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A history of Caroline county, Virginia

from its formation in 1727 to 1924
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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ABSTRACTS OF ALL CAROLINE COUNTY LEGISLATIVE PETITIONS NOW IN ARCHIVES OF STATE LIBRARY
 
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ABSTRACTS OF ALL CAROLINE COUNTY LEGISLATIVE
PETITIONS NOW IN ARCHIVES OF STATE
LIBRARY

No. 168. Dated November 21, 1777—Prays House of Delegates
to declare fishing rights along Rappahannock river common
to all. About one hundred signatures.

No. 181. Dated December 5, 1777—Prays House of
Delegates to fix "one certain annual sum" to be paid by all
tithables for the support of ministers and the upkeep of the
Churches. Signed by 118 citizens.

No. 324. Dated May 25, 1779—Prays the House of
Delegates to dissolve the vestry of Drysdale Parish and grant
right to elect a new vestry by the suffrage of the people. 167
signatures.

No. 361. Dated October 15, 1779—Prays for a division of
Drysdale Parish into two parishes, and for sale of property and
division of proceeds between the two parishes thus formed.
Approximately 50 names.

No. 367. Dated October 16, 1779—A counter petition protesting
against the division of Drysdale parish. 300 signatures.

No. 380. Dated October 22, 1779—Two petitions: one
praying for a division of Drysdale parish, and the other protesting
against such division. The former signed by 35 citizens,
and the latter by about 300.

No. 417. Dated November 4, 1779—Sarah Bowie, widow
of James Bowie, the younger, prays House of Delegates to repeal
that portion of Act of 1776 which required James Bowie, or heirs
of his public ferry, to set foot-passengers aross the Rappahannock
free.


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No. 571. Dated November 22, 1780—Richard Roy and
John Catlett pray for "an increase in their salary, and of the
reward for prizing transfer tobacco, and finding nails."

No. 602. Dated December 12, 1780—Prays that the vestry
of St. Margaret's Parish be dissolved, basing petition on the
declaration that the vestry was not elected by the suffrage of the
people at large. Signed by about 75 parishioners.

No. 634. Dated June 1, 1781—Edmund Pendleton and John
Taylor pray House of Delegates to assist said Pendleton in
the recovery of 3000 acres of land which was granted him by the
Crown in 1765, as being in Augusta county, but which proved to
be in North Carolina, and which that State had confirmed to her
citizens.

No. 1199. Dated November 16, 1784—Prays "that whatever
tax shall be found necessary to be laid on suitors shall be
allowed in the Bill of costs, if the party recovers." This petition
also refers to the "emigration to the western country taking place
this fall." 70 signatures.

No. 1233. Dated November 30, 1784—Prays House of Delegates
to pass a Bill requiring all land owners adjoining the
Mattaponi river to clear away all obstructions in the river opposite
their lands, to the middle of the stream, and keep same clear so
there may be a free passage for boats and fish. This petition
recites that by an Act of 1753 a considerable sum was appropriated
and trustees appointed for clearing the Mattaponi, "to so good
purpose that Boats could pass from Burk's bridge in this county
with great ease and expedition and a more plentiful supply of
fish was experienced by the people up the river." 41 signatures.

No. 1299. Dated October 27, 1785—A petition declaring against
a Bill published by the House of Delegates obliging all inhabitants
of the commonwealth to pay the teachers of the Christian Religion.
There are 143 signatures, that of John Young, Baptist preacher of
Caroline, heading the list. A significant religio-legislative document.
143 signatures.

No. 1382. November 18, 1785—The petition of John Lewis
in behalf of his daughter Mildred, and of Thornton Washington
in behalf of himself, praying that the Act of October 1788, relative
to lands of John Thornton, be repealed, and the lands be re-vested
in the hands of trustees, so that petitioners may receive their just
share of the estate.


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No. 1390. November 22, 1785—William Evans petitions House
of Delegates for eighty pounds, same being value of Sancho, a
Negro belonging to petitioner, who was executed by court martial
for giving intelligence to, and acting in the capacity of pilot for
the British forces.

