the residence of the said Daniel Tebbs when on shore, as I understand, generally at Norfolk and Portsmouth, where I suspect he hath carried the said Negro, he having sailed down the river Potomack with him in his boat the same day he stole him; therefore, I hereby forewarn all & every person whomsoever from purchasing the said Negro from the said Daniel, and I hereby offer as a reward to any person, who will apprehend and secure said Negro Jess within any goal of any County of this state, so as I get him again Twenty Dollars -- and to who ever does apprehend him and deliver him to me in Dumfries, I will give the sum of FORTY DOLLARS.

WILLIAM TEBBS.

Dumfries, August 29, 1793.   32

Crime & Punishment: Thomas Daniell (1792)

Virginia Gazette and Agricultural Repository
14 June 1792

THOMAS DANIELL, personally appeared before me  Alexander Lithgow, Esq., Justice of the Peace for the County of Prince William, maketh oath on the holy Evangalist of Almighty God, that an escape from either the Prisons at Alexandria or Dumfries other than a termination of his life during the whole of his confinement, never was directly nor indirectly with him in contemplation, and that such an alternative never has or ever shall enter his mind or breast, that no consideration on Earth shall cause him to prove unfaithful as a Prisoner, either to his friends or adversaries. Given under my hand this 19th day of May, 1792.

ALEXANDER LITHGOW

After seven months experience of my fidelity as a prisoner, for more than ten times the amount, in value of the new writs, immediately, on a DISMISION, of the former ones, it was most unmercifully circulated, that I intended to break Jail, to frustrate so cruel a report, occassioned the above affidavit.

Agents in London have caused arrests to take place in New York, Lord Mansfield's opinion and practice was invariably not to demand any kind of bail on processes, or affidavits issuing from any foreign courts of judicature, for reasons of exemplary, justice and policy.

Black History Month: Bills of Sale

Prince William County – Deed Book 1, pg. 130

BE IT KNOWN unto all men with these presents that I Walter Warder of Prince William County state of Virginia for and in consideration of the sum of Twenty Five pounds good and lawful money of sd. State to me in hand paid by William Munday of sd. County & state at and before the ensealing and delivery of these presents wherewith I confess myself to be fully satisfyed, contented and paid, have bargained and sold and by these presents do fully clearly and absolutely bargain and sell unto the said William Munday a Negro girl named Sarah about fifteen years of age to have and to hold the said girl to the said William Munday his heirs Executors Administrators or assigns to his and their own propper uses and behoofs for ever. A I the said Walter Warder, my Heirs Executors Administrators and any of us hold the said girl to the said William Munday his heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns against all people shall and will warrant, acquit and for ever defend by these presents.

Walter Warder {seal}

Aug. the 26^th 1800

Delivered in the presence of

Philip {X his mark} Warder

Francis Warder

At a Court held for Prince William County the 6^th day of Oct. 1800 this bill of sale from Walter Warder to Wm. Munday was acknowledged by said Warder to be his act and Deed and it was therefore ordered to be recorded.

Teste, John Williams

 ~~~

Prince William County Deed Book 1, pg. 184

KNOW all men by these presents that I Alexander Lithgow for and in consideration of five shillings to me in hand paid by Mather Harrison have bargained & sold all my rights unto him to two negroes by name of Charles & Milly which were the possession of Mrs. Harrison widow of Mather given from under my hand & seal this 21^st Feby. 1801.

Alex Lithgow {seal}

At a Court held for Prince Wm County the 6^th day of April 1801. This Bill of Sale from Alex. Lithgow to Mather Harrison was acknowledged by the said Lithgow to be his act and Deed and ordered to be Recorded.

Test. John Williams C.Cler.

 ~~~

Prince William County Deed Book 1, pg. 188

KNOW ALL MEN by these presents that I John Tayloe of Mount Airy in the County of Richmond and State of Virginia have bargained and by these presents do bargain & sell for value received to Thomas Blackburn of the County of Prince William & state afd. [aforesaid] in Trust for the use of Jane Charlotte Blackburn & for no other use or purpose whatsoever a Mulatto girl named Nancy and I do warrant & defend the sd. Girl Nancy to said Blackburn in Trust as aforesaid against all persons whatever. Given under my hand and seal this 12^th day of February 1801.

John Tayloe {seal}

Witness

Thomas T. Page

Sam. Gordon

William Gordon

At a Court held for Prince William County the 6^th day of April 1801. This Deed of trust from John Tayloe to Thos. Blackburn was proved by the oath of Wm. Gordon & ordered to be Recorded.

Teste, John Williams, Cl. C.

Bill of Sale: Burroughs to Tackett and Grigsby

Researching slave ancestors can be a challenge, but every day more resources and period records are finding their way onto the Internet. One such resource is Afrigeneas, which has been online for ten years.

In addition to slave schedules and census records, county Deed and Will books can also provide a wealth of information.

Burroughs to Tackett and Grigsby Bill of Sale
Prince William County Deed Book 1, pg. 77

Know all men by these presents that I Benjamin Burroughs of the County of Prince William and State of Virginia for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds current money of Virginia to me in hand paid by William Tackett and James Grigsby of the County and Commonwealth aforesaid (the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge and thereof do acquit and discharge the said William Tackett and James Grigsby their heirs executors and administrators) have granted bargained & sold and by these presents do grant bargain and sell unto the said William Tackett & James Grigsby, their heirs Executors, administrators & assigns, one negro man named Abraham and one negroe woman named Mary to have & to hold the said two slaves Abraham & Mary to them the said William Tackett and James Grigsby their heirs executors admors & assigns, and I the said Benjamin Burroughs do for myself my heirs executors and admors warrant and for ever defend the aforesaid property to them the said William Tackett and James Grigsby their heirs executors & assigns against me my heirs executors & administrator, and against any and every other person or persons whatsoever. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 5th day of March 1800.

Benjamin Burroughs {seal}

Signed and sealed and delivered in presence of }
Hugh Davis, A. Lithgow Jr.
Allen Lowden, Thos. A. Smith

At a Court contd. And held for Prince Wm. County the 6th day of May 1800. This bill of sale from Ben. Burroughs to Wm. Tackett and Jas. Grigsby was proved by the oath of Alex. Lithgow Junr. And Thos. A. Smith and ordered to be recorded.

Teste. John Williams