My uncle Joseph Dabbs or Dobbs (roughly
1668-1750), brother of my grandmother Rebecca who married Henry Prewett, were
both born in Varina Parish, Henrico County, Virginia. We know little about
Uncle Joseph except that he had, in 1733, one of the dirtiest jobs in
the American colonies, when he was one of two sub-sherrifs in Goochland County,
Virginia. A court was “called” for Goochland County on 25 June 1733 “for the
tryall of Champion a Negro man slave, Lucy, a Negro woman slave, both belonging
to Hutchins Burton, Sampson, Harry, and George, three Negro men slaves
belonging to William Randolph, Esq’r, & Valentine, a negro slave belonging
to Bowler Cocke gent.” Champion (then worth 30£) confessed to “feloniously
murdering Robert Allen” of Goochland County and was ordered to be returned to
where he had lived and to be hanged there until dead. George, Sampson &
Harry were also accused of “feloniously murdering Robert Allen” but they were
acquitted. Valentine (worth 40£ at the going price) pled not guilty but was
found guilty and like Champion ordered to be returned to the scene of the crime
and hanged until dead. Lucy pled not guilty and circumstances were extenuating
enough that she was ordered to “receive on her bare back twenty one lashes well
laid on at the Com[m]on whipping post” and then be discharged. It was further
ordered that “the heads & quarters of Champion & Valentine be set up in
severall parts” of Goochland County.
Thomas Walker and Uncle Dabbs did their
assigned tasts, as duly itemized. At court on 9 October 1733 the
sub-sherrifs’ bills were presented, payment figured in pounds of tobacco:
Goochland County... .... .. ........... ............ ... Tobacco.
To Thomas Walker &
Joseph
Dabbs sub-sherifs for a mis-
take in the levey in 1732. ........ ..................... 10
To Do. for going to
Williamsburg for a Comission of Oyer & Terminer to try Champion, Lucy, Valentine, Samp son, Harry & George, Negros 90 miles going at 2£ and 90 miles returning at 2£ p. mile. ......360.. To Do. for sumoning the Justices and attending the Court for the tryal of the said Negros. ........ ... . .... . . . . . . 200
To Do. for Executing
Champion & Valentine, 250£ each . . 500
To Do. for providing
Tarr, burying the trunk, cutting out the quarters[,] a Pott, Carts & horses, carrying and setting up the heads & quarters of the two Negros at the places
mentioned
by order of Cou rt. . . . . ..... . . . . .. . ... . . ...2000
To Do. for gallows & ropes to hang the two said Negros. . .
60
To Do. for 24 days imprisonment of Champion @ 5£ p. day. 120
To Do. for 22 days imprisonment of Lucy @ 5£. . . . . . . . . . .
110
To Do.
for Comitment & releasment of Lucy,Sampson, George & Harry ....• • ..... .... ....... .... ... .... . . . . 8o
To Do. for 12 days imprisonment of
Valentine @ 5£
To Do. for 12 days imprisonment of
Valentine @ 5£ . . . . . 60
To Do. for 4 days
imprisonment of Sampson @ 5£. . ...... 20
To Do. for 4 days
im prisonment of Harry @ 5£
. . . ....... 20
To Do. for 4 days imprisonment
of George
@ 5£. ... . . . . .
2
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