Thomas Jefferson Papers
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Jury Findings regarding Land Seized by David Michie, 30 July 1812

Jury Findings regarding Land Seized by David Michie

Albemarle county to wit

An Inquisition for the Commonwealth, indented & taken on the lands between the town of Milton & the Rivanna river, parcel of those formerly the property of Bennet Henderson deceased, and since held by his widow in right of dower and his sons John, James L. and Charles, in the parish of St Anne’s and county aforesaid the 301 day of July in the year 1812. before John2 Watson and David J. Lewis3 justice of the peace for the sd county and by the oaths of Charles Huckstep William Crenshaw. James Clark, John Rogers, William Ballard, Benjamin Thurman—Frederick Gillum—Jessie B Key, Peter Minor, John Kelly, James Leitch—Samuel Barsdale—Abraham Johnson—Nicholas H Lewis—John Watson (of little Mountain) Joel Shiflet—William Suttle—William Wood. and Reuben Grady4 good and lawful men of the said county, who, being charged & sworn, upon their oaths do say that Thomas Jefferson of Monticello in the same parish & county was5 peaceably siesed of and in the parcel of lands aforesaid in the parish & county aforesaid, and his sd siesin so continued until David Michie of the parish of Fredericksville & county aforesd, & other persons to the jurors aforesd6 unknown on the 23d day of this present month,7 into the parcel of lands aforesd with the appurtenances did enter, and him the sd Thomas Jefferson thereof did8 disseise, & him the said Thomas Jefferson, so disseised from the said 23d day of this present month until the taking of this Inquisition, with like strong hand9 did keep out, & do yet keep out, to the great disturbance of the Commonwealth, and against the form of the statute in such case made and provided. In witness whereof the10 said jurors to this Inquisition have severally put their seals, the day, year, and place first above mentioned.

P Minor {}
John Kelly {}
Jesse B Key {}
Jas Leitch {Seal}
S. Barksdale {Seal}
William Ballard {Seal}
Nicholas H Lewis {Seal}
Joel Shiflett {Seal}
William Crenshaw {Seal}
James Clark {Seal}
John Rogers {Seal}
W Wood {Sl}
John Watson {S}
Frederic Gillum {Sl}
Benjamin Thurman {Sl}
Charles Huckstep {Sl}

MS (ViU: TJP); written on both sides of a sheet of indented paper; in TJ’s hand except where noted; in unidentified hand at foot of recto: “Turn over”; signed by Peter Minor and fifteen others, with each signature followed by the signer’s handwritten representation of a seal.

The 1792 Virginia statute regarding forcible entries and detainers provided that it was illegal for a person to enter onto land that was not lawfully his, and it stipulated further that even if the land were claimed legally, possession should be taken “not with strong hand” but “in a peaceable and easy manner.” Failure to follow these strictures would subject violators to arrest by a justice of the peace and the consequences of a court hearing (Acts of Assembly description begins Acts of the General Assembly of Virginia (cited by session; title varies over time) description ends [1792–93 sess.], 44–5).

1Blank for day filled in in an unidentified hand.

2Word written over “David,” erased.

3Preceding two names filled in in an unidentified hand, with last two words interlined.

4Preceding nineteen names filled in in an unidentified hand.

5TJ here canceled “lawfully and.”

6Word interlined.

7TJ here canceled “with strong hand & multitude of people.”

8TJ here canceled “with strong hand.”

9TJ here canceled “and […] power.”

10An unidentified hand here canceled “Jurors aforesaid have put their names & seals this 30th day of July 1812.” Remainder on verso.

Index Entries

  • Ballard, William; as juror search
  • Barksdale, Samuel; as juror search
  • Clark, James; as juror search
  • Crenshaw, William; as juror search
  • Gillum, Frederick; as juror search
  • Huckstep, Charles; as juror search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Business & Financial Affairs; dispute with D. Michie search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Writings; Jury Findings regarding Land Seized by David Michie search
  • Jefferson v. Michie; jury findings search
  • Kelly, John; as juror search
  • Key, Jesse B.; as juror search
  • Leitch, James; as juror search
  • Lewis, Nicholas H.; as juror search
  • Michie, David; and inquisition regarding Henderson lands search
  • Michie, David; Jefferson v. Michie search
  • Minor, Peter; as juror search
  • Rogers, John (of Albemarle Co.); as juror search
  • Shiflett, Joel; as juror search
  • Thurmond, Benjamin; as juror search
  • Virginia; statutes on forcible entry search
  • Watson, John; as juror search
  • Wood, William (of Albemarle Co.); as juror search