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Official Records - County Records - Accomack County

Accomack County is the northernmost county on Virginia's Eastern Shore. As one of the original counties established in 1634, Accomack has a large collection of records dating back to the earliest years of local government in colonial Virginia. In the first federal census of 1790, Accomack contained 4,262 slaves, or 31 percent of the total population of 13,959. The county also contained a large population of free blacks, and interactions between black and white Virginians in Accomack reveal much of the complexity of Virginia's society. You may read excerpts from county order books for the following years.

Examination of Reuben Warrington for aiding Stephen Mister to break jail
Examination of Reuben Warrington for aiding Stephen Mister to break jail, Sept. 1777. James Carmine and Stephen Mister were notorious leaders of a band of runaways and Loyalist raiders who attacked people and property on Eastern Shore during the years 1777-1779. See Maryland Gazette, July 27, 1779.)

Warrington was kept in prison for 13 days
From the county levy we learn that Warrington was kept in prison for 13 days following his examination, guarded by eight men who received four shillings each for the job. The charges consist almost entirely of expenses related to imprisonment and trial of criminals and traitors.

Examination of Custis Jenkinson on suspicion of treason
Examination of Custis Jenkinson on suspicion of treason, Dec. 8, 1777.