THE SCOTCH-IRISH OF THE VALLEY OF VIRGINIA
...continued

BY HON. JOSEPH ADDISON WADDELL, STAUNTON, VA.

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Population having sufficiently increased, Gov. Gooch on October 30, 1745, issued "a Commission of the Peace," naming the first justices for the county. The county court, composed of the justices, organized and set to work December 9, 1745.

The justices and inhabitants generally were a law-abiding people. They entertained the opinion that law was of no manner of account unless it was enforced. They accordingly searched the statute book for all the offenses of which the court had jurisdiction. Felonies were of rare occurrence--indeed, I have found in the county records no mention of the trial of a white person for felony for fifty years after the first settlement--but other offenders abounded. A jail was soon erected, and shackles, handcuffs, stocks, a whipping post, and a ducking stool for scolding women were provided. Then the new-fledged justices looked out for lawbreakers. The first offender caught was one Edward Boyle, who for damning the court and swearing four oaths was put in the stocks for two hours and fined two dollars. They even fined Lawyer Jones, the king's attorney, "for swearing an oath." They lashed men and women at the whipping post whenever justice required it. The grand juries did their duty. They presented Jacob Coger "for a breach of the peace by driving hogs over the Blue Ridge on the Sabbath." Owen Crawford was presented "for drinking a health to King James and refusing to drink a health to King George." Fortunately for Owen, he effected his escape. But the ducking stool was never used. Why not? I can think of no reason except that there was no deep water near the courthouse. The making of it was an "Irish blunder." I am obliged to confess that a failure to use the ducking stool was not because there were no scolding women in the country; I could mention several by name if it were proper to do so. Of course there are none of this class amongst us now.

Successive grand juries were equally faithful. James Frame was presented for a breach of the Sabbath in unnecessarily traveling ten miles; Col. Thomas Chow, a lawyer, and John Branham, a deputy sheriff, were presented as common swearers; another person was presented "as a disturber of the common peace of the neighbors by carrying lies, and also as a common lyer;" Valentine Sevier, father of Gen. John Sevier, was presented for swearing "6 prophane oaths;" and Samuel Hutts was presented "for a breach of the Sabbath in singing prophane songs." These will suffice to show the determination of our ancestors to suppress all wickedness. It may be safely asserted that few, if any, of these "prophane" people were of the Scotch-Irish race.

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