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From: <>
Subject: Amusing 1686 Chester County Court Case (a long text file)
Date: Sun, 15 Sep 1996 22:43:11 -0400

Source: Copied from "Allen ROBINETT and His Descendants in America Part I". A
publication of the ROBINETT Family Association (1992). From page 61:

"Thus the following records are here given in their entirety as instructive
side-lights on the quaint speech and customs of the early colonists and the
homely details of their pioneer life in which the Robinetts and their
associates were directly concerned"

Att a Court held att Chester for the County of Chester the 3rd day in the 1st
weeke of the 10th month 1686 and soe held by adjournment the next day.

John BLUNSTONE (Presidt); Justices: John SYMCOCKE, George MARIS, Bartholomew
COPPOCKE, Samuel BEVIS, Robert WADE, Robert PILE. Thomas USHER (Sherife),
Robert EYRE (Clerke).

Joshua HASTINGS (Plt) and Ffrancis YARNALL (Defendt) in action of trespasse.
The names of yet Petty Jury: Robert VERNON, Edmond CARTLEIDGE, Edward CARTER,
John TAYLOR, Nathaniell EVINS, John CHILD, Joseph RICHARDS, John EDGE, Walter
FFAUSSETY, Thomas MINSHALL, Caleb PUSEY, John MENDINGHALL.

The declaration was read. The answer was read.

Allen ROBENETT being attested declareth that he know the boore (boar) of ye
plt Joshua HASTINGS and that to ye best of his knowledge it was ye same boore
and further saith not.

Ffrancis BALDWIN being attested declareth that ye boore in possession of
ffrancis YARNALL was ye plts boore & that he saw the boore att Allen
ROBENETTS.

Randall MALIN being attested declareth that he being att ye house of Allen
ROBENETT did there as he was told see ye plts boore and that the boore as he
was alsoe told by said ROBENETT was bitten in the stones by David OGDEN's dog
he was alsoe told ye same by John HOLSTONE, John HASTINS being attested
declareth that he did with his own knife marke ye plts boore and that sd
boore was att home all one sumer and all the Winter following and that he say
him noe more. Butt heard of him and that he never say him at all untill he
saw him att ffra YARNALLS and doe further more declare yt (that) he knew it
to be ye plts boore.

William MALIN being attested declareth that he did see a sandy collowrd boore
butt he knew not whose it was and further saith not.

Judith CALVERT (wife of John) being attested declareth there was a boore yt
kept company with their swine butt afterwards shee did not hear yt ye boore
was ye plts boore and that he went from thence and was away some time and
when he came againe he had been bitten on ye right side of ye stones as shee
thinks butt when ffrancis YARNALL came to their house to se ye boore he said
he did thinke this boores marke was very much like his and that ye boore was
of lighter collour than his and further saith not.

George MARIS the Elder being attested for ye defendt declareth that he knew
ffrancis YARNALL did brid (breed) a boore of a sandy collour and that he had
oftern served him with meat and that his marke was ye defendts marke and
after ye marke and by ye stones and in every respect both of growth and shape
it was the defendts boore.

John CALVERT being attested for ye defendt declareth that ye boore which
ffrancis YARNALL booke away was about three months att times att his house
and afterwards about ye 1st month ffran. YARNALL ye defendt tooke him away
and that ye boore was bitten behind on ye right side of ye stones.

John FFOX being attested for ye defendt declareth yt he knew ye boore and yt
he had one stone hanging downe lower than ye other and that he was bitten by
the down on ye right side of ye stones.

Jane CALVERT being attested declareth tht ffran. YARNALL came to John
CALVERTs and did there drive a boor into ye hog yard and did there say that
he thought his boore was of a lighter collour and that ye marke was not
altogether like his marke and further saith not.

Margaret HOLLINGSWORTH being attested declareth that ye boore was a right
boore before he was bitten and that he was supposed to be Joshua HASTINGS
boore by ye neighboorhood and that ye boore was there most part of ye winter.

Caleb PUSEY being attested declareth that ffrancis YARNALL did enquire of him
whether there was not a boore about his house with one stone who told him he
had seen a strange boore there.

Thomas BRISTOW being attested--etc etc
John MARIS being attested--etc etc

George MARIS ye younger being attested for ye defendt declareth that he had
certain knowledge of ffrancis YARNALLs boore and that it was ye same boore
which ffrancis YARNALL brought them to new when he fetcht him home.

John HALLOWELL being attested for ye defendt declareth ye boore was att his
house & that it was ye same boore which he saw att ye latter end of ye sumer
and yt ye boore was att Jacob SYMCOCKs and he believes it was ye defendt
ffra. YARNALLS boore.

The Jury finde for ye Plaintife twenty five shillings with cost of Suite
Hereupon Judgment is granted upon which ye Defendt makes his appeale to ye
next Court of Equity for this county. The Court adjourne unto ye 3d day in ye
1st Weeke of ye 1st moneth next and ye next day Sate in Equity.

ffrancis YARNALL of this County Preferred a Bill to this Court Wherein he
required a Remedy against ye Verdickt of Jury and Judgment of Court Obtained
against him by Joshua HASTINGS of ye same County att the last Court of Common
Pleas held for this County of Chester the 3d and 4th days of this Present
Weeke upon which it was Decreed that ffrancis YARNALL should pay 10s and bear
butt helfe the Charges of the Court.......

Footnotes for this volume of ROBINETT family materials provide genealogical
background for most of those involved in this suit.

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