# Lancaster County, SC - Court of Common Pleas - Judgment Roll 556 | | | |---|---| | **Case** | Reeves & Blackman et al. v. Jonathan Blackmon | | **Dates** | 1824-1834 | | **Roll** | Box 15, Roll 556 | | **Pages in source images** | 21 | ## Source Lancaster County (formerly Lancaster District), South Carolina, Court of Common Pleas, Judgment Roll 556 (Box 15). Original records held by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, SC. Transcribed from photographs of the original judgment roll (image file: [Judgment Roll 556 - Blackman vs Blackmon.pdf](Judgment%20Roll%20556%20-%20Blackman%20vs%20Blackmon.pdf), 21 pages). ## Disclaimer This transcription was made using AI (Claude, by Anthropic) from photographs of the original court papers. It is an attempted transcription, not a certified copy. Faded ink, difficult handwriting, torn folds and damaged pages make some readings uncertain, and errors are possible. Check the original images before relying on any reading. ## Transcription conventions - Original spelling, capitalization and abbreviations are kept as written. - `[?]` = uncertain reading; `[illegible]` = could not be read; `[blank]` = a space left empty on the original. - `[struck: ...]` = printed or written text that is lined through on the original. - `[...]` and *[italic bracketed notes]* = editorial explanations added by the transcriber; `[letters]` inside a word = letters supplied to expand an abbreviation. - On printed forms, handwritten fill-ins are shown in ***bold italics*** where it helps to tell them apart from the printed text. - "PDF p." numbers refer to the page order of the source image file, which is not always the order the papers were written in. **Notes on these images:** - Several pages were scanned sideways or upside down and were rotated for reading. - The declaration survives only in part (see p. 16). ## Transcription **PDF p. 1 - Plat for James Blackman, 1786 (printed form)** > [Plat drawing: 300 Acres; scale 20 Ch[ains] to an Inch. Readable boundary labels include "John Hughes['s?] Land," "[Rocky River?] Road" (dotted line across the top), "Jno. Blackman's Land," and marked trees such as "Stake" and "Pine."] > > SOUTH-CAROLINA. > I HAVE caused to be admeasured and laid out unto ***James Blackman*** a Tract of Land containing ***Three hundred*** Acres, situate in the District of ***Camden On a Branch of Bear Creek a Prong of Kane Creek on the N E side of the Catawba River*** And hath such Form and Marks, Buttings and Boundings, as the above Plat represents. > Certified for the ***16th*** Day of ***January 1786*** > > ***Jas. Bredin [?] > Dep[ut]y Sur[veyo]r*** ***E. Bremar > Sur. Gen[era]l*** **PDF p. 2 - Back of the 1786 plat** > Jas. Blackman > 300 Acres > Feby 5th 1787 > > [The rest is bleed-through from the front.] --- **PDF p. 3 - Back of Blair's receipt** > J A H Blair's > Receipt > > Surveyor - $11 > 11 > $22 **PDF p. 4 - Receipt of J. A. H. Blair** > Reves & Blackman > & al. vs } [J A H Blair's Receipt - bleed-through] > Jonathan Blackman > > Rec'd from John Reves three [struck: ###] dollars now in full of the above case as to my costs, I also received thirteen dollars in the above case from John Reves at different times previous to this, & for which I gave receipts & he says he has lost them - > April 26. 