The following records were shared with me by Fleta Powell Aday, as furnished to her by a cousin, Pat Reeser, and found on microfilm at the National Archives, Atlanta. The petitions were printed in Spotsylvania County Patriots 1774-1786 (Berryville, VA: Virginia Book Company, 1975) for the Spotsylvania County Bicentennial Committee in celebration of the birth of our Country. We thank you for sharing this, Fleta. ----Sandra
The records of Captain BARTLETT�s and Captain STUBBLEFIELD�s Companies are transcribed here. The other companies were: Captain CRAIG�s Company (John CRAIG); Captain MINOR�s Company (no MINOR name on this list); Captain PARKER�s Company (no PARKER on this list); Captain Robert CHEW�s Company; Captain John HERNDON�s Company.
There are also six pages of names of Spotsylvania County citizens giving support for the Continental Armies. This list has (in part): William BURNET -- house rent; Harry BARTLET -- beef; Susanna BARTLET -- beef: Hannah BATTAILE -- vinegar; Marsom POWE -- beef, gun; James POWELL -- gun,
Another petition, containing 166 names (no BARTLETTS) and for which we have no date, is described as follows:
The displeasure of militiamen over the requirement to attend muster in Fredericksburg was symptomatic of a geographical problem which extended to other facets of Spotsylvania County life. The location of county courts and governments in Fredericksburg or at a more central site became a matter of contention. During the Revolution, the Virginia Legislature decreed the removal of the Courthouse from Fredericksburg. In response, unhappy residents of the area near the town petitioned for a division of Spotsylvania into two new counties by the parish boundary or by some other agreeable means. The lengthy petition closed in this fashion:
During the fall of 1776, the members of seven companies of Spotsylvania County Militia became incensed at the requirement to attend general musters at the Courthouse in Fredericksburg. Because of this, the militiamen resolved to petition for the privilege of attending musters in a more central location....... Misspellings and abbreviations are just as they appear on the petitions....The original petitions are preserved in the Virginia State Library in the collection of "Spotsylvania Legislative Petitions."...All seven petitions are virtually identical, and are dated November 14, 1776.
Thos. BARTLETT
Jn. HOLLADAY, jr
Wm. WOOD
John HART
Thomas MONAGUE
Joseph PERRY
Jos. HERNDON
George ARNOLD
Wm. ALSUP
Dudley MITCHUM
John CANNON
Jno. STEWARD
Francis TURNLEY
Stapl. CRUTCHFIELD
Cs. SMITH
Thos. COLEMAN
James MITCHAM
Henry PENDLETON, Jun
Wm CARTER
John WILSON
John CARTHRAE
Ben ________
W. MCCLOUD
Richardson HENSLEY
John KEETON
Wm. BANE?
Paul APPERSON
John DAVENPROT
Wm. TENANT?
Smauel GIBSON
James RAINES
BURNARD
PAINE
Abraham WILSON
Thomas WILSON
Beverley WILLIAMS
Harry STUBBLEFIELD
Jas WIGLESWORTH
Lewis HOLLADAY
James HOLLADAY
Abell STEERS
William WIGLEWORTH
John SMITH
John GRAVES
Samuel BULLOCK
Clayton COLEMAN
William BROOKS
Jos. DUARSON
David SANDIDGE
Wm. EHTERTON
Wm. CASON
Harris COLEMAN
John CHILES
Henry CHILES
William BLAYDES
Jos. TRUE
John TALBERT
Phillip DAYE
Jos. ETHERTON
David PULLIAM
Thomas GADDIS
Henry LANE
Thos. TURNER
Samuel TRAINAM
Thos. TRUE
James CASON
Robt. SHEPHERD
John KNIGHT
Wm. PURKINS
James WHEELER
Phillip JOHNSON
Robt. HART
John CANAHAN
Rolings PULLAIM
Richd MURF
Charles COSBY
Thos. WARD
John SANDERS
Mosis WHEELER
Charles POWEL
Dudly HARRIS
Joel LEWIS
Nickles MERRIWETHER
beef ; Thomas POWELL -- beef; Col. SPOTSWOOD contributed a wagon hire and beef; Charles WASHINGTON contributed; John WASHINGTON -- beef; Mrs. Mary WASHINGTON -- bacon.
