Commission of oyer and terminer(1744 August 25)
CWF Rockefeller Library Special Collections. SCMS1977.01
Commission issued by Lt. Gov. William Gooch to George Newton, William Crafford, and sixteen other men of Norfolk County, Virginia for the trial of Nan, a female slave belonging to Edward McGee, for felony.
Includes pendant seal.
William Gooch Esq:r his Majesty's Lieutenant Governor & Commander
in Chief of the Colony & Dominion of Virginia
To George Newton William Crafford Willis Wilson Thomas Scott Matthew Godfrey John Hutchings
Thomas Wright Robert Tucker John Taylor Samuel Smith William Portlock Caleb Wilson
Solomon Wilson the Elder Willis Wilson Josias Smith John Tripp Thomas Newton Charles
Sweney Nathaniel Tatum John Tucker of the County of Norfolk Gent. Greeting—
Know ye that whereas I have Constituted & appointed you Justices of Oyer & Terminer for the Trial of
Nan a Negro Woman Slave belonging to Edward Mcgee for Felony
I Do therefore by virtue of the Powers & Authorities to me Granted by his Majesty as Commander in Chief of
this Dominion Authorize & appoint that the Commission being Read as usual any one of you the said George Newton
William Crafford Willis Wilson Thomas Scott Matthew Godfrey John Hutchings Thomas Wright Robert Tucker
John Taylor Samuel Smith or William Portlock
having first taken the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy the
Oath appointed to be taken by an Act of Parliament made in the first year of the Reign of his late Majesty
King George the first Intituled 'an Act for the further security of his Majesty's Person & Government & the
"Succession of the Crown in the Heirs of the late Princess Sophia being Protestants & for Extinguishing the Hopes of
"the pretended Prince of Wales and his Open & secret Abettors' As also the Test together with with the Oath for duly
Executing the Office of a Justice of Oyer & Terminer which the said Caleb Wilson & Solomon Willson the Elder or any two in the
Commission above named are hereby required Authorized & Impowered to give & Administer to you, you Administer
to the above Justices & every of them in the Commission above named the above mention'd Oaths & Test together with
the Oath for duly executing the Office of a Justice of Oyer & Terminer of the Performance of which you are to make
due return to the Secretary's Office Given under my hand and the Seal of the Colony at Williamsburgh
the twenty fifth Day of August One thousand Seven hundred & forty four In the Eighteenth year of the Reign of
our Sovering Lord King George the Second
William Gooch
Dedimus Potestatem for
Administering Oaths & To
Justices of Oyer &c. Terminer