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Official Records - County Records - Augusta County

Augusta County, west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, was formed in 1738 from Orange County. Little tobacco was grown there, and the county had fewer slaves than Virginia’s more eastern counties: a 14 percent slave population by the 1790 census. But as the records make very clear, Augusta had a very large servant population, many of whom appear in the order books.

Examination of two women for stealing
Examination of two women for stealing, January 12, 1773.

Examination of William Place
Examination of William Place for theft, February 18, 1773.

A case of spouse abuse
A case of spouse abuse, March 16, 1773.

Runaway Jack and Cornelius Fitzjarel
Runaway Jack and Cornelius Fitzjarel [Fitzgerald], March 17, 1773.

Complaint of a disorderly house
Complaint of a disorderly house and "entertaining servants," March 23, 1773.

Margaret Sollas complains that her husband has runaway
Margaret Sollas complains that her husband has runaway, May 19, 1773.

Complaint of a servant
Complaint of a servant, May 23, 1773.

Disagreement between two justices
Disagreement between two justices, May 22, 1773. In August and again in November 1773 Sampson and George Matthews were in Richmond, where they placed ads for convict servants they had purchased, Virginia Gazette (Purdie & Dixon), August 12, 1773 and November 11, 1773

Runaway servant David Essex
Runaway servant David Essex August 17, 1773.

Complaint of servant Cornelius Fitzgerald
Complaint of servant Cornelius Fitzgerald, August 17, 1773. Fitzgerald had runaway and been captured in March 1773. See above, March 17, 1773. Also runaway servant Walter Clark.

Servant Matthew Lattimore agrees to relinquish his freedom dues
Servant Matthew Lattimore agrees to relinquish his freedom dues, August 18, 1773. Custom allowed servants a bonus of clothing and/or tools when their time was up. Other orders concerning runaway servants.

Runaway servants
Runaway servants, August 19, 1773.

Runaway servants, and a witness who broke jail
Runaway servants, and a witness who broke jail, August 21, 1773. William Watterson, the witness who broke jail, had appeared before the justices charged with criticizing one of them in August 1769.

A man's sons are bound out as apprentices
A man's sons are bound out as apprentices and a runaway servant, August 23, 1773.

Runaway servant
Runaway servant; and a servant given extra time for running away and "short work," August 25, 1773. John Thrift was advertised by Robert M'Kittrick, May 1775.See ad. In August and again in November 1773 Sampson and George Matthews were in Richmond, where they placed ads for convict servants they had purchased, Virginia Gazette (Purdie & Dixon), August 12, 1773 and November 11, 1773.

A servant's time remitted
A servant's time remitted, and a runaway, November 16, 1773.

Servant Mary Handling given extra time
Servant Mary Handling given extra time for having illegitimate children, and another runaway servant, November 17, 1773. Servant Cornelius Fitzgerald had runaway and been captured in March 1773, then complained against his master in August. See above, March 17, 1773, August 17, 1773. It is possible that the Cornelius Fitzpatrick in the last order was aldo Fitzgerald.

A servant (a doctor) purchases his freedom
A servant (a doctor) purchases his freedom, November 19, 1773.