We Elams just can't stay out of trouble. Marilynn ---------- > From: Annette E Wetzel <awetzel@juno.com> > To: ELAM-ROOTS-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [ELAM-ROOTS-L] Mary Elam - Who Was She? > Date: Monday, January 18, 1999 5:47 AM > > In a recent Journal of the Chesterfield County Historical Society, I saw > this heading: > "A Sampling of Criminal Causes from the County Court of Chesterfield > 1752-1806." One of the cases listed was: "1767 - The King vs. Matthew > Turpin for assault and battery against Mary Elam." > > Looked it up in the VA State Archives and found not one, but two separate > cases involving Mary Elam. The record of court proceedings apparently no > longer exist, and there is nothing in the court order books. These "loose > papers" were found in the Chesterfield (VA) County Clerk's office and > microfilmed a few years ago. They consist mainly of warrents and bail > bonds written on small pieces of paper in beautiful Victorian script. > Hard to read, though! Anyone know what this case was about or which of > the several Mary Elams was involved? > > Case #1 > (Document 1) > Chesterfield County to wit > The Sworn for our lord the King on their oaths present That Matthew > Turpin on the ___ day of Aug't in the Year of our lord one Thousand Seven > hundred and Sixty five at the parish of Dale in the County aforesaid with > Force and Arms to wit Swords and Staves an assault upon Mary Elam then & > there being he the said Matthew Turpin did make and harm the said Mary > Elam did then & there beat & wound & wil'fy treat against the Peace of > our Said lord the King his Crown & Dignity. > > Mary Elam Sworn in Court. [Signed] B Watkins > > (Document 2) > George the third by the grace of god of great Britain, france and Ireland > King Defender of the faith, etc. To the Sherif of Chesterfield County: > greeting. We command you to Summon Mary Elam and Obedience Elam to appear > before our Justices of our Said County at the Court house on the first > friday in October next to testafie and the Truth to Say on behalf of > [long blank space] in a certain Matter of Controversy in our said Court > before our Said Justices Depending and Undetermined between Us, Plt'f and > Matthew Turpin, Def. and this they Shall in no wise omit under the > penelty of Law. Witness Ben. Watkins, Clark of our Said Court at the > Court houses the fourth Day of September in seventh year of our reign. > [Signed] B Watkins > > (Document 3) > George the Third, etc. To the Sherif of Chesterfield County: greeting. We > command you that you take Matthew Turpin & him keep & that you have his > Body before our Court of the said County on the first friday in April > next to answer us of those Things so hear of he stands indited and have > them there this Writ witnesseth B Watkins Clk of our said Court this > March 5 in the vii year of our Reign. [Signed] B Watkins > > (Document 4) > George the third, etc. To the Sherif of Chesterfield County, greeting: We > command you that you sumon Matthew Turpin to appear before our Court of > the said County on the first friday in December next to answer us of > those things whereof he stands indited and have then there this Writ. > Witnesseth B. Watkins, Clk of our said Court the Seventh day of Nov in > the vii year of our Reign. [Signed] B Watkins > > (On the reverse of Document 4) > The King vs. Turpin Indictment for T. A. B. > 1767 March ACap > July Cont > Aug't Notify > Sep Cont > Oct Judgm > We find the within a True Bill. Jacob Ashurst > Wit. Mary Elam & Ob. Newby 50.00 > > Case #2 > (Document 1) > George the Third, etc. To the Sherif of Chesterfield County, greeting. We > command you that you take Abram Pucket if he be found, etc. & him > [?infiily] keep so that you have his Body before our Court of the said > County at the Court House on the first friday in April next To answer us > & etc. concerning those Things whereof he stands indited and have then > there this Writ. Witness B Watkins Clk of our said Court the 5th day of > March in the vii year of our Reign. [Signed] B Watkins > (on the reverse) > Rex vs. Puckett > Executed John Cogbill > > (document 2) > George the third by the grace of god of Great Britain france and Ireland > King Defender of the faith, etc. To the Sherif of Chesterfield County > Greeting: We command you to Summon Mary Elam and Obedience Elam to appear > before our Justices of our said County at the Court House on the first > friday in October next to Testify and the truth to say on behalf of Us in > a certain matter of Controversy in our said Court before our said > Justices depending and undetermined between Us Plt's and Abraham Puckett, > Def. and this they shall in no wise omit under the penalty of 100 pounds. > Witnesseth Ben Watkins, Clerk of our said Court at the said Court House > the fourth day of Sept in the seventh year of our reign. [Signed] B. > Watkins > (on the reverse) > The King agn. Pucket. Cap. > 1767 March A.C. > July P.C. > Aug't Notify > Sep Cont > Oct'r Judge'm > Wit. Mary Elam 50 > Wit. Obedience Newbye 50 > Copy Left. Jn. Smith > > (document 3) > Chesterfield County to wit: > The Jurors for our lord the King upon Their Oaths present That Abram > Pucket on the ___ day of October 1766 at the Parish of Dale & County > aforsaid with force & arms to wit Swords & Staves an assault upon Mary > Elam then & there being he the said Abram Pucket did make & her the said > Mary Elam did then and there beat and wound & willy treat against the > Peace of our said Lord the King, etc. > (on the reverse) > Rex vs. Pucket > Mary Elam sworn in Court. B. Watkins > We the Jurors do find the within a True Bill. Jacob Ashurst > > > ___________________________________________________________________ > You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. > Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html > or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]