It would be difficult for anyone to question the merit of Judge Lyman Chalkley's Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia. This author considers the publication as a major contribution to the historical study of western Virginia and West Virginia. Attesting to that is the widespread use of the Chronicles by historians and genealogists during the 85 years they have been in print. But precisely for that reason it is important for researchers to understand that the three volume set is an abstract, an eclectic sample of what Chalkley believed would be historically and genealogically beneficial.
It was not intended to be a complete copy of the records of early Augusta County, Virginia. For example the first 275 pages of Volume I include abstracts of the nearly 11,000 pages in the first 22 Order Books. On the average each published page in that part of Volume I represents over 40 pages of actual Court Records. This fluctuates somewhat with each published page representing 17 pages of Order Book I to more than 85 pages during the relatively uneventful year of 1768 in 0rder Book XII.
Chalkley's abstracts are least complete for the period from 1764 to 1769 and most complete for the period from 1774 to 1785. But even in that most complete portion several items that may be of historical importance have been omitted. Some of these relate to the Tygart Valley region and as abstracted by the author from the originals are as follows:
Augusta County Order Book XVI (16):
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Page 77 - 20 Jun 1775 |
Felix Gilbert to take list of tithables on the different forks of the South Branch and in Tigers Valley. |
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Page 218 - 19 Aug 1777 |
Daniel Westfall appointed surveyor in room of Jesse Hamilton. |
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Page 328 - 20 May 1778 |
Catherine White vs. Joseph Skidmore for trespass, abated due to death of defendant. |
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Page 377 - 17 Nov 1778 |
John Warwick, Ralph Stewart and Alexander to view road from the upper settlement in Tygart Valley to Greenbrier. |
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Page 379 - 18 Nov 1778 |
James Stewart, assignee of James Lackey vs. John Wilson. |
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Page 410 - 16 March 1779 |
Daniel Westfall, overseer of the road from the lower end of Tygart Valley up to the north side of Jacob Westfall's and William Smith's Run, and Anthony Seduskey from there up to George Westfall's Mill, and Daniel McLain up to the and of the valley. |
Augusta County Order Book XVII (17):
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Page 3 - 21 May 1779 |
Thomas Price vs. Peter Cassity for trespass, assault and battery. |
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Page 6 - 21 May 1779 |
John Elliott vs. David Hadden for debt. |
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Page 7 - 21 May 1779 |
William Hadden vs. Benjamin Abbott for debt. |
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Page 8 - 21 May 1779 |
Jesse Hamilton vs. Aaron Vanscoy. |
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Page 11 - 21 May 1779 |
George Parsons vs. John Jackson. |
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Page 12 - 21 May 1779 |
Christopher Bryan vs. George Parsons. |
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Page 36 - 21 May 1779 |
Jacob Springstone vs. James Cunningham. |
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Page 51 - 18 Aug 1779 |
The last Will of Francis Wire, deceased, proven by George Shaver and Henry Delay. Estate to be appraised by Thomas Phillips, John Cassity, Jacob Westfall, Junior, and Nicholas Smith. |
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Page 56 - 19 Aug 1779 |
Alexander Maxwell vs. William Currence. |
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Page 113 - 20 Aug 1779 |
Thomas Wilmoth vs. Skidmore for trespass, assault and battery. |
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Page 179 - 21 Dec 1779 |
Robert Cravens appointed surveyor of road in place of Anthony Sedusky. |
The Allegheny Regional Family History Society
Comments regarding this page to: Deborah Johnson.