A map showing a " survey according to order in the years and of the Northern Neck of Virginia, being the lands belonging to Lord Fairfax, " is published in the report of the commissioners appointed to settle the boundaries between Maryland and Virginia in It must be borne in mind that "Old Style" was yet in effect in the Mother Country and her colonies when Orange was established: that is, that the New Year was reckoned from March 25, and not from January 1 ; and that the New Style did not become effective until Thus, though the first court was held in January , there were yet two months to elapse before the year began: that is, that January, February, and March came after December of the same year.
This will make plain the otherwise apparently curious date of the appointment of Col. Henry Willis, the first county clerk. Orange County. At a Court held for the County of Orange on the twenty-first day of January, , Present Augustine Smith, John Taliaferro, and the justices to whom they had just administered the oaths:. A Commission to Henry Willis, Gent. This Henry Willis was the same gentleman mentioned by Colonel Byrd as the "top man of Fredericksburg. October was then really the eighth month and January was the eleventh month of the calendar year.
He was the ancestor of Col. George Willis of Woodpark ; of Mr. Henry Willis and of Mrs.
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Ambrose Madison, of Woodbury Forest. Why a person not a citizen of the County should have been made clerk does not appear, but he continued to be such until his death, in the summer of Jonathan Gibson, Gent. William Robertson's house, on Black Walnut Run, was designated as the place where court should be held, by the Governor's order, till the court could agree upon a place and have the Governor's approbation. James Wood, Gent. Zachary Lewis and Robert Turner were sworn as attorneys to practise in the County. The court unanimously recommended John Mercer to the Governor for appointment to prosecute the King's causes in their court.
James Coward and John Snow were named as overseers of the highway. A number of the justices were desired to view the Rapidan above and below Germanna for a convenient place to keep a ferry, and to wait on Colonel Spotswood to know on what terms he would let such a place. Later he agreed that he would let his land for a ferry there for pounds of tobacco, with sufficient land for two hands to work, but debarred the keeping of tippling houses and hogs running at large, and public notice was ordered of the letting of the ferry and plantation at a subsequent term, and that advertisements be set up at the churches.
Similarly, they always endorsed indictments found, Vera Billa , a true bill. Three justices, who afterwards became famous in Frederick and Augusta, qualified at this term: Joist Hite, Morgan Morgan, and Ben Benjamin Borden; and John Barnett, from whom no doubt comes our Barnett's Ford of to-day, was appointed surveyor of the highway from the Mountain Road along Mr. A rowling road was one over which tobacco hogsheads were rolled to market.
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At June term, John Mercer, Gent. William Gooch, his Majesty's lieutenant-governor, which was approved by the Court, and the said Mercer admitted accordingly. The verdict was for fifteen shillings damages. The following minutes seem worthy of notice: in , a petition for division of the county by inhabitants of Sherrando. This was effective the same year, when Augusta and Frederick counties were formed, embracing all of Virginia lying beyond the Blue Ridge. But Augusta, though formed in , did not really organize as a separate county until about In a road was ordered to be opened from Evan Watkins's ferry by a course of marked trees to the head of Falling Spring and over the Tuscarora branch, thence to Opequon Creek, thence to Spout Run, by the King's road leading by joist Hite's to a fall in the same near the Sherrando ford, and that all tithables from the Potomac between Opequon and the mountain this side the little Cape Capon, and many others, proceed to work the same.
In August of the same year: "Ordered, that George Robinson and Simon Akers view the way from the forks of Roan Oak Roanoke to the gapp over the mountains to meet the line of Brunswick County, and from the Catawba Creek into the said way. In Culpeper, including all of Orange lying between the whole length of the Rapidan and the Rappahannock rivers, was cut off, and our former " principality" is reduced to the dimensions of Orange and Greene of to-day.
And to dispose of Greene once for all, it may be said here that there was angry contention about this dismemberment, with numerous petitions and counter petitions and protests, but the separatists finally prevailed in The old County, though shorn of her territory, has never been shorn of her good name; and her illustrious offspring who have made her famous and historic, were born and reared in the limits of the Orange of to-day! William Robertson's house, on Black Walnut Run, was designated as the place where court should be held, by the Governor's order, till the Court could agree upon a place, and have the Governor's approbation, and there the first term was held on the gist of January, , Old Style.
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At the same term the sheriff, Thomas Chew, was ordered to build a prison at his plantation, " a logg house, seven and a half feet pitch, sixteen long and ten wide, of loggs six by eight at least, close laid at top and bottom, with a sufficient plank door, strong hinges and a good lock, and that two hundred pounds of tobacco and cask be paid him for building the said house. A debate was had as to the most convenient place to build a courthouse.
The Court divided, one party for the centre of the County and the other for the Raccoon Ford, then some distance higher up the river than now, eight for the former and six for the latter. The question was whether the mouth of the Robertson or Raccoon Ford was nearer the centre, justices Smith, Taliaferro, Chew, Barbour and Taylor favoring a point just below the mouth.
Lightfoot agreed that this was nearest the centre, but insisted on the north side of the Rapidan. Robert Slaughter was in favor of the centre, when the same should be ascertained. Field, Green, Finlason, Ball, Pollard, and Francis Slaughter declined to answer the last question, as to the centre, but insisted on Raccoon Ford, or thereabouts, and the north side of the river.
