Sorry, no time for thanks. I'm too busy reading! (grin). Many thanks to all of you. I'm lucky to have Chalkley available at my local library. But this is so much better -- to be able to see it at home, whever we want -- not just in the reference section during library hours. Lynne Hundley <xxxxx (blowing kisses to all of you) ---------- > >Please thank Freddie Spradlin (VAGenWeb volunteer) for proofreading the > >scans, Carmen Finley (Augusta County VAGenWeb coordinator) for > >initiating this project, Trudy Lusk for all her work in getting it > >started, Dereka Smith (NGS librarian) for providing the books, and Dr. > >Brian Leverich for hosting the project on Rootsweb and his dedication to > >free online genealogy data.

I'm new to Virginia (transplanted from S. Calif. 2 yrs ago at age 50) and am still a little shocked to find the county government is in the middle of "nowhere". In S. Calif, it's in the biggest city of the county. Isle of Wight Courthouse is a place here, not just a building name. That's hard to get into my head. But knowing that makes reading the records easier. The small size of counties also surprises me. Los Angeles Co. takes 2-3 hours to drive across -- at freeway speeds. Here I can completely cross three or four counties in an hour (if there's a freeway). On country roads it takes much longer and reminds me they divided into small counties so everyone could get to the courthouse and home again in one day -- by horse. It also makes sense of the justices being sent out to take testimony from wives giving up dower right instead of requiring them to come to the courthouse. Imagine old women riding 3-4 hrs each way to the courthouse over rough trails. Unfortunately for those of us who live at a distance, there's no substitute for actually seeing the place. Otherwise we assume it's like what we're used to and don't even realize we're assuming. One of the my goals for this year is to visit several of the counties where my people lived. Meanwhile, thanks to all of you who give us glimpses of county geography and terrain. Lynne Hundley ---------- > From: Norma Lewis > > This explains a lot of things we didn't understand about Chalkley's... > The baby days of our court system.

This is a good site from the Library of Virginia which explains tax records during the 1700's. http://leo.vsla.edu/archives/taxrecs.html K

Hi everybody, Those augusta court records you see below mean that we are now up to page 469 in vol. 2 of Chalkley. They are not indexed as yet, so it will take a bit of time to go through them. And we are, of course, hopeful that maybe some one of you with interest in Augusta County and HTML skills will offer to help out with the indexing. <g> Carmen Finley ------------------------------------ Recent uploads to the /va/ directory of the USGenWeb Archives: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb If you have transcribed any primary source data, please consider submitting the files to the USGenWeb Archives and share with other researchers. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/contrib.htm ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/franklin/wills/woods1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/halifax/wills/perkins1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/isleofwight/wills/crocker1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/isleofwight/wills/minard1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/isleofwight/wills/minard2.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/isleofwight/wills/wombwll1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/wythe/deeds/nye1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/augusta/court/2court44.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/augusta/court/2court45.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/augusta/court/2court46.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/augusta/court/2court47.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/augusta/court/2court48.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/augusta/court/2court49.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/augusta/court/2court50.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/caroline/census/1850indx.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/carroll/census/1850indx.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/charlescity/census/1850indx.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/charlotte/misc/ob10char.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/culpeper/census/1850indx.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/cumberland/census/1850indx.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/dinwiddie/census/1850indx.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/elizabethcity/census/1850indx.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/essex/census/1850indx.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/fairfax/census/1850indx.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/fauquier/census/1850indx.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/essex/obits/mccall1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/isleofwight/wills/minard3.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/patrick/deeds/penn1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/patrick/deeds/shelton3.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/patrick/wills/maynor1.txt ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/princeedward/marriages/marr1.txt