18[2?]6 J A H Blair --- **PDF p. 5 - Back of subpoena: Blair's affidavit of attendance** > So. Carolina } > Lancaster District } Personally appeared before me J A H Blair and on oath sayeth that he attended on the within Subpoena Five Days - April the 6th 1827 > Sworn to before me > Wm Taylor J.P. J A H Blair **PDF p. 6 - Subpoena to J. A. H. Blair (printed form)** > STATE OF SOUTH-CAROLINA. > To ***J A H Blair*** > By virtue of a WRIT OF SUBPOENA to you directed, and herewith shewn unto you, you are personally to be and appear before the Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, to be holden at ***Lancaster*** Court-House, on the ***first*** Monday after the fourth Monday in ***March*** next, to testify according to your knowledge, the truth, in a certain cause now depending, then and there to be tried, between ***John Reves & others*** Plaintiff, and ***Jonathan Blackman*** Defendant, on the part and behalf of the ***Plaintiff***. Hereof fail not, on pain of the penalties that will fall thereon. > DATED at ***Lancaster*** Court-House, the ***26th*** day of ***March*** Anno Domini, 18***27*** > ***S. D. Millar*** --- **PDF p. 7 - Writ of fieri facias (printed form; stereotyped by J. Howe, N. York, for James Lyon, Editor of the Pee Dee Gazette)** > The State of South-Carolina. District. > To all and Singular the Sheriffs of the said State.....GREETING: > YOU, and each of you are hereby commanded without delay, that of the Goods and Chattels, Houses, Lands and other Hereditaments and Real estates of ***Jonathan Blackman*** you cause to be levied, the sum of ***Seventy [?] six Dollars & seventy eight cents*** [struck: and also the interest which shall accrue on ... being the principal sum of the judgment in this case, from the ... day of ... in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ... up to the day on which such levy shall be made and satisfaction entered on this execution], which ***James Blackman & others*** in the Court of Common Pleas before the Judges of the said State at ***Lancaster*** Court-House, lately recovered against the said ***Jonathan*** for damages sustained by [struck: the said] ... as well by reason of ***a trespass*** [struck: promises and assumptions ... to the said ... made and not performed] ***committed on the lands of the plaintiffs as for costs*** [struck: Costs and Charges] by ***them*** expended in and about prosecuting ***their*** Suit in that behalf, whereof the said ***Jonathan is*** convicted, as appears on record. And that you have the said Monies before the said Judges, at the Court of Common Pleas, to be holden at ***Lancaster*** Court-House, on the ***first*** Monday after the fourth Monday in ***October*** next to render to the said ***Plaintiffs for*** Damages, Costs and Charges aforesaid. And have you there this Writ, before the Clerk of the said Court, fifteen days next before the sitting of the said Court. > WITNESS, [struck: the Honorable] ***John McKenzie*** Esquire, ***clerk of the said court at*** [struck: Senior Associate Judge of the said State, at] ***Lancaster*** Court-House the ***18th day of June*** [struck: first Monday after the fourth Monday in March] in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ***twenty seven*** and in the ***fifty [first?]*** Year of the Sovereignty and Independence of the United States of America. > ***Stephen Miller*** Plaintiff's Att[orne]y > > [Left margin:] Jno McKenzie c.c.p.l. **PDF p. 8 - Back of the fi. fa. (endorsements)** > [Left panel:] > Entered in my office > 18th June 1827 > John Sims Shff > > Entered in my > office 9 Febry > 1829 Wm Williams Shff > > Lodged 11 Febry 1833 > John Sims Shff > > Nulla Bona 6 Apl 1833 - 12 > miles J Sims Sh > N.B. 5 Apl 1834 - 12 mls > > [Center panel:] > 58 192 R7 > 91 > James Blackman > & others } fifa > vs > Jon[atha]n Blackman > > Stephen Miller > > Ver[dict] - 4.25 > Atty - 31.13 > Clks cost - 13.48 > Shffs " - 1.97 [?] > do on fifa - [.94?] > Jno Stogner Wit - 5.00 > Surveyor > J A H Blair - 21.00 $78.78 [?] > Sims 1 Entry & Com - 1.00 > Shff W. fifa - 1.00 --- **PDF p. 9 - Original writ (attachment), 1824 (printed form; G. W. Tarbox, printer)** > The State of South-Carolina. > TO ALL AND