Lucy v. Stephen Cooke. Deposition of George Hammet
Loudoun County to wit.
Novr. 29th 1809 Personally appeared before us two of the Justices of the peace for the County aforesd. George Hammat of lawful age and made Oath on the Holy evangelists. That, some time in the year 1802 Joseph Smith a Justice of the peace for the County of Loudoun put a warrant into his hands as Constable, and directed him to pursue after a Negro Woman & Child, that was said to be Illegally brought from the State of Maryland by one Rodgers this dept went into pursuit of Rodgers & overtook him about One & an half Miles from Leesburg in the County of Loudoun Virginia; as this dept approached the Negroes, Rodgers rode off, some person in company then showed this dept the Negros he was in search for; a white man who was in Company with Rodgers, was asked by this dept if he laid any claim to the Woman & Child, he ansd. no he did not, this dept asked where is the man who claims them, he ansd. he is just rode off; this dept told the man to inform Rodgers that if he would come to Leesburg & show that he had a right to the Negros he should have them but he never came to this dept knowledge. That this dept brought the Woman & Child to Leesburg made a return of his warrant before Joseph Smith, Saml Murrey & Doctr Sim Esqrs. that she was Committed to the Jail of this County and there remained from the 19th of November 1802 to the 21st of Febry 1803, her Jail fees were running up very high and Doctr. Cooke wanting a Woman this dept let him have her upon his paying this dept her Jail fees which he did amounting to £14,1,6. that when ever she was discharged from Custody; Doctr Cooke was to give her up; and he was to be repaid the sum advanced for her fees; and he was also answerable for her when she might be called for by this dept. and farther this deponant said not signed and sworn to before us
John Littlejohn
Samuel Murrey
George Hammat