Here is additional information from Isaac's book on Colonial Virginia. This time on the militia. Lynne Hundley Rhys Isaac, The Transformation of Virginia: 1740-1790 (CHAPTER 5) THE MUSTER FIELD By 1757 the Virginia Militia was regulated by statute. Regulations reinforced the idealized social structure – embodying the expectations and anxieties about relationships between different ranks and races. (pg 104) The first requirement: that county-lieutenant, colonel and other lesser officers must be residents of the county where commissioned. In colonial Virginia, power was decentralized and authority was linked to social relationships. Only a gentleman of known estate, living in close connection with the leading families of the county was able to mobilize gentry, freeholders and tenants. (pg 105) The statute, reflecting the ranked system of dignity, honor and obligation, includes a list of those whose high standing or sacred learning "rendered their mustering among freeholders inappropriate -- unless they were commissioned officers." They were required to make compensation in the form of equipment for a specified number of soldiers – the number depending on the rank of those exempted. Ranking is also reflected in a scale of fines for failure to comply with the mustering requirements (from 20 pounds for a county commander-in-chief to 3 shillings for an ordinary militia man). (pg 105) Exempted both from mustering and supplying equipment: millers, miners, iron founders, overseers of 4 servants/slaves. These exemptions safeguarded the economic enterprises of the well-to-do. Overseers and millers who attended muster despite their exemption were fined 25 shillings. (pg 105) "Imported" servants were not included in the muster and slaves were excluded by the wording: male "persons" since they were legally "non-persons." "Free mulattoes, negroes and Indians" were to appear without weapons and serve as drummers, trumpeters, and "other such servile labor…" (pg 105-6) Patrolling: one officer and 4 militia men were appointed to "patrol and visit" monthly or more often all slave quarters and other places "suspected of entertaining unlawful assembly of slaves, servants or other disorderly persons." Also any "strolling about…without a pass…" The justice of the peace, if he deemed there to be cause, ordered up to 20 lashes on bare back "well laid on." A 1726 law added patrols during Christmas, Easter and Whitsuntide holidays when slaves were exempted from labor. (pg 106) Being mustered together under authority and treated by the gentlemen officers (with liquor at the local ordinary) reinforced the bonds of society, but such gatherings were intermittent because of the distances in Virginia. Leading persons were consistently identified by militia rank – reinforcing their status in society. (pg 109) There was serious discontent with militia service because it took men from their crops. Some officers did not call required muster days because that would require them to fine small farmers who couldn't afford to provide their own arms. (pg 110) Following a series of disturbances (1727-30), William Gooch , lieutenant-governor of Virginia, recognized the importance of the militia for public safety and appointed an adjutant to supervise military training. In 1736 and 1740 he attempted to appropriate funds to provide poorer landowners with weapons. (pg 110)

