Northampton County Records in 17th Century.*

The first commissioners who held court in Sept., 1632, were Capt. Wm. Clayborne, Capt. Thos. Graves, Capt. Edmund Scarborough, Obedience Robins, Gent., John Haw, Gent., and Roger Sanders.

1633. Cotton minister complains about not having rec'd his Tythes of tobacco. Those in default had to pay double quantity

of corn & tobacco.

1634. Beaver skins first mentioned in payment of debts. Agnes Williams was to pay widow Hollens 12 hens for attending to her in confinement, but the widow sued her for 18 hens. Mr. Burdett & Daniel Cugley owned the first vessel mentioned. Mention of tying by neck & heels as punishment.

At this Court Edward Drew preferred a complaint against Joan Butler for calling his wife a common, carted*** John Holloway & Wm. Basley said they heard Wm. Butler say these words. It was ordered by the court that Joan Butler should be drawn at the "starne" of a boat or Canoe over King's Creek from the Cowpen to the other side, or else on the next Sabbath day in the time of Divine Service, between the first & second lesson, present herself before the minister and say after him as follows: "I, Joan Butler, do acknowledge to have called Maria Drew a *** and thereby I confess to have done her manifest wrong. Therefore I desire this Congregation & Maria Drew will forgive me, & that this Congregation will join with me and pray that God may forgive me." John Greene Chirurgeon mentioned. Ferry mentioned at King's Creek. 100 Lbs. of tobacco the fee for preaching a funeral sermon.

1636. The Ship Africa which Capt. Claybourne had in the Susquehana about 1630-1-buying beavers skins from Indians is mentioned. He is spoken of "of Kentish Isle." First certificates recorded of servants brought from England, there were twelve, three of them women-brought by Mr. Chas. Harmer. Good many servants brought about this date. Christopher Bryant

*Abstracts prepared by Mr. Barton H. Wise.

ordered to be whipped for milking good wife's Powell's Cow by stealth.

At a Court held Sept. 14th, 1635, Mr. Cotton, minister, presented an order from James City for the building of a Parsonage House upon the Glebe land, & because there has been no formal Vestry or Vestry men, It is ordered from this day that those underwritten be vestry men, viz: Wm. Cotton, the minister, Thomas Graves, Obedience Robins, John How, Wm. Stone, Wm. Burdett, Wm. Andrews, Alexander Mountney, Edward Drew, Wm. Bedriman, and Stephen Charlton. This was the first vestry, & it was ordered that the first meeting be held upon the feast of St. Michael the Arch Angel, being the 29th of September.

Sept. 29th, 1635, the new vestry met-nine present. It was ordered that a parsonage should be built on the Glebe lands by Christien tide next 40 ft long, & 18 feet wide & 9 ft by the wall platts, a chimney at each end of the house, & upon each side of the chimney a room for a study, the other for a buttery, also a partition near the middle of the house, with an entry, with two doors, the one into the kitchen, the other into the chamber— power given to the church wardens & etc. There was trade at this time with New England.

22nd May, 1636. Vestry meeting decided to fine a vestryman 20 shillings who failed to attend meeting. A Pulpit Cloth, Cushion & Carpet were ordered to be provided, also a bier. It was ordered that in consequnnce of the great distance some of the people live from the church, That all those who live below the Old Plantation should be buried on the land of Wm. Blous, where Wm. Benjamin lives & that they give notice to the Clerk, & get a way for the minister to get there, for neglect of which to be fined" & etc.

The first land probably granted on the sea side was in 1633 on Magoty Bay. In 1636 the first negro is mentioned who was brought by John Wilkins along with twenty five servants. A certificate shows Capt. Wm. Clayborne to have been at one time Sec'y of State at James City.

In a difficulty between Mr. Robins & a Mr. Crooks, Crooks said Robins had defamed him. Quoth Robins "I said nothing but what I can prove;"' quoth Crooks, "it is a lye & I will

prove myself an honest man;" then quoth Mr. Robins, "pray God it may prove so;" then quoth Mr. Crooks, "you keep a house not fit to give any man's entertainment, & that he would speak his pleasure in that place." The Court ordered Crooks to be tyed neck & heels for half an hour, & make acknowledgment. Mention is made of Lady Dale's cattle trespassing owing to the keeper being off playing ninepins.

1636. First order for an election. People met at the Sheriff's house Feb. 15th & chose John How & Wm. Roper burgesses. They were to have 1500 lbs. Tobacco. Cotton complains constantly about his tithes not being paid.

March 1st, 1637. John Ford has to build pair of stocks for shaking his fist at a constable. Thos. Hunt mentions his rapier. July 3rd, 1637. John How, Commander.

1637. One Kinsman testifies that he heard Thos. Powell say that if John Harvey should come in again he would ruin the country & planters; that it would undo a number of poor men, But the great ones would not be taxed so much for it, for they would up a * * men (translation imperfect) & about a year ago he heard Powell say, that Kings in former times went to see Wars, but this King was fitten for a Lady's lap.

