Examination of the two ringleaders of the escape. This is one of several records dealing with this group of runaways.

At a Court held for the Examination of Dollar & Greenock two Negro Men Slaves belonging to Robert King Junr. James a Negro Man Slave belonging to James Pettigrew & Pleasant a Negro Woman Slave belonging to William Gore Junr. on Suspicion of Felony in Accomack County May 29, 1751.

Present as above.

The said Negroes being set to the Barr under the Custody of the Goaler & examined concerning the Premises upon which & hearing the witnesses produced It is by the Court considered that the said Negroes be committed to the Custody of the Sherif as Felons the said Dollar & Greenock for the Felonious breaking & entering the Meat House of John Hall & stealing thereout three midlings of Bacon the Property of the said Hall & the said James and Dollar for the Felonious breaking & entering the Mill of Joshua Riggs & taking thereout a Quantity of Meal. And the said Pleasant as an Accessory to the said Felonies after the same were committed and that the Sherif apply for a Commission of Oyer & Terminer for their Trial. William Andrews recognized to Our Sovereign Lord the King in the Sum of Two Pounds Stg. for the Appearance of his Servant Boy Hamelot Robinson to testify on behalf of Our said Lord the King at a Court of Oyer & Terminer to be held for the Tryal of the above Slaves.

These minutes signed by
Thos. Parramore

Trial of Dollar and Greenock

Court of Oyer & Terminer held in Accomack County, June 27th, 1751.

A Commission of Oyer and Terminer To Edmund Scarburgh James Wishart Thomas Evans Anderson Patterson, John Wise, Littleton Scarburgh, Major, Thomas Parramore, Robert Pitt, Ralph Justice, Edmund Allen, Thomas [Toakle?] Taylor, William Bagge, William Beavans, Henry Custis, Edmund Scarburgh, Junr. Charles West, James Rule, Richard Drummond, Charles Stockley, John Walley, Samuel Burton, & Thomas Ryley, Gent. directed for the Tryal of Dollar & Greenock two Negro Men Slaves belonging to James Pettigrew & Pleasant a Negro Woman Slave belonging to William Gore Junr. on Suspicion of Felony being lead together with the Dedimus Potestatis for administering the Oaths to the Commissioners. . .

Present John Wise, Thomas Parramore, Edmund Allen, William Bagge Henry Custis & James Rule Junr.

The above Greenock and Pleasant were lead to the Barr under the Custody of the Goaler and being arraigned on an Indictment The said Greenock for the Felonious breaking & entering the Meat House of John Hall of this County in the Night Time & thereout stealing & taking away three Midlings or Points of Bacon of the value of Twenty Shillings current money belonging to Persons unknown And the said Pleasant after the said Felony known by her to have been committed for feloniously receiving & comforting him the said Greenock Severally plead not Guilty And an examination of the Witness & hearing the said Greenock & Pleasant it is the Opinion of this Court that the said Greenock is not Guilty of the Felonious breaking & entering the said Meat House, but that he is Guilty of the feloniously taking and carrying away the Bacon. And that the said Pleasant is not Guilty The said Greenock was likewise arraigned on an Indictment for the Felonious breaking & entering the Meat House of John Hall of this County & taking thereout a Quantity of Bacon of the Value of Ten Shillings Sterling belonging to Persons unknown pleaded not Guilty And on Examination of the Witnesses It is the Opinion of this Court that the said Greenock is not Guilty of the Felonious breaking & entering the said Meat House but that he is Guilty of the Felonious taking and carrying away the Bacon.

The said Greenock and Pleasant were likewise arraigned upon an Indictment the said Greenock being in Custody of the Sherif within the Goal of this County to answer the Felonious breaking & entering the Meat House of John Hall of this County in the Night Time & feloniously stealing & taking three Milings of Bacon out of the said House by Virtue of an Order of this County Court did feloniously break the said Prison & out of the custody of the said Sherif against his Will did escape And the said Pleasant before the said Felony committed the said Greenock in the said Prison to committ the sd Felony maliciously & feloniously did excite persuade & procure To which they severally plead not Guilty And on Examination of the Witnesses and hearing the said Greenock & Pleasant It is the Opinion of this Court that the said Greenock is Guilty of the said Felony, And that the said Pleasant is not Guilty.

Whereupon It is considered by the Court upon the whole That the said Greenock be burnt in the Hand in open Court by the Goaler And that he receive Twenty Five Lashes on his Bare back well laid on at the Public Whipping Post of this County and that he be put into the Pillory & stand therein for the Space of one Quarter of an Hour with both Ears nailed thereto & then be cut down.

The said Pleasant was likewise arraigned on an Indictment for the Felonious stealing and taking away on Lot of the Value of One Shilling current money of the Goods & Chattels of William Andrews ad pleaded not Guilty, And on the Examination of Witnesses and hearing the said Pleasant It is the Opinion of this Court that she is Guilty of the Felony whereupon It is considered that she receive Twenty Five Lashes her bare back at the Public Whipping Post of this County well laid on.

The Minutes of these Proceedings were signed

John Wise.

Virginia Slavery Laws