If Nicole Pinson is on this list, please contact me. Or if someone knows her email, I would appreciate hearing. (I have incomplete address on Lookups page). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Carmen J. Finley finleyc@sonoma.edu Finley-McFarling Family History http://www.rootsweb.com/~cascgs/ Finley Family History database Sonoma State University http://libweb.sonoma.edu/special/finley.html Augusta County, VAGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~vaaugust/index.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi all, I've discovered a fascinating new (to me) book: Isaac, Rhys, The Transformation of Virginia: 1740-1790 (1982, 400+ pages, winner of Pulitizer Prize) The chapter on court system explains one record which lists my ancestor as a "venireman." I'm including my notes on courts below. Hope you find this as interesting as I did. Lynne Hundley CHAPTER 5 -- COURT DAY Courthouse was usually a brick structure with a simple round-arched, loggia-style porch on the front. It stood at a crossroads in the midst of woods and fields since there were few towns. Sites weree chosen for central location. Support buildings included an ordinary (tavern), a lock-up and often a store. (pg 88) Gentlemen conducted the court, which was nearly all the government at the time – adjudicating disputes, recording transactions, and distributing small favors. (90) Gentleman justices, dressed in wigs and fine coats, were seated on a raised bench. Proceedings were ceremonial, with frequent oath taking. No justice or militia officer could act until qualified by taking oaths in open court: promising to execute the office faithfully, swearing allegiance to the king, and repeating and subscribing the Test (that is "explicit expression of detestation for the papist doctrine of transubstantiation," – constantly reaffirming Virginia's official identity as Protestant and English). (91) Legal transactions – deeds that secured the properties, boundaries and entitlements – were admitted to the record only after they had been read in court and acknowledged by the voices of parties and witnessed. In a society with a low literacy the legal system was based on written instruments, but the written record was rendered viva voce and so assimilated into the community knowledge accessible to all. (91) Calling and swearing of juries served the same purpose: "When free persons arraigned for felony were sent to the General Court in Williamsburg for trial, society paid not only for the witnesses to attend but also for a jury of twelve 'venire men,' as they were called, to come from the 'vicinage' of the crime to judge the facts. Quite explicitly then, the community's fund of knowledge and received wisdom was incorporated in formal proceedings." (91) In county courts, juries determined causes and assessed damages. They went into the fields in boundary suits, with a surveyor, to adjudicate the way the line was run and to witness to the settlement – "adding the outcome to the communal store of information." (91) Similarly the semiannual calling of "twenty-four of the most capable free-holders" as grand juries to translate the community's knowledge of wrong-doings into recorded indictments: for bearing a bastard child; for swearing profane oaths, for being absent overlong from a parish church… (91-92) Free persons and indentured servants indicted for felony were tried in General Court in Williamsburg if the justices found sufficient evidence to warrant trial. Slaves were tried in county courts (without jury) for capital offenses. If found guilty of theft and the value was set at less than five shillings, the slave was eligible for "Benefit of Clergy" – to be branded on the hand, lashed and released. In an oral culture, all present would remember that the convicted, if ever again convicted of a felony, was no longer eligible for benefit of clergy. (92) The ceremonial acts of court day not only made the community a witness to important decisions and transactions but also taught "… the very nature and forms of government. Anglo-Virginians had no written constitution; they could only conceive of law and authority in their society as extensions and adaptations of English custom …There were no elementary textbooks on 'government'… For most… the primary mode of comprehending the organization of authority was through participation in court-house proceedings. The oaths and rituals were so many formulas, diagrams, or models, declaring the nature of government and its laws." (92-93) The monthly work of the court was routine – mostly cases of debt recovery… Cases were decided by juries impaneled by the sheriff from among the freeholders present in the courthouse, in the yard, or in the nearby ordinary. Thus the community participated to a large extent in the settling of its disputes… (93) "The court was central to the organization of society. Its function went deeper than the conduct of business... The court was the guardian of the Law, and the Law defined rights and obligations. Rights meant property – above all in land and slaves. Obligations meant, essentially, the monetary regulation of relationships between landowners (as in trespass cases) and of relationships that arose from trade in the produce of land (mainly debts and credits)…At the sessions of the county commissioners a powerful form of high culture – the Law – met with a compelling local need – security of property." (93-94)

It is now possible to search all mailing lists housed at Rootsweb by going to: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/search.html This link has been added to the Augusta County opening page. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Carmen J. Finley finleyc@sonoma.edu Finley-McFarling Family History http://www.rootsweb.com/~cascgs/ Finley Family History database Sonoma State University http://libweb.sonoma.edu/special/finley.html Augusta County, VAGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~vaaugust/index.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am looking for Eli (may be Elim) Clark born somewhere in Virginia in the Summer of 1814. Have spouse and descendant info but if you would check your sibling lines, this may be the one who got away. Would sure like to find his source and parents. Any help appreciated, Thanks, Carolyn SURNAMES: Anderson, Light, Flack, Zicafoose, Hull, Lance, Hedrick, Tuckwiller, Persinger, Kimberlin, Humphries, Grissee, Stickleman ,Fink (Old Augusta, Greenbrier Co.(W)Va area); Baughman, Billman, Hoadley, Kerns, Ravenscroft, Clark, Davis, Westlake, Parker, Flenner, Yantis, Yantes, Curtis, Dunlap, Claypool, Kniseley, Elliott, Grimm, Riffe (Ohio.through Md.Va. Pa.) View the will of Peter Light Anderson, born 1785, died 1861: ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/wv/greenbrier/wills/a436-001.txt Greenbrier Co. (W)Va. Anderson Family Biography: ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/wv/greenbrier/bios/a5360002.txt Greenbrier Co. (W)Va. Lipps Family Biography: ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/wv/greenbrier/bios/l1200001.txt

