Mae asked me to forward this.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Mae Cox 
To: 'jwterry99' ; [log in to unmask] 
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 2:37 PM
Subject: RE: [VA-ROOTS] requirements for 18th century road crew members and for witnesses to a deed


Jim & Byron...

The road gangs you've mentioned are quite interesting. After you sent me info about my relative being on one of them, Jim, I decided to find out what I could about these work details. There are quite a few sites with information on road gangs, and I took data from several of them to make up a short description to put in my book. Below is what I have that you're most welcome to use....

  Road Gangs Appointed to Build Roads in Colonial Virginia
  When the Colonies were being settled one prime necessity was to build roads through the vast wilderness. Virginia's county courts ruled over this process. Gentlemen Justices of the courts assigned an Overseer of Highways. These Overseers were appointed yearly and responsible for building the roads.

  All Labouring Male Titheables who lived in close proximity to the road were assigned to the Gang to build that road. County Road Orders was issued giving information as to who all was being ordered to build a particular road. Road work was a civic duty and workers received no pay for their efforts. Each laborer was required to spend at least six days per year working on roads - plus he provided his own tools, teams and wagons. Colonists could be and were fined if they failed to work as ordered, and there was little redress if any person felt that he was unfairly assigned to work on a road gang. 

  Most roads built by these crews or gangs were simple paths made by clearing out trees and underbrush along a particular route. These paths were barely wide enough for a wagon and horses to travel. More major projects, like bridges across a river, were funded with state-assistance and laborers.

I hope this helps somewhat to answer your road gang question... I don't know much at all about your other two topics....

Mae Cox





-----Original Message-----

From: Research and writing about Virginia genealogy and family history. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of jwterry99

Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 2:17 PM

To: [log in to unmask]

Subject: Re: [VA-ROOTS] requirements for 18th century road crew members and for witnesses to a deed

Byron,

I've been waiting for someone more knowledgeable than me, but I'll tell you what I do know. Maybe it will stimulate the discussion since these are important questions.

1. Road crews: Unfortunately I can't find my source material but I believe the way it works is that people petition the court to establish a road in their area. A court order (generally found in Court Order Books) is then required to assign people along the road-to-be to work on the crew. The best I have been able to determine, males over 16 that lived in the immediate area were assigned to the crew. An overseer was appointed to lead the crew. So my take is that you can infer he lived close to the road and was over 16. I have ancestors that were on such crews so I would appreciate more info also.

2. Deed witnesses: I've seen it stated that males over 14 could witness deeds; although I've also read that about any aged males sometimes would witness. I've seen sons, brothers, and fathers as witnesses. I don't know of any constraints.

3. testator witnesses: Here also, I have seen sons and brothers as witnesses. I don't think the witnesses can be named in the will as recipients, though.

Maybe someone will jump in with more/better info.

Jim

----- Original Message -----

From: "Byron Bowman" <[log in to unmask]>

To: <[log in to unmask]>

Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 5:47 AM

Subject: [VA-ROOTS] requirements for 18th century road crew members and for witnesses to a deed



Dear list members,

Will someone answer the following questions for me please?

What can be inferred from a man being assigned to be a member of a road crew during the early years of a county's existence?

How closely related could witnesses be to the grantor & grantee in a deed?

How closely related could witnesses be to the testator of a will?

Grateful for answers or suggestions for where to find the answers, Byron Bowman

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