No. 1437. December 9, 1785—Charlotte Dalton, wife of
Samuel Dalton, prays for an Act enabling her to sell tract of land
on the Rappahannock river and give title to same in order that
she may the better care for her husband who had, "had the misfortune
to lose his understanding, and who, to her great grief
and trouble, hath continued in a state of insanity for many
years."

No. 1737. November 1, 1787—Richard Towner and John
Woolfolk volunteer to take over the stage lines between Richmond
and Hampton and between Richmond and Norfolk for a period
of three years. The petition recites that Act of 1784 gave John
Hoomes exclusive privilege over these lines. Nearly 200 signatures.

No. 1944. Dated November 7, 1788—A protest against the
removal of Page's Inspection down to Newcastle. Proclaims the
superiority of Page's Inspection to Meriwether's. Several signatures.

No. 1981. Dated November 21, 1788—Protest against the tax
imposed on Clerks of Courts by Act of Assembly of 1787. 125
names.

No. 2223. Dated November 16, 1789—James Upshaw, late
Sheriff of Caroline county, "humbly sheweth that from the
peculiar distresses of the people and the burthen of the taxes in
the years 1785 and 1786," his deputies were unable to collect
tax in full, in consequence of which judgment was obtained
against him. Prays remission of costs assessed against him.

No. 2299. Dated October 30, 1790—Memorial of the Clerks
of the several Courts of Justice in Virginia protesting against
Act of 1786 imposing tax on Clerks in sums of one-third of fees
received for services performed. 30 signatures.

No. 2319. Dated November 4, 1790—Sets forth that second
Thursday of each month, fixed by law as date for holding
Caroline court, "interferes with the court days in some of the
adjacent counties" and prays that the date be changed to second
Tuesday of each month. 30 names.


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No. 2452. December 2, 1790—Resolution stating that the
petition of James Upshaw (see File No. 2223) is reasonable.

No. 2533. Dated October 31, 1791—Charles Anderson sets
forth that in April, 1785, he received a military certificate as a
soldier in the First Virginia Regiment, on Continental estalishment,
in the sum of thirty-six pounds which certificate he lost.
Prays that the House will direct the issuance of a duplicate.

No. 2710. Dated October 3, 1792—Prays House of Delegates
to have an Inspection of Tobacco established at the head of
navigation on the Mattaponi river, on "the land of John Hoomes
at Dogue Town Bridge, on the Mattaponi river, and a Town laid
out adjacent thereto." 175 signatures.

No. 2584. October 13, 1792—Petition that two duplicate
warrants in the sum of twenty-four pounds each be issued to
James Powell Edmondson upon his giving bond and security
according to the law in such cases.

No. 2857. October 13, 1792—George Guy, late Sheriff of
Caroline, explains why his deputies did not turn in taxes "so soon
as the law required," and prays remission of fine assessed against
him for their tardiness.

No. 2939. October 16, 1792—Prays House of Delegates to
pass an Act empowering tobacco growers to carry condemned
tobacco to another Inspection, or to export it at the growers
"risque" that they might at least get some advantage from the
sweat of their brow. 50 signatures.

No. 2941. Dated October 16, 1792—John Rogers represents
that he entered the service of the State in the spring of 1776,
was promoted to the command of a regiment immediately in the
service of the State, continued in such service until February,
1782, when he was deprived of his captaincy by a supernumerary
officer, and that he was never re-instated although he held himself
in readiness until the end of the war. Prays House of
Delegates to allow him half pay for life.

No. 3051. Dated October 29, 1793—A lengthy document protesting
against "the dismemberment of Caroline county" "to
patch up a new county," and naming seven reasons on which the
protest is based, one of them being that "in answer to the
generous proposition of an individual (William Streshley) to erect
public buildings at his private expense, we observe that Court
Houses should be made for Counties and not Counties for Court
Houses." There are about 500 signatures to this petition.


