Commission of oyer and terminer issued by William Gooch in the case of Austin, 1733 July 4

Commission of Virginia Lieutenant-governor William Gooch appointing justices from Prince George County to sit as a court in the trial of Austin, an enslaved man belonging to Daniel Eelbank accused of committing a felony. The men named in the commission are John Poythris, Robert Mounford, Robert Bolling, Lewis Green, Francis Eppes junr., William Harrison, Thomas Ravenscroft, John Beard, William Stark, Thomas Cocke, William Poythris, David Walker, James Munford, John Bannister, Richard Bland, Edward Booker, and Theophilus Field. The commission was signed by Gooch and dated July 4, 1733.

Prined document completed in manuscript.

[Recto]

Virginia Ss William Gooch Esq his Majesties Lieut. Governor and Commander in Chief of this Colony and Dominion

To John Poythris Robert Mounford Robert Bolling Lewis Green ffrancis Eppes junr. William Harrison Thomas Ravenscroft John Beard William Stark Thomas Cocke William Poythris David Walker James Munford John Bannister Richard Bland Edward Booker and Theophilus ffield Gent Greeting

Whereas in Pursuance of an Act of Assembly mad[e] [a]t a General Asembly begun and holden at the Capitol the Ninth day of [M]ay in the third ye[ar] of the Reign of our late Sovereign [his Majesty?] George the first annoque Domini One Thousand Seve[n] [hundred] twenty three Entitled an Act directing the trial of Slaves [commi]tting Capital Crimes and for the more Effectual Punishing Conspiracies and Insurrections of them and for the better Government pf [Negr]oes Mulattoes and Indians bond or free It hath been represented to me by William Eppes junr. Gent. Sherif of the County of Prince George That Austin a Negro man Slave belonging to Daniel Eelbank of the aforesaid County is committed to and remains in the common Goal of the said County on Suspicion of being guilty of ffelony And the said Sherif hath prayed that a Commission may Issue for ^ ^{the tryal of} the said Slave according to the direction of the said Act of Assembly Know ye therefore that I the said William Gooch by virtue of the [Po]wers and Authorities to me granted by his Majesty as Commander in Chief of this Dominion do assign and Impower you the said John Poythris Rbert Mounford Robert Bolling Lewis Green ffrancis Eppes junr. William Harrison Thos. Ravenscroft John Beard William Stark Thos. Cocke William Poy[th]ris David Walker James Munford John Bannister Richard Bland Edwd. Booker Thos. ffield or any four or more of you whereof any of you John [Poythris] [Robert] Mounford Robert Bolling Lewis Green ffrancis Eppes junr. William Harrison Thomas Ravenscroft John Beard or William Stark Shall be our Justices in Such manner and by Such ways and methods as in the said Act of the General Assembly is [torn] Prescribed and Set down to Enquire of and to hear and determine all Treasons Petit Treasons or suspisions thereof [torn] Murders or other offences or Crimes whatsoever Comitted or Perpetrated within the said County of Prince George by the said Negroman Slave and more Especially the ffelony aforesaid for the better performance whereof you or any four or more of you as aforesaid are hereby required and Commanded Sometime between this day and the twenty fourth day of August next P[u]blickly at the Courthouse of the said County to cause the said Negroman Slave to be arraigned and tried for the said offence or offences or any of them whereof he Shall be accused and the said Slave being found Guilty in Such mannr and [torn] Such Evidence as the said Act of the General Assembly doth direct to pass Judgment [torn] Execution or otherwise him to acquitt as of Right ought to be done Given under my hand and the Seal o[f] [torn] at Williamsburgh the Twenty fourth da[y] [torn] One Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty three [torn] In the fourth Year of the Reign of our Sove[reign] Lord King George the Second

William Gooch

[Verso]

Commission of Oyer and Terminer
for the tryal of Eelbank's Negro

July the 4th 1733.