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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.

Smallpox was a concern
Smallpox was a concern of every colonial community. The relatively new practice of inoculation, because it actually introduced the disease into the area, was tightly regulated, and sometimes even prohibited. Many of the ads describe runaways scarred with smallpox.

Runaway servant
Runaway servant, March 18, 1777.

Inoculations for smallpox
Inoculations for smallpox in Staunton, March 18, 1777.

A case of slander
A case of slander, March 19, 1777. County courts and church wardens kept a close watch on such "scandalous" speech. Plaintiff John Gratton was also a justice.

Runaway servant
Runaway servant, May 21, 1777.

Servant matters
Servant matters, August 19, 1777

More on the Indian servant Nat
More on the Indian servant Nat, September 17, 1777.

Still more on Nat
Still more on Nat, the Indian, November 18, 1777.

Servant Elizabeth Ferris agrees to serve a year
Servant Elizabeth Ferris agrees to serve a year for her new master and servant John Hix gives up freedom dues for early release from his indenture, December 16, 1777.