Will (Keesel), 1778 June 18

murdering Hans Cloverfield, Miller, of the said parish & County, Pre-
sent: Daniel Smith, John Gratten, John Thomas, Henry Ewing, William

Mcdowell.” The said Slave Will béing brought to the Barr aad arraigned
pleaded he was not guilty, whereupon several Witnesses being examined
touching the fact wherewith he stands charged, it appeared to the
Court that the said Will gave a blow with a hogbkhead stave which frac-=
tured the Scull of the said Hans Cloverfield & of which he died that
Night, and therefore do judge him guilty of the murder with which he is
charged and do accordingly Order the said Criminal to be hung by the
Neck untill he is dead on Thursday the 18th instant at the Courtho: of
this County & that his head be severed from the dead Body & studk up on
a poll at the Cross road leading from this to Felix Gilberts, & his
Body buried, and in the meantime that the said Criminal be kept in
Inorns well secured & a Guard of four men to keep Centinel over him un-
till he is executed and that the Sheriff do put the above Sentence in
Execution And the Court do falue the said Slave Will to two hundred and
EXAAKE five pounds which is ordered to be certified to the next Sessian
of Assembly & then the Court did rise, (Signed) Daniel oe "

f

murdering Hans Cloverfield, Miller, of the said parish & County. Pre-
sent: Daniel Smith, John Gratten, John Thomas, Henry Ewing, William
|) Mcdowell.” The said Slave” Will béing brought to the Barr and arraigned
pleaded he was not guilty, whereupon several Witnesses being examined
touching the fact wherewith he stands charged, it appeared to the
Court that the said Will gave a blow with a hogbhead stave which frac-
tured the Scull of the said Hans Cloverfield & of which he died that
Night, and therefore do judge him guilty of the murder with which he is
charged and do accordingly Order the said Criminal to be hung by the
Neck untill he is dead on Thursday the 18th instant at the Courtho: of
this County & that his head be severed from the dead Body & studk up on
a poll at the Cross road leading from this to Felix Gilberts, & his
Body buried, and in the meantime that the said Criminal be kept in
Inorns well secured & a Guard of four men to keep Centinel over him un-
till he is executed and that the Sheriff do put the above Sentence in
Execution And the Court do falue the said Slave Will to two hundred and
ENAAKE five pounds which is ordered to be certified to the next Sessian
of Assembly & then the Court did rise. (Signed) Daniel Smith."

murdering Hans Cloverfield, Miller, of the said parish & County, Pre-
sent: Daniel Smith, John Gratten, John Thomas, Henry Ewing, William
Nedowell, The said Slave Will being brought to the Barr and arraigne
pleaded he was not guilty, whereupon several Witnesses being examined
touching the fact wherewith he stands charged, it appeared to the
Court that the said Will gave a blow with a hogbhead stave which frac~
tured the Scull of the said Hans Cloverfield & of which he died that
Night, and therefore do judge him guilty of the murder with which he is|
charged and do accordingly Order the said Criminal to be hung by the
Neck untill he is dead on Thursday the 18th instant at the Courtho: of
this County & that his head be severed from the dead Body & studk up on|
a poll at the Cross road leading from this to Felix Gilberts, & his
Body buried, and in the meantime that the said Criminal be kept in
Inorns well secured & a Guard of four men to keep Centinel over him un-|
till he is executed and that the Sheriff do put the above Sentence in
ecution And the Court fo falue the said Slave 1 _)
¥GKF five pounds which is ordered to be certified %
of Assembly & then the Court did rise. (Signed) Daniel Smith.”

one ' June 18m 1778

Will, a black slave, was the property of George Kessel of Rockingham
County, Va. In June, 1778, he was charged with having murdered a
miller named Hans Cloverfield, also of Rockingham Cos, by striking
“him on the head with "a hogshead stave" and fracturing his skull,

He pleaded not guilty at his trial but several witnesses testified
against him and he was convicted and sentenced to die. He was hanged
at the Rockingham County Court House on June 18, 1778, and his head
was afterwards "severed from ks the dead body & stuck upon a poll
at the Cross roadmleading from this to Felix Gilberts & his body
burledeese' The same court that condemned hin placed a value on him
of 225 pounds. ;

THE VIRGINIA MAGAZINE OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHUX, VII, Richmond, Va.:
Virginia Historical Society, 1900. Paze 30

The following is extracted from THE ROCKINGHAM RECORDER, Vol. I, No.
I, April, 195, official pulbication of the Rockingham Cojmty Histori-~
cal Society, Harrisonburg, VA., pp 78-79, being the first installment
of Rockingham County Court: "At a Court of

Rockingham County on the Tryal of Will a
to George Keesel accused of feloniously

from the First Minute Book

Oyer and Terminer held for
Negroe man Slave belonging

WIIL , dune 18m 1778

Will, a black slave, was the property of George Kessel of Rockingham
County, Va. In June, 1778, he was charged with having murdered a
miller named Hans Cloverfield, also of Rockingham Cos, by striking
“him on the head with "a hogshead stave!" and fracturing his skull,

He pleaded not guilty at his trial but several witnesses testified
against him and he was convicted and sentenced to die, He was hanged
at the Rockingham County Court House on June 18, 1778, and his head
was afterwards "severed from mkx the dead body & stuck upon a poll

at the Cross roadgleading from this to Felix Gilberts & his body

burledsesgte' The same court that condemned hin placed a value on him
of 225 pounds. :

THE VIRGINIA MAGAZINE OF HISTORY AND BLOGRAPHEX, VII, Richmond, Va.:

Virginia Historical Society, 1900. Paze 30)

The following is extracted from THE ROCKINGHAM RECORDER, Vol. I, No.

I, April, 1945, official pulbication of the Rockingham Cojmty Histori-

cal Society, Harrisonburg, VA., pp 78-79, being the first eee
i ‘ : ‘ °

from the First Minute Book of Rockingham County Court: "At a Cour

4 for Rockingham County on the Tryal of Will a

Oyer and Terminer hel Keesel accused of feloniously

Negroe man Slave belonging to George

WILL, June 18m 1778

but several witnesses testific
against him and he was convicted and sentenced to die. He was hanged
at the Rockingham County Court House on June 18, 1778, and his head
Was aftervards "severed from kikx the dead body & stuck upon a poll
at the Gross roadmleading fron this to Felix Gilberts & his body

the

buried..." The same court that condemned him placed a value on hin
of 225 pounds.

THU VIRGINIA MAGAZINE OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHER, VII, Richmond, Vas:
Virginia Historical Society, 1900. Pa.e 30)

The following is extracted from Tif ROCKINGHAM RECORDER, Vol. I, No,
I, April, 195, official pulbication of the Rockingham Cojinty Histori
cal Society, Harrisonburg, VA., pp 78-79, being the first instal 1
fron the First }inute Book of Rocldingham County Courts a ae
oyer and Terminer held for Rockingham County on the Try:

Ament

Keesel accused of feloniously

Negroe man Slave belonging to George
Sune 186 1778
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