Accomack County, Virginia Court Order Abstracts, Volume 8: 1690-1697

Accomack County’s eighth book of court orders began with the court session held on 8 November 1690. The original court order book still survives, in which John Washbourne, the court clerk, took quill in hand to record the court’s decisions. The courthouse where the orders were issued was deteriorating in the 1690s. Toward the end of 1692, it was decided that the next court session (which was scheduled for the third Tuesday in February) would be held in Scarburgh Port Town at Onancock. The last court date in this volume is 6 October 1697. These pages comprise a fascinating collection of accounts of boundary disputes, crime and punishment, contempt of court, fornication and bastard-bearing, assault, church and religion, economy, domestic violence, food and farming, highways and weather, livestock, household goods and clothing, occupations, taverns, tithables and more. Much can be learned in these records about details of the daily life of the period, including pay rates and costs, Indians, household items, illnesses, clothing worn, servants and slaves. “In wills and deeds the genealogist can learn about his ancestors’ relatives and possessions; in court orders he can learn about his ancestors.”