USA > West Virginia > Harrison County > History of Harrison County, West Virginia : from the early days of Northwestern Virginia to the present > Part 24
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6-17-16 the balance due to him .. 6-17-6 To Benj. Wilson, Clerk of our Court for extra services from last November to this day 7-10-0 To said Clerk for two called Courts 400 2-10-0 To Said Clerk attendance on Court of public claims 1-00-0 To James Prather, 1 old wolf 0-12-6
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To Wm. Johnson, 1 old wolf 0-12-6
To James Arnold, 1 old wolf, and one young wolf 0-18-9 To John Hamilton, 1 old wolf 0-12-6 To Barnes Allen, 2 old wolves 1-5-0 To Thomas Nutter, 1 old wolf 0-12-6
To Daniel Davisson, 1 old wolf, assigned to David Prunty .. 0-12-6 To Benj. Wilson for purchasing book for County's use 3-00-0 To Daniel Davisson for serving on highway with his team .. 0-6-0 To Catherine Counterman 7-10-0 To David Bradford extra services County Court atty 17-10-0
To John P. Duval, assignee Jesse York, 1 young wolf 0-6-3
Ordered that the sum of £129. 12s. 0d. be levied on 432 tithables and that the present Sheriff collect the same and account with Court according to law, at the time limited by law.
£ S. D.
By 10 Shillings on Joel Lowther, he being security for Robinson for swearing 0-10-0 By 5 shillings on Joel Lowther, he being security for Kinch- eloe for getting drunk, 0-5-0 February 21, 1786.
Ordered that the building of a Court House to be in the town of Clarksburg and a bridge across Elk be exposed to publick sale, to the lowest bidder on the 2nd. Court day in March next, at which time ye draught of the same will be made known, and the Clerk is required to publickly notify the same.
Isaac Edwards a Baptist Minister was qualified to perform the rites of matrimony.
March 23, 1786.
John McCally and Captain Edward Jackson, Commissioners, ap- pointed to settle with Greenbrier County the expenses of running the dividing line between Harrison and Greenbrier at five shillings per day. NOTE :- The settlement of this account led to several meetings between representatives of the two Counties before it was satisfactorily arranged. Hezekiah Davisson was awarded the contract to build the Court House for ninety pounds. eGorge Jackson was accepted as his security for 180.
NOTE :- The pound in use was the Virginia pound, which amounted in the money of the present day to $3.331/3, which made the contract price for building the Court House amount to $300.00.
April 19, 1786.
John Prunty and John Wilson appointed Commissioners to call on the court of Monongalia County, to immediately comply with the act for dividing the County of Monongalia as respects the refunding the money for their publick buildings and make their report with all possible speed.
NOTE :- The act creating Harrison from Monongalia County provided that the money Harrison had paid towards building the Court House and other public buildings in Monongalia should be refunded to Harrison. This led to a law suit and long vexatious legal proceedings before a settle- ment was reached.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
May 18, 1786.
George Jackson has leave to keep a ferry on his own land across Elk, four pence for man and horse, and two pence for one man or one horse.
June 2, 1786.
Ralph Marion appointed overseer of the highway from Ann Davisson's Grave yard, to Robert Plummer's, and all the tithables on Simpson's Creek above Ann Davisson's Run including Thompson's settlement, keep the road in repair.
September 19, 1786.
On motion of Benj. Wilson, a Jury of twelve men were directed to be summoned to condemn a site for a mill.
March 21, 1787.
Wm. Blair came into Court and proved to their satisfaction that he is an object, as appeared by a wound received in the year 1775 under the Command of Col. Charles Lewis, in Captain Jno. Lewis' Company ; and it appears to the Court that an additional allowance of 2s. 10d. be added to the present £10. allowed.
March 21, 1787.
Christopher Carpenter came into Court and proved to the satisfaction of the Court that he is entitled to a military land warrant for services performed in the late war under the command of Uriah Springer in Col. Jno. Gibson's regiment and that he never had it in his power to obtain a discharge as he was absent on furlough; and the same is ordered to be certified.
March 22, 1787.
Hezekiah Davisson & others, commissioners for opening a wagon road from the State road to the mouth of the Little Kanawha gave bond for £4000, agreeable to a law passed October 1786.
March 29, 1787.
Richard Conkling was bound over to answer the next Grand Jury, charged with having feloniously bitten off James Taff's ear.
April 17, 1787.
The sheriff was ordered to collect three shillings off of each tithable, and not to distress until the last day of the present month. This amounted to fifty cents a head.
