To the OLD FREDERICK COUNTY, VA members of the list: The Frederick County Fee Book signed by the Sheriff, Meredith Helm, dated Jan 17, 1754---- James Wood, Clk of Court provided a list of 502 heads of families, along with fee assessments totaling 66,451 pounds of tobacco. This list is very important to researchers, because it gives a type of "census of families" just before the mass emigration from Frederick County brought about by the French and Indian War. Although these are technically public records, they have been out of the public domain, and "lost" in time for 240 years. I, as an individual, have no plans to publish these rare and valuable records, because they do not belong to me. But, it is my opinion that these records will be published sooner or later by the appropriate and cognizant society, library, agency, or individual, whenever that is determined. This will not occur overnight, but these records are too valuable to remain in seclusion. I will keep you posted with whatever information is available to me. I am aware of the tremendous interest by family and local historians. In the meantime, a few selected data bits are presented below. Female Heads of Households in 1753-1754, followed by assessment fee (tobacco): Mary Alford 30 pounds Elizabeth Buckly 73 pounds Frances Bannister 55 pounds Elizabeth Clemit 40 pounds Ann Cunningham 276 pounds Rebecca Chivers 45 pounds Bridget Connery 55 pounds Elizabeth Dawson 23 pounds Sarah Delaya 40 pounds Elizabeth Dablin(?) 70 pounds Jane Grubb 40 pounds Ann Jasper 130 pounds Sarah Jones 86 pounds Mary Littler 132 pounds Margaret Middleton 40 pounds Martha McDaniel 100 pounds Elizabeth McDaniel 80 pounds Margaret McKee 150 pounds Margaret Murphy 40 pounds Mary McDaniel 55 pounds Providence Mounts 68 pounds Catherine Quinton 73 pounds Catherine Ross 43 pounds Margaret Smith 105 pounds Sarah Thomas 46 pounds Elizabeth Vestall? 55 pounds Sarah Williamson 178 pounds Ann Wood 50 pounds Sarah Wood 246 pounds Margaret Warrin 144 pounds Mary Ann Williamson 55 pounds Elizabeth Warden 40 pounds Two clergymen are listed: The Rev. John Gordon 110 pounds (Gordon also paid 55 pounds as a schoolmaster) The Rev. William Williams 606 pounds Selected names from Cacapon Valleys (it later became Hampshire County): John Arnold 50 pounds David Edwards 51 pounds Henry Enochs 105 pounds Henry Ely 70 pounds Joseph George 101 pounds John House 110 pounds George Horner 55 pounds Jacob Jinkins 135 pounds John Lonam 321 pounds Darby McKever 355 pounds Francis McBride 70 pounds Samuel Pritchard 614 pounds George Parkes 80 pounds Isaiah Phipps 65 pounds Sarah Williamson 170 pounds Elizabeth Warden 40 pounds The largest assessments were: (Alexander) Ross executors 3,116 pounds Thomas Chester 1,250 pounds Thomas Wood 969 pounds Robert Buckles 905 pounds William Russell (2 accounts) 767 pounds Thomas McGuire 726 pounds Thomas Caton 672 pounds Samuel Pritchard 614 pounds Edward Snigers 608 pounds Rev. Wm Williams 606 pounds Helm & Roberts (a firm) 591 pounds Leonard Helm 575 pounds Edward Read 504 pounds John Maddin 468 pounds John Smith 458 pounds John Vance (the cooper) 449 pounds Richard Sherman 437 pounds Robert Worthington 430 pounds Andrew Paul 400 pounds John Brian 400 pounds John Hardin 386 pounds Henry Heath 347 pounds I should add that the Fee Book lists all the ordinary licenses in Old Frederick County during the 1740s and 1750s, plus all the licenses to peddlers, i.e. the travelling merchants who went from door-to-door selling wares. I, for one, am very excited over the information that this book will make available to researchers. Wilmer L. Kerns 4715 North 38th Pplace Arlington, VA 22207-2914