Posted with permission of the transcriber, Petra Michinson. Geo. The Times, Wednesday, Sep 06, 1797; pg. 4; Issue 3991; col B The following cause, of a singular nature, was tried at Carlisle Assizes before Mr. Justice ROOKE: Mr. Thomas JEFFERSON, of Bullman-hill, Plaintiff, and Mr. Thomas WATSON, heir at law of the late Mr. John WATSON, of Bogg, defendant. The action was brought to recover the damages sustained by the Plaintiff on account of a bond given 45 years ago by the said John WATSON and Robert JEFFERSON, to the Township of Temple Sowerby, in order to idemnify the said Township against the birth of a bastard child, of which the said J. WATSON was the reputed father; which child growing up, likewise brought forth a spurious progeny of eight or nine children, all of whom, as well as the mother, became chargeable on this bond. To this action the defendant pleaded no assets by descent. It appeared on the trial, that the defendant's father, John WATSON, though the principal in this bond, had, some little time before his death, with the fraudulent view of relieving his own family from so serious a charge, and of fixing the same upon the innocent posterity of JEFFERSON (his bondsman) actually conveyed all his estate and effects to his eldest son, and literally died insolvent. The Jury, notwithstanding, seeing the hardship of the case, gave a verdict for the Plaintiff, to the amount of his damages. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Petra