I am looking for information on Frederick Froelich that appears in Augusta County Will Book 1, pages 267 and 384. Can anyone help me ?

Hi - I appreciate all the wonderful info I have received from this list; now I have a request. Augusta County might not be the right county, but perhaps someone will have a clue. I am seeking info on the following ELIASONs: Lt. William ELIASON, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, early 1800s. He was assistant engineer during the construction of Fort Monroe, Va., and superintending engineer (two tours between 1825 and 1830) for the construction of Fort Macon, Carteret County, N.C. Ebenezer ELIASON and Ann HERSEY ELIASON, parents of Jane Mary ELIASON, b. 3/7/1804, m. William David CLARK in Madison County, Va., on 3/16/1825. Sgt. George ELIASON, Company C, 7th Virginia Infantry, during the Civil War. Many thanks for any help. I will be glad to reciprocate with info on CLARK, CARUTHERS, PAXTON, BLAIR, McCROSKY in the Augusta-Rockbridge-Orange area. Terry

A couple of years ago, I was informed that there was going to be a reprint of the history of the Tinkling Spring Church. Does anyone know the status of the project?

A few weeks ago someone gave information about a book that is being reprinted again. I am not sure about the name of the book. Maybe the name is Scotch Irish Immigrents or something like that. I realy want to order the book, but a virus attacked the computer destroying all our e-mails, including that information. Thanks so much, Judith

Forwarding about Chalkley book -----Original Message----- From: Carmen Finley <finleyc@SONOMA.EDU> To: VAAUGUST-L@rootsweb.com <VAAUGUST-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Thursday, April 08, 1999 10:29 PM Subject: [VAAUGUST-L] Chalkley back in print!! >Hi all, > >I just received an announcement from Genealogical Publishing that >Chalkley's "Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia," is back >in print. Three volumes, 2,000 pages, 50,000 names. Cost until 31 May is >$125, after that it will be $150. 1-800-296-6687. > > > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >Carmen J. Finley >finleyc@sonoma.edu >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > >==== VAAUGUST Mailing List ==== >**************************************************************** >The Augusta County mailing list page has instructions on how to > subscribe and unsubscribe from the list > Visit it at: >http://www.rootsweb.com/~vapulask/augustaquery/augustalist.htm >*************************************************************** > >

The following query was posted to the Augusta County Query Page on Sun Apr 25 10:15:46 1999 PLEASE ADRRESS YOUR REPLY TO: brumm2@home.com (Judith Brumm) James KENNEY died in Augusta Co in 1814. If you have connections to this line p;lease contact me. Thanks Barnett Kenney served in the American Revolution as Sergent of the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment, Continental Line. Three of his sons also served. Joseph was killed in the Revolution according to Challey's records. John served as a private, Captain William Harrod's Company in 1780 at the station near the Falls, in what is now Jefferson and Shelby Counties. The American Revolution Centennial Edition, Part II, Patriot Index p. 1692: Kinney, James Barnett. b. 1720 IR, d p 1782 m Miss Kramer, Sgt Va. Also listed on p.1691 as Kinney, Barnett 1726 IR d p 1786 PA m (1)____ Kramer, (2) Mary____ Sgt CL PA. National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Centennial Edition, Part II, Patriot Index p. 1692: Kinney, James Barnett: b. 1720 IR, d. p 1872 m Miss Kramer Sgt. VA Notes for JOHN KENNEY: Served as a Private in Captain William Harrods' Company in1780 at the station near the Falls, in what is now Jefferson and Shelby Counties (Collins History of Kentucky, p 12.) (CLB) xiv. SARAH KENNEY, b. Abt. 1758, Rockbridge County, VA. xv. ELIZABETH KENNEY, b. 1760, Rockbridge County, VA. URL: http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Villa/1442 PLEASE ADRRESS YOUR REPLY TO: brumm2@home.com (Judith Brumm)

