Category: Court Life
This section will focus primarily on William’s life at court. Sounds fancy, like an English drama replete with backstabbing, conniving courtiers and other dastardly environs:) But alas, we speak here of the still fledgling court system of Virginia. Yes, William apparently did dress up in breeches and buckles. And yes, his handwriting did have a certain flair. But court was a serious, sober affair. Usually held on Fridays, and Saturdays when the docket was full, it brought the community together on fairly equal footing. And it was here, in King George County, Virginia where William Longmire met with and performed various court related work for the families of three of our nation’s first presidents.
Included here will be vignettes and portraits of the many people William knew and encountered during their days at court. He wrote, entered into record, and witnessed many very interesting documents in his day, including the estate inventory and the will of Augustine Washington – father of our nations’ first President. He executed many various documents for the maternal and paternal sides of President Monroe’s family. In his various travels he undoubtedly crossed paths with, and the property of, Francis Conway – President Madison’s grandfather. William’s life was a veritable crossroads of history.
King George County Deed Book 3 – courtesy Library of Virginia This is the 2nd page – though marked page 3 above – of an Indenture between Spence Monroe and Robert Walker. Spence was the father of President James Monroe and Robert Walker was the well known furniture […]
King George County Order Book courtesy Library of Virginia Shortly after William began his stint as court recorder it came time to Lay the Levy. Simply put this was the process whereby the county taxes were computed and recorded and then entered into record. Sometimes these figures were […]
King George County Order Book 3 – Courtesy Library of Virginia It is Saturday January 5, 1744/5 O.S. and William Longmire is settling into his position as Court Recorder quite nicely. When court was not finished the previous day due to a large docket it was adjourned until […]
Courtesy of Library of Virginia – King George County Court Order Book After several years writing many bonds, county deeds, estate inventories, orphan accounts, and other misc court entries, and after having already begun entering ledgers for Col Thomas Turner’s dry goods store, William Longmire finally ascends to […]