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No. 3053. October 29, 1793—A petition for the establishment
of a new county from Caroline, King and Queen and Essex,
representing that if such county were formed "the county of
Caroline would then contain 16,700 souls and 650 freeholders;
the county of King and Queen 8,152 souls and 370 freeholders;
the county of Essex 7,976 souls and 370 free holders and the
new county 4,776 souls and 250 freeholders." About 450
signatures.

No. 3054. Dated October 29, 1793—Petition against "the
dismemberment of Caroline county in order to patch up a new
county." 38 signatures.

No. 3090. Dated November 2, 1793—Elizabeth Trainham
shews by certificates of Captain Johnson Faulkner, Anthony
New and Captain Beverly Stubblefield, that her husband, Joshua
Trainham, served 18 months in the army and died in the service,
and prays House of Delegates to grant her some relief from her
poverty.

No. 3109-A. Dated November 4, 1793—Samuel Hargrave
states that he is seized of a tract of land lying on the north side
of the Pamunkey at Cook's Ford in Caroline, and that it is
advantageously situated for a town, being at the head of navigation.
Prays House of Delegates to pass an Act to "lay off 15
acres and establish a town thereon."

No. 3256. Dated November 24, 1794—Peyton Stern and
Thomas Alcock, Inspectors at Roy's Warehouse, shew theft of
one hhd. of tobacco and ask House of Delegates to "make such
redress as your Honours may conceive just."

No. 3284-D. October 26, 1794—Joseph Temple and Benjamin
Johnson, Inspectors at Todd's and Aylett's Inspection, set forth,
"That by an Act of the last session of Assembly establishing an
Inspection of Tobacco at the town of Milford, on the Mattaponi
river in the county of Caroline, by the name of York Warehouse,
the Inspectors of Todd's Warehouse are directed and required to
receive all tobacco brought down from York warehouse and store
same without compensation. This Act the petitioners conceive
to be unjust and pray for relief.

No. 3288. November 26, 1794—Cornelius Beazley shews by
certificates of John Taylor and Samuel Coleman that he enlisted
in a Caroline company on February 17, 1777, and served three
years in a regiment of which Moses Hazen was colonel and he


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the major and prays for his depreciation in money or bounty of
land.

No. 3701. December 8, 1797—Charles Vivian petitions for
compensation for "waggon and team impressed and taken into
public use" in 1781.

No. 3892. December 8, 1798—A remonstrance against oppressive
measures of the new government made by the citizens
of Caroline in mass meeting and signed by Edmund Pendleton,
Jr., Chairman.

No. 3897. December 10, 1798—Anna Swinton prays House
of Delegates to grant to her certain lands in Caroline which were
willed to aliens by her late husband, George Swinton.

No. 3899. December 10, 1798—James Swinton, of Scotland,
nephew of George Swinton, deceased, prays House of Delegates
to confirm to him certain lands asked for by Anna Swinton,
widow of George Swinton deceased.

No. 4032. December 6, 1799—"The Justices, Bar and sundry
Inhabitants" of Caroline shew that the March and May courts
conflict with neighbouring courts and pray that the second Tuesdays
of April and June be substituted. 25 signatures.

No. 4128. December 19, 1799—A petition from citizens of
Caroline, Hanover and King William for the annulment or repeal
of an Act relative to the obstruction of rivers, etc., so that they
may erect hedges in the Pamunkey at certain seasons when
the river is not navigable, so they may catch fish.

No. 4191-A. December 6, 1800—A petition representing that
since the division of Drysdale parish the large and commodious
old church in the original parish has not been much used and is
falling to ruin, and prays for an Act enabling the trustees to sell
or repair the old building so that at any rate it may be opened
"to all Christians of every persuasion and denomination whatsoever."
About 100 signatures.

