EARLY KNOX COUNTY COURT RECORDS

KNOX COUNTY COURT ORDER BOOK A

• At the house of JOHN LOGAN, Junr, on the 23rd day of One Thousand eight hundred and inst, the ninth year of the Common wealth, it being the place appointed by the act of the General Assembly of Kentucky for holding court for KNOX COUNTY.
• A commission of the peace from Excellancy James Garrard, Esqr,Govenor of Kentucky, directed by JAMES MAHAN, GEORGE BRITTIAN, JOHN REDDICK, JOHN BALLINGER and JOHNATHAN McNEILL, gentlemen Esquires, was produced, read and thereupon pursuant to the said commissions JAMES MAHAN, Gentlemen, administered the oath offices of fidelity to GEORGE BRITTAIN, JOHN REDDICK,JOHN BALLINGER,and JOHNATHAN McNEILL, Esquires, and tehn JOHN BALLINGER, Esquire, administered the oaths of office and of fidelity to JAMES MAHAN Esquire.
• ALEXANDER GOODIN produced a commission from his excellancy JAMES GARRARD, Esquire, Govenor of Kentucky, bearing date December the 21st, 1799, appointing him sheriff of KNOX COUNTY, which said commission was read and thereupon the said ALEXANDER GOODWIN took the oaths of office as the law directs.
• ALEXANDER GOODWIN, sheriff**** together (with) JOHN BALLINGER and JAMES MAHAN as his seretues entered into and acknowledged their bonds payable to the Govenor in the penalty as the law directs. The sheriff then opened the first court of KNOX COUNTY in the name of the Commonwealth.
• The court being thus constituted they proceeded, to elect a clerk and RICHARD BALLINGER was appointed clerk, protem; whereupon he took the oaths of office prescribed by law and he together with GEORGE BRITTAIN and JOHN BALLINGER, Esquires, his securities( sureties) acknowledged their bonds unto a Govenor in the penality as the law directs.
• JOHN CAMPBELL produced a license from CALEB WALLACE and GEORGE MUTER, Judges of the court of Appeals, permitting him to practice as an attorney-at-law in any court of this Commonwealth which (license) was read and thereupon the said JOHN CAMPBELL, Gentlemen, took the oath of office as the law directs.
• Ordered that the county be laid off in four constable districts, Viz: All that part of the county above Brownings Creek shall be considered as one district and known by the name of Number One. All that part below Brownings Creek and ablove Richland Creek shall be called Number Two. Between Richland (and ) Laurel, Number Three, and the balance of the said county, Number Four.
• Ordered that JOHN ALLSAP be appointed constable in the second district, JOHN ALLSAP having taken the oaths of office agreeable to law, as constable, and he together with JOHN and RICHARD BALLINGER his securities acknowledged their bonds to the Govenor in the penality of Two Hundred dollars as the law directs.
• Odered that ISSAC CURNSTALK be appointed constable in the third district, ISSAC CURNSTALk having taken the oaths of office agreeable to law, as constable, and he together with LEONARD C SHOEMAKER and DONALD DUESE ( DeWeese), his securities, acknowledged their bonds to the Govenor in the penality of Two Hundred dollars as the law directs.
• Odered that the court doth adjourn til tommorrow at 9 o'clock at this place-----(signed) JAMES MAHAN
• At a court continued and held for KNOX COUNTY at the house of JOHN LOGAN Junr, on the 21st day of June 1800. JAMES MAHAN, GEORGE BRITTAIN< JOHN REDDICK< JOHN BALLINGER and JOHNATHAN McNEILL, Gentlemen, Esquires, present. JOHN BALLINGER produced a commission from his Excellancy JAMES GARRARD, Esquire Govenor of this commonwealth, appointing him surveyor of said county, it being read in court; whereupon the said JOHN BALLINGER took the oaths of office prescribed by law and he together with RICHARD BALLINGER, Senr, and JAMES BARBOUR, Senr, his securities, acknowledged their bonds to the Govenor in the penality as the law directs.
• Ordered that JAMES MAHAN, GEORGE BRITTAIN, and JOHNATHAN McNEILL be appointed and licensed by this court to solemnize the rights of Matrimony in the county, JAMES MAHAN took the oaths of office and together with JOEL COLLINS, his securities acknowledged their bonds to the Govenor in the penality as the law directs. GEORGE BRITTAIN took the oath of office and together with JOHN BALLINGER, his securities, acknowledged their bonds to the Govenor in the penality as the law directs. JOHNATHAN McNEILL took the oaths of office and he together with NIMROD FARRIS, his securities acknowledged their bonds to the Govenor in the penality as the law directs.
• Ordered that JOEL COLLINS, ALEXANDER GOOSWIN and NIMROD FARRIS be appointed processioners in abd for this county. JOEL COLLINS, ALEXANDER GOODWIN and NIMROD FARRIS took the oaths of office prescribed by law.
• Ordered that no man in this county be allowed to mark their stock, with a half crop in the right ear and swallow a fork in the left, except for JOHNATHAN McNEILL, Esquire
• Ordered that no man in this county be allowed to amrk their stock with swallow fork in the right ear and half crop in the left ear, except for JOHN REDDICK, Esquire
• Ordered that fixing the seat of Justice be postponed till next court.
• Ordered that court doth be adjourned till court in course at this place---(signed JAMES MAHAN)