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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.

Runaway servant costs
Runaway servant costs, March 19, 1776

Runaway servant costs
Runaway servant costs, March 20, 1776. The court's judgement against John Bell shows that slaves and servant might be seized and sold to satisfy debts contracted by their masters. Christopher Warrick, a servant of Joseph Bell (related to John Bell?), later created a disturbance outside the courthouse. See below, August 2, 1776. Justice George Mathews was sheriff of the county in 1771, and placed a captured ad. He also placed two ads for runaway servants in 1773. See Ad 1 and Ad 2.

Various cases involving servants
Various cases involving servants, August 2, 1776. Note the phrase, "by authority of Virginia," an indication that the justices have recognized the Declaration of Independence. The case of Mary Handson (Handsale) shows that some runaways were actually free as they alleged, although her master did not agree to pay her freedom dues.

Convict servant William Brannon
Convict servant William Brannon convicted of theft, October 1776.

Servant matters
Servant matters, November 19, 1776

An illegitimate child and a servant
An illegitimate child and a servant complains of mistreatment, November 20, 1776

A husband asks to take the punishment for his wife
A husband asks to take the punishment for his wife. It appears that the court honored his request, December 18, 1776.