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These minutes are a collaborative effort of Pamela Vojnovski, who made copies of them, and of Barbara Boynton and Donna Warlick who typed from the originals and proofed them. Note by County Coordinator: Gadsden was still a Territory at this time and had no complete county government, with employees to do the work. There were just appointed figures, like the judges, sheriff, tax collector, and clerk of the court. The judges would assign men living on the roads to be the overseer of the road maintenance on a certain road. The judge would assign another man to "apportion the hands" on the road for a certain overseer. The phrase "apportion the hands" meant to decide how many hands (workers) would be needed and then request that many slaves of large land owners living near the road when it was time to actually do the work. Note by County Coordinator: The minutes were full of abbreviations that persons who have never read old documents would not understand, including names of people. Those abbreviations have been removed for ease of reading and to make people's names retrievable when querying. A blank indicates the word or words were unreadable. A question mark indicates unsure of transcription. Abbreviations used herein: |
April 1825 Term |
Gadsden County Court, April Term 1825 In open court this day administered the oath prescribed by law to the within named
E. A. Robinson Personally appeared before me this day the within named David L. White and took the oath as prescribed by law faithfully to discharge the duties of his office and
also to support the Constitution of the United States, Tallahassee 17th Feby 1825, In open court his day administered the oath prescribed by law to the within named Jason Gregory. In open court this day administered the oath prescribed by law to the within named Arch’d (Archibald) Smith Junr (Junior) In open court this day administered the oath prescribed by law to the within named Michal Harvey In open court this day the within named Collin Wooten was qualified in term of the law IApril 11th, 1825 This day the Court for the County of Gadsden is opened agreeable to law. By order of Court Benjamin D. Wright is admitted to practice law in said court. It is ordered by the Court that Joseph McBride and Adam Gordon be admitted to practice law in this court and they severally took the oath prescribed by law. A return of the list of Jurors summoned by the Sheriff: There being no business for the Petit ordinally discharged. E. A. Robinson, Clk align=left>Henry Young vs Estate of E. M. Attaway is dismissed at the Court Isom Carett vs William Stafford in attachments and William Stafford as garnishee. Andrew N. Johnston vs Wm. Stafford, Claim Garnishee Case brought up and settled by the parties in open court John Love, Plantive vs Samuel Edwards. The defendant filed in this case following bill of exceptions which are ordered to be rendered. Hector McNeill vs Daniel Campbell Case, Debt $138, Settled in open Court. April 12th, 1825 The Court met agreeable to adjournment and the following justices presided Tuesday the 12th April 1825. Present the County business. April 12, 1825 Ordered by the Court that E. A. Robinson account amounting to Twenty Dollars including all extra services performed to this be paid out of any moneys in the County Treasury not otherwise appropriated. The Court proceeded to the appointments of Constables for the County and made the following: Daniel Love, John Edwards or
Wiliam Ellis Junr and Daniel D. Duglass and ordered that the Clerk take Bond and good security of said individuals agreeable to law as also to qualify. The Court proceeded to investigate Robert Forbes petition verbally for additional compensation for building the Court House and
Jury room and now decide final that the report of the committee for forty two dollars and fifty cents is all they will order him paid. The Court appoints Doctr’ Malcom Nicholson, Hezekiah Wilder and Col. Henry Yonge as commissioners to examine and select the
most convenient and eligible situation for the permanent seat of justice fo the County of Gadsden and require them or any two of them to report
their proceedings herein to this Court on Tuesday the 10th day of May next at the present Court House and that they be duly qualified by some
Judicial officer previous to their entering on the duties assigned them as the law directs. The Court appointed John Lines County Treasurer and Assessor of Tax Returns and prescribe to him as assessor to attend twice
at each of the following places giving ten days previous notice Viz (Viz means "thusly"): At the house of Andrew N. Johnston and Court House and that David L. White
be appointed to receive his bond and file same with the clerk. The Court proceeded to appoint patrols and appoint Thomas B. Wooten, John Smith, Junr, William Edwards, James A. Wooten and
David Buie to patrol the following bounds from Forbes Creek to the South East by Whil lackschee and north by the Georgia line and Appalachicola
and that they ride once in every two weeks or oftener if they deem it necessary. Thomas B. Wooten, Captn. From Forbes Creek to Rocky Comfort
Creek and Little River appointed Edward A. Robinson, Thomas McCall, Hezekiah Wilder, Lewis Gregory and Thomas Gray, Col. Robinson Captn.