1637. It was ordered by this Court that no freeman, no hired servant, nor any other person or persons, whatsoever, shall depart from the plantation of Accomack without the Assembly license from Capt. Jno. How, Commander of the said Plantation, & if any person or persons shall so depart the said Plantation without such license, they that shall transport themselves or be in any ways assistant in their transportation, shall undergo & suffer such penalty & punishment as shall thereupon be thought fitten & proper.

1638. Nathaniel Littleton was Commander.

Oct. 1638. Mr. Symmons first surveyor mentioned. Cotton rec'd 300 acres of land on Hungar's Creek for himself & 5 servants he had transported. Church wardens empowered to distrain for delinquent tythes & etc. One John for committing fornication had to build a ferry on Old Plantation-other men for offences were "set up by the heels in the stock." Mention of voyage of one Barnaby to N. England, also of Nicholas White to same place.

1640. First sale of a negro recorded-it was from Nathaniel Littleton to Garrett Andrews for 1200 lbs. tobacco. The name of Northampton is first mentioned in 1640. Marking of stock was regulated. First deed of land recorded this year-from Edmund Scarborough to Esq. Littleton.

In Sept., 1640, Order came from James City for all patents & bounds of land to be sent to James City. The King's rent of land was one shilling for 50 acres.

1640. First license granted to keep an ordinary-to Anthony Hoskins. Argal Yeardley orders the land his father had taken at Mattawaman Creek to be surveyed by Edmund Scarborough. Argal Yeardley was his father's, Sir George Yeardley's, eldest son & heir. Mentioned 13 negroes Nath'l Littleton had for himself and his father in law Southey. John Tully mentioned as transported by John Custis-& Petter Cropper servant to Mr. Taylor.

It is thought fit & ordered by this Court That Mr. Philip Taylor nor any other person or persons belonging to him, the said Taylor, shall disturb or molest the Indians, formerly seated at Mattawaman Creek, neither for any cause or reason, to clear or work upon the ground, whereon they are now seated, by reason Nath' Littleton, Argal Yeardly, Capt. Wm. Stone, Mr. Wm. Stone, & Capt. Wm. Roper have taken especial charge of the place, Therefore if the said Indians be displaced of the 2000 acres of Land, which Mr. Taylor doth lay claim to, they can in no wise permit, and furthermore that the plantation of Philip Taylor, cannot be impaired thereby, he being seated on one side of the Creek & they on the other, & not hitherto hath either built on that side the Indians are appointed to dwell on.

June 4th, 1640, the will of Dame Elizabeth Dale written. May 17th, 1641, first Bill of Exchange is recorded in this Court, & was drawn on of Amsterdam, Holland, in favor of

Wm. Douglas & Co. for 40 pounds sterling.

A proclamation from Francis Wyatt, Governor, is recorded, concerning the shipping of Tobacco, none allowed to be shipped without examination, much loss having occurred the year before from dishonest people mixing new & old. Shipmasters also had to give an account of the number of Hogsheads received. The order is dated at James City, Feb. 20th, 1640. Another

Proclamation dated June 25th, 1641, forbids the planting of more than 1000 Plants, by each planter. The cultivation of Tobacco hindering the planting and sowing of corn & other good works. Shippers were also bound to take no Tobacco except from the warehouses provided. An order was made that no person should leave his house or plantation without arms & ammunition. John Neale sold 500 acres of land on bay side to Edmund Scarborough for ten pounds sterling in 1642.

1643. An order came from Sir Wm. Berkeley appointing Capt. Francis Yardley commander of the troops in Accomack, given orders about training & etc.-his bounds were from the lower side of Hungar's to King's Creek & all along the Bayalso orders establishing the County Courts of Northampton County. It took the name 1642.

July 28th, 1642. First Court under new name. A certificate was granted unto Wm. Waters, son & heir of Lt. Edward Waters, in which it is stated that three men were killed at the massacre & four men & a maid were cast away in the Bay. Mr. Taylor was empowered to take a company of men, & ammunition & go to an Indian Town named or called Ginguhcloust, to do what they think best for the welfare of this county.

Jan. 30, 1642. George Ludlow conveys by a bill of sale a Horse to Argall Yardly-this is the first mention of a horse. The troubles in England first noticed in a letter from Wm. Webb, which was directed to Thos. Noke & Andrew White, of Md. This White writes that they were in great fear of Turmoils & Convulsions, and wishes he was in the Colony. The Court's excuse for breaking the seals of the letter is that from information they understood these letters did contain information. of the State of England, and also of this Colony, and whereas the times do seem perilous the seals were ordered to be broken, but finding no matter in them, they were ordered to be sent to the place to which they were directed.

Will of Wm. Burdett recorded 1643. He left 5 lbs. to the lower parish to purchase a communion cup & plate. Philip Taylor, sheriff, petitions for a jail to be built. Aug., 1643, trial of Parks for slandering Yardley & etc. At the request of Wm. Andrews it was ordered that no man should truck or trade with his negro man John.