Happenings - 1925

 

 QUINTON

Tuesday was regular term of court for New Kent. Judge Robertson presided¹. The court was in session two days it being regular grand jury term. There were three indictments brought in for prohibition violations. One was fined $50 and sentenced to 30 days in jail, but jail sentence was suspended. Others were acquitted. One colored boy was indicted for breaking into the store of Goode Brothers² near Quinton. Case continued until next term, Sept. 15. A large crowd was present from Providence Forge, interested in the case of a young merchant, Mr. Charlie Hughes³of Providence Forge, who was indicted the last term of court for selling groceries on the Sabbath. Mr. Hughes is a hustling young merchant, doing a fine business, has beautiful property, beautiful dwelling, fine hotel, and is a fearless plunger in any enterprise where the vision of an extra dollar is in sight. He is on the job, and when he puts out a dollar there is soon another to keep it company. In a few years he will be wealthy, another New Kent millionaire. Another hustling merchant there is young Lem Binns.⁴ He is doing a fine business, as also are R. F. Mountcastle and R. E. Richardson, all in this growing little town of 500 inhabitants (soon will reach 1000).

Another at this place is Dr. Parker⁵, a retired physician. He is now on Easy street, has a beautiful home and happy family. Doing an immense business at his large garages and selling automobiles, trucks, and tractors. He has sold more cars and trucks than all others combined. Wealthy he is, yet plain and sociable. Across the street is the beautiful home of Sheriff E. F. Gill⁶, one of the happiest homes of the village. Electric lights, porcelain bath tubs, running water in every room, cold or hot as needed. Several years ago he married the beautiful operator Miss Cammie Robertson⁷, one of the four beautiful Robertson girls. Unusual to see, yet it was a family off operators, they having learned under their devoted father, who served as such for the C. & O. for 30 years. All these sister operators, yet all of these sisters decided to get married and have homes of their own and now they have them. “While we are young we have a position as long as we want it, but the day will come when younger ones will take our places.” So all decided, as wise girls will, to marry young, and often if need be, for they would say we have no time to wait for time is flying, the rose that blooms today tomorrow may be dying.                                                                                TRUTHFUL JEEMS.

 

-West Point News, 7 August 1925

 ¹ Judge Thomas B. Robertson of the Hopewell corporation court who was sitting on the bench due to the illness of Judge D. G. Tyler.

² I have not been able to find a thing about any "Goode Brothers" store.

³ Charles Evans Hughes, but not that Charles Evans Hughes. He owned the wreath factory in Providence Forge as well as the general store. 

⁴Leonard Binns the postmaster?

⁵Dr. J. Russell Parker(Nov 20 1880- Dec 10 1964) owned Woodberry and Sycamore Springs

⁶Sheriff Edward Franklin Gill (b. 1879) would be killed in a hit and run incident in 1929

⁷Camilla J. Robertson one of the seven daughters of Junius Edward Robertson.

Reconstruction Winter- 1870

                                                            Letter from New Kent.
                                         [Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.]
          New Kent C. H., Va., Dec. 5th, 1870.

A motion to set aside the election in this county will be made before Judge Benj. W. Lacy, in a few days, upon the grounds that the registration books were not opened in accordance with the election law, fifteen days anterior to the day of voting. The popular impression is that the court will grant the petition, and that the Conservatives will have another shuffle and deal. In this event they may succeed in winning, as the Radicals only triumphed by a very small majority in the late contest. The result would have been otherwise but for the almost criminal apathy on the part of the Conservatives, many of whom remained quietly at their homes while others were battle nobly for political disenthralment(sic). Much has been said about the Hon. Jos. Mayo¹ allowing himself to be run on the Radical ticket for Commonwealth's attorney. The platform upon which this gentleman stands is not erected of Radical or Conservative timber, as he defines his political position, for he declared to your correspondent immediately after the election that he was not identified with either party; that he had been solicited by both sides to become a candidate. Be this as it may, it is known that he did formally accept the nomination of the Radicals, and was elected by them.

The quarterly term of the county court has just closed, Judge Lacy presiding. A negro man was found guilty of larceny and sentenced to imprisonment in the county jail, but the negro having the election between this and the whipping-post, preferred the latter and became the recipient of fifteen stripes², properly administered by the sheriff. In this the negro evinced wisdom, for it is not half so painful as a protracted incarceration, particularly at this season of the year.

