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From: Peggy J Knox <>
Subject: [MAHAMPDE] Jedediah Smith's Court Docket continued
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 2003 17:27:26 -0500


I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get post this. It is the Court Docket
of Jedediah Smith beginning with entry 29.

(29) "Hampshire Ss.
Be it remembered that on the twentieth day of December in the Year of our
Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Six Joseph B Elmore Was Convicted
Before me....of Swearing Six profane Oaths and of Uttering four profane
Curses
Given under my hand the day and year aforesaid
Jedediah Smith Justice of the Peace
"fined $1.75
twenty five
for 9 others $2.25
_____
$4.00
Costs of Court and Paid Over
Taxed at $6.00
_____
10.00

Dr. Elmore, it may be remembered, was physician in the new
village.

(30) Similar to (29), Harvey Peebles being defendant. Charge, Swearing
three profane Oaths and uttering three profane Curses
"for the first Oath $2.00
for the second Oath .50
for the third Oath .25
for three Curses 25 each .75
______
$3.50
Costs of Court Taxed 7.89
and Paid Over
Jedediah Smith Justice of the Peace
(31) Omitted in docket
(32) March 16, 1807. Thomas Barnard of Blandford complains of assault
by Harvey and Eunice Peebles "to wit with Guns and pistols did beat
bruise & Evil Treat to the Great Damage of the Said Thomas" etc. bound
in $60 to recognize in higher court. Declines and is committed "to our
Goal in Northhampton."

(33, 34, 35.) Bondsmen, witnesses etc. secured in case of Commonwealth
vs. Harvey Peebles; Harvey bound in $2,000 and sureties in $1,000 each.

(36) Dec. 19, 1807. Suit between parties in Montgomery and Russell.

(37) March 18, 1807. Duty Underwood "upon Oath Saith that Nathan Blair
of Said Blandford Physician at Said Blandford on the Seventeenth day of
March Current with force & arms to wit with shovels & knives an assault
did make in & upon the Body of Said Duty the Said Nathan did then & there
with force and arms as aforesaid beat Strike bruise Stab & wound & illy
treat & Other Enormities the Said Nathan then and there did & Committed
against the peace and Dignity of this Commonwealth." Defendant find
$3.00 and costs. Dr. Nathan Blair was one of the doctors of the old
aristocracy.

(38) April 16, 1808. Duty Underwood pleads guilty to an assault upon
Reuben Blair, "with Sticks and fists" and is fined $3.00 and costs.

A memorandum of May 7, 1808, makes record of further offenses by
Harvey Peebles, the complainants being John and Francis Peebles of
Granville. Harvey Peebles had on divers occasions "Threatened the Said
John and Francis that he would by fire Destroy them meaning as your
Complainants Veryly believes that he would in the night time burn the
Houses of your complainants & burn them and their families therein." The
court is asked to require "Securities of the Peace and good behaviour."
He is required to recognize in the sum of $500 with two or more sureties
in the same sum, to appear at the Supreme Judicial Court at Northhampton.
It may be incidental interest to quote the "Bill of Cost in the
Suit the Commonwealth vs. Harvey Pebbles"
"Justice feese
$1.25
Simeon Morgan Officer fees Service 30
Summing five Witness 50
Travil
32
Keeping Prisoner 10 hours 62
Witness John Peebles
attend one day
33
Travel 8 miles
32
Francis Peebles att one day 33
Travel 8 miles
32
Archibald Peebles att one day 33
Travel 8 miles
32
Rufus Peebles att 1 day
33
Travel 6 miles
24
Joel Peebles att 1 day
33
Travel 8 miles
32

______

6.16

There are other scattering notes in this book of entries, but these
abundantly illustrate the character of the whole, so far as the criminal
docket is concerned. As for civil suits, they far outnumbered the
criminal cases, and were almost uniformly for small sums, often less than
a dollar. In Jedediah Smith's account book there is a running account
covering several years with Eli P. Ashmun, attorney. In the year 1803
there are no less than sixty-one entries representing as many suits with
which this able attorney had to do as prosecutor, himself being plaintiff
in eleven of the cases. There is a similar account with Alanson Knox in
1804.

Sumner Gilbert Wood The Taverns and Turnpikes of Blandford 1733-1833
1908. pp 198-203.

Hope this helpful to those doing Blandford research.

Peggy J. Knox
Descendant of William Knox, one of the founders of Blandford
"We read to know we're not alone"

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