At a Special Court Begun & Opend & Held at Hertford, in sd. County, Pursuant to a Mittimus & summons Granted by William Wyatt Esqr. bearing date the 24th. day of July & the 7th day of Augst 1759 & returnd by the Sheriff of sd. County for the Tryall of a negro man named Ben Belonging to Mr. John Thatch for Committing several Robbery's & breaking Goal. Pursuant to which Summons apeard—

Thomas Weekes, John Harvey, Ben Harvey, William Wyatt Esqrs.

Messrs. Thos. Bonner, Charles Moore, Hatten Williams, Thomas Long freeholders

And after Qualifying according to Law Proceeded to the Tryall of sd. negro Ben this 15th. day of August 1759—

Order'd that Miles Harvey be & he is hereby appointed Clerk for Tryall of sd. negro. Orderd the sd. Negro Ben be brot. to the Barr by the Sheriff, which was Accordingly Done, and Frans. Ervin Blacksmith Beeing sworn on sd tryall of Ben says. that himself & one John Burns was in the month of July Last Robbd. of sundry. Goods. Vizt: a gunn from the sd Ervin's Shop and a pair of stockins belonging to him and a pair of sheets from John Burns's hedgd. ^belonging to sd Burns^ & that they had Cause to suspect the sd Negr. Ben Belongn. to Mr Thach as he was then Runaway that the sd Erwin went in persut. of the sd Negro Ben and found him in Mr. Charles Jorden's kitchen wth. the stockings & Part of the sheets. in his Posesion, the sd. Ben Resisted the sd Ervin endeavord: to make his Escape By Collaring him & Biting A peice out of this thumb & toald him he would not be taken by him, that the sd. Ben afterwards delivd. him [Anthr.] sheet from a hollow tree [damage]

The Evidence of John Burns being sworn on sd tryal of the sd negro—says that he was Robd. as Above—that the sheet taken wth. the sd Negro & now producd. was his property beeing the same that was taken wth. the sd Negro Ben

On hearing the Evidenc. & Considering the Offence the Court does [direct] the Sheriff forth wth: to have the sd Negro Ben to the whipping post and naile his right Ear to the Post and then [damaged] him Remain for the Spase of tenn minutes and then Cut of the one half of his Ear and give him fifty Lashes on his Bar Back well Laid. on in the—Presentc. of the Court and that the Sheriff deliver him to Master ^or in his absence to his Mistress^ as soon as he Conveinantly Cann—

The Court is allso of Oppinn. that the sd John Thach should pay the following Persons the following sums

The Clerk £

The foregoing orders were read & signd By,