The Commonwealth of Virginia to James Fletcher and Thomas Washington gentlemen Justices of Brunswick County Greeting whereas Thomas Poythress and Martha his wife by their certain Indenture of Bargain and Sale bearing date the 28th Day of August 1795 have sold and conveyed unto George Hicks eighty five acres of Land with the appertenances lying & being in the County of Brunswick and whereas the said Martha cannot conveniently travel to our County Court of Brunswick to make acknowledgment of the said Conveyance. Wherefore we do give unto you or any two or more of you, power to Recieve the acknowledgment which the said Martha shall be willing to make before you of the Conveyance aforesaid Contained in the said Indenture which is hereunto annexed And we do therefore command you, that you do personally go to the said Martha & recieve her acknowledgment of the same, and examine her privily and apart from the said Thomas her husband, whether she doth the same freely and Voluntarily without his persuasions or Threats and whether she be willing that the same should be Recorded in our County Court of Brunswick aforesaid And when you have recieved her acknowledgments & Examined her as aforesaid that you distinctly, plainly and openly Certify us thereof in our said County Court under your hands & Seals sending then there the said Indenture and this Writ Witness Charles B Jones clerk of our said Court at the Court House this 14th day of Decr. 1796 In the 21st year of the Commonwealth.
                                                                                                                  CB Jones
By Virtue of this Commission to us directed we the Subscribers have privily examined Martha Poythress wife of the within named Thomas Poythress in manner & form as the said Commission requires &have Recieved the acknowledgment of the Indenture hereunto annexed, which said Indenture she acknowledged freely & Voluntarily without his persuasions or threats and that she was willing the same should be recorded in the County Court of Brunswick Certifyed under our hands & Seales this 17th day of January 1797.
                                                                                                      Jas. Fletcher (LS)
                                                                                                     Thos. Washington (LS)

Brunswick County Court January 23rd 1797
This Commission for taking the acknowledgment & Privy examination of Martha Poythress wife of Thos Poythress to an Indenture of bargain and sale between Thos Poythress & Martha his wife of the one part & George Hicks of the other part was returned together with a certificate of the Execution thereof is ordered to be recorded
                                                                                                     Teste
                                                                                                          CB Jones CBC

Deed Book 16, page 396, 397, Brunswick County, Virginia