Series 2- Paper Materials, 1773-1921

Series 2-Paper Materials, consists of 541 boxes of county court records, primarily case papers. Boxes 297-541 have not been microfilmed. This collection also includes an 1869 Reward Poster for Ed Sullivan (oversize folder 1) and 4 bank notes for the “Bank of the Union” (Box 171, env. 1851-1). For this series, the papers are sorted into envelopes, which are arranged chronologically. The envelopes are labeled with the year followed by the envelope number (ex. 1804-2 would be envelope 2 of the records for 1804). Envelopes may also indicate the level of court (i.e., County Court, Circuit Court, etc.).

Highlights of enslaved records include: case in which Samuel Robinson was illegally taken to Kentucky and sold while his suit for freedom was pending (1812-2); petition for a patrol to protect against “riotous and intoxicated assemblages of negroes” (undated-4); petition of Liston Crewitt for freedom “by virtue of a free father and a mother purchased by the father” (1847-67); John is convicted to hang for murder, reprieved by Governor Smith and ordered to be sold and transported “beyond the limits of the United States” (1848-2, see 1848-); Public sale of enslaved people (1854-).

Highlights concerning the Civil War include: oath of allegiance (1864-3); opinion on the case of an attorney barred from practicing due to Confederate service (1865-, and 1865-22); suit resulting from Jefferson Davis’s proclamation of Martial Law in 1862 (1864-14, see also a record pertaining to Apollus Ward, “free negro,” 1824-39); an estate case in which Mary A. Rock was “reported to be in sympathy with the Southern Rebellion or the so called Confederate States” (1864-11); newspaper clipping addressed to “Slave Holding Virginia” (get year/location, was 1844). Other miscellaneous military record highlights include: charged under War Measure of 1918 (1918-2); encouraging men to enlist for defense of the colony (1754-); land grants for military service according to Proclamation of 1763 (1779-, 1780-); land grant from Thomas Jefferson for military service (1779-1); letter concerning the “Affair at Oswego” (1814-); factors responsible for the Philippine War (1899-27); copy of grant to Colonel George Washington by warrant issued by Lord Dunmore (1784-).

Report on the conditions of the county jail (18--, see 1809-2); conditions of 10-year sentence of solitary confinement for passing one counterfeit $20 (1835-); petition concerning “three persons taken from jail and lynched” (1876-10, see case of Rufus Estep, 1876-10).

Early land highlights include deed from George Clendenen and wife to Joseph Ruffner Sr. for land that was the site of the first settlement of Charleston (1796-1); Report of assessable lands (1797-); land owned by George and Martha Washington (1812-, 1812-1).

Other highlights include the fraternal orders Abraham Encampment #20 I.O.O.F. in Brownstown (1870-1) and Grande Lodge Independent Order of Odd Fellows (1872-3); a speech on family history by Hon. Jones Detwiler read at the Yost Family Reunion (1898-24); a contract to explore for coal, payment to be made with salt (1822-); employment of John Tyre to work on road and provide deer meat and skins to other laborers (1797-); four bank notes from the Bank of the Union (1851-1); a deposition concerned with “war with Indians” (1782); Prescription of “Rx 1 oz. Laudanum- Pill, Garlick- Kill or cure” to a patient who died (1828-); appropriation for $1000 for control of Venereal Diseases (1920-2).