Proceedings of a Court of Oyer and Terminer in Prince William County

Proceedings of a Court of Oyer and Terminer in Prince William County, 8 May 1781. Prince William County to wit Cuthbert Bullitt attorney for the Commonwealth for the County aforesaid giveth information to the Court; that Billy alias Will, alias William late of the Parish of Dittengen in the County aforesaid; a Mulatto Slave belonging to John Tayloe Esqr. late of Richmond County in the Commonwealth aforesd. upon the Second day of April in the year of our Lord 1781 at the sd. Parish of Dittengen in the County of Prince William aforesaid with force of Arms &Ca. did feloniously & traiterously Adhere to the Enemies of the Commonwealth and gave them aid & Comfort & upon the Sd. Second day of April at the sd. Parish of Dittengen in the County of Prince William aforesd. did in Company of & Cunjunction with diverse Enemies of the Commonwealth in Armed Vessels, feloniously & Traiterously Wage & Levy War against the Commonwealth to the great Danger of Subverting thereof and against the Act of Assembly in Such Case made & Provided, and the Peace of the sd. Commonwealth, & the Dignity thereof. C. Bullitt At a Court of oyer & terminer called and held at the Court House of Prince William County, the 8th. day of May 1781 for the Trial of Billy, alias Will, Alias William, a Mulatto Slave the Property of John Tayloe Esqr. for Treason Present Henry Lee William Carr Foushee Tebbs Richard Graham Gentn. Justices William Tebbs William Brent The said Slave Billy, Alias Will, alias William, let of the sd. Coty. of Prince William being brought to the Bar of the Court, and Indicted for Treason, in Joining the Enemies of this Commonwealth, upon his Arraignment, Says he is not Guilty, Upon hearing the Several Witnesses, it is the opinion of the Court that he is Guilty, & that he Suffer Death, And be Executed agreeable to the Act, Declaring what Shall be Treason And the Said Sheriff of the Sd. County on the Twenty fith of this Inst. between the Hours of Eleven & two of the Same day, do Execution thereon at the Common Gallows of the Sd. County, by Causing the Sd. Slave to be hanged by the Neck untill Dead, & his head to be Severed from his Body & Stuck up at Some Publick Cross Road on a pole, And the Sd. Court do Say that the Sd. Slave is worth Twenty Seven Thousand Pounds Current Money [ ] Graham Clk. Court Legislative Petitions, Prince William Co., n.d. [received 7 June 1781], Record Group 78, Library of Virginia