No. 4412. December 23, 1801—James Upshaw, William Lyne
and Edward Hill, Trustees of Drysdale and St. Stephen's
Parishes, and numerous others with them, remonstrate against a
petition (see No. 4941-A) which had been circulated to the end
that old Drysdale parish Church may be sold or repaired and
opened to all religious bodies.

No. 4421. December 24, 1801—Sarah Bowie, of Port Royal,
prays for authorization to increase ferriage rates from Port Royal
to Port Conway on opposite bank of the Rappahannock.


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No. 4617. Dated December 16, 1803—John Hoomes represents
that in the year 1794 one Mr. James Johnston owned the lands
on which the Court House of Caroline stood, (2) that the said
Johnston came to him and offered to sell the seat of justice, (3)
that application was then made to the County Court which
consented and advised him (Hoomes) to pay 700 pounds for the
removal of it to Bowling Green, (4) that petition was made to
the General Assembly, asking that the people be placed on the
same footing at the Bowling Green that they were on at the
former Court House, (5) that this petition was universally signed
by all to whom it was presented, (6) that an Act was passed in
1794 for the removal of the seat of justice to a House in Bowling
Green founded by the petitioner as a temporary Court House,
(7) that this house was received by the Court until one could be
built of the same size and material as the former one, (8) that
bounds for debtors were laid out and upwards of four acres laid
out for public purposes, (9) that the petitioner bound himself
in the sum of five thousand dollars to make a deed to the Justices
of this land, (10) that the petitioner has thus placed the county
on a much better footing at the Bowling Green than it was at
the former place where it did not own a foot of land and where
there was far less comfort, (11) that one Mr. Kenner has presented
to the General Assembly a petition asking that two acres more
of the petitioner's land be condemned for public use, saying to
the people that as soon as this is done other taverns will be built
thereon giving the people what they want 100 per cent. cheaper,
notwithstanding that tavern rates are fixed by court, (12) that
the court has already voted for the removal of the Clerk's Office
to the Bowling Green, (13) that the petitioner being unwilling to
accede to the proposal contained in Mr. Kenner's petition, and
not being eager to continue the Court House at Bowling Green,
having an opportunity to sell it to be carried back to its former
place, therefore prays the House of Delegates to post pone the
condemning of two more acres of his land that he (the petitioner)
may have time to arrange his business and come forward at the
next session with a petition for the removal of the Court House
back to its former place. This petition is accompanied by certificates
from Thomas Hicks, William Nelson, John Pendleton,
Wm C. Woodford, verifying the statements of the petitioner,
and also the petitioner's bond in the sum of five thousand dollars


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agreeing to build the Court House and deed the lands aforementioned
free.

No. 4618. December 16, 1803—Petition for an Act condemning
two acres of land at Caroline Court House, etc. 300 signatures.

No. 4629. December 20, 1803—Henry Burruss and Thomas
Oliver, security for the good behaviour of one Aaron Estes, who
forfeited his bond and went to jail, pray the House of Delegates
for remission of fines imposed on them, inasmuch as Estes was
imprisoned.

No. 4686-A. December 18, 1804—Abner Waugh, rector, and
about 70 others with him, pray for an Act enabling them to sell
the glebe of St. Mary's parish and place the proceeds of same at
interest which shall be paid to the said Abner Waugh so long as
he is the incumbent of the parish.

No. 5102-A. December 9, 1807—Petition for the passage of
an Act directing payment of tolls at Littlepage's bridge for the
benefit of the counties of Caroline and Hanover which it connects.
About 65 signatures.

No. 5130. December 11, 1807—Sarah Hewlett, administratrix
for Wm. Hewlett, prays for an Act enabling her to sell a tract
of her late husband's land in order to discharge his debts.

No. 5250. December 8, 1808—Represents that proceeds of
sale of St. Mary's glebe, now that Rev. Abner Waugh is dead,
will go to establish an academy in the parish and asks for constitution
for same, etc. About 100 signatures. (This was
Rappahannock Academy).

