Common Law Orders - C - August 1843 - June 1848 - pgs. 227-478
Document Name
Common Law Orders - C - August 1843 - June 1848 - pgs. 227-478
Provenience
Roanoke County Archives
Abstract
The Common Law Orders vary significantly in the records they hold, but they largely include records of court cases including trials of enslaved people and indictments, records of payments for those involved in these court proceedings, the petitions of free people of color proving to the court their free status, as well as other eclectic information such as correspondences between Roanoke County officials and officials of other jurisdictions. Wills and settlements of estates were occasionally also included in the Common Law books. Free people of color had to petition to the Roanoke County court to be able to live in the jurisdiction, have proof of their free status, and had to be examined before the court and their physical appearance recorded into record, including height, skin color, age, and any noticeable scars or disabilities. Court cases ranged from criminal indictments to tax exemptions. In some cases, an enslaver would not be taxed for an enslaved person who was ill, elderly, or disabled, and the record for this exemption would be included. Some court indictments include the charging of white people for selling enslaved people liquor or gathering in groups with enslaved people, which was illegal. In other rare but notable cases, enslaved people were charged with crimes including theft, arson, and assault. Witnesses may have been called, including other enslaved people. In such court cases, the bulk of the court, including both prosecutors and those assigned as defense counsel for the enslaved people, were enslavers themselves. In some cases, the convicted enslaved people would be punished with whippings or death by lynching, while in a few others cases, in place of punishment the enslaved person would be “transported outside the limits of the United States,” presumably to Liberia.
In the Common Law book was a petition by William Langhorn to have the following people he enslaved exempted from the County Levy: Frank, Patience, Robin, Suky, Dick, and Peggy. They were deemed "superannuated and unfit for service."
In the Common Law book was a petition by William Langhorn to have the following people he enslaved exempted from the County Levy: Frank, Patience, Robin, Suky, Dick, and Peggy. They were deemed "superannuated and unfit for service."
As stated in the Common Law book, it was ordered that the Overseers of the Poor bind out Henry Saunders. His father, Hercules Cuff, asked that Stephen Henry appear in court to prove why Henry's indenture should not be cancelled. The indenture was later cancelled and quashed.
In the Common Law book was a petition by William Langhorn to have the following people he enslaved exempted from the County Levy: Frank, Patience, Robin, Suky, Dick, and Peggy. They were deemed "superannuated and unfit for service."
In the Common Law book was a petition by William Langhorn to have the following people he enslaved exempted from the County Levy: Frank, Patience, Robin, Suky, Dick, and Peggy. They were deemed "superannuated and unfit for service."
In the Common Law book was a petition by William Langhorn to have the following people he enslaved exempted from the County Levy: Frank, Patience, Robin, Suky, Dick, and Peggy. They were deemed "superannuated and unfit for service."
In the Common Law book, a motion was made by John Smith that Mitchell and Judy, who he enslaved, were unfit to active service and thus exempt from taxation.
There are two valuation prices listed with Judy. $50.00 was credited to Washington Smith in 1855 for "keeping the negro Judy." $80.00 was also credited to Washington Smith in 1856 for the "endorses in his note," meaning that he was given money to support Judy because she was older.
In the Common Law book was a charge by James C. Huff, a jailor, for committing and releasing John, who was "charged with horse stealing." Huff also presented a charge for having transported John to the Rockbridge County Jail.
In the Common Law book was a charge by James C. Huff, a jailor, for committing and releasing John, who was "charged with horse stealing." Huff also presented a charge for having transported John to the Rockbridge County Jail.
In the Common Law book, Jack Nelson was summoned to show cause, if any, of why the three children of his daughter, Nelly, should not be bound out by the Overseers of the Poor.
In the Common Law book was the motion of Hercules Cuff to have Stephen Henry appear in court to prove why his son, Henry's, indenture should not be cancelled. The indenture was later cancelled and quashed.
As stated in the Common Law book, it was ordered that the Overseers of the Poor bind out Henry Saunders. His father, Hercules Cuff, asked that Stephen Henry appear in court to prove why Henry's indenture should not be cancelled. The indenture was later cancelled and quashed.
In the Common Law book was a petition by William Langhorn to have the following people he enslaved exempted from the County Levy: Frank, Patience, Robin, Suky, Dick, and Peggy. They were deemed "superannuated and unfit for service."
In the Common Law book was a petition by William Langhorn to have the following people he enslaved exempted from the County Levy: Frank, Patience, Robin, Suky, Dick, and Peggy. They were deemed "superannuated and unfit for service."
As stated in the Common Law book, it was ordered that the Overseers of the Poor bind out Henry Saunders. His father, Hercules Cuff, asked that Stephen Henry appear in court to prove why Henry's indenture should not be cancelled. The indenture was later cancelled and quashed.