SINGULAR THE SHERIFFS OF THE SAID STATE - GREETING. > YOU, and each of you, are hereby commanded, without delay, to ***attach the body of Jonathan Blackman*** wheresoever ***he*** may be found within your and each of your respective districts, so that you compel ***him*** to be and appear before the Associate Judges of the said State, at the Court of Common Pleas, to be holden at ***Lancaster*** Court-house in and for the district of ***Lancaster*** on the ***first*** Monday after the fourth Monday in ***March*** next, to answer to ***Britton Blackman Joel Blackman Jr James Blackman Jr John Reevs Harbird Blackman and John Langley & Sarah his wife the heirs at law of Daniel Blackman & Elizabeth Blackman deceased*** [struck: of a Plea of Trespass on the case, and so forth - also for certain promises and assumptions by the said] ***of a plea whereas with force and arms he the said Jonathan the close or plantation of them the said plaintiffs did break*** [struck: to the said] ***and enter and them did eject and hold out, situate in the District of Lancaster & State aforesaid on the waters of Flat & Bear Creek, did break & enter & them did eject & hold out their timber & other trees then & there growing did cut down & destroy their grass tread down & other wrongs & enormities to them then & there did contrary to the peace & dignity of the said [State] & to their damage two thousand dollars*** [struck: made and not performed to the damage of the said] > And have you there this Writ, before the Clerk of the said Court, fifteen days next before the sitting of the said Court. > WITNESS, the Honorable ELIHU HALL BAY, Esquire, Senior Associate Judge of the said State, at ***Lancaster*** Court-house the ***first*** Monday after the fourth Monday in ***October*** in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-***four*** and in the forty ***ninth*** Year of the Sovereignty and Independence of the United States of America. > ***Miller & Dunlap*** Plaintiff's Attorney. > > [Left margin:] Jno McKenzie c.c.p.l. **PDF p. 10 - Back of the original writ (endorsements)** > [Left panel:] > Entered in my office > March 10th 1825 > Jno Sims Shff > > I have by my special > deputy Thos Greer served > Deft with a copy of > this writ 19 March 1825 > 9 miles Jno Sims Shff > > [Center panel:] > 5 153 > Lancaster > Jas Blackman Jr > & others } Trespass > vs to > try > Jonathan Blackman } titles > > Miller & Dunlap > > This action is brought as well to try titles as for damages > M & Dunlap > > Return proved before > me 21 March 1825 > Jno McKenzie C.C. --- **PDF p. 11 - Back of the Daniel Blackman plat copy** > Copy plat of > Daniel Blackman > 126 Acres > $1.07 pd [?] > > [The rest is bleed-through from the front.] **PDF p. 12 - Copy of plat for Daniel Blackman, 1793** > [Plat drawing: 126 Acres, 20 Ch[ains] per inch. Labels: "Bear Creek," "James Blackman's Land," "Vac[an]t land," "Rocky River [Road?]," "Spring of Flat Creek," "Vac[an]t land," "Henry [Cross?]"; marked trees include post oaks, a Spanish oak and a black oak ("B.ok").] > > "So. Carolina > Pursuant to a Warrant directed by John Winn Esq. Commissioner of Locations, in Camden dist. dated the 23d day of August 1793 - I have admeasured and laid out unto Daniel Blackman a tract of land Containing One hundred and Twenty six acres Situate on Drains of Bear Creek a prong of Kane Creek and on the Spring branches of Flat Creek. Both in said dist. Bounded on the NE by Henry [Cross's?] land and Vac[an]t land, on the SW by James Blackman's and Vac[an]t land, on the NE [?] by Vac[an]t land. And hath such form and marks as the above plat represents. Certified by me this 2d day September 1793 > James [Bredin?] D.S." > > Surveyor General's Office > Columbia Dec[embe]r 26th 