No. 5409-C. December 8, 1809—Prays that the jail at Fredericksburg,
which was built by Caroline and surrounding counties
under the District Court system and abandoned when that
system was discontinued be sold and divided among the counties
which built it. About 100 signatures.

No. 5641. December 11, 1810—Petition for an Act to establish
an academy in Mount Church (the parish Church) of St. Mary's
parish, and for calling the same Rappahannock Academy. 61
signatures.

No. 6147. December 16, 1812—The Trustees of Rappahannock
Academy petition for an Act to punish adults for selling intoxicants
to the students, and for power to use a part of the capital of the
school in furnishing buildings, and for power to appropriate a
fund for the enlargement of the library.


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No. 6148. December 16, 1812—William Atkinson who was
disabled in the Revolutionary War asks that the legislature
increase his pay from $40.00 to $60.00 per year.

No. 5888-C. December 13, 1811—William P. Napier, executor
of Dangerfield Graves, deceased, and guardian of his five children,
petitions for an Act enabling him to sell a certain tract of land in
Caroline which belonged to the said Graves.

No. 6213-A. December 13, 1815—Praying for the establishment
of a District Court of Chancery in Fredericksburg for
Caroline and surrounding counties. Above 200 signatures.

No. 6249. December 17, 1813—The inhabitants of St.
Margaret's parish in Caroline pray for an Act empowering the
overseers of the poor to sell the books, ornaments and plate which
belonged to the late Church in that parish, and to apply the proceeds
to the establishment of a free school "on the Lancasterian
plan." About 115 signatures.

No. 6403. December 16, 1814—A number of the citizens of
Caroline legally exempt from military service on the score of
age pray to be moulded by law into a form enabling them to
render any military service of which they may be capable.

No. 6640. December 21, 1815—A number of citizens of
Caroline and Hanover counties pray the General Assembly
to provide relief in the form of tolls for Benjamin Kidd who is
represented as "having ruined himself financially in building
Littlepage's Bridge at a price far below costs."

No. 6688-B. November 12, 1816—Clerk of Caroline Court
joins other Clerks in petitioning the General Assembly for an
Act increasing fees.

No. 6820. December 9, 1816—The residents of Port Royal
state that the increase of free negroes and mulattoes in said town
causeth sundry inconveniences, among these being that many
hogs owned by these persons run at large, making conditions unsanitary,
and they, therefore, pray for an Act incorporating the
town so that certain regulations may be established and a public
officer employed to enforce the same. 50 signatures.

No. 6829. December 11, 1816—Citizens of Port Royal and
adjacent community petition for the right to establish a bank.
60 signatures.

No. 7211. December 14, 1818—Citizens of Caroline, King
William and King and Queen petition for an Act incorporating a


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company for raising funds to open the Mattaponi river to its
highest point of improvement. About 60 signatures.

No. 7517. December 8, 1820—Memorial of Dover Baptist
Association signed by R. B. Semple and James Webb praying the
General Assembly to enact a law which will protect all religious
bodies from interruption or disturbance when engaged in worship,
or in the transaction of business.

No. 7570. December 19, 1820—F. W. Taliaferro prays for an
Act enabling him to discontinue Capon's Ferry.

No. 7596. December 21, 1820—Richard Turner, George W.
Tennent and Benjamin Sedgwick represent that they were
appointed Superintending Committee to erect a house of worship
at Port Royal and as such entered into contract with the workmen
to pay for construction upon the completion of the work, it being
understood that they (the Committee) were to be secured by
public subscriptions made to the cause. Inasmuch as they have
not been reimbursed they pray the House of Delegates to authorize
John G. Catlett to turn over to them the proceeds from the sale
of an old school-house, which occupied the public square and
which was sold to William George White, Junior.

No. 7681. December 11, 1821—Citizens of Caroline pray House
of Delegates to reconsider the petition made by Joseph Tyree, a
a freeman of colour, at the last session of the legislature asking
that he and his wife and seven children might be permitted to
remain in Virginia, which petition was rejected. 60 signatures.

