Court Cases of the Johnson Family Document A: Anthony the Negro Acquires Land in Northampton County Document B: Anthony Petitions for His Slave, John Casar, in 1654
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Court Cases of the Johnson Family Document A: Anthony the Negro acquires Land in Northampton County Document B: Anthony petitions for his slave, John Casar, in 1654. Document C: Anthony returns to court over John Casar, in 1654. Document D: Deposition of Charity Buckland Document E: Edmund Scarbrough gives land to Thomas Johnson. Document F: Deposition of Samuel Goldsmyth Document G: Deposition of John Johnson, 1653 Document H: Mary Johnson exempted from taxes and levies Court Cases of the Johnson Family Document A: Anthony the Negro acquires Land in Northampton County The deposition of Edwyn Conaway Clark taken in open court in1645. This deposition saith that being at the house of Captain Taylor about the Tenth day of July last past the said Captain Taylor in the morning went into the quartering house and this deponent comeing forth of the dwelling house did see Captain Taylor and Anthony the negro goeing into the Corne Field And when they return’d from the said Corne Field the said Negro told this deponent saying now: “Mr. Taylor and I have devided our corne And I am very glad of it (for) now I know myne owne, hee finds fault with mee that I doe not worke, but now I know myne owne ground and I will worke when I please and play when I please, And the said Captain Taylor asked the said Negro saying are you content with what you have And the negro answered saying I am very well content with what I have or words to that effect, And further not.”(p.242) (Conaway Clarke, then the clerk of the Northampton County Court) Susie M. Ames, ed., County Court Records of Accomack-Northampton, Virginia, 1640-1645. Charlottesville, VA. 1973. p 457. Document B: Anthony petitions for his slave, John Casar, in 1654. The deposition of Capt. Sam’ll Goldsmyth taken 8th of March 1654 saith that being at the house of Anth. Johnson negro about the beginning of November last, to receive a hog head of tobacco, a negro called John Casar came to) this dep’t and told him that the came into Virginia for service, or eight years per judgement and that he had demanded his freedom of Anth. Johnson his master and further said that he had kept him his servent and the charge then he should or ought and desired that this dep’t would see that he might have no wrong where upon your dep’t demanded of Anth. Johnson his indenture the said Johnson answered he never saw any the negro replied when he came in he had an indenture Anth. Johnson said he had the negro for his life, but Mr. Robert and George Parker said they know that the said negro had an indenture in one Mr. Careys hand, on the other side of the bay, further the said Mr. Robert Parker and his brother George said (of the said Anth. Johnson did not let the negro go free) the said negro John Casar would recover most of his cows from him the said Johnson then Anth. Johnson (as this dep’t did suppose) was in fearce (FOLIO 226) (upon this discourse) Anth. Johnsons son in law, his wife, and his own two sons, persuaded the old negro Anth. Johnson to set the said John Casar free more saith not. Sam’ll Goldsmyth Teste Edm. Matthews clk cur Walczyk, Frank V. transcriber,Northampton County Virginia, Orders, Deeds, & Wills, 1651-1654 Book IV. Peter’s Row, New York. 1971. Pg. 192-193. Document C: Anthony returns to court over John Casar, in 1654. Where as complaint was this day made to the court by the humble petition of Anth. Johnson negro agt. Mr. Robert Parker that he detaineth one John Casar a negro the plaintiff servent (under pretense that the said John Casar is a freeman) the court seriously considering and maturely weighing the principles do find that the said Mr. Robert Parker most instly. Keepeth the said negro (John Casar) from his said master Anth. Johnson, as appeareath by the deposition of Capt. Sam’ll Goldsmyth and many probable circumstances. Its therefore the judgement of the court and ordered that the said John Casar negro shall forthwith be returned into the service of his said master Anthony Johnson and that the said Robert Parker make payment of all charge in the suit atr exec. Walczyk, Frank V. transcriber,Northampton County Virginia, Orders, Deeds, & Wills, 1651-1654 Book IV. Peter’s Row, New York. 1971. Pg.193. Document D: Deposition of Charity Buckland Deposition of Charity Buckland, aged 35 years, 16 December 1663. Said that she and John Rogers were at the house of Antony Johnson, Negro, and