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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.

Two servants, Harry and Cato Bundy, are ordered released
Two servants are released from service following the death of their master. Perhaps their mother or grandmother was a white woman.

Two slaves are tried for stealing a sloop, October 1772
An interesting case in which two slaves are tried for stealing a sloop, but acquitted after one is discovered to have given false testimony. Slaves could testify in court only against other slaves. See also trial of George, belonging to Clements, August 19, 1771.

Trial of Jack, October 1772
Trial of Jack a slave belonging to Pinnan [Pittman?] for Feloniously taking and stealing a sloop. Access to a boat was a means to escape.

General's trial for perjury
General's trial for perjury, October 1772.

Trial of Ceasar for felony
Trial of Ceasar for felony, 20 October 1772. Ceasar belonged to the estate of Philip Sowerby, and was advertised as a runaway by Charles Yates (Virginia Gazette (Purdie & Dixon), September 23, 1773). After evading capture for some months, he was taken and sent to Norfolk to be sold to the West Indies. See Charles Yates to to George Abyvon, Feb. 17 1774, Yates Letterbook.