Marsha,

That has always been one of my favorite court order entries. It can't compare with the salacious Northumberland County case in the 1660s of the torrid affair between the Pastor's wife and the county Sheriff which is truly X rated reading, but this comes close. As you demonstrate, Phebe was a minor (an infant was anyone under 21 years old) and is thus represented in court by her "next friend" who is a court appointed guardian ad litum for this specific court case only. He was not her official guardian. She probably didn't have one.

Craig Kilby

On Jul 7, 2014, at 4:44 PM, marsha moses wrote:

> The one that comes to my mind for next friend is  a relative who went to court with a young person.  Mary Hawkins went to court with her daughter, Phebe, in Spotsylvania County:
> 
> “Phebe Hawkins, and infant, by Mary Hawkins her next friend, complains July 1735, of Stephen Noblit (otherwise called Stephen Smith).  Charles Noblit alias Smith, brother of the defendant, being possessed of divers goods and chattels to the value of 200pounds intended to marry Phebe.  On the last day of March, 1733-4 the defendant scandalously and maliciously did say “Phebe Hawkins is a whore and I have lay’n with her” .  She has thus fallen into great infamy and Charles has refused to marry her.  She asks damages of 250pounds current money.  .....Dismissed. 
> 
> 
> Marsha Moses
> 
> 
> On Jul 7, 2014, at 12:16 PM, [log in to unmask] wrote:
> 
>> Seem like to me that I have seen instances where one's "next friend" was a  
>> relative !
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
> 
> 
> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at
> http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html

To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html