The following query was posted to the Augusta County Query Page on Sat Apr 24 14:19:27 1999 PLEASE ADRRESS YOUR REPLY TO: susie@sisna.com (Susie Perrett) I am trying to locate any information which would connect Isabel McClure St. Clair, b. 14 Apr. 1828 in Virginia, d. 1895 in Indiana, with her ancestors. My Grandmother believed her father was John McClure and her mother was Elizabeth McCorkle. PLEASE ADRRESS YOUR REPLY TO: susie@sisna.com (Susie Perrett)

The following query was posted to the Augusta County Query Page on Thu Apr 22 23:00:44 1999 PLEASE ADRRESS YOUR REPLY TO: grannywb@freewwweb.com (Wilma M.Brown) I am compiling records on all the descendents of Martha(Barkley)and Richard Barkley(b.@1720 a sea)KSettled in Augusta Co.,Va.ib @1739 ,Migrated to Anson Co.N.C. just prior to 1655.This later becomes Lancaster,Lancaster Co.S.C.Their 7 known kids:Jennett md.Mr.Love and later goes to Know Co.Ind.Katherine md.John Nutt ,James marries Mary.Nathaniuel marries Jane and Archibald marrieds Mary Barkley,Martha marries John Montgomery and Letitia marries James Dunlap.They all stay nr.Lancaster ,S.C.TDome of their children leave S.C.and change Couart to 6 more spellings.See above.Please call me at 1-817-534-2468 Add:4100 Algerita St.Ft.Worth,Texas 76119-Wilma M.Brown P.S.My previous e-mail was grannywb@swbell.com, PLEASE ADRRESS YOUR REPLY TO: grannywb@freewwweb.com (Wilma M.Brown)

The following query was posted to the Augusta County Query Page on Thu Apr 22 20:04:50 1999 PLEASE ADRRESS YOUR REPLY TO: SgtRyan1@aol.com (Aloma Tripp) Mordicia Thornton, Samuel Thornton, Margaret Hemp, Martha Jane Alexander. Am doing Masters thesis, need any info. PLEASE ADRRESS YOUR REPLY TO: SgtRyan1@aol.com (Aloma Tripp)

The following query was posted to the Augusta County Query Page on Wed Apr 21 11:59:56 1999 PLEASE ADRRESS YOUR REPLY TO: fredecho (Fred Hagan) I am searaching for the parents names/birth place of my earliest ancestor, Francis HAGAN. He was born 1763, place unknown, he was married in Frederick County, Maryland, 1788, and he died in Frederick County, 1825. I have searched all over Maryland, and into Pennsylvania without success. I am now searching Virginia for his roots. I have eliminated Scott County, VA and surrounding areas, that group of HAGANs came into the U.S. too late in time. I understand Augusta County, VA contained a large group of Irish immigrants. Has anyone come across he name Francis HAGAN (born 1763)while researching in Augusta County? URL: http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/h/a/g/Fred-L-Hagan/index.html PLEASE ADRRESS YOUR REPLY TO: fredecho (Fred Hagan)

The following query was posted to the Augusta County Query Page on Tue Apr 20 19:07:43 1999 PLEASE ADRRESS YOUR REPLY TO: shasta@megsinet.net (Tina Harrah) I am interested in any information on the Kyer family from Augusta County, VA. Particularly Augusta KYER and his son John KYER. John was born in Augusta County in 1790. Any help would be greatly appreciated. PLEASE ADRRESS YOUR REPLY TO: shasta@megsinet.net (Tina Harrah)