From the late census returns one would readily perceive that the population has been greatly depleted in this county within the last decade, and one see the decline of industrial resources in every neighborhood. It certainly cannot be an indication of increasing prosperity of a county or State when there is such an alarming loss in the people as there has taken place here in such a short period, numbers of young men have gone out to seek their fortunes in different portions of the Union since the war, and will likely never return. But we cannot think a country abounding with every natural resource for greatness can long remain in such a depressed state, and we believe that in the course of the next decade a new era will dawn.³ 

A party consisting of five gentlemen from your city came here a week ago with the view of hunting, and in a few days killed fifteen deer, among them some as heavily antlered as were ever seen in an American forest. 

Mr. W. A. Pollard, a most worthy and enterprising young man of Baltimore, who died at the residence of his brothers, in your city, was brought to the country for internment to-day. He was a gallant Confederate, and bore himself heroically in the war, and received a most painful wound, from which he never wholly recovered. Old Hickory

-Daily Dispatch, 9 December, 1870

1 Joseph Carrington Mayo, was the same Mayo who was mayor of Richmond, 1861-1865 and 1866-1868. After his second term as mayor he moved to New Kent about the same time as the death of his brother Dr. John Mayo, a county resident. Joseph served as Commonwealth's Attorney from 1868 until his death in August 1872.

 2 The whipping post was abolished by the "Readjuster" General Assembly of 1882.

3 The Census of 1870 gave New Kent a population of only 4,381. This was a decline of 25% from the 1860 figure(5,884). New Kent had the smallest population of any county east of the Blue Ridge.

The Reassessment- Conclusion

I have never done this before, so consider this a bit of a test. I have embedded a PDF of the pages 192 and 193 of the New Kent County Court Order Book, 1860-1867 with the Order relating to the Property Tax reassessment of 1864.

The Reassessment- III

A few more notes, this time dealing with the people on the list . . .



2) George Timberlake. Why is he on the first list, but not the second?

2) Susan Toler. Married to Henry Toler she held Cumberland plantation in her own name as an inheritance from her first husband. In the 1860 census schedule she is listed as holding 60 slaves of all ages. The 1860 Property Tax book lists 29 slaves over 12 years of age( but some more were very close to that age according to the census) so 34 would represent virtually all of the adult Toler slaves. The Toler slaves will prominently figure in some upcoming posts.

3) There are several large owners of human property in New Kent who are totally unrepresented: George Brumley(24 slaves in Property Tax books), Henry M. Sherman(36), Isaac Vaiden(27), Richmond T. Lacy(33), Braxton Garlick(41), and of course W. H. F. Lee(78).

The Reassessment- II

A few explanatory comments on yesterday's post.


First some background on the tax itself . . .

In 1782 the General Assembly of Virginia enacted a major revision of the commonwealth’s tax laws. The act provided for statewide enumeration on the county level of certain personal property and land. It also created a permanent source of revenue for the operation of government in Virginia.

 . . .

Various revenue acts passed by the General Assembly established the tax rates and procedures for the collection of personal property taxes. At first, justices of the local court were designated to collect the taxes. By 1786, the county courts were directed to divide each locality into precincts and to appoint commissioners to collect the taxes. Taxes were assessed between March and April of each year and were payable by the end of December.

The commissioners prepared four “fair and correct” copies of the personal property tax books. Copies were prepared for the commissioner, county clerk, sheriff, and auditor of public accounts.

-Using Personal Property Tax Records in the Archives at the Library of Virginia
by Minor T. Weisiger
Library of Virginia 2010



So with that in mind . . .

1- It appears then that the losses of slaves occurred between Spring 1863 and December of that year.

2- The total number of escaped slaves mentioned is 213. Valued at some $134,472 Confederate dollars.

3- Only slaves over twelve years of age were usually counted on the Property Tax books so I assume only slaves over twelve were counted here.

4- The 1860 Property Tax book,the closest to 1864 of which I have full scans, counts some 1808 slaves. The slaves referenced here would then make some 12% of that total.

The Reassessment- I

Even in the Nineteenth Century people complained about their tax assessment, but this request for adjustment is a bit different . . .
(sorry about the crooked columns- it's properly aligned in my editor)

New Kent County                                              New Kent County

At a Court of Quarterly session begun and held for said county on Thursday the 10th day of March 1864 at the Courthouse of said County.

