In 1720, Alexander Spotswood saw that his days as Lt. Governor were drawing to a close. Before he lost this seat of power, he sponsored legislation to obtain new benefits from the Colony of Virginia besides protecting his current position. Using a politically correct cause, "security of the frontiers of the colony", he called for the creation of two new counties. These were authorized by the General Assembly on 2 Nov 1720 to become effective on 1 May 1721.
The new counties were to be called Spotsylvania (meaning in Latin, Spotswood) and Brunswick. The name was unusual; prior to this all counties were named either for the royal family or English geographical landmarks. More important to Spotswood was the availability of free land in the new counties and a relaxation of the public levies. Also the restriction on the amount of land that an individual could patent was lifted. Within 24 hours of the signing of the legislation, Alexander Spotswood filed for large tracts of land. He also hoped that the legislation would cover his previous land acquisitions which just happened to be in Spotsylvania County.
The first Spotsylvania County Court was convened at Germanna on 7 Aug 1722 in a room of Spotswood's own home. The six justices who were sworn in that day had been selected by Spotswood (as Governor) in July. Before the Fall season was over, three more justices had been appointed. Basically, this was the court which tried the Second Colony Germans in the lawsuits by Spotswood; however, not all of the justices were sympathetic to Spotswood. Some of them actively opposed him. Terms of service were two years when the sitting justices nominated individuals for the next term. Spotswood seems to have been able to influence the process for a number of years.
County courts in Virginia were authorized to try all civil cases and all criminal cases except felonies and except those involving the death penalty for white people. If the county court felt that probable guilt existed, they referred the execeptions to the General Court in Williamsburg. For slaves, the county courts could inflict any sentence, including the death penalty.
Many matters before the county court were more mundane. Citizens petitioned for new roads, bridges and ferries. They also filed grievances against each other. Indentured servants would run away and be caught and tried in the court. One case that comes close to home was that of Joseph Bloodworth, a runaway manservant, who was apprehended and on 7 May 1723 was sentenced to double the time for the 78 days of his absence, and to twenty-one months for the seven pounds expended in catching him. In addition, because he took some axes when he left, the Sheriff was ordered give him fifteen lashes "well laid on his bare back".
It is of interest that Joseph Bloodworth (Bludwert?) had been in the employ of Alexander Spotswood and the Iron Mine Company.
Let it not be said that life was easy then. Incidentally, Joseph Bloodworth was to acquire 400 acres by patent on 13 Oct 1727. This was on Potato Run on the southeast of Mt. Pony. Perhaps he taken the axes and absented himself to go and stake out his patent.
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.