Early Religious Petition Signed by Laffoons - 9 Nov 1785 Lunenburg
I ran across these early religious petitions signed by some of our Laffoons in Lunenburg County, Virginia along with many other men.These are original signatures and I had difficulty reading a lot of them.I put a question mark besides those names and/ or initials of which I was not sure.If anyone believes they know whata surname should be, I will be glad to check the original to determine if that indeed is the correct name and change the petition below.The petition used a lot of capital letters, so I capitalized where they did.
I found several of these petitions so I am transcribing them one by one.Here is the first:
Early Religious Petitions (obtained from the Library of Congress, American Memory)
Abstracted by LaVelda Faull
9 Nov 1785, Lunenburg County, Virginia
“To the honorable the General Assembly of Virginia, the Petition of sundry free Inhabitants of the County of Lunenburg humbly sheweth,
That whereas the General Assembly at their Session in October last, out of a pious Regard for the Advancement of Christianity in this State did adopt A Bill for establishing a Provision for the Teachers of the Christian Religion on a Plan founded in equal Justice to the Citizens in general who owe this respective Aids to the Peace & Prosperity of civil Government; and on Principles so Liberal & impartial, as to proclude the remotest Jealousy of Preference to any Denomination of Christians; and whereas they directed the same to be printed and Copies thereof to be dispersed through the several Counties in Order to collect the Sentiment of the People on this very important Subject.Your Petitioners impressed with the sincerest Sentiments of Veneration & Gratitude towards the Legislature, who have thus, under the Divine Influence, manifested so laudable a Disposition to patronize and protect the Concerns of our holy Religion; the Knowledge & Practice of which have such a manifest Tendency to promote the Peace & Prosperity of Civil Government; beg leave to assure youof our high Approbation of the said Bill, humbly praying that the same may be passed into a Law.
And your Petitioners shall ever pray & c.”
Thos Buford
Wm P----(?) (Perhaps Pafford? Blotted out with ink)
Anthy Street
Ellison (?) Ellison(?) (both names appear to be the same)
Henry Stokes
Edwd Brodnax
Thos. Garland
Joseph Smith
Wm. Taylor (or Saylor?)
Joshua Ragsdale
John Hardy
Thos. Stevenson
James Groen (or Green?)
Ralph Hubbard
John William (or Wilham?)
John Cook (or Coop?)
Jno Snead
James(?) Johnson
Lodowick Farmer
Robert Wilson
William Cockerham
Thomas Wilson
William Thackstone
David Gee
Jno. Wrenn
David Vandyck
John Tisdale
Clement Whittimore
LeRoy Buford
William Stone
Jno Billups
Thos. Jones (or Jarvis?)
John Ragsdale
Elisha Estes
Benjamin Gee
Nicholas Callaham
Saml Rudder Junr.
William Smith(?) (or Swift?)
Robert Floyd
John Moody
William Smith
Wyatt Williams
Isac Brisindine
Allin Stokes
Jeremiah Alderson
John Eppes
Wm Stokes
Jno Ballard jr
P? A? Stevonson
John Arnall Senr (Arnold? Conall?)
Wm Henry Patison
William White Senr
George Hightower
George Marable
John Hightower
Thos Hayes
John Cureton Jun.
Horatio Farguson
Ellis Evans
B(?) Snead
William Mize
Craddock Vaughan
Richd Ingram
Wm Boswell
Benja Estis Jr.
Samuel Harris
Minor Wilkes
Sam Ward
Henry VanDyck
Srick(?) Wilks
Peter Garland
James Eastham
Benjamin Hughes
Bartlet Estes
Joh.(?) Hightower
ROBERT MAYTON
Wm. L.(S?) Garland
David Mayton
Edgcomb Suggitt
Robert Estes
Peter Stokes
John ---- (name marked out)
Wm Doswell
Bartlet Estes
W. Fullilove
M(?) Davis
John Curaton
Wm Parrett
Jas. Johnson
Geo. Andrews(?)
Jna. Chappell
Ben Walker
Carter White
Wm Hamlett
Jord(?) Claiborne
James Jeffries(?)
John Ingram
Elisha Betts
Lazarus Maiden(?)
Will Elam???(signature looks like all one word)(heavy underline beneath it)
Wm Gordon
Jonathan Davis
Drury Middsell(?) (or Murdock)?
K (or R?) Johnson
Shadr. Stokes
Jeffrey Murrell?
Benja. Estes Sr.(?)
Stephen C. Miser(?)(last word written over top of word that is blotted)
John Jononey(??)
Geo. (?) Phillips
Permelon(?) Goott(?)
Nathaniel Cureton
Jacob(?) Browder
John Baskins
Pitman(Not sure if the “Pitman” was a continuation of “John Baskins” ie, “John Baskins Pitman”
or whether “Pitman” was another signature - it was more indented than the name above
and below).
Thomas Dunn
Andrew Hardie
Saml Indean
Edward Collis Junr.
Robt Hardin
John Wilkinson
Saml Braddad(?)
David Callam
Thos Edwards
Bryan Lester Sen.
Edward Brown
Lydel Jones(?)
Tacharner DeGraffenreidt Junr.
Benjm Tomlinson
William Neblett
Joseph Dunman
John Ussery
John Williams
Mastain Ussery
Asa Cabaniss
Wm Johnson Jur.
John Moore
James Buford
James Winn
Will Young
William Johnson
Benjamin Taylor
Covington Handy(Hardy?)
Wilson Walker
John Dixon
Thoas Hardy
John Bowers(?)
Edmond Bishop
Moses Callaham
Humphrey Garrott
Saml Rudder Snr.
Turner Allen
John Callaham
NATHANIEL LAFFOON JUNR.
Henry Freeman
Nathl Chamles
Harris(?) Tomlinson
Edw Eppes
Jas(?) Barham(?) Jnr.
John Ritchie
John Hammock
Jeremiah Morgan
Jessee Morgan
John Cook Jr.
Jessee Moor
John Wyatt
Mason Garrett
Humphrey Garrett
Edm. Singleton
Sterling Cooke(?)
Phillip Morgan
Tho. Hardy Junr.
Isaac Hicks
John Cook
John Ragsdale
Danl Apperson
Wm. Jones
David Thomson
NATHANIEL LAFFOON
Edward Colley Sr.
Robt Bowers
Drury Allen
William Gee
JOHN LAFFOON
Nevil Gee
Tho Monday
John Floyd
John Rudder
Henry Callis
Wm Hammons
Sterling Nebblet
William Richey
John Hicks(?)
William Hicks? (or Dicks?)
Daniel Williams
More Replies:
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Re: Early Religious Petition Signed by Laffoons - 9 Nov 1785 Lunenburg
LaVelda Faull 10/31/07
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Perseverance Christian Church, Dundas
Robert Lafoon 11/01/07
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Question
Robert Lafoon 11/01/07
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Re: Perseverance Christian Church, Dundas
LaVelda Faull 11/01/07
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Question
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Perseverance Christian Church, Dundas