Commission of oyer and terminer issued by Francis Fauquier in the case of Jenny, 1760 October 1

Commission of Virginia Lieutenant-governor Francis Fauquier appointing justices from King George County to sit as a court in the trial of Jenny, an enslaved woman belonging to Joseph Strother, for the murder of her daughter, Joan. The men named in the commission are Charles Carter, John Champe, Samuel Donne, John Triplett, Thomas Jett, Charles Carter Junr., George Washington, Samuel Skinker, Joseph Murdoch, William Newton, William Robinson, Thomas Skinker, Anthony Strother Junr., William Cunningham, John Knox, Arthur Morson and Horatio Dade. The commission was signed by Fauquier and dated October 1, 1760.

Printed document completed in manuscript.

A wax seal illustrated with a crown is attached to the document by a silk ribbon.

Virginia, ss.

Francis Fauquier Esq; His Majesty's
Lieutenant-Governor, and Commander in Chief of the
said Colony and Dominion.

To Charles Carter, John Champe Samuel Donne John Triplett Thomas Jett, Charles Carter Junr.
George Washington, Samuel Skinker Joseph Murdoch William Newton William
Robinson Thomas Skinker Anthony Strother Junr. William Cunningham John Knox Arthur
Morson and Horatio Dade of the County of King George Gentlemen Greeting

WHEREAS in Pursuance of an Act of Assembly, made at a General Assembly, begun and holden at the College, in the City of Williamsburg, the Twenty-seventh Day of October, in the Twenty-second Year of his present Majesty's Reign, Annoque Domini, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty-eight intituled, An Act directing the Trial of Slaves committing Capital Crimes, and for the more effectual punishing Conspiracies and Insurrections of ^ ^them and for the better Government of, Negroes, Mulattoes and Indians, Bond or Free." It has been represented to me, by William Rowley Gentleman, Sheriff of the said County, That Jenny a Negro Woman slave belonging to Joseph Strother is committed to and remains in the Common Gaol of the said County on suspision of Murdering her daughter named Joan a Slave also belonging to the said Strother and the said Sheriff hath prayed that a Commission may issue for the Trial of the said Slave, according to Directions of the said Act of Assembly. KNOW YE therefore, That I the said Francis Fauquier by Virtue of the Powers and Authorities to me granted by his Majesty, as Commander in Chief of this Dominion, do assign and impower you the said Charles Carter, John Champe Samuel Donne John Triplett Thomas Jett, Charles Carter Junr. George Washington Samuel Skinker Joseph Murdoch William Newton William Robinson Thomas Skinker Anthony Strother Junr. William Cunningham John Know Arthur Morson and Horatio Dade or and Four, or more of you, whereof any of the said Charles Carter, John Champe Samuel Donne John Triplett Thomas Jett Charles Carter Junr. George Washington Samuel Skinker or Joseph Murdoch shall be one, Justices in such Manner, and by such Ways and Methods, as in the said Act of the General Assembly is directed, prescribed, and set down, to enquire of, and to hear and determine all Treasons, Petit-Treasons, or Misprisons thereof, Felonies, Murders, or other Offences, or Crimes, whatsoever, committed or perpetrated within the said County, by the aforesaid Jenny and more especially the Murder aforesaid aforesaid, for the better Performance whereof, you, or any Four, or more of you as aforesaid, are hereby required and commanded, some Time between this Day and the first Day of November next, publickly at the Court-House of the said County, to cause the said Jenny to be arraigned and tried for the said Offence or Offences, or any of them, whereof she shall be accused, and she being found guilty, in such Manner, adn upon such Evidence as the said Act of the General Assembly doth direct, to pass Judgment as the Law directs, for the like Crimes, and on such Judgment to award Execution, or otherwise her to acquit as of Right ought to be done. Given under my Hand, and the Seal of the Colony, at Williamsburg, the first Day of October One Thousand Seven Hundred and sixty in the thirty fourth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King GEORGE the Second.

Fran: Fauquier