Commissioners Report.
We the Commissioners appointed by the Courts of Greenbrier and Harrison Counties to settle and adjust the expense of running the dividing line between the said Counties, do find the proportion of the County of Greenbrier to be one hundred and twenty-three pounds, fourteen shillings and two pence and the proportion of the County of Harrison to be sixty-six pounds and ten pence and that the said Commissioners do agree that the sum of twelve pounds eight shillings and three pence shall be paid on the first Tuesday in December next to any person appointed receiver by the
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Court of Harrison County at the house of Mr. William Poage and the sum of fifty-one pounds one shilling and nine pence to be paid to such persons as have obtained receipts for services performed or for provisions found for the purpose of extending said line, and being liens on the County of Greenbrier and Augusta on the said first Tuesday in December and the sum of sixty pounds, four shillings & two pence to be paid also to any re- ceiver appointed by the Court of Harrison on the first Tuesday in Sep- tember 1788, at the house of the said William Poage it being the full amount of the sum due from the County of Greenbrier which agreement we do hereby ratify and confirm this 3rd. day of April, 1787.
WILM. POAGE, JOHN WILSON, EDWARD JACKSON.
April 18, 1787.
Ordered that the County of Harrison after Randolph is taken off, be laid off into three districts to enable the Commissioners of the land tax to proceed to execute the law be as followeth : to-wit: Beginning at the mouth of Brown's Creek on the East side of the West Fork, thence up said creek to the head thereof, and along the dividing ridge between Lost Creek and Elk Creek to the Randolph County line, and thence along said line and the Greenbrier County line to the Ohio River, thence up said river to the Ohio County line, thence along the last mentioned line to the head of Ten Mile Creek, thence down along the dividing line between said creek and the waters of the West Fork River to the head of Davisson's Run, thence down said run to its junction with the West Fork River, thence up said river to opposite the mouth of Browns Creek, thence crossing the West Fork River to the beginning, shall be the first and one District.
The second district shall be on the west side and bounded by the first district and down the Ohio County line to the Monongalia County line and thence along said line to the West Fork river; thence up said river to the mouth of Simpsons Creek; thence up the largest fork of said creek to the head thereof, and crossing the dividing ridge to the head of Shooks Run; thence down the said run to the County line; thence up said line to to the first district, which shall be one and the second district. And the residue of the County of Harrison below the second district shall be one and the third district and John McCalley is appointed Commissioner to serve in first district, Nicholas Carpenter in the second district and John Powers in the third district, Nicholas Carpenter in the second district and John Powers in the third District and the same is ordered accordingly.
June Term, 1787.
John Radcliff appointed overseer of the highway from the four mile tree to the six mile tree on the road that leads from Clarksburg to Angelius ford, and that the tithables from Hezekiah Davisson's place on Elk Creek and upwards including the waters of Elk do aid the surveyor in making a bridle road.
NOTE :- It appears that at the June Court 1787 appraisers were ap- pointed for the estate of Levi Douglass and that at the September Court of the same year Mrs. Ann Burrowes was appointed guardian for Thomas Cottrill orphan of Andrew Cottrill, deceased.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
This indicates that both of these men died in that year, which is a matter of interest as they were both among the original pioneer settlers of Harrison County, as is related elsewhere, and had borne the hardships of frontier life for sixteen years.
August 23, 1787.
George Jackson qualified in open Court as Lieutenant Colonel of Militia.
September 18, 1787.
Daniel Davisson was authorized to keep an ordinary in Clarks- burg.
NOTE. This means a tavern license and his house stood on the North West corner of Second and Main Streets.
November 19, 1787.
On motion made the Court is of opinion that the corner pillars where- on the Court House is to be built agreeable to the plan of the Court House as formerly laid off, are not sufficient.
Therefore the Court is of opinion that the pillars under each corner shall reach from each corner 5 feet each way, and the thickness thereof two feet.
The said Court and Thos. Barkley who undertook to build said Court House, agree each, to appoint a man who are to agree upon the sum said Barkley shall be paid for said pillars above the sum the said pillars would have come to, admitting they had been built agreeable to the former plan.
November 20, 1787.
Nicholas Carpenter qualified as sheriff.
December 18, 1787.
James Anderson late sheriff in his settlement is charged with £130. 19s.
January 27, 1788.
A female prisoner who is charged with having feloniously taken goods from Joseph Wilkinson to the amount of £1. Os. 0d. sterling.
