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
To see the acutal document
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
