Legends of Loudoun: An account of the history and homes of a border county of Virginia's Northern NeckWilliams, Harrison
History
Legends of Loudoun: An account of the history and homes of a border county of Virginia's Northern Neck
Williams, Harrison
Historic buildings -- Virginia -- Loudoun County; Loudoun County (Va.) -- History
When this order of the Council was made on the 15th June, 1758, the
Loudoun Court, as we have seen, had been duly organized and from time to
time was meeting for the performance of its duties since the preceding
12th July. Where these early meetings were held does not appear on the
records, nor so far as I can learn, is now known. The record of the
court's sittings at the time generally begin "At a court held at the
courthouse" so that the presumption arises that, for the time being, the
residence of one of its members may have been used for that purpose.
Apparently the court was becoming impatient to have an official home and
weary of the Council's delay; for at the court's session of the 11th day
of July, 1758, or four days before the date of the Council's order, we
find that it is, by the Loudoun Court,
"Ordered that the Sheriff of this County Advertise for Workmen to build
a Courthouse to meet here at the next Court to agree for the same."
The proposed edifice was so carefully described that we can get a very
clear idea of its appearance from the specifications recorded at this
session of the 9th August, 1758. It was to be a brick building 28 x 40,
with a jury room added sixteen feet square, having "an outside chimney
and fireplace, eight feet in the clear from the foundation to the
surface, two feet from the surface to the water table four feet, from
thence to the joist ten feet." There significantly follows "and also a
Prison and Stocks of the same Dimensions as those in Fairfax County for
this County."[81]
[81] Loudoun Orders A, 142.
A month later, at the court's sitting of the 12th September, 1758, it
was
"Ordered that the courthouse for this County be Built on a Lott of
Captain Nicholas Minor's No. 27 and 28 and that he convey the same to
William West and James Hamilton Gent. as Trustees in Fee for the use of
the County."[82]
[82] Loudoun Orders A, 162.
Nevertheless no deed from Minor actually was obtained until nearly three
years later, as will subsequently appear. That shrewd and careful
Founder of Leesburg well might have been unwilling to give to the county
two of the best lots in his new subdivision until he was abundantly
protected; so the deed was not given until the new courthouse was built
and any lingering doubt removed from his mind that the county's project
would be carried out. At the court's session of the 13th September,
1758, a contract to build the courthouse was confirmed to "Aeneas
Campbell Gent." for the sum of 365 pounds current money to be paid in
two equal payments, the first on the first day of August next ensuing
and the remaining half in the year 1760, Campbell having given a bond
for the due performance of his contract. At the same session the
contract to build the "Goal and stocks for this county" was confirmed to
"Daniel French Gent" for 83 pounds current money to be paid on or before
the 20th day of August then next; and it is noted that Campbell and
French were the lowest bidders.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account