The Court on hearing the testimony is of opinion that the defendant is guilty of the fact wherewith she was charged and that she be imme- diately tied to the publick whipping post and there to receive ten lashes on her bare back, well laid on, & the same is ordered accordingly.
February 16, 1788.
William Haymond qualified as commissioner of the road from the State Road to or near the mouth of the Little Kanawha.
March 20, 1788.
James Anderson is granted license to retail goods in this County as the law directs.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
Apirl 23, 1788.
John Denham minister gave bond for £500 to celebrate the rites of matrimony.
April 23, 1788.
George Jackson, Benjamin Wilson, Nicholas Carpenter and John Powers took the oath as trustees for the Randolph Academy.
April Term, 1788.
Benjamin Robinson qualified as Captain of Militia and J. Bartlett and John Thomas as Ensigns.
April 23, 1788.
The Sheriff was ordered to collect £255. 3s. 6d. off of 346 tithables.
August 18, 1788.
William McCleery and Francis Taliaferro Brooke qualified as attor- neys.
August 19, 1788.
Ordered that the militia now in actual service in this County be not exempted from County levy.
William McCleery is by Court accepted as State's attorney for this County for one year for this Court, inclusive, and is allowed seven- teen pounds for the same.
September 16, 1788.
The prisoner having confessed to having stolen an axe, a hat, & a pair of stockings.
Ordered that the Sheriff immediately tie the prisoner to the public whipping post and give him thirty-nine lashes well laid on & deliver him to David Hughes, Constable, who shall convey him to Isaac Anderson, said Anderson to convey him to the next constable who is to convey him instantly out of the county, or the said Anderson to convey him out of the county himself.
November 19, 1788.
William Robinson qualified as Sheriff.
May 18, 1789.
Ordered that Isaac Williams, Cornelius Miller, James Neal and Chris- topher Carpenter do view a way for a bridle road opposite the mouth of the Muskingum to the State road near Bull Creek.
July 20, 1789.
Ordered that Christopher Carpenter be surveyor of the highway from opposite the mouth of Muskingum River to the State road near to the 10 mile tree on said State road, and that the tithables below the mouth of Middle Island Creek down the Ohio to the County line, including the
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
tithables 10 miles South of said Ohio River, aid in opening and keeping the road in repair.
October 17, 1789.
Ordered that Wm. Haymond and Benj. Wilson, do view the Court House of this County, if agreeable to the plan delivered to Thomas Bart- lett, the undertaker. and to make a settlement of the additions and deduc- tions wherein said Bartlett has differed in the plan, and the various alter- ations to be valued in money and report the same to next Court.
November Court, 1789.
Wm. Haymond and Benj. Wilson the Commissioners appointed to view the Court House were authorized to call in a third party provided they would disagree.
December 22, 1789.
Wm. Haymond, Benj. Wilson & David Hughes who were appointed by the Court to value the building of the Court House, report that the sum of £18 1s. Od. be reduced out of the sum of £184 10s. 0d. which makes the sum to be allowed to Thos. Bartlett, the undertaker, for building the Court House to £166 9s. 0d. And the Court is of the opinion that the Court House shall be received from Thomas Bartlett which is done accord- ingly and the bond cancelled.
NOTE :- The name Bartlett was often spelled "Barkley" in the early records. This was also the case with other names of the early settlers. The Clerks and other officials were very careless in this respect and spelled the same name in different ways. This led to confusion and in one in- stance to a vexatious law suit.
November 5, 1789.
John Powers presented a commission from Governor Randolph as sheriff but reported that he was not able to procure security, thereupon Thomas Cheney, George Jackson and John McCally were recommended to the Governor for the appointment.
November Term, 1789.
Viewers were appointed to make a way for a wagon road from the ford of Elk Creek in Clarksburg, down the East side of the said creek into the road that leads to William Barkley's, down the West Fork river and report to next Court.
June Court, 1790.
Thomas Cheney presented a commission as sheriff but made oath that he could not procure security, whereupon the Court recommended John McCalley, Benjamin Robinson and William Haymond as proper persons to fill the office of Sheriff.
September Court, 1790.
Joseph Chevuront, a minister of the Methodist Church qualified to administer the rites of matrimony.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
November 15, 1790.
Maxwell Armstrong qualified as Attorney, and appointed Common- wealths Deputy Attorney.
January 17, 1791.
John McCalley qualified as Sheriff.
September 20, 1790.