All which the Court ordered should be particularly represented to the Governor. At the March term ensuing there was an order from the Governor that some of the justices attend the general court and have a hearing about placing the courthouse, and they agree to go at their own charges. Whereas I have been desired to declare upon what terms I will admit the Courthouse of Orange County to be built upon my land in case the Commissioners for placing the same should judge the most convenient situation thereof to be within the bounds of my Patent. And forasmuch as I am not only willing to satisfy such commissioners that no obstruction in that point will arise on my part, but am also disposed to make those terms as easie to the County, as can well be expected; I do therefore hereby declare that consent to the building of a courthouse, prison, pillory and stocks on any part of my lands not already leased or appropriated; and that I will convey in the form and manner which the justices of the County can in reason require such a quantity of land as may be sufficient for setting the said buildings on, with a convenient courtyard thereto, for the yearly acknowledgment of one pound of tobacco.
And moreover, that I will allow to be taken gratis off my land all the timber or stone which shall be wanted for erecting and repairing the said buildings. The date of this letter would indicate that negotiations had been begun with Colonel Spotswood before the formal organization of the County. The records disclose no appointment by the court of commissioners to confer with him. At the June term, , Charles Carter and William Beverley reported as to the agreement they had been ordered to make with Colonel Spotswood for land to set the courthouse on, but nothing appears to have come of it, for in Ocober, , a proposal being made where to build it, the Court, after debate, agreed that it be built at the place appointed by the commissioners " near the Governor's Ford on the south side of the Rapidan.
Bramham's house in December next, "it being near where the courthouse is, with all expedition, going to be built, " and notice was given that workmen meet at the November term to undertake the building. At November, after debate where to build, the Court agreed with John Bramham that he lease twenty acres of land to build it on for pounds of tobacco per annum, and that the plot should" include the convenientest spring to Cedar Island ford. Thomas Chew and William Russell were appointed to lay off the land and designate the location of the Courthouse.
The next term was accordingly held at Bramham's house, and it was at this location of the courthouse that Peter was decapitated and his head stuck on a pole, and that Eve was burned at the stake, as appears from the orders published in the text. In July, , notice was given that at the next term the Court would agree with workmen to finish the courthouse, and at the February term following Peter Russell was employed to keep the building clean, and " provide candles and small beer for the Justices;" so it appears that it had taken nearly two years to complete it after work was actually begun.
And it seems certain that the first real courthouse owned by the County was located near the present Somerville's Ford, and on land now belonging to the Hume family. Henry Willis was paid 13, pounds of tobacco for building the prison, and 3, pounds for finishing the courthouse. He took out license to keep an ordinary there November, January, ,3. Ordered, that the sheriff cause the lock provided for the justices' room to be put to the door; that he provide glass for the windows of the said room, and cause the windows to be glassed; and that he cause the tops of the chimneys to be pulled down and amended to prevent it from smoking.
June Taylor, Taverner Beale, Wm.
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Taliaferro, John Willis, Francis Moore and Henry Downs, or any five of them, to meet and agree on the most convenient place for a courthouse, with power to agree on the manner thereof, and with workmen to erect a prison, pillory, and stocks. No doubt the occasion of this removal was the fact that Culpeper, then embracing Madison and Rappahannock, had been cut off from Orange the year before, leaving the courthouse absurdly near the very edge of the County. A proclamation under the hand of Hon.
And it was ordered, that Thomas Chew, Geo. Taylor, and Joseph Thomas provide deeds for two acres of land from Timothy Crosthwait to build a courthouse on, and that they lay off the " prison bounds. Ordered, that workmen be engaged to build an addition to the courthouse for the justices' room, sixteen feet by twelve. September: Crosthwait agreed to make a deed for the two acres whereon the courthouse and prison are now built, for five shillings.
May 30, Note that now the year begins on January 1st, and not March 25th as heretofore. The first term of the court in this building was held July 6th, , and this was the building next preceding the "old courthouse" standing to-day, and remodeled into the storerooms occupied as drug and hardware stores, facing the railroad. An addition ordered to the courthouse twenty feet long, same pitch and width as the building, "to have a brick chimney, " and be according to dimensions to be indicated by Thos.
Chew, Wm. Taliaferro, and James Madison. Court received prison on the undertaker's double ceiling the walls with one and a half inch oak plank inside, to be nailed on with a proportion of penny nails.
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Ordered that the sheriff make known by advertisement and proclamation that proposals will be received by the Court for building a new courthouse where the present one stands. Taylor, Francis Cowherd, Robt. Moore, and John Taylor appointed commissioners to let building of an office 16 wide, 20 long, and 10 pitch, of brick. The three last named, with Dabney Minor and William Quarles, appointed commissioners to have laid off by Pierce Sandford two acres of ground at this place on which to erect the public buildings, and that Robt.
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Taylor be appointed to let the building of the office formerly ordered, 24 feet long, 16 wide, and 10 feet pitch. This was probably the old clerk's office in rear of the Bank of Orange. Ordered, that the building of the courthouse and office be let at the same time, and either publicly or privately. Commissioners appointed to view courthouse and office, and receive or condemn same, or make any compromise as to deductions which the undertakers may be willing to agree to. Commissioners appointed to sell the old court house and office and apply proceeds to enclosing the public lot with post and rail fence in a strong and neat manner, and to building pillory, stocks, and whipping post.