Montgomery County, Virginia Petition 17 May 24, 1782,
courtesy Virginia State Archives & Library, Richmond, VA, containing the
signatures of many early settlers near the Lead Mines in what would become Wythe
County. Contributed by Russ Bralley
Montgomery Petition
May 24th, 1782
referred to the Committee to
revise the Tax Law
To the Honourable the General Assembly of Virginia:
The Petition of the Inhabitants of Montgomery County
Respectfully sheweth.
That your Petitioners having considered the late Tax Law,
find it oppressive and impossible to be complied with. Specie has been is almost
unknown amongst us for some years past; & what there is, does not circulate,
but is securely kept by the few who have had Foresight Enough to gather it. The
Alternative of paying in Commodities at our immence Distance from Navigation is
of very little service to us, having no way to transport them. Besides our last
years crop is generally disposed of for Salt and other real Necessaries, so that
if we had Carriages we Could make no Payments at so early a Period as the first
of July; Which Circumstances in our Opinions might have occurred to any
considerate Person. Your Petitioners humbly conceive that Warehouses might be
erected in the Respective Counties, on the Western Waters for the Reception of
the Commodities, which the Taxes are to be paid in; This with a reasonable time
for making the payment out of the ensuing Crop might inable your Petitioners,
and others in similar Circumstances to pay the amount of their Taxes in such
commodities. But as to Paying any part, even the Land Tax in Specie it is in
Vain to think of it for this Year.
Your Petitioners are no Strangers to the objections, which
might be raised against receiving the Tax Commodities any where on the Western
Water. But it is utterly impracticable for your Petitioners to Carry the
Commodities so great a Distance; and very practicable for the Publick to have it
done. And Your Petitioners have no objections to the Justice of Settling a
reasonable relative Price upon the Commodities delivered in the respective
Counties.
Your Petitioners beg leave to remind your Honours that there
are Hundreds of Poor People with larger families residing in the Mountainous
& remote Parts of the Frontier Counties who cannot possibly make payments in
Hemp. Those people have hitherto generally supplied themselves with with
necessarys by Deer Skins. and as Deer Skins are necessary for the Army, as well
as an article of Exportation, Your Petitioners conceive that they might with
propriety be added to the list of articles which the Taxes are now payable
in.
Your Petitioners declare themselves ready & willing to
comply with every Requisition of Government, which is in their Power, and it is
with reluctance they now trouble your Honours with their case which appears not
only distressing, but harder than can be borne; Therefore they humbly Hope your
Honours will reconsider and amend the Tax Law in such a Manner as seem
consistent with the situation, and condition of your Constituents.
(Signed)
Daniel Howe William Mears
John Nash John McHinnery
Henry Begley Jas. Newell, Jr.
Joseph Polly Jno. ?
William Polley Jas. Simpson
William McCall ? Jas. Coulson
Jeremiah Stone Jas. Finley
Timothy Roark Jehu Stephens
John McKinney Thos. Mears?
David Miles Sam. Smith (Senr.)
Francis Day John Steans ?
John Rogers Nichlas Foster
Nicolas Tuttel Christopher Goose ?
Jeremiah Clonch James Tuttel
Wm. Davies Robert Steel
Wm. Doak John Bralley
Wm. Davise William Parker
Edmund Clonch Jno. Montgomery, Jr.
Thomas Kinawothy John Walker
Sam. Mc----- Alexdr. Neely
Josiah $qmw3y John Johnston
Thos. Dun Joseph Johnston
Jas. McDonald Daniel Johnston
Ro. Love Roger Oats
John Alcorn James -----
Stephen Sanders Wlliam Dean
William Calhoun Adam Dean
Stephen Clement William Willson
David Smith Jacob Willson
Jas. Mt.gomery William Montgomery
Robert Watson Even Williams
John Forbis Magnus Mcdonald
William Painter John Montgomery
Wm. Simpson Wm. Chapman
Robert Daugherty Wm. Nash
James Montgomery Jas. Ramsey
Robt. Montgomery Joseph ------
Robt. Fleming Joseph White
James -------
Wm. Rotherford
Saml. Smith (Junr.)
Daniel Chapman