Personally appeared in open Court W.P. Lashlee Constable for the 5th Civil District of Benton County and presented his resignation as said Constable which was received by the Court.
The Court then proceeded to elect a chairman to preside over the deliberations of this Court for the present year and the votes being counted it was found that D.P. Hudson Esq., was duly elected Chairman for the present year.
The Court then proceeded to elect a quorum to hold the quorum Courts for the
present year and there being a Majority of all the Justices in
The Court then proceeded to appoint Revenue Commissioners to settle with the Clerks & Trustee of Benton County Geo. W. Farmer and Thos. L. Floyd Esqrs. were unanimously appointed said Revenue Commissioners for the present year.
Personally appeared in open Court William Pafford and prayed to be released from paying taxes in 2 District and it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court that said Pafford was listed in two Districts. It is ordered by the Court that the said Pafford be released from paying tax in the 7th Civil District and that the Sheriff have a credit with the trustee for the same.
On Motion and it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court that 2 negro slaves belonging to Thomas Winn of said County have been valued too high it is ordered by the Court that the Sheriff have a credit with the Trustee for one dollar & fifty cents and said Winn also for the same amount.
The Court then proceeded to lay a tax on all Taxable property & Polls liable to taxation in Benton County for the year 1844, there being present & presiding on the bench a Majority of all the affirmation it is ordered by the Court that the following tax be laid (viz) for County contingencies on each $100.00 worth of Taxable property 5 cents on each White Poll, 12½ cents on each peddlers license $5.00 & on each Merchant License $5.00 on each stalion license equal to State Tax for the payment of Jurors, and on each $100.00 worth of property, 5 cents on each Poll 12½ cents for the payment of paupers on each white Poll 6¼ cents & on each $100.00 worth of Taxable property 2½ cents on each white Poll 6¼ cents on Merhcant & pedlers license $2.50 & on each Stallion license on half the state tax.
On Motion it is ordered by the Court that Mathew Presson be appointed overseer of the stage road to work from the two Mile tree to the old 13 Mile tree and that the following hands work under the said Presson on said road (viz) Lewis Ransell, Henry Ransell, Wesley Davenport, James Westerman, William Westerman, William Presson, William Wiseman, Oliver and Robert Armor, Joseph Cowell and James Cowell shall work under said Presson on said road which is established in the 1st class.
The Court then proceeded to elect an Entry-taker for the next four years and upon the first balloting it was found that Ephraim Perkins had received a Majority of all the Justices present and that he is duly elected Entry taker for Benton County for the ensuing four years and thereupon the said Ephram Perkins together with Wm. M. McAuley, Thos.Jones, Samuel H. Davidson, J.F. Florence, W.A. Steele, Beverly Herron, J.W. Davidson, I.W. Utley, Green Flowers, Seth Utley, Nicholas Brewer appeared in open Court and entered into and acknowledged their bond which is as follows (viz)
Know all men by these presents that we E. Perkins, W.M. McAuley, Thos. Jones, Samuel H. Davidson, J.F. Florence, W.A. Steele, Beverly Herron, J.W. Davidson, J.W. Utley, Green Flowers, Seth Utley and Nicholas Brewer, all of the County of Benton and State
of Tennessee are held and firmly bound unto the State of Tennessee in the penal sum of twenty thousand Dollars for the payment of which well and truly to be Made we bind ourselves our heirs and legal representatives sealed with our seals and dated this 1st day of January 1844.
The condition of the above obligations is such that whereas the above bound E. Perkins hath at the January Term of the County Court for Benton County 1844 been elected entrytaker for said County of Benton for four years from his said election Now if the said Ephraim Perkins does faithfully account for & pay over according to law all money by him collected by virtue of said office of Entrytaker and do and perform all the duties enjoined on him by law as such Entrytaker then the above obligation to be void otherwise to remain in full force and effect.
Signed
E. Perkins
Wm. M. McAuley
Thos. Jones
S.H. Davidson
Jas. T. Florence
W.A. Steele
Beverly Herron
J.M. Davidson
J.W. Utley
Green Flowers
Seth Utley
Nicholas Brewer
The Court then proceeded to elect a surveyor for Benton County for the next four years and on the votes being counted it is found that Robert H. Hawthorn received a Majority of all the Justices present where upon the said Robert H. Hawthorn appeared in open Courty and Entered into and Acknowledged his bond which is as follows (viz)
Know all men by these presents that we R.H. Hawthorn, Seth Utley, Williams Barnes, A.J.B. Hudson, S.H. Davidson, Jas. I Rogers, John W. Utley, John W. Davidson, P.B. Hubbard, R.C. Petty, G.W.L. Hudson, and Noah Strickland all of the County of Benton and State of Tennessee and held and firmly bound unto his Excellency
James C. Jones Governor of said State for the time being and his successors in office in the penal sum of two thousand dollars which payment well and truly to be Made we bind ourselves and each of our heirs, excutors and Adminintrators jointly, severly and firmly by these presents sealed with our seals and dated this first day of January 1844.
The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the above bound R.H. Hawthorn was at the January Term of the County Court for Benton County 1844, duly elected surveyor for said County Now Therefore if the said R.H. Hawthorn shall well and truly perform the duties of surveyor as the law directs and in all respects do and perform his duty as surveyor during his continuance in office then the above obligation to be void otherwise to remain in full force and effect
Signed
R.H. Hawthorn
Seth Utley
William Barnes
A.J.B. Hudson
S.H. Davidson
Jas. J. Rogers
John W. Utley
John W. Davidson
P.P. Hubbard
R.C. Petty
G.W.L.
Noah Strickland
Personally appeared in open Court Wm. A. Steele, Esqr. One of the Justices of the peace in the 5th Civil District of Benton County and tendered his resignation as such which was received by this Court and it is ordered by the Court that the Sheriff proceed forthwith to open and hold an Election to fill said vacancy.
On Motion it is ordered by the Court that Mrs. Melton and John Saunders be
exempted from paying 62½ cents each of their taxes and that the Sheriff have a
credit of one dollar & 25 cents with the
trustee for the same.
The Court then proceeded to Make an appropriation to
the Justices who held the
Court then adjourned until tomorrow morning,
D.P. Hudson
S.H. Davidson
Elijah Alsup
Court met according to Adjournment.
E. Perkins Esqr. who was
on yesterday elected Entrytaker for
Robert H. Hawthorn who was yesterday elected surveyor of
On Motion it is ordered by the Court that Henry Gossett appointed overseer of the road in room of Allen Mullican to work from Pleasant Mullicans to Unionville and that the following hands shall work under said Gossett on said road (viz) Jesse Dillion, John Gossett, Dosier Temple, Allen Stors Bruces's hands Jerrymiah Perry, Thomas P. Drummonds, James Kemp and hands and all other hands in the bounds shall work under said Gossett on said road which is established in the 2nd Class.
Court then adjourned until Court in Course.
D.P. Hudson
Elijah Alsup
S.H. Davidson