1. Salutem Sciatis—that is, “Greeting. Let it be known.”

2. The Convention of July 1775 at Richmond provided that on the regular “court day” in April of each year the properly qualified freeholders of every county should choose “two of the most fit and able men” from among their own numbers to attend “General Conventions.” These normally were to assemble at Williamsburg on the first Monday in May (The Proceedings of the Convention of Delegates for the Counties and Corporations in the Colony of Virginia, Held at Richmond Town, in the County of Henrico, on Monday the 17th of July 1775 [Richmond, 1816], p. 47; Hening, Statutes description begins William Waller Hening, ed., The Statutes at Large; being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia, from the First Session of the Legislature, in the Year 1619 (13 vols.; Richmond and Philadelphia, 1819–23). description ends , IX, 54–55). “Court day” in Orange County was “the fourth Thursday,” hence 25 April 1776.

3. Thomas Barbour, sheriff of Orange County.