There Present John Barrow, John Rieasset, Robert Boyd, James Adams Esqrs.

Captn. Seth Pilkington, Captn. Mich Catauch, Mr. Daniel Blin, Mr. Richd. Barrow Freeholders.

There being committed to the County Goal a negro man Slave named Stephen, the Property (as he sayeth) of Wm. Sparrel of the Colony of Virginia, which said Slave above mentioned is committed to the said goal by virtue of a Mittimus from Robert Boyd Esqr. one of the Justices assigned to keep the Peace in the said County on Suspicion that he the sd. Stephen had Stole a Mare, Sadle and bridle being the property of Mr. Thomas Lee of Tyrell County in the aforesd. Province Planter, and by another mittimus he the said Stephen was commited to the Goal aforesd. by John Rieasset Esqr. one of His Majestie assigned to keep the peace in the sd. County of Beaufort for braking open a Store belonging to Mr. Charles Simpson of Bath town in the aforesd County Merchant and feloniously stealing and carrieing away sundry goods out of the Same Store, viz. one watch, twenty breast mettle buttons, three Jack knives, two snuff boxes, one paper Ink powder, eight bisket, one Stock, one Cravatt, one white worsted mitton, and sundry other small articles—

And the said negro man Slave ^named Stephen^ being brought into Court, the Justices And Freeholders within named, did proceed to Try the said Slave and after examining the said Slave, and hearing the evidences upon mature Deliberation thereof, the Court think Proper to Respite their Judgement untill the thirteenth day of this Instant. Afterwards, to wit, at the Court house in Bath Town on Tuesday the 13th day of this instant December Pursuant to the Foregoing order the Justices and Freeholders herein underwritten met, viz. John Barrow, John Rieasset, Robert Boyd, and James Adams Esqrs. Justices of the Peace on this County, and Captn. Michl. Catauch, Mr. Daniel Blin and Mr. Richd. Barrow Free holders, the sd. Negro Slave named Stephen within mentioned, was brought into Court by the Sheriff and having nothing to offer to the Court why Sentence of death shoud not pass against him; It was adjudged by the Court that the sd. Stephen shoud return to the County Goal, from whence he came, and from thence tomorrow morning, being the fourteenth day of this present December to be carried to the Place of Execution, and there by Ten of the Clock in the forenoon to be hanged by the neck, till he be dead, and God almighty be mercifull to his Soul. The Court do Value the sd. Slave at Thirty five pounds Proct money—