Description:

Washington George 1732 - 1799

George Washington legal document while President regarding a plea of trespassing, assault and battery.

Contemporary copy of a George Washington document dated Nov. 2, 1793 reading in full: "Know all Men by there presents that we George Washington and Lawrence Berry are held and firmly bound unto Rodham Kenner in the . . . sum of four thousand pounds current money of Virginia to be paid unto the said Rodham Kenner his heirs . . . on or before the 29th day of April next to the payment whereof will and truly to be made we bind ourselves each of us and each of our heirs . . . witness our hands & seals this second day of Nov'r. 1793.

The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas Ruben Turner Deputy Sherriff . . . Anthony Thornton (sheriff) . . . hath taken the body of the above bound George Washington by virtue of a writ to him directed and Lawrence Berry became his bail for his appearance at the District Court to be held at the Courthouse in the Town of . . . the 29th day of April next now if the above bound George Washington that makes his personal appearance on the above mentioned . . . then and there to answer Rodham Kenner of a plea of Trespass assault & battery damage two thousand pounds. Then the other obligation to be paid otherwise to remain in full . . . & virtue." The document is signed Geo. Washington (seal), Law. Barry (seal) "signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of John G. Cattin."

Little can be found regarding Rodham Kenner but the Kenner mentioned could be Rodham Kenner II, a sporting youth who indulged in drinking in betting during a time when gambling was forbidden. And interesting story about Rodham Kenner II dates back to when his father, George died a wealthy man in 1772. Rodham's Mother, Margaret remarried to a man named John Dugard, an adventurer who recently moved to Virginia from Baltimore. The marriage displeased Rodham and when his parents cut his allowance putting a crimp in his betting and drinking,. Rodham took a trip to Baltimore to see what he could dig up on his step-father. Turns out, Dugard already had a wife in Maryland when he married Margaret. Rodham returned home with the affidavits to prove his findings and Dugard was convicted of bigamy. Dugard refused to accept his conviction and employed Patrick Henry to appeal his case to the General Court. The appeal was successful and Dugard returned to Virginia a free man but he refused to pay Henry for his services. Henry turned on Dugard and saved the family fortune for Rodham. Rodham Kenner, II, later became a naval officer aboard the "Proctor" and the "Dragon" during the Revolutionary War.

District Courts in Virginia were created to relieve the General Court of the backlog of common law cases. District Courts were established in 18 Virginia locations and the district of Kentucky in 1789. Each district was comprised of several counties and was held twice a year in each district. General Court judges presided over the District Courts. The court for the district of Spotsylvania included Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George, Stafford, Orange, Culpeper and Counties. District Courts were abolished in 1808 and replaced by Superior Courts.

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