No. 7715. December 15, 1821—Citizens of Caroline, Stafford
and King George counties pray House of Delegates to repeal
Act of last session discontinuing Capon's Ferry. About 450
signatures.

No. 7720. December 17, 1821—Freeholders and housekeepers
of St. Margaret's Parish represent that there are two Churches
in said Parish—Reedy Church and Bull Church—and pray for
authority to sell Churches, glebes and parish houses under Acts
of January 24, 1799, and January 12, 1802. About 115 signatures.

No. 7775. December 4, 1822—Elizabeth Dudley, widow of
William Dudley, prays for authority to sell 341 acres of land
in Caroline in order to discharge debts of her late husband.

No. 8104. January 6, 1824—John T. Rawlins, jailer of
Caroline county, represents that he was compelled to receive
into his jail a runaway negro who was confined for a considerable


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length of time and when sold brought only $78.40 (being crippled
and infirm) and that this amount was far short of the actual
cost of keep. Prays House of Delegates for relief.

No. 8735. December 18, 1826—Caroline M. Carson, widow of
George Carson, deceased, and Theophilus R., Augustus E., Egbert
W., Emily G., Melvina W., and Alonza B. Carson, children of the
aforesaid, represent that 200 acres of land in Harrison county has
escheated to the commonwealth and pray for an Act restoring
said lands to petitioners.

No. 8972. December 17, 1827—Moses Green represents that
he served in the Revoluntary Army and prays the Legislature
for a pension. His representation is certified to be true by John
L. Pendleton, Clerk of Caroline; Gray Samuel, George D. Baylor
and others.

No. 9192. December 15, 1828—A petition for the establishment
of a voting precinct at Golansville. 55 signatures.

No. 9380. December 28, 1829—William Southworth represents
that he served in the Revolutionary War until disabled and prays
for pension.

No. 9401. December 24, 1829—Moses Stanley represents that
he served in the Revolutionary War and prays for pension.
Representation endorsed by certificates of George Alsop, Francis
Brooke, Walter D. Blair, Thomas G. Thornton and others.

No. 9550. December 10, 1830—The citizens of Port Royal
represent that they are too far from the Court House to vote
there with convenience and pray for the establishment of a
voting precinct in their own village. 100 signatures.

No. 9637. December 22, 1830—A memorial remonstrating
against separate elections being held at Port Royal and praying
that the petition for a precinct at that place be rejected. 120
signatures.

No. 9639. December 22, 1830—A memorial praying relief for
Robert T. Pendleton and Hiram Chiles, Deputy Sheriffs of
Caroline, for extra services rendered in connection with the trial
and execution of Charles Young, who murdered Thomas Griffin
Thornton, Sheriff of Caroline. 54 signatures.

No. 9640. December 22, 1830—Citizens of the Bowling Green
represent that their town has grown to that extent that it is
necessary to have special laws for governing the same, and therefore
pray for an act of incorporation. About 50 signatures.


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No. 9883. December 22, 1831—A petition for an Act relieving
James C. Luck and Sarah, his wife, from the operation of the
judgment entered against them in 1827 for violations of the
law against incestuous marriage, the said Luck having married
Sarah Chiles, widow of his uncle, Pleasant Chiles. Over 300
signatures.

No. 7884. December 22, 1831—Lawrence Battaile represents
that he was High Sheriff of Caroline in 1805 and 1806, and also
a part of 1804, in which year he served out the unexpired term of
John Hipkins, that he had five deputies in as many districts of
the county, that seventeen years after retiring from office large
militia fines were assessed against him and also a small balance
of the revenue tax, and that judgments were entered upon
these in General Court. Believing such treatment unjust he
prays the House of Delegates for relief for himself and his deputies,
Reuben Turner, William Saunders, William Jones, Daniel Turner,
Jr., and Philip Samuel.

No. 9979. January 20, 1832—This file contains two petitions
setting forth the rapid increase of the Negro population in Caroline
and praying for the removal of all free Negroes from the State
of Virginia, and for the purchase, deportation, and maintenance
at public expense, of a few hundred slaves annually. About 100
signatures.