she demanded to know if the cow he reported belonging to her children was there or not. He said it was not, for it was Mr. Hack’s. Buckland asked if it was Mr. Hack’s mark, and he said it was Abram Morgin’s mark. Signed, Charity (Ch) Buckland Walczyk, Frank V. transcriber,Northampton County Virginia, Orders, Deeds, & Wills, 1651-1654 Book IV. Peter’s Row, New York. 1971. Pg.61. Earlier-Deposition in Court on October 28th, 1663 The difference depen’t between Lt. Thomas Hunt and Anthony Johnson negro (concerning a cow) is referred to the examination and final defamation of Capt. Sam’ll Goldsymth and Mr. Robert Parker. Walczyk, Frank V. transcriber,Northampton County Virginia, Orders, Deeds, & Wills, 1651-1654 Book IV. Peter’s Row, New York. 1971. Pg.175. Document E: Edmund Scarbrough gives land to Thomas Johnson. A Certifficate graunted unto Edmund Scarbrough. Richard Price, John Jackman, Edward Cuttings, William Williamson. I Edmund Scarbrough doe by these presents the Certifficate and the Land due thereby unto Mr. Thomas Johnson his heyres or Assignes witness my hand this 28th of December. Edmund Scarbrough A Certifficate granted unto Thomas Johnson. James Gutts, Thomas Johnson, per Certifficate 200, Mary Johnson, Mary Wilson, Mary Mylls, John Jenkins, William Coart, William Quick. Document F: Deposition of Samuel Goldsmyth From John H. Russell. Colored Freemen as Slaveowners in Virginia. Journal of Negro History. Vol. 1, no. 3. (1916): 234-235. The deposition of Capt. Samll. Goldsmyth taken in open court 8th of March [16]54 sayeth that being att ye house of Anth. Johnson Negro about ye beginning of November last to receive a Hogsd of tobac, a negro called Jno. Casor came to this depo [nen]t & told him yt hee came into Virginia for seaven or eight years of Indenture; yt hee had demanded his freedome of Antho. Johnson his mayster & further sd yt hee had kept him his serv[ant] seaven years longer than hee should or ought; and desired that this Deponent would see yt hee should or ought; and desired that this Deponent would see yt hee might have noe wronge; whereupon your deponent demanded of Anth. Johnson his Indenture. the sd Johnson answered hee never saw any. The negro Jno. Casor replyed when hee came in he had an Indenture. Anth. Johnson sd hee had ye Negro fro his life, but Mr. Robert & George Parker sd they knewe that ye sd Negro had an Indenture in one Mr. S hand on ye other side of ye Baye. Further sd Mr. Robert Parker & his Brother George sd (if the sd. Anth. Johnson did not let ye negro go free) the said negro Jno Casor would recover most of his Cows from him ye sd Johnson. Then Anth. Johnson (as this dep’t. did suppose) was in a great feare…Anth. Johnsons sonne in Law, his wife & his own two sonnes persuaded the old negro Anth. Johnson to sett the sd. Jno. Casor free…more sth not. Samll Goldsmyth. Eight March Anno 1654. Whereas complaint was this daye made to ye court by ye humble peticion of Anth. Johnson Negro ag[ains]t Mr. Robert Parker that hee detayneth one John Casor a Negro the plaintiffs Serv[an]t under pretense yt the sd Jno. Casor a Negro is a freeman the court seriously considering & maturely weighing ye premises doe fynd that ye sd Mr. Reboert Parker most unrightly keepeth ye sd Negro John Casor from his r[igh]t of mayster Anth. Johnson as it appeareth by ye Deposition of Capt. Samll Gold smith & many probable circumstances. be it therefore ye Judgement of ye court & ordered that ye sd Jno. Casor negro, shall forthwith bee turned into ye service of his sd master Anthony Johnson and that the sd Mr. Robert Parker make payment of all charges in the suite and execution. Document G: Deposition of John Johnson, 1653 For as much as John Johnson negro, the son of Anth. Johnson negro, hath this day made his complaint to the court that John Johnson Senior most instly distaineth a patent of his for 450 acres of land (which patent the said John Johnson negro claimeth and probable the affirmeth to be for his land) its therefore ordered that the said John Johnson Senior shall make his appearance at the next court held in this county. At the house of Walter Willyams, upon 28 of February to answer the suit of the said John Johnson negro, and (if it shall be proved that the said John Johnson Senior hath wrongfully detained the negro his said patent, that then he shall pay damages ( as the court shall think fit and in cause, with all costs and charges in the suit. At exec. Recorded novo die September 1653 per Edm. Mathews clk cur Walczyk, Frank V. transcriber,Northampton County Virginia, Orders, Deeds, & Wills, 1651-1654 Book IV.