Source: Court of Oyer and Terminer Records - May 1779. RG 4825.6 BC 391816 Delaware Public Archive, Dover, DE
Note: While researching this case, I was surprised to learn that about one third of the population of Colonial America were Tories, one third Patriots, and one third were on the fence. Sussex County Delaware was known to have many prominent Loyalists. The dominant church's were also an important factor. One experienced researcher made the comment to me that "Many people in Sussex County felt that the Patriots were Godless men with nothing to lose."
Regarding Bennett Bryan: It is important to note that the name is clearly written in three places in this document as Burnet Bryan, not Bennett Bryan. There is also a Stephen Bryan listed whom I cannot yet connect with Bennett. I found a record of a Barnet Bryan born 23 June 1736 Of Hanover, Hanover, Virginia (LDS Film Number 170628, Page 244, Ref. Number 8906) That makes the question: Is this Bennet w/a different spelling and yippee I found his birth record, or is this another guy?
A note about the listing below. It looks like the names were listed in the "vs." column, then later they put the fate of the accused in the third column. Some of the names had an "x" added before them, since I don't know if this is significant or not, so I included it.
Some definitions: Ignoramus-dismissal of charge by grand jury. The fates that I could not deceifer are important enough that I scanned them in the hopes someone else can figure it out and let me know what it says/means. You can click on image to see it larger.
- Karen
John Uudson | ||
Samuel Truit | ||
John Palmer | ||
Joseph Palmer | ||
Richard Hickman | ||
Eli Burton | ||
Namey (Nunez) Deputy | ||
X | Thomas Lightfoot | |
X | Thomas Cockayne | |
Nathaniel Steel | Discharged def__bele | |
Samuel Butler | Ignoramus Bill | |
John Uozel | Ignoramus Bill | |
Samuel Walls | Ignoramus Bill | |
Joseph Joseph | Ignoramus Bill | |
Burnet Bryan | Ignoramus Bill | |
Stephen Bryan | Ignoramus Bill | |
John Fisher | Ignoramus Bill | |
John Truit | Ignoramus Bill | |
X | William Williams | Ignoramus Bill |
Nehemiah Cary | Ignoramus Bill | |
X | Pemberton Carlise | Ignoramus Bill |
X | Collins Truit | Ignoramus Bill |
X | Richard Clifton | Ignoramus Bill |
X | Joseph Stockley | Ignoramus Bill |
Elishia Dickerson | Ignoramus Bill | |
Joseph Polk Cenior | Ignoramus Bill | |
Thomas Bell | (name crossed out and "Certificate" written next to it) | |
William Burton | ||
X | Woodman Stockley | |
X | Joseph Nock | |
X | Thomas Cockran | |
Littleton Lofland | ||
Samuel Johnston |