No. 10012. February 2, 1832—This file contains petitions for
and against the establishment of voting precincts in various parts
of the county. There are several hundred signatures on each
side of the question.

No. 10275. January 26, 1833—Mordecai Broaddus, on
behalf of the Board of Overseers of the Poor, represents that the
poor-house lands have worn out and that the wood has been cut
therefrom and prays for authority to sell these lands and buy a
fresh situation.

No. 10350. December 4, 1833—Petition for the establishment
of an election precinct at Needwood. 73 signatures.

No. 10648. December 5, 1834—A petition for a change in the
laws relative to enclosures (the fence law). About 115 signatures.

No. 11032. December 21, 1835—A petition for the erection of
a new county from the counties of Caroline, Essex and King
and Queen. Approximately 500 signatures of citizens of these
three counties.


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No. 11033. December 21, 1835—A petition remonstrating
against the formation of a new county from Caroline, Essex, and
King and Queen. 300 signatures.

No. 11287. December 6, 1836—A petition for an Act making
the North Anna river from Oxford to the junction of the South
Anna and thence the Pamunkey to Tidewater a lawful fence.
40 signatures.

No. 11505. January 10, 1837—A petition for an Act incorporating
the town of Bowling Green. 20 signatures.

No. 11578. January 24, 1837—Petition of the Justices of
Caroline, M. H. Jones, Thos. Rowe, A. C. Coleman, Geo. D.
Baylor, Wm. W. Dickinson, Richard Buckner, Jr., John P. Miller,
S. C. Dickinson, praying to be reimbursed a sum of money spent
in line of duty.

No. 11671. February 16, 1837—Petition for the establishment
of a voting precinct at Central Point. 55 signatures.

No. 11672. February 16, 1837—A petition for the establishment
of a voting precinct at Sparta. 34 signatures.

No. 11717. March 8, 1837—Citizens of Caroline and other
counties pray for the establishment of a bank at Tappahannock.
Approximately 100 signatures.

No. 12477. February 13, 1839—A memorial praying the aid
of the Legislature in promoting the culture of silk. 70 signatures.

No. 12732. December 17, 1839—A petition for an election
precinct at Sparta. 83 signatures.

No. 12974. December 1, 1840—Memorial of Col. Archibald
Samuel contesting the election of Robert B. Corbin as a delegate
to the Legislature.

No. 13790. February 10, 1843—Benjamin T. Taliaferro and
John Taylor, Jr., on behalf of Rappahannock Academy, pray
for authority to sell part of the lands of the said Academy and use
proceeds in making certain improvements.

No. 13891. December 16, 1843—Thomas B. Taylor prays
remission of a fine assessed against him by a jury composed of
George T. Rose, Robert Cunningham, William H. Farish, Peter
D. Goodwin, Daniel Lefoe, William H. Bullard, Aylett Boulware,
Robert DeJarnette, Samuel Terrell, German Goodloe, Edmund
Pendleton and William Chapman. His offence was an assault
on Robert Sale. A large number of citizens joined in his petition,
the jury among them.


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No. 14723. January 2, 1846—A petition of citizens of Caroline,
Essex and King and Queen praying the establishment of a
new county to be called Union county and to have its Court House
"located at the village of Central Point." About 500 signatures.

No. 14771. January 6, 1846—Petition remonstrating against
the formation of a new county from Caroline, Essex, and King
and Queen. About 60 signatures.

No. 14879. January 21, 1846—Petition of 44 citizens of
Caroline praying remission of certain expenses and costs incident
to the prosecution of William Norment, whose crime against his
own daughter so aroused the people of Caroline that there was a
change of venire to the county of Hanover.

No. 14911. January 29, 1846—Citizens of Caroline and
adjacent counties pray for repeal of Act of February 21, 1845,
which prohibited non-residents of Virginia to seine in any of its
waters. Approximately 200 signatures.