and to ride once in every two weeks and c or oftener if they deem necessary. From Whelockachee to Swamp Creek appointed George McElven,
Duncan Buie, Alexander McMillin, George McElven, Captn. and to ride every two weeks or oftener if necessary. From Swamp Creek down between
Little River and River Oaklockney (Ochlockonee) appointed Littleberry Hollinger, James U. Wilson, Andrew N. Johnston, Daniel D. Duglass, Thomas Spate and
David Harley, Thomas Speight appointed Captn and that they ride once in every two weeks or oftener if assumed by them necessary. Ordered that
the clerk furnish speedily each Captain with a copy of this order. In Open Court this day administered the oath of office prescribed by law to Robert Forbes Esqr as Sheriff of Gadsden County. David L. White having produced satisfactory certificate of his qualification and standing as a physician he is accordingly authorized to practice and c. Ordered that the keeper of keepers of the several ferries that now or may be in operation in the County are authorized to come forward to the Clerk
and give bond and security and in compliance shall be authorized to receive the same rates as were the past year allowed to the same or similar ferries. The Court proceeded to lay their county tax for the year 1825 as follows: Ordered by this Court that Robert Forbes Esq shall be appointed Collector of the County tax and shall receive five per cent commission for said service. E.A. Robinson, CGCC David L. White, Presiding Judge, Jason Gregory, Associate Judge, Collin Wooten, Associate Judge, M. Harvey, JP, Archibald Smith, JP |
May 1825 Term |
May 10, 1825 This day the County Court for the County of Gadsden has met agreeable to its appointment for the purpose of receiving of the report of the commissioners appointed for the purpose of selecting the county sight for the County of Gadsden. Present his Honor David L. White, Presiding Judge, Collin Wooten and Jason Gregory, Associate judges. Henry Yonge, M. Nicholson and Hezekiah Wilder the three commissioners appointed on notice of an Act of the Legislative Council passed the 29th day of December, A. D. 1824 having this day reported to us as directed by said Act that they have selected the Northwest quarter of Section number seven township No. Two and 3rd range N&W, It is therefore received and acknowledged by this Court to be in conformity with the said Act passed 29th day of December A. D. 1824 and shall be considered as constituting hereafter the seat of Justice for the County aforesaid until otherwise provided for by law. It is ordered by the Court that the county surveyor proceed without delay to lay off a town on said quarter section under the direction of the Court and that he meet the Court on the site on Thursday the 26th instant for said purpose. It is ordered by the Court that the clerk shall have printed one quire of advertisements of sale of lots which sale shall commence on Thursday the 7th day of July
next at ten o’clock A.M. of said day and continue for three days if necessary and proposals will be received at any time during the sale for erecting a Court House and Goal
and plans of which will be exhibited by the Court. The town at the County shall shall be called and known under the name of Quincy. Ordered that the County Treasurer pay
unto David L. White, Jason Gregory and Collin Wooten the sum of four dollars and fifty cents each for three days service each to this. Ordered by the Court that Dr. M. Nicholson be paid by the County Treasurer three dollars and Col. H. Yonge and Cap. H. Wilder two dollars each. |
October 1825 Term |
Gadsden County Court October Term 1825 Oct. 10th This day the Court has commenced its present session in conformity to the Act as prescribed by law. Present the Hon David L. White, Presiding Judge, Jason Gregory and Collin Wooten, Associate Judges, Archibald Smith, M. C. Harvey, Justices of the Peace. The following gentlemen being summoned by the Sheriff as petit jurors were duly
