HATCHER website: http://hatcherfamilyassn.com HALL DNA project: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~nhatcher/hall/HDNAtest.htm "One of the tragedies of life is the murder of a beautiful theory by a brutal gang of facts" - La Rochefoucauld Folks, Nancy Butler has just sent me the following item of interest and perhaps a compelling reason for Henry and Dorothy to leave Henrico, at least for some years - thanks, Nancy! Nel ---------------------- Twice condemned: slaves and the criminal laws of Virginia, 1705-1865 By Philip, p 72 One of the 1701 sessions of the Henrico County Court dealt with Daniel, the property of Henry Lewis. The slave was convicted of raping Dorothy Hatcher, wife of Henry Hatcher, after breaking and entering the couple's house. Daniel was hanged and his head placed on a pole near the James River to Deter Negroes and other Slaves from Committing the Like Crymes and Offences --- a stark reminder of what awaited slaves accused of aggression. 12 12. Catterall, Judicial Cases, I, 79; MCGC, 520; Governor Nicholson to Board of Trade, December 1, 1701, in Colonial Office, Class 5, No. 1312, Pt. II, fols. 22-23, VCRP.