FIRST COURT
(Copied from the
circuit court records of October 16, 1837)
On October 16, 1837, circuit
court had its regular meeting at the courthouse at Bolivar, in Bolivar County,
Mississippi, the Hon�orable Fred Huling, Judge of the 8th district,
presiding. Probate Judge, Joseph McGuire. Francis Patterson, Jr., Sheriff
Andrew B. Dodd, clerk
James B. Hallam, senator
John M. Henderson, representative
The sheriff reported to
the court that he had summoned the following jurors: Francis Patterson, Sr.,
Merryman Duty, James Thompson, Charles Bell, A. H. Quinn, Archibald Estes,
William Elliott, John Loving, C. 1. Field, John Patterson, Hiram Miller, John
Dorsey, Charles Drennan, Joseph McGuire, George Robertson, B. F. Perryman,
William Dempsey, Felix Seigler, Andrew Longacre, Joel Huntington, Isaac Hudson,
Isaac Walker, Larkin Bacon, Orrin Kingsley, W. R. Estill, Mitchell Gillick.
From whom were chosen
the following grand jurors: Joseph McGuire, Merryman Duty, Joel Huntington,
Allen Stokes, Archibald Estill, W. R. Estill, Charles Drennan, James Thompson,
John Patterson, Isaac Walker, Francis Patterson, Orrin Kingsley, Felix Seigler,
David Day, John Bolls.
Being sworn, and
receiving their charge, they returned to the courtroom under the care of Samuel
Straughan, a sworn officer to present the jury to the court.
***
The first claim was
that of Andrew B. Dodd for services rendered the county as clerk in the years
1836 and 1837, amounting to $100. The same was ordered paid by the state
treasurer.
***
The first
case on the docket, recorded in the first book of the minutes of the first
court held in the county, was:
This was a civil case and seems to have been for damages.
A verdict was rendered for $337.40 by the jury, but was overruled by the court
as excessive, and a compromise of $200 was accepted by Merryman Duty. John R.
Patterson was bailiff of the jury.
The case of
the State vs. John Dorsey was the first murder case on record. It appears that
by a special venire sixty jurors were summoned in this case, but only ten of
these men could be empanelled, and it being shown to the court that all
available men in the county had been summoned and had appeared, and still no
jury formed, the prisoner was remanded to jail in Vicksburg, there being no
jail in Bolivar County, and bail having been refused. By the request of S. B.
Isaacs (the district attorney) Nicholas Coleman, Philander Littel, and John R.
Wilson, attorneys, were allowed to assist him.
On the calling of the case at
the October term, the prisoner was given bond in the amount of $10,000 to the
state to appear at the April term of court, 1839. Default was made in appearing
at court and bond forfeited. The bondsmen, to the extent of $5,000, were:
William C. Dorsey, William S. Rush, William C. Bass and wife, Eliza Bass, and Edward
Dorsey. Suits were entered against them.
A note on the record opposite the. case in April, 1843,
says: "Defendant's death suggested and abated." The cases against the
bondsmen were dismissed.
Other important cases in these
early courts were for debt, selling goods on Sunday, playing cards, gambling
for money, and stealing slaves.
***
Rowan Bridges was admitted to the bar in 1855.
Marvin Rowland was very active in county affairs during
this period.
The grand jury found some unique true bills: For betting
on elections, for selling liquor without license, and for cutting stolen
timber.
James Runnell was found guilty of stealing slaves and
given ten years in jail.
The first record of a hanging
was in the case of "Claiborne, a slave." The time was set for between
the hours of ten A.M. and four in the afternoon, the said Claiborne to be
hanged for the crime of murder, December 3, 1856.
***
March 1850. The first mileage
was allowed. The beneficiaries had to swear in open court and prove their
attendance. John C. Burrus was foreman of the grand jury.
|
NAMES |
DAYS |
MILES |
AMOUNT |
Bennett
Herndon
|
3 |
40 |
5.25 |
John
McBride
|
2 |
16 |
3.16 |
|
Orrin Kingsley |
2 |
26 |
4.56 |
|
C. I. Field |
2 |
32 |
4.92 |
|
Jonathan Ballard |
2 |
70 |
7.20 |
|
George Arnold |
2 |
40 |
5.24 |
|
Llewellyn Lobdell |
2 |
50 |
1.00 |
|
Peter Whitworth |
2 |
50 |
1.00 |
|
Benjamin Jackson |
2 |
50 |
1.00 |
|
John Thompson |
2 |
58 |
1.48 |
|
Isaac Wilkerson |
2 |
46 |
5.76 |
|
Joseph Newman |
2 |
58 |
1.48 |
|
W. H. Peake |
2 |
40 |
5.24 |
***
The following is a list of the first
citizens who were naturalized in Bolivar County, together with the legal
phraseology of their petitions.
Peter Keller to
the Judge of the Circuit Court:
"Personally appeared in open court Peter Keller, a native
of the Duchy of Landum, and the subject of Bierer, king of said duchy, who on
oath states that he emigrated to the United States of America in 1839; that he
landed in New Orleans on the 11th day of August, 1839. He desires to become a
citizen of the United State of America. He renounces his allegiance and
fidelity to every foreign king, prince and potentate, and particularly all
allegiance to Beirer, King of Landum.
"Signed and sworn to, September 19, 1848."
***
Christopher Horien to J. J. Davenport,
Judge of the Circuit Court, April 28, 1851:
"Christopher Horien, a native of Wurtzemberg, a kingdom of
Germany, this day appeared in open court and made oath that it is his bona fide
intention to become a citizen of the United States of America, and to renounce
forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince or potentate, state
or sovereignty whatsoever, particularly to William the First, Prince of
Wurtzemberg.
"Christopher Horien also made oath in
open court that he will support the Constitution of the United States and does
entirely renounce and adjure all allegiance to any foreign prince, potentate,
state or sovereignty whereby he was before a citizen or subject."
J. J. Davenport, Judge.
***
October
1852. Henry Meyers (or Maers) a native of Germany, took the oath of allegiance,
having resided in the United States five years and in Mississippi one year, and
was accorded citizenship papers.
Richard Barnett, Judge of the Circuit Court.
***
"In the matter of the naturalization of
John Ellis.
"John Ellis came to the United States of
America March, 1850 a minor, under the age of 21. He begs to become a bona fide
citizen of the United States and swears in open court to forever renounce all
allegiance and fidelity to any prince, potentate, state sovereignty, whatever,
and particularly to Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, of whom he is a subject. He is hereby invested with citizenship
papers."
***
The first divorce granted was
as recorded October 24, 1853, Christopher Horien vs. Mary Horien.