appeared and qualified and took their seats, viz: There being no business for the jurors they were therefore dismissed by order of the Court. Oct. 10th 1825 Monday The defendant confessed judgment for the Plaintiff agreeable to transcript with costs in this court. 1. By order of the Court David B. Macomb was admitted to practice law in the county. 2. Ordered by the Court that Wm. Belcher, Joseph McBride, Seaborn Rawls, Wm. Ellis, senr and George Little be appointed commissioners to examine, make out and report to this Court, a road leading from the Town of Quincy by Rogers ferry and from thence the nearest way to the Oaklokney in the directest way to Tallahassee. 3. The petition of a number of the citizens of this county praying a road to be established already opened from the Georgia line at Mosquito Creek to John Rodgers ferry was granted by the Court and A. Smith, Junr appointed to lay off the same into road districts. 4. Ordered by the Court that Wm. Norwood, Andrew Johnston and Isham Johnston be allowed pay for services rendered in marking a road from the Georgia line on Parham’s trail to Tallahassee, three days each, error this day corrected. 5. The petition of a number of the citizens of this county to establish a road already opened from the Georgia line on Stricklin’s road by David Youngs and Mathew Fain’s to Vickers Ferry on the Ocklockney river was granted by the Court and Joseph McBride appointed to lay off the said road into districts and report as the law directs. The Court then adjourned until 10 o’clock a.m. Gadsden County Court October 1825, October 11th Tuesday. 6. This day the Court proceeded to reconsider the order No. 2 passed on yesterday, appointed as commissioners William Belcher, Joseph McBride, Seaborn Rawls, Wm. Ellis, Senr and George Little to examine, mark out and report to this Court as the law directs a road leading from Quincy by Rogers Ferry and from thence the nearest way to the Oaklockney in the direction to Tallahassee be and the same is hereby rescinded. 7. Ordered by the Court that John Colston be appointed guardian of the orphan Emily William Elizabeth Horne and that he give bond and security
in the penal sum of ten thousand dollars. The following contains an exact schedule of the property of Emily William Elizabeth Horne orphan now in my possession viz: 1 negro man aged 51 years 8. The petition of a number of inhabitants of this County to appoint, commission and mark a road from Little River at or near where Parham’s Trail crosses it, to strike the Oaklockney in the nearest way for Tallahassee, was granted and John Lines, Wm. Ellis, Senr and Dr. Malcolm Nicholson are now appointed as commissioners to view and mark out the same and report as the law directs. 9. The Court his day received the report of Archibald Smith, Junr., Esq appointed to lay off the road leading from the Georgia line to Murray’s Ferry into districts, having reported two divisions or districts, proceeded to appoint overseer to the first division from the Georgia line on the Mosquito Creek, to the South prong of the Attapulgus known by the name of Big Branch appointed James Askew overseer, to the second division from the run of said branch on Parham’s Trail to Little River appointed John Edwards, overseer and give to each a list of hands. 10. The petition of a number of inhabitants of this County for a neighborhood road leading from Cold Springs meeting house to Quincy was granted and Thomas Dawsey, John Paramore and Wm. Paramore, Senr to view, mark out and report said road as the law directs. 11. The Court directs that the County receiver be paid four percent as compensation for said service and two dollars and fifty cts per hundred for taking the census. 12. Ordered by the Court that Robert Forbes, Esqr, Sheriff pay over unto the County Treasurer the whole amount of the county tax on or before the fifteenth day of November next. 13. Ordered by the Court that the County Treasurer pay unto David L. White, Jason Gregory and Collin Wooten the sum of three dollars each for attending court at October term 1825 two days each. 14. John Colson in compliance with the order of Court entered into bond with Hezekiah Wilder and Thomas Gray as his sureties in the penal
sum of ten thousand dollars for the faithful discharge of his duties as guardian of Emily William Elizabeth Horne, orphan and it is further odered that the Clerk
record said bond in the large county book of record. October Term 1825. Signed before adjournment |
December 1824 Term |
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