Munro-VA-1705

Westmoreland County Order Book, 1705 - 1721.  Court
Westmoreland County Court  29th of May 1706.

WILLIAM MUNRO by his Petition to this Court showing that the Churchwardens of Washington Prish in the said County bound a certaine mulatto Child to him according to Law and that the Child was now in the custody of the Reverend ST. JOHN SHROPSHIRE who refused to deliver the Child to him, the said MUNRO, and prayed the Court's Order for the sd SHROPSHIRE's delivery of the Child to him.

And said SHROPSHIRE by DANIEL McCARTY his Attorney humbly moved that in consideration of the mulatto Child was born in his House on the body of one LYDDIA HILLIARD, his Servant, and that hee had from the tyme of the birth of the Child which is now about the space of two whole years, maintained the Child and was ready to give Bond to save the Parish harmless and indemnified of the Child provided it were bound to him as in right hee conceives it to bee jsut and equitable and prayed the Child may be bound to him according to Law or otherwise that such Order might bee made therein as hee might bee recompensed by such methods as the Court should think reasonable he might hee might deserve for the maintenance of the Child dureing dureing the time the Child was so maintained.

Upon hearing what was alledged on each part, it is the oppinion of the Court that the Indenture by which the Child was bound to sd MUNRO was good and effectual in the Law and order the sd SHROPSHIRE do forthwith deliver the child to said MUNRO, &c.

   Then today found the following.

Apparently St.John Shropshire had appealed the decision of the Westmoreland Court to the General Court who apparently returned it with the instructions to look into the matter further, which the Court did by appointing Caleb Butler, Gent. and Joshua Davies to study the matter and make their recommendation, and if they could not agree to appoint a referee which they did, being Lewis Markham, Gent.  "not agreeing do make choice of Mr. Lewis Markham, Gent. to decide the same and doe therefore award that St. John Shropshire deliver to William Munro the mulatto without any recompense for the keeping and nurseing the same.    So all those who replied, that is the answer of the Court.

[spelling is something else - but there it is.]

Contributed by: Shirley  bobert@panacom.com