From: Njfabian@aol.com
Subject: Re: 1776 Petition - Prince Edward Co VA


               PETITION OF SUNDRY INHABITANTS OF
                   PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY
                                
         before the Virginia Assembly October 11, 1776
                                      
          
   To the Honourable the President and House Delagates of the Commonwealth of
Virginia, to meet at Williamsburg the first Tuesday in October 1776.
   The Petition of Sundury of the Inhabitants of Prince Edward County,
respectfully sheweth,
   That we heartily approve, and chearfully submit ourselves to the form of
Government adopted at your last session; hoping that our united American States
will long continue free and Independent.  The last Article of the Bill of 
Rights we also esteem as the rising Sun of religious Liberty, to relieve
us from a long night of ecclesiastic Bondage: and we do most earnestly
request and expect that you would go on to complete what is so nobly
begun; and will raise religious as well as civil liberty to the Zenith of
Glory, and make Virginia an Asylum for free enquiry, knowledge, and the
virtuous of every Denomination.  Justice to ourselves and Posterity, as
well as regard to the honor of the CommonWealth, makes it our 
indispensable Duty, in particular to intreat, That without Delay, you
would pull down all Church Establishments; abolish every Tax upon
Conscience and private judgement; and leave each Individual to rise or
sink according to his Merit, and the general Laws of the Land.  The whole
amounts of what we desire is, That our Honourable Legislature would blot
out every vestige of British Tyranny and Bondage, and define accurately
between civil and ecclesiastic authority; then leave our Lord Jesus Christ
the Honor of being the sole Lawgiver and Governor in his Church; and every
one in the Things of Religion to stand or fall to him; he being in this
respect the only rightful Master:
    And your Petitioners as in duty bound, shall ever pray.
          
          September 24, 1776
          
          Rich'd Sankey,           Rob't Johnston,
          Hugh Porter,             John Cunningham,
          Charles Richey,               Sam'l Cunningham,
          Sam'l Baker,                  James Graham, 
          George Thilladay,             James Hatfield,
          John Caldwell,           Andrew Baker,
          
          Jno. Dun,
          Daniel Hays,
          Wm. Hay,
          James McMaken,
          Jno. McMaken,
          Manassa Mcfarland,
          Sam'l Arbuckle,
          Wm. Arbuckle,
          Jno. Arbuckle,
          Sam'l Porter,
          Jno. Black,
          James McCormic,
          Douglas Baker,
          William Nixson,
          James Nixson,
          Tho. Alexander,
          Jno. Hamilton,
          Joseph Ried,
          Jno. Farlin,
          James Fraizer,
          Jno. McSwine,
          Samuel McSwine,
          James Parks,
          Ezekiel Parks,                
          Joseph Parks,                 
          Tho. Scott,                   
          William Scott,           
          Wm. Huston,                   
          Ro. Martin,                   
          James Ewing, Senr.,           
          Samuel Ewing,            
          Wm. Gillespie,      
          
          George Gillespie,             
          Phillip McTaggart,            
          Lawrence Cook,           
          James Gillespie,              
          George Shilliday, Jr.,        
          Robert Reid,                  
          Wm. Hamersley,           
          Jacob Neighbors,              
          Dick Holland,            
          William Baldwin,              
          William Baldwin, Junr.,       
          Benjamin Baldwin,             
          William Findley,              
          Robt. Watson,            
          unsigned Porter,              
          Francis Clark,                
          Wm. Mills,                    
          Wm. Marshall,            
          John Marshill,
          John Willson,
          Joshua Bunkley, 
          Charles Hagens,
          Rich'd Grace,
          Edward Clark,
          Thom's Marshill,
          Ben Marshill,
          Thos. Paulet,
          John Hunter,
          All'x Hunter,
          Silas Wood,
          Luke Palmer,
          Seymer Ketichin,
          James Richardson,
          Charles Wood,
          Paul Wood,
                         
          Alex'r Hamilton,              
          James Cunningham,             
          James Ewing, Junr.,           
          Samuel Ewing,            
          James McElroy,           
          William Smith,           
          Patrick Galaspie,             
          Wm. Galaspie,            
          George Galaspie,              
          Sam'l Baker,                  
          James Donnell,           
          John Donnell,                 
          William Donnell,              
          Jno. Porter, Senr.,                
          Nat. Porter,                  
          Wm. Porter
          Jno. Porter, Junr.,                
          John Morrison,                
          Sam'l Scott,   
          James Morrison,
          Sam'l Cunningham, Senr.,
          John Cunningham,
          Matthew Cunningham,
          Henry Dawson,
          Thos. Graham,
          Robt. Black,
          Wm. Black,
          James Black,
          John Martin,
          Rob't Elliott,
          Andrew Elliott,
          Robt. Johnston,
          Sam'l Johnston,
          
          Wm. Johnston,
          Jno. Thompson, Senr.,
          Andrew Thompson,
          Jno. Grinter,
          Jno. Thompson, Blacksmith,         
          Adam Calhoun,            
          James Calhoun,                
          Jno. Caldwell,          
          Jas. Read,                    
          Caleb Baldwine,               
          Wm. Thompson,            
          Glover Baker,                 
          Robt. Baker,                  
          Caleb Baker,                  
          Robt. Hamilton,               
          Jas. Hamilton,           
          Manassa McBride,              
          Wm. McBride,             
          Robt. Steel,                  
          Fran's Hays,                  
          John Caldwell, Senr.,              
          Jno. Caldwell, Jr.,                
          Jno. Caldwell,           
          David Caldwell,               
          Thos. Caldwell,               
          James Caldwell,               
          George Caldwell,              
          Thos. Armstrong,              
          Jno. Crockett                 
          Thos. Craig,                  
          Rob't Craig,                  
          Rob't Hanna,        
          Saml. Hanna
          Robt. Hanna,
          Jno. Armstrong,
          Andrew Dun,
          Robt. Dun,
          
          John Clark, Senr.,
          John Cleaton, 
          Sam'l Marshill,
          Tho. Caplin,
          Wm.  Caplin
          John Caplin,
          John Caplin, Junr.,
          Will'm Watson,
          Dugless Watson, Jr.,
          Wm. Dawson,
          James McMaclim,
          
               Oct. 11, 1776.
          
                    Referred to Committee of Religion.
          
                                                  Mr. Dandridge.
          
          
          Miscellaneous reel #425
          Part L
          VA State Archives - Richmond