Smyth County, Virginia Order Book 20, 1897-1901

Order Book 20 begins at court on 17 April 1897 with the listing of deeds and other writings admitted to record since the last term of court, starting with the deed of 30 Mar 1897 from J. M. Pratt and wife to Jas. F. McCready and ends 597 (minus appendage) pages later at court, with the 19 June 1901 trial of Earl Scott (Felony #1). Additionally as a supplement to the body of OB 20, pp. 598 and 599 contains the "List of Pensioners" active in the county 1888 through 1901 with the year the pension was first allowed and the year of death (if applicable).

The contents of this OB 20 are similar to the OBs 10-19 (refer especially to intro for OB 14 for specifics, being especially rich in detailing of various causes) as reiterated in the Introductions to these OBs. Especially helpful are the listing of deeds (a veritable "deed index") and other writing admitted to record in each previous court term and, as painful as it may occasionally be, the indictments. A great part of the work is taken up by Causes/Cases brought to trial; some with juries and some without - for such reasons (Indictments) as forfeited forthcoming bond; murder (none in this OB); assault and battery, fornication, adultery, keeping house of ill fame. lewd and lascivious cohabitation, lewdness, seduction, rape, assault, riot, perjury, bigamy, selling liquor without license, felony (unspecified), misdemeanor (unspecified), carrying concealed weapons [CCW], carrying weapons on Sunday, unlawful detainer, larceny, disturbing religious worship, affray, trespass, unlawful detainer, playing at cards, gaming, and others. In addition, in this work, a "jail census" with details, is provided monthly by the jailor to the Judge G. H. Fudge. The OB 20 is especially rich in the details of the many "road orders/applications" of the period, giving the metes and bounds of the survey for each road approved for activation. Several ministers received permission to marry.

Serious crimes were not that numerous and a lot of crime, in general, was committed by persons originating from outside the County. In this particular OB, juries seemed to be more severe in handing out sentences to be served in the Commonwealth's penitentiary at Richmond; for example, in this OB, those include (# years sentence in parentheses); actual crime rarely specified - just "felony"): Mannie Coe (10); Hugh Hart (10); Thos. Collins (1); Chas. Martin (3); Ransey Robins (2); Ribe Gillespie (1); Lee A. Cox (2); M. Crewey (2); George Jackson (1); Walter Gillespie (6); Rufe Gillespie (5); Henry Greenbury (rape; seduction) (3); Geo. Cunningham (2); Dock Jones, Jessee Atkins and Preston Atkins (jointly, 2y for breaking into tobacco barn); John Mize (2); John Stines alias Will Pierce (1); Marion Hays (15 mos.); Frank Osborne (2); Joe Wilson (2); John Robertson and G. B. Land, jointly tried (2) and Earl Scott (2).

Jack Hockett and Donald Helton

2026, every-name index, 410 pp.

107-SMOB20