Ordered that Michael Thomas, Jeremiah Sergeant, James Neal and Moses Hewitt or any three of them, they being first sworn, do view and mark a way for a road from the State road, by Neals station on the Little "Kenaway" and from there to the Harrison and "Kenaway" County lines and report the conveniences and inconveniences to Court.
NOTE :- This order was entered in response to the following petition : "To The worshipful Court of Harrison County :
The petition of the inhabitants of Neal's Station on the Little "Kenaway" humbly showeth, that your petitioners as well as the settlers on the West of the Ohio, and travellers from "Caintucky" labor under great difficulty for want of a road from said station into the State road, as also Southward to the "Kenaway" County line, as many of the travel- lers from "Caintucky" leave their canoes at Belveal and come across by land to Clarksburg, and are often bewildered in the woods or obliged to hire a pilot to bring them through.
Your petitioners therefore humbly pray your worships to grant them an order for laying off and opening a road into the above mentioned State road that leads to Clarksburg, and your petitioners as in duty bound shall pray &c.
JAMES NEAL, JEREMIAH SERGEANT, MICHAEL THOMAS, JOHN HEWITT, MOSES HEWITT, WM. TIPPETT, DANIEL POWELL, JOHN WRIGHT, JOSIAH LITTEL, HENRY MAY."
January Term, 1792.
Thomas Cooly, Presbyterian Minister, qualified to celebrate the rites of matrimony.
John Sleeth qualified as Sheriff.
March Term, 1793.
William Lowther recommended to the Governor for a Commission as Lieutenant Colonel, Commandant, and William Robinson Major.
April Term, 1793.
Monongalia County is asked to open a road from Wickwires ferry on the Valley River in this County to Ramsey's ferry on Cheat River.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
July Term, 1794.
Benjamin Robinson qualified as Sheriff.
October Term, 1794.
Viewers appointed at the instance of Joshua Gibson and William Barkley to view the land of David Carpenter on the West Side of the West Fork River to erect a dam at the falls below the mouth of Elk.
August Term, 1794.
The Sheriff ordered to collect three shillings six pence off of each of the 686 tithables in the County.
October Term, 1794.
John Patterson, Minister of the Seventh Day Baptist Church author- ized to celebrate the rites of matrimony.
August Term, 1793.
The tithables reported as 607 and the levy to be 2s. 6d.
September Court, 1793.
Ordered that John Haymond and John McCally, Delegates be au- thorized to sell all the Wolf head certificates belonging to this County for not less than 13S. 6D. in the pound.
October Court, 1793.
Upon application of Joshua Gibson and William Barkley a Jury is directed to meet at the falls of the West Fork, below the mouth of Elk. and view the land on the West Side of the River, the property of David Carpenter for their abutments of their dam.
NOTE :- This is the location where afterwards was established the Point Grist Mill and saw mill which served the public for many years.
March 20, 1794.
In order to encourage the erecting of a bridge across Elk Creek the Court agrees that they will aid a subscription now in the hands of Wm. Martin, provided they like the terms on which the bridge is to be built, the manner it is done &c. and if approved by the Court they will make up the balance by a County levy.
NOTE :- The proposed bridge referred to above is the Main Street bridge over Elk Creek in Clarksburg, and was the first one built in the County.
A great deal of the time of the Court was taken up in appointing viewers and superintendents of roads and the number of roads increased rapidly as the County became settled.
Many of the localities named in connection with roads are not recog- nizable as they are now in other Counties.
July 21, 1794.
Benjamin Robinson gave bond and qualified as sheriff.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
August Court, 1794.
The number of tithables reported as 686, each assessed with 3S. 6D.
Randolph County was allowed 10 due for the public buildings of Har- rison County.
NOTE :- The inhabitants of Randolph had been taxed to assist in building the Court House and Jail of Harrison before Randolph was created and when the new County was taken from Harrison her propor- tion of this levy was refunded as above. October Court, 1794.
Ordered that the claims for Wolf certificates due from the publick to this County amounting to £168 3s. 4d. together with a claim of £27 10s. 0d. be placed in the hands of George Jackson and John Haymond, Delegates to be sold for not less than ten shillings on the pound, and to account on their return from the assembly.
Jackson and Haymond afterwards reported that these certificates were sold for £161 8s. 5d.
May Term, 1795.
Commissioners appointed to contract for bridge over Elk Creek in Clarksburg to be sixteen feet wide with hand rails.
August Term, 1795.
