Dear All:

I have been looking into dissenter rights in 18th century VA and am 
still trying to find a definitive answer on a question concerning voting 
rights.  The statutes in force prohibited voting by "recusants," which 
could be any dissenter albeit it was often used to refer to Catholics.  
Various histories that touch on the topic are confused.  (Several say 
that the restriction was that "recusant convicts" could not vote, but 
this error is apparently the result of a typographical error in one 
edition of Henings.  The lineage of the statute makes it clear that 
"recusants" could not vote.)  I know that there are incidents of 
dissenters voting (especially in the Valley) but, complicating that, 
there are also instances of Catholics voting.  I suppose the question is 
whether dissenters were ever expressly blocked from voting because of 
their religion.  (Once secondary source attributes the 
disproportionately low representation of western counties in the House 
of Burgesses and General Assembly to the fact that dissenters could not 
vote, but I think this is more likely explained by inertia and a basic 
Tidewater chauvinism (which continued well into the 19th century).)

So, any clear answers?  Is anyone aware of specific instances where 
dissenters were prevented from voting based upon their religion?  Sources?

Thanks,
John Ragosta

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