Petition of the inhabitants and freeholders of Norfolk County, 1776 May 28.

To the honourable the President and Delegates for the serveral Countys & Corporations in the Colony and Dominion of Virginia in Convention assembled The Petition of Freeholders and Inhabitants of the County of Norfolk humbly shewethThat they have been informed that a Resolution hath been passed by this Convention to compell the removal of all the Inhabitants of the said County being on the South side of the Western Branch of Elizabeth River and on the North East side of the Road leading from the Head of the Branch to the Great Bridge and also on the East side of the Road leading from the Great Bridge to the North West Landing and Carolina LIne, which Resolution if carried into Execution will involve Your Petitioners in the greatest Distress as many of them have large Familys and have no Places to retreat to, nor can they Transport their Provisions Necessary to support them nor have they Money to buy it else where and most of them have Pitched their Crops for this YearYour Petitioners further shew that by the leaving of the Borough of Norfolk the Courthouse of the said County was Destroyed and the Place where it stood in the Power of the Enimies of America whereby Your Petitioners were Prevented from choosing Deligates to represent them in Convention from which unfortunate Circumstance Your Petitioners humbly Presume their situation & Circumstances could not be Properly represented to this Convention. Wherefore your Petitioners humbly Pray that their extream hard Case may again be taken into Consideration and that if any such Resolution hath passed that the same may be rescinded or that they main have such other Relief in the Premises as to you in your great Wisdom shall seem meet-- And your Petitioners shall Pray [illegible] [illegible John Wilson John Tatem Sen 'r Abram Wormington Abel Muridge Bassett Morley Charles Odeon Joseph Fulford Mary Muridge Thomas Talbot John Nash Mathias Miller Josiah Maroy Aurthur Boush Thos Nash Caleb McCoy Goin Cutterell Amos Etherige Nathaniel Tatem Leml Barrington [illegible]Butt Peter Butt Josiah Randolph Arthur Butt William Happer Saml Portlock John Boss John Collins Able Creekmur Edwd Strong Andrew Carson Jno Hodgson Josiah Wilson Senr John Cheshim Matthew Halstead Paul Owens Henry Wilson William Bright Thomas Edwards Jun Benj Miller Richard Blake George Smith

Samuel Smith Josiah Ives Thos Edwards John Murden Jun Jas Grimes Jun Hector Olets Thomas Edwards Lemuel Ballentine Henry Butt Demsey Hollon Bengamon Culpper Daniel Cutherell Samuel Harris William Morning Robert Jarvis Kesiah Butt William Griggs Enoch Etheredge John Hodges Samuel Wallis James Pinhorton Love Fulford Thomas Hartrell Caleb Sikes Mercer Grimes Malachi Wilkins Henry Smith Samuel Butt James Wilkins Joshua Maang Hugh Macoy William Cutherll Joel Mohurr Jno Jameson Henry Jameson James Eastwood Geo D Corprew Thomas Old Snr Willoughby Old Benia Butt John Stewart Matthew Marenos John William Edmund Alimand Thomas Etheredge Charles Williams Joseph Holstead Smith Holstead Richard Foreman Henry Hollowell Alexander Grimes Caleb Wilson Malachi Wilson Jur Thomas Nash? John Munden Lamb? Fentress Henry Halstead Simon Halstead John Bonihall Josiah Sikes Willia Wilkins Solomon Hodges James Williams Rob Waller John Portlock William Wilson Benjamin Hollowell William Hall William Wilkins Absolom Grant Alexander Grimes James Sparrow David Manning Richd McCoy Thos Holstead James Happlove? Henary Bartt Samuel Bartt William Boushell Peter Edwards Maron Hodges Danl Sanlords George Fentress Senr Solomon Smith James Fentress Wm Wilson Jun Daniel Hodges Lemuel Etheredge Thomas Randolph Maxey Randolph James Wilson John Herbert Lucy Forman Matt Godfrey James Nicholson James Godfrey William Haton Lemuel Portlock John Button? William Etheridge lly Etheridge lea Norfolk William Nicholson Theophelus Cherry Jesse Sikes Josiah Sikes Joseph Sikes Willis Sikes James Taylor Daniel Thompson Josiah Butt Joel Gammon John Whiddon Samuel Butt Job Hanbury Willis Butt Solomon Millar Joshua Jolliff James Howard Thos Taylor Richd Brown Josiah Kuthrel Calib Cherry Joseph Curling William Nicholson Senr Caleb Herbert Thos Morris Timothy Ives Goodrich Boush Peter Sparrow George Fentress Josiah Curling Samuel Weston Willis Langley Bennett Armstrong Richard Joliff John Corprew John Whitehurst Robt Barron Ferebee Hodges Marium Mound John Ferebee Thos Cherry John Braidfool Mercut Maund [illegible] Charles Smith Willim Warden Daniel West John Richison Cortney Portlock John Ives Robart Ives Samuel Ellis Geo Abgoon Jno Hutchings