Accomack County (Va.) Oaths of Allegiance and Justice of the Peace Appointments, 1757-1758 and 1761-1762

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Accomack County (Va.) Oaths of Allegiance and Justice of the Peace Appointments, 1757-1758 and 1761-1762. Local government records collection, Accomack County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Summary

Creator:
Accomack County (Va.) Circuit Court.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Accomack County (Va.) Oaths of Allegiance and Justice of the Peace Appointments, 1757-1758 and 1761-1762. Local government records collection, Accomack County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Accomack County (Va.) Oaths of Allegiance and Justice of the Peace Appointments, 1757-1758 and 1761-1762, consist of two oaths of allegiance and two justice of the peace appointments. The oaths of allegiance are dated 1757-1758 and are signed by multiple men below the text of the oath. The justice of the peace appointments are dated 1761-1762 and appoint multiple men to be justices. The oaths of allegiance and appointments are related and contain many of the same names.

Biographical / historical:

Accomack County was named for the Accomac Indians, who lived on the eastern Shore at the time of the first English settlement in Virginia. One of the original eight shires established in 1634, Accomac County (spelled without a k) became Northampton County in 1643. The present country was formed from Northampton about 1663. In 1940 the General Assembly adopted the county's present spelling.

Various test oaths and oaths of allegiance and supremacy were required over the years in an attempt to keep Roman Catholics out of office both in England and in her colonies. These particular oaths of allegiance stem from the act of George I titled "An Act for the further Security of his Majesty's Person and Government, and the Succession of the Crown in the Heirs of the late Princess Sophia, being Protestants, and for extinguishing the Hopes of the pretended Prince of Wales, and his open and secret Abettors." The oaths swear allegiance to the ruler of England as the principal authority, disavow the pope and his doctrines, and disavow transubstantiation.

A significant number of loose records from the 1700s suffered extreme water and pest damage. Volumes that record deeds, court orders, and wills exist.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Accomack County.
Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
3 leaves and 1 p.