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Official Records - County Records - Essex County

Essex County--Founded on the south side of the Rappahannock River in 1692, by the eighteenth century Essex County was one of the established Tidewater counties, its economy fully bound to tobacco and the number of slaves relatively high. In the 1790 census, of the total population of 9,122, 5,440, or 60 percent, were slaves. The county justices met at the town of Hobb's Hole, which today is called Tappahannock, and its prominent men included merchant-planter Archibald Ritchie, and Robert Beverley. Across the Rappahannock was Richmond County, whose planters, among them John Tayloe and Landon Carter, joined with those of Essex in family and business relationships.

Trial of Peter, belonging to Thomas Roane
Trial of Peter, belonging to Thomas Roane, and Duke, belonging to William Roane. Their particular crime is not specified. Thomas Roane's slave James had been tried in May 1765. William Roane advertised for Joe, an accomplished personal servant, in the Virginia Gazette (Purdie & Dixon), August 17, 1769 and the Virginia Gazette (Rind), August 17, 1769) and the Maryland Gazette (Green), August 17, 1769).

Examination of a servant for stealing spoons
Examination of a servant for stealing spoons, Jan. 7, 1768. The Court ruled the crime a "breach of trust." Note, however, that her master Charles Mortimer was himself one of the justices and may have determined the verdict. Colonials had little conception of modern conflict of interest laws.

James Emerson's slave Sam and William Porter's Harry
James Emerson's slave Sam and William Porter's Harry tried for burglary, July 1768. Sam had been repeatedly before the justices since January 1766. Always acquitted previously, Sam finally ran out of luck on this occasion. He may have been the Sam Emerson advertised in August 1766. Porter had petitioned to have his slave Jack castrated and advertised for Tom in the Virginia Gazette (Purdie & Dixon), January 28, 1768, and (Rind) February 4, 1768, and was one of three subscribers to an ad for two English convict servants and one mulatto servant who ran away in August 1768.