VACCINATION ORDERED. 

Steps to Prevent Spread of Smallpox In New Kent County. 

[Special to The Times-Dispatch.] 

New Kent, Va., May 25.-The local Board of Health of New Kent county met at the courthouse yesterday to take such steps as are necessary to prevent the spread of smallpox in the county. Dr. C.L. Bailey, Dr. U.H. Johnson, Dr. J.R. Parker, W.P. T. Tunstall and T.N. Harris, members, composing the board, were present, and ordered that all persons in the two districts in which the disease exists be vaccinated, the expense of such vaccination to be born by the county.  

There are only three cases in this county fully developed and several suspected of being infected. 

-Times Dispatch, 26 May 1912


In 1912 there were 20,190 cases of smallpox in the United States resulting in 235 deaths.

To Each His Just . . .

TEN CENTS REWARD

FOR apprehending and delivering to me to New Kent county, near Bottom’s Bridge, Daniel L. Bradley my apprentice, who absconded on last Sunday; he is a personal youth, very forward, 16 years of age his mother resides in New Kent.— All persons are forwarned from entertaining or harbouring said apprentice, & masters of vessels from carrying him out of the state, as the law will he enforced against them.
                                                 BENJAMIN KEININGHAM. :
November 23, 1805.                            3t*

 -Virginia Argus, 4 December 1805


From the 1803 edition of A Collection of All Such Acts of the General Assembly of Virginia, of a Public and Permanent Nature, as are Now in Force: 1776-1801

XI EVERY orphan who hath no estate or not sufficient for a maintenance of the profits, shall, by order of the Court of the County or Corporation in which he or he resides, be bound Apprentice by the Overseers of the Poor until the age of twenty-one years, if a boy, or of eighteen years, if a girl, to some master or mistress, who shall covenant to teach the Apprentice some art, trade, of business, to be particularized in the indenture, as also reading and writing; and if a boy, common arithmetic, including the rule of three, and to pay him or her twelve dollars at the expiration of the time; and the indentures of such Apprentices shall be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the County, and not transferable to any person whatsoever without the approbation of the Court. 

XII ANY Guardian may with the approbation of that Court in which his appointment shall be recorded, and not otherwise, bind his Ward Apprentice to such person for learning such art or trade, and with such covenants on part of the master or mistress as the said Court shall direct and every such Apprentice with the like approbation, or any Apprentice bound by his father, may, with the approbation of the Court of that County in which the father reside, after he hall be sixteen years of age, agree to serve until he shall twenty-four years of age, or any shorter time, and such agreement entered on record shall bind him.

The Code of 1819 has this . . .

If any person shall knowingly harbor or conceal any apprentice who shall have deserted from his master or mistress, such person, besides being liable to an action for damages, shall forfeit and pay, to such master or mistress, the sum of three dollars for every day that he shall so conceal or harbor such apprentice. 

And according to this calculator the relative wage value of 10 cents in 1805 is . . . $2.25.

"I Consider it Unnecessary for Me to Dilate on Political Minutia"- 1810

TO THE FREEHOLDERS OF NEW KENT

-Follow-Citizens,
I beg leave to inform you, that, in consequence of the suggestions of some of my friends, whose opinions I respect, I shall be a Candidate for your suffrages at the ensuing election of Representatives to the General Assembly: I flatter myself that I shall obtain the approbation of those who are acquainted with my political principles; but to those with wham I have not the honor of an acquaintance, I wish to introduce myself as one, the most cherished object of whose heart is the support of the present Republican form of government in it’s pristine purity; conscious as I am that an intimate Knowledge of the principles of that government has widely diffused itself among you, I consider it unnecessary for me to dilate on political minutia; while at the same time l feel it a duty incumbent on me to declare without reserve those principles which shall mark, the rule of my conduct, I am fearful, however, that in so doing in a manner the most efficacious to place my pretensions in a fair point of view, I shall descend into that kind of prolixity which tires rather by the introduction of familiar topics: but I trust, my Fellow-Citizens, that you would duly appreciate the circumstances under which I come forward, that you will make allowance for my youth and unacquaintance(sic) with some of you, and see the necessity of my entering somewhat into detail.

 I shall premise by observing that as in the ratification of the Federal constitution some of the most important powers of government were given up to the United States, I shall refrain from saying any thing on those powers, as should I obtain the honor of your suffrages, they will exceed the limits of my public duties ; but I hope that the opinions which I am about to express will sufficiently develop my ideas on the leading principles of the Federal Government. Government is the grandest subject on which the human mid has ever been employed, to direct man to a discovery of the real springs of his happiness, deserves the highest commendations which man can bestow, it will then by no means form an objection to me, that I declare my coincidence of opinion with the patriot whose labors produced the mild and equitable government, which under indulgent Providence we now enjoy; One of the most important among the powers reserved to the state is the regulation of the elective franchise- regulation which depends on principles variant as circumstances, since that standard which, when population is thinly scattered, equitably limits the exercise of that inestimable franchise, would after the encrease(sic) of population, and when the price of property has advanced require extension; the next in point of magnitude is the power of taxation— a power in itself highly necessary, but from which may result the most awful consequences, it therefore becomes the duty of the Representatives of the people so to exercise this power as not to exceed the legitimate defied objects of Government. The judiciary system, in its organization tending to perfection, possesses defects which have hitherto eluded the grasp of each successive law passed on the subject, and have in a manner clogged the wheels of justice, on the speedy and uniform administration of which depend the life, reputation and property of the citizen —in the distribution of the offices of Government, we see placed in the hands of the Legislature a power of rewarding meritorious services, which to reward is sound policy, encouraging the citizens to exert his every energy in deference of his country and its liberties.

               I remain, -Fellow Citizens,
               your humble servant.
                   JOHN P. CLOPTON
            ROSLIN, NEW KENT
           
                 February 20, 1810


-Virginia Argus, 27 February 1810

I assume this is John Bacon Clopton, son of John Clopton who was then New Kent's representative to Congress and who would have been only 21 at the time of this election (Virginia legislative elections were held in April). John Bacon Clopton, later Judge Clopton, according to an historical address after his death, "After an unsuccessful candidacy for the State Senate he was elected to that body, in which he served until the end of of the session of 1829-30, when he declined re-election." The Senate district was composed of New Kent, Charles City, and James City in 1810. William Chamberlayne, of Poplar Grove, was the Senator at the time and would represent the district from 1805 until 1818.

However he does refer to the "ensuing election of Representatives to the General Assembly." At that time every county had two members of the House of Delegates irrespective of size who were elected every year. So this may have been an earlier unsuccessful run for the House.