                                                Present

                                Elijah Ball                      Presiding Justice

                                John C. Apperson

                                Wm W. Taliaferro

                                Benj. Timberlake

                                Robert F. Carter

On the application of the following named citizens of the County that they are erroneously assessed by Edmund W. Allen the Commissioner of Revenue with taxes for the year 1863 on slaves, who, since their lists were rendered to the said Commissioner have escaped to the enemy, namely

Thomas W. Atkinson                   1 slave valued at                                     $ 866.00

Wm F. Atkinson                           1                                                              633.00

Ira L. Bowles                               4                                                             1500.00

John Ball                                      6                                                             3315.00

Sarah T. Crump                            4                                                             3600.00

Bat. D. Christian                           6                                                             3858.00

D. P. Chandler                              1                                                               600.00

James I. Drake                             1                                                             1000.00

Ann M.V.Farinholt                        7                                                             4200.00

A. C. Farinholt                             7                                                              4830.00

Geo. L. Timberlake                       2                                                             1466.00

Ro. A. Farinholt                            4                                                             2544.00

James M. Goddin                        17                                                           12750.00

Mary H. Howle                             2                                                             1600.00

John A. Hockaday                        1                                                               675.00

Roland Jones                                4                                                              2400.00

Martha A. Jones                           1                                                                700.00

Burwell B. Jones                           6                                                              3300.00

Vernon P. Jones                            3                                                              1725.00

Thomas S. Morris                         6                                                              3000.00

Thomas S. Martin                         1                                                                700.00

Wm B. Merry                               1                                                                462.00

John Parrish                                 14                                                              8400.00

M.C. Poindexter                           6                                                              2940.00

J.L. Poindexter                              9                                                              5000.00

John A. Richardson                       5                                                              3000.00

Wm P. Richardson                         1                                                              1200.00

Wm T. Ratcliffe                             1                                                                600.00

Richard G. Smith                           4                                                              2908.00

P.F. Taylor                                     1                                                                800.00

Frs H. Timberlake                          1                                                                550.00

Susan Toler                                  34                                                             21080.00

Ro. L. Timberlake                          4                                                               2844.00

Wm F. Timberlake                         1                                                                 600.00

John M. Timberlake                       6                                                               5000.00

Thos W. Timberlake                    14                                                             10560.00

Nathl J. Turner                              8                                                               4640.00

R.B.  Weisiger                               3                                                               2040.00

Wyatt S. Woodward                     7                                                               3010.00

Jno R. Williams                             2                                                                 776.00

Mary C. Williams                          6                                                               2800.00

And that they desire to be relieved from the payments of the taxes so imposed; and John P. Pierce esq, the attorney prosecuting on behalf of the Commonwealth in this Court being  present and defending said applications, and the Court being satisfied that the said applicants are erroneously charged upon the Books of the said Commissioner of the Revenue for  the year 1863 for the slaves so escaped,

Doth order that the said applicants

Thomas W. Atkinson from the payment of $                       8.66                      

Wm F. Atkinson                                                               6.33

Ira L. Bowles                                                                  15.00

John Ball                                                                         33.15

Sarah T. Crump                                                               36.00

Bat. D. Christian                                                              38.58

D. P. Chandler                                                                   6.00

James I. Drake                                                                 10.00

Ann M.V. Farinholt                                                           42.00

Avery C. Farinholt                                                            48.30

Geo. L. Farinholt                                                             14.66                                    

Ro. A. Farinholt                                                               25.44

James M. Goddin                                                           127.50

Mary H. Howle                                                               16.00

John A. Hockaday                                                             6.75

Roland Jones                                                                   24.00

Burwell B. Jones                                                              33.00

Vernon P. Jones                                                               17.25

Tho S. Morris                                                                  30.00

Tho S. Martin                                                                   7.00

Wm B. Merry                                                                   4.60

John Parrish                                                                    84.00

M.C. Poindexter est                                                        29.40

J.L. Poindexter est                                                           50.00

John A. Richardson                                                          30.00

Wm P. Richardson                                                           12.00

Wm T. Ratcliffe                                                                  6.00

Richard G. Smith                                                              29.08

P.F. Taylor                                                                          8.00

Frs H. Timberlake                                                               5.50

Susan Toler                                                                     210.80

Ro. L. Timberlake                                                             28.44

Wm F. Tmberlake                                                               6.00

John M. Timberlake                                                          50.00

Thos W. Timberlake                                                        105.60

Nathl J. Turner                                                                  46.40    

R.B.  Weisiger                                                                   20.40