No. 15533. February 11, 1847—Wesley Wright and Woodson
Wright, deputies of Pichegru Woolfolk, Sheriff of Caroline, pray
to have refunded to them certain damages assessed because of
their delay in remitting funds accruing from merchants licenses.

No. 15645. December 8, 1847—Same as File No. 15533.

No. 15885. January 13, 1848—Petition from citizens in
northwest part of Caroline praying an Act for the extension
of the Louisa railroad to or near the dock in Richmond. 32
signatures.

No. 16165. March 10, 1848—Petition of the citizens of
Bowling Green praying that the corporate limits of the town may
be extended. Signed by R. B. Tunstall, Wm. P. Roper, A. M.
Glassell, John L. Pendleton, J. G. Parrish, Wm. Maury, Samuel
C. Scott and others.

No. 16367. January 4, 1849—Petition of Anthony Thornton,
Commissioner of Revenue, for repeal of portion of Act of March,
1848 relative to the duties of his office.

No. 16521. January 29, 1849—The voters in the northwestern
part of Caroline county petition for a voting precinct in their
section, the same to be called "Sycamore's." 66 signatures.

No. 16921. January 10, 1850—George Fitzhugh prays for
privilege of rebuilding a wharf at Port Royal.

No. 16982. January 16, 1850—A petition for the establishment
of a "Branch Bank" in Port Royal. 75 signatures.


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No. 16998. January 21, 1850—Remonstrance against George
Fitzhugh's petition relative to rebuilding a wharf at Port Royal.
About 65 signatures.

No. 16999. January 21, 1850—Petition of Elizabeth Quesenberry
and 24 others against George Fitzhugh's wharf petition.

No. 17877. January 22, 1852—A petition for the establishment
of an election precinct at Oakley in the house of F. C. Phillips.
24 signatures.

No. 18390. November 27, 1852—A petition for the establishment
of a bank at Port Royal. Many signatures.

No. 18461. December 22, 1852—A petition for the establishment
of a bank at Port Royal with a capitalization of not less
than two hundred thousand dollars. Many signatures.

No. 18534. January 21, 1853—Petition for a plank road
from Milford to Port Royal, and another from Sparta to intersect
the Milford-Port Royal road. 52 signatures.

No. 18687. December 14, 1853—Petition of Henry R. Carter,
J. Fontaine, B. F. Johnson, S. Gouldin, J. F. Redd, Thos. B.
Anderson and others for an Act declaring the North Anna river
from Oxford to Dabney's Mill a lawful fence.

No. 18695. December 17, 1853—Petition for the charter of
a company to build a railroad or a plank road from Milford to
Port Royal. 31 signatures.

No. 18706. December 20, 1853—Remonstrance of Isaac
Butler and 19 others against making North Anna a lawful fence.

No. 18752. January 5, 1854—Petition of James Lowry,
J. A. Matthews, Thos. B. Anderson that the North Anna be
declared a lawful fence.

No. 18864. January 18, 1854—Petition for the suppression
of the traffic in ardent spirits. 300 signatures.

No. 18999. February 6, 1854—Petition that the North Anna
River be made a lawful fence. 7 signatures.

No. 19443. December 17, 1857—Petition to amend Act of
1856-7 relative to the tax on hawkers and peddlers, exempting
the deaf, dumb and blind. About 50 signatures.

No. 19595. January 18, 1858—Petition for a reduction of the
tax on merchants, and that property and capital employed in
mercantile pursuits be taxed at the same rate of property employed
in manufacturing and agriculture. 31 signatures.

No. 19908. January 12, 1861—Petition to amend the charter
of the town of Port Royal. 23 signatures.


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In the Executive Papers in the Archives of the State Library
may be found the certificates of elections in Caroline, Recommendations
for Sheriffs, Officers of the Militia, etc., etc. These
papers have not yet been classified and to locate the Caroline
papers would entail a search through nearly 150,000 pieces of
matter.