1826 [seal flourish] > A true Copy from the original plat > William A Norris > Dy Sur[veyor] Gen[era]l --- **PDF p. 13 - Back of the Blair plat (certificate)** > James Blackmon > et al } trespass to try titles > vs > Jonathan Blackmon } > In the Court of Common Pleas Spring Term 1827 > I do certify that this is the plat had in evidence on the trial of the above case - > Th[o]s. [Wakes? / Walker?] > > [Center panel:] > Jas. Blackman & others > vs > Jonathan Blackman > > 13.48 > 2.96 > $16.44 **PDF p. 14 - Survey of the land in dispute, 1826 (J. A. H. Blair)** > [Plat drawing with corners lettered A-H. Labels include: "C Post oak"; "Branches of Flat Creek"; "D Post oak 3x on"; "E"; "Spanish oak 3x on"; "Land granted to Jno. Blackman"; "Stake where a Spanish oak stood"; "Rocky River Road"; "A ... Red oaks 3 on, corner 20 [?] agreeable to Jas. Blackman's Grant"; "The Dotted line is Jas. Blackman's"; "H"; "G Post oak"; "F"; "Field"; "Defendant's House"; "Blackjack"; "B Stake"; "Branches of Bear Creek"; "Dreans 33"; "Black Jack 34 on"; "Pine"; "Spanish oak"; "Black Jack dead [?]"; "Orig[ina]l Land Now John Small's Land."] > > So. Carolina } > Lancaster District } Jas. Blackman & others > vs > Johnathan Blackman & others > > The above Figure represents the Land in dispute as the above Double Black lines represents the Shape of the plaintiffs Plat, but Claims to the Double red lines which is call'd for as a boundary where there is Marks found agreeable to Each Grant - > Surveyed February the 22nd - 1826 - > J. A. H. Blair > Dy Surveyor --- **PDF p. 15 - Docket cover of the declaration (verdict)** > 8 > Lancaster > Jas Blackman > & others } Decla[ratio]n > vs in > Trespass > Jonathan Blackman > > Miller & Dunlap > > Filed 7th October 1825 > Rule posted same day > Jno McKenzie c.c.p.l. > > We find > We find for the plaintiffs the land enclosed within the letters A B C D E F G & H with four dollars & twenty five cents damages > Leroy [Secrest? / Terrell?] > Foreman > > Atty - 25.78 > Arg[umen]t fee [?] - 5.35 > $31.13 > > [At the foot, in another hand:] Williams & Clint[on] [?] **PDF p. 16 - Final part of the declaration** *[The start of the declaration is not among the scans. Only this last section appears.]* > ... aforesaid [struck: bounded as follows (to wit)] on the waters of Flat and Bear Creek, bounded as follows (to wit) [blank] ... did break and enter and them did eject and hold out, their timber and other trees then & there growing did cut down and destroy, their grass tread down and other wrongs and enormities to them then and there did contrary to the peace and dignity of the said State and to their damage two thousand dollars, and therefore they bring suit &c. > Miller & Dunlap > Pltffs Atty --- **PDF p. 17 - Clerk's bill of costs** > Signing & Sealing Writ - .2[4?] > proving return on do - .32 > appl[ication?] Docket - .21 > filing declaration - .18 > posting Rule to plead & - .37 > Order for Judgt - 1.3[?] > 2 Sub[poena] Writs - 1.08 > Docketing case - 0.21 > Transferring do - .21 > atte[ndance] this term - .44 > 4.73 > 2d Court > 2 Sub Writs - 1.08 > Docketing case - 0.21 > atte - .44 > 1.73 > 2 Rules of Survey - .75 > 3d Court > 2 Sub Writs - 1.08 > Docketing - 0.21 > Verdict - 0.25 > atte this term - .75 > Swearing Wit[nesses] - 0.50 > Recording plat - 1.00 > Judg[ment] - 0.44 > Ex[ecutio]n - 0.54 > Recording proceed[ings] - 1.50 > 6.27 > $13.48 > 31.13 > 1.52 [?] > [1?].52 [?] > $46.61 **PDF p. 18 - Summary of costs and docket cover of the judgment** > [Left panel:] > atty cost - $31.13 > Clks " - 13.48 > Shffs " - 2.00 > 46.61 > Jno Stogner - 5.00 > J A H Blair - 5.00 > do - 11.00 > $67.61 > > [Right panel:] > B15 R556 [Pd? / Rob'y?] 8 [Sept?] > James Blackman > & others vs } Judt > Jonathan