Wyatt S. Woodward                                                          30.10

Jno R. Williams                                                                    7.76

Mary C. Williams                                                               28.00

each, be and they are hereby exonerated of the said sums have not been already paid and if  paid that the sums so paid be refunded to them respectively ordered that the following named persons, Thomas W. Athenson,Wm F. Atkenson, Ira L.  Bowles, John Ball, Sarah F. Crump, Bat. D. Christian, D.P. Chandler, James I. Drake, Ann  M.V.Farinholt, Ro. A. Farinholt, Avery C. Farinholt, James M. Goddin, Mary H. Howle, John A.  Hockaday, Roland Jones, Burwell B. Jones, Vernon P. Jones, Tho S. Morris, Tho S.  Martin,Wm B. Merry, John Parrish, the estates of Martha C. Poindexter and J.L. Poindexter  John A. Richardson, Wm P. Richardson, Wm T. Ratcliffe, Richard G. Smith, P.F. Taylor, Frs H.  Timberlake, Susan Toler,  Ro. L. Timberlake, Wm F. Timberlake, John M. Timberlake, Thos W.  Timberlake, Nathl J. Turner, R.B.  Weisiger, Wyatt S. Woodward, Jno R. Williams, and  Mary  C. Williams, be and they are hereby released from the assessment of thirty per cent upon so  much of the Revenue tax assessed against them and from the payment of which they have been exonerated by an order of this Court entered on this day, on account of slaves escaped to  the enemy.

And the sheriff is hereby ordered to credit the said person by the thirty per cent assessed against them for County purposes, on the sums of money from the payment of which they have been released.

-New Kent County Court Order Book, 1860-1867

#2719104 10/8/2013

Who's the Boss? Pt. I

The United States Circuit Court of Appeals decides that under laws of Virginia a woman may be "the head of a family" in the sense demanded by homestead exemption law of this state.  

The case arose in New Kent county and has attracted much attention. It is entitled Marian H. Richardson vs. W. f. Woodward, trustee, et al. It went up from the United District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The lower court decided that a married woman living with her husband could not claim the benefit of the exemption law.

                                                 STATEMENT OF FACTS.

Mrs Marian H. Richardson, a married woman living with her husband, conducted a mercantile business at Plum Point, New Kent county, under the style of  "J. L. Richardson, Agent." J. L. Richardson, the agent, was her husband. Besides the wife and husband, there was a daughter 13 years old, all of whom resided in the home, owned by the wife. Mrs. Richardson was postmaster at Plum Point, the post-office being kept in the store and managed by the husband, who conducted the business. Previous to entering into this business J. L. Richardson was a clerk for R. E. Richardson, and he and the other clerks boarded with his wife. Just when J. L,. Richardson ceased to clerk for R. E. Richardson does not appear, but about May 10, 1898, Mrs.Richardson made an assignment for the benefit of her creditors, and closed the business. 

About September, 1898, J. L. Richardson again commenced business in the same house as agent for T. J. Richardson, his brother. During all the time Richardson was. conducting business for his wife and for his brother he carried passengers back and forth between Plum Point and the station. Money made in this was used to aid his wife to support the family. 

The goods conveyed in the assignment did not pay off the creditors of J. L. Richardson, agent, and in January, law, Mrs. Marian 11. Richardson filed a petition in bankruptcy, the order of adjudication being entered the next day.

                                         BOTH CLAIMED EXEMPTIONS.

Afterwards J. L. Richardson filed a petition and claimed all his property under the Virginia "Poor Debtors' Law" (section 3650 et. seq., Code of Virginia), which exempts certain chattels to "a householder or head of a family. Marian H. Richardson filed an amended petition and claimed her real property under the "Homestead Exemption Law." The title to the real estate is in the Wife, who, according to her husband's testimony and that of the wife on examination, was, and always had been, regarded 'as' the head of the family. The husband was her assistant and agent. The only question argued was whether, being a married woman, living with her "husband, petitioner is entitled to the homestead exemption as "a householder or head of a family," as provided by the Constitution and laws of Virginia.

                                            SHE IS HEAD OF A FAMILY

The District Court decided to the contrary, and the case was taken up to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals, and heard before Judges Goff and Simonton. of that court, and Purnell, of the District Court. Judge Purnell handed down a decision at Raleigh yesterday, which reverses the decree of the District Court, and remands the cause in "order that the bankrupt's claim for homestead exemption may be allowed."

-Richmond Dispatch., August 26, 1900