From: Walczyk, Gail M., Northampton County VA Court Orders 1748-1751, (Coram NY: Peter's Row). p 58.
At a Court held for Northampton County on Tuesday the 13th Day of February 1749 Present William Burton, Littleton Eyre Edward Robins & Kendall Harmanson Gent.
Ordered that the Sheriff do take Branson Dolby, Nicholas Dolby, Isaac Colby, Bartholomew Scott, Isaac Roberts, Edward Foreman, Solomon Batson, Thomas Batson, Major Brickhouse & Daniel Sturgis and the in the safe Custody keep until they enter into Bond with good & sufficient Security paiable to our sovereign Lord King George the second his Heirs and Successors in the Penalty of every of them forty Pounds Current Money with Condition that they and every of them do appear at the next Court and Abide by the Award of the said Court of and concerning their Misbehaviour at Hungars Church and that they or either of them do not depart without leave of the same Court, and in th meantime to be of good Behaviour.
Walczyk, Gail M., Northampton County VA Court Orders 1748-1751, (Coram, NY: Peter's Row). p 64.
At a court held for Northampton County by Adjournment on Wednesday the 14th Day of March 1749 Present
Thomas Marshall, Matthew Harmanson, Littleton Eyre & John Wilkins Gent.
Luke Batson who stands bound by Recognizance to appear him this Day to answer what shall be Objected against him by the Court for his Misbehaviour at Hungars Church appeared accordingly and it appearing to the Court that the said Luke is very sorry for his said offence, It is Ordered that he be discharged from his Recognizance on his promise of good behaviour for the future and that he pays the Costs.
Branson Dolby, Daniel Sturgis, Isaac Dolby, Thomas Batson & Isaac Roberts who stands bound by Recognizance to appear here this Day to answer what shall be objected against them by the Court for their Misbehaviour at Hungars Church appeared accordingly at it appearing to the Court that they have misbehaved themselves at the said Church by going into a Pew appointed for Hancock Custis Infant, It is therefore Ordered that they be continued bound to their good behaviour according to their Recognizance til the next Court.
Nicholas Dolby who stands bound by Recognizance to appear here this Day to answer what shall be objected against him by the Court for his Misbehaviour at Hungars Chruch appeared accordingly, and it appearing to the Court that the said Nicholas on Sunday the Twenty fourth Day of December last past came to the said Church in a Riotus & Disorderly manner and went into a Pew which was allotted to John Tompkins, Custis Kendall, Hancock Custis, Littleton Kendall & Sorrowful Margaret Cable & their families when he was directed by the Churchwardens to go into the Gallery & he also carried to the said church a large Club & being asked by Littleton Eyre Gent. Who directed him where to set, what his intent was by carrying such a Club & the said Nicholas answered that it was to drive his dull Horse. It is therefore Ordered that he be continued bound to his good Behavour according to his Recognizance til the next Court.
Edward Foreman who stands bound by Recognizance to appear him this Day to answer what shall be Objected against him by the Court for his Misbehaviour at Hungars Church appeared accordingly and it appearing to the Court that the said Edward is very sorry for his said offence, It is Ordered that he be discharged from his Recognizance on his promise of good behaviour for the future and that he pays the Costs.
Bartholomew Scott who stands bound by Recognizance to appear here this Day to answer what shall be objected against them by the Court for their Misbehaviour at Hungars Church appeared accordingly at it appearing to the Court that they have misbehaved themselves at the said Church by going into a Pew allotted to Joachim Michael Gent. One of the Churchwardens of Hungars Parish in which Pew there were Placed the said Joachim Micheal & his Family, Adah Mapp, Thomas Marshall & Tilney Michael & their Families, It is therefore Ordered that they be continued bound to his good behaviour according to their Recognizance til the next Court.
Major Brickhouse who stands bound by recognizance to appear here this day to answer what shall be objected against him by the Court for his Misbehaviour at Hungars Church, appeared accordingly, and it appearing to the Court that the said Major on Sunday the twenty fourth Day of December last past came into the Church in a Disorderly manner, and on his coming into the Church Littleton Eyre Gent. directed him to his Seat in a Pew where there were but five Persons, and the said Littleton also read to him the Order of Vestry for placing the People in the said Pew. But the said Major refused to go to his proper seat, where he was placed and went into the Pew appointed for the Vestry. It is therefore Ordered that he be continued bound to his good Behaviour according to his Recognizance til the next Court.
On 24 February 1748 the court ordered that Branson Dolby, Nicholas Dolby, Isaac Colby, Bartholomew Scott, Isaac Roberts, Edward Foreman, Solomon Batson, Thomas Batson, Major Brickhouse & Daniel Sturgis by the Sheriff until they post bond in the amount of forty Pounds of Current Money with the conditions that they all appear at the next court; abide by the Award of the court; That they do not leave without giving the court notice and that they be on their good behavor.
The Case proceeds in court and on 14 March 1749/50 Luke Batson and Edward Foreman answered the charges saying that they were very sorry. He is then ordered to pay the court costs and is dismissed on his good behavor.
Branson Dolby, Daniel Sturgis, Isaac Dolby, Thomas Batson & Isaac Roberts were called to answer the same charges and found guilty of misbehaving at Hungars Church by seating thenselves in the Pew allotted to Hancock Custis, Infant, They are ordered to appear again at the next court and released on their good behavior.
Next Nicholas Dolby was called and what happened is revealed. It seems that on the 24th of Decmeber 1749 [Christmas Eve] the ten men [Branson Dolby, Nicholas Dolby, Isaac Colby, Bartholomew Scott, Isaac Roberts, Edward Foreman, Solomon Batson, Thomas Batson, Major Brickhouse & Daniel Sturgis] went into Hungars Church and proceeded to sit in pews that were not assigned to them instead of sitting in the Gallary. Nicholas Dolby who had carried a club into Church, was asked what the Club was for and Nicholas answered that "it was to drive his dull Horse." Major Brickhouse, who was also charged was even read the Vestry Order with the seating araignments in Church. -Gail Walczyk
Note: there is no further court record of their appearances.
© Copyright 2005-2009 by Gail M. Walczyk