Tom, Col. James Wood Sr., first clerk of the Frederick County (VA) Court died in 1759. His Fee Book is not yet in public hands. Apparently, Wood took it home to work on, and he died unexpectedly. My theory is that the book remained in private hands, but we don't yet know who has possession of the original book. A copy of an old xeroxed set of pages of the book has surfaced. There are proprietary questions and issues to resolve before it can be published. Not being a lawyer, I don't know who has a right to claim the manuscript--whether the County Court Clerk, the Librarian Archivist, the local museum curator, or a private individual. I cannot speak for any of these people. Suffice it to say that announcements will be made when the time has come. The James Wood (Jr.) that you referenced was a son of Col James Wood Sr.. James Jr. later became Governor of Virginia (1790s). Fees were collected in Virginia only during the colonial period, and were later replaced by various kinds of taxes. I have access to the years 1744 and 1753, but see no Bishops named for those years. Sorry that I can't be of more assistance. Wilmer L. Kerns At 07:05 PM 6/25/97 -0400, you wrote: > Mention was made recently of James Wood's fee book. Is this book available >for research, on microfilm or in an archives? > I have a John Bishop of Frederick co., who in 1776 appointed James Wood >power of attorney to sell French & Indian bounty land to Van Swearingen of >Berkeley co. > I'm wondering if the fee book would have any more details on this >transaction. Or whether there is any more mention of the Bishop surname. > Thanks, Tom Bishop > >