The County was laid off into two land assessment districts as follows :
That all the land on the East side of the ridge that divides the waters of the Monongahela River from the waters that run West to the Ohio River be one district, and the lands West of said dividing ridge to the West Bank of the Ohio River be the other District.
March Term, 1796.
Henry Smith authorized to keep an Ordinary at the mouth of the Little Kanawha.
May Court, 1795.
George Jackson, Wm. Robinson and William Haymond authorized to contract with some one to build a bridge over Elk Creek in Clarksburg on the Main Street to be 16 feet wide.
August Court, 1795.
John Prunty presented a commission from the Governor as Sheriff, gave bond for $30,000 and took the oath of office.
NOTE :- About this time the change of the monetary system begins from Pounds, shilling and pence to Dollars and cents, though it is not made permanent for some time. Occasionally both systems are used.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
February Court, 1796.
Ordered that the sum of 1 6 be assessed against each tithable in this County, numbering 802, which will amount to £60 3s. 0d.
May Court, 1796. Special Session.
Isaac Bockover stands charged for feloniously assaulting &c. John Stanley.
The prisoner plead guilty. A majority of the Court were of the opin- ion that he should be tried by the District Court. Wm. Robinson, a mem- ber of the Court dissented and requested his dissent to be put on record, and in the meantime the prisoner escaped.
The Sheriff was ordered to raise "Hue and Cry" and command as- sistance to take him, and offer a reward of fifty dollars for his capture.
NOTE :- This incident shows how primitive the times were. When a prisoner reached the tall timber he was pretty safe from capture, but in these days of telephone, telegraph, steam and trolly cars an escape is hardly possible.
The following letter explains itself, the writer being a member of the last Congress of Washington's last term as President.
PHILADELPHIA, 27th. May, 1796.
GENTLEMEN :--
Permit me to take the liberty to enclose for the use of the citizens of Harrison County to you a copy of the land law for the sale of the lands N. West of the River Ohio. I have got 2 copys printed for each County in our District, and I have sent to each Court and one to the Sheriff. The Military land bill is now before the Senate that I expect to bring copy home with me &c. when I return.
We talk to rise on Wednesday next. The House of Representatives sent up one resolution to the Senate for to adjourn on Wednesday last, this they disagreed to, but say they will consent to the day above. As I hope to see you all shortly I shall omit any further details, only say that the Senate & us is all but at war about the South Western Territory, we wish them to be an independent State & the Senate will not agree &c. Ac- cept of my respects and believe me,
Your Most Obedient Serv't, GEO. JACKSON.
THE WORSHIPFUL COURT OF HARRISON COUNTY.
June Court, 1796.
Ordered that the prison bounds be as follows: To wit: Beginning at Elk Creek one pole above George Jackson's Mill dam, thence to the tan yard Run where it runs through the fence; thence up said run and the meanders thereof, to the West side of the cross street, that runs above Wil- liam Martin or David Hewes house; thence along the said street or alley to a little hollow in said Hewe's lot, thence down the spring run to Elk Creek, thence up the said creek to the place of beginning.
NOTE :- The law at this time authorized imprisonment for debt, but if the debtor could give a prison bound bond instead of being confined in
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY
jail, he was permitted the liberty of a certain boundary, and in case that boundary included his house he was permitted to stay at home but could not go beyond the prison bounds.
The above bounds were about as follows :
Beginning near the Mill and running up the little stream that puts into Elk Creek just below it to the line of Third Street; thence along this street to near Traders Alley; thence Easterly down the little run to the Creek, thence up it to the beginning.
This at that time included all the town lying on the West side of the creek.
June Term, 1796.
Commissioners George Jackson, Benj. Wilson and William Haymond reported the specifications and plan for a new jail.
Dimensions 35x20 feet to be built of stone and the walls 21/2 feet thick.
The length or front of building to be on the line of Main Street.
The Westerly end to be on the line of the cross street. The jail was located on the South East corner of Second and Pike Streets where the Presbyterian Church now stands, and across Main street from the Court House.
June Court, 1796.
The Sheriff was ordered to expose for sale the building of the stone jail.
July Court, 1796.
The Sheriff was ordered to collect one dollar per head from 880 tith- ables. This is the first time the levy was laid in dollars instead of the Virginia pound.
September 19, 1796.
John Prunty, Sheriff of this County, came into Court, and for con- tempt offered to the Court, ordered that the said John Prunty be confined in the stocks for the space of five minutes, and or'd that John McCul- lough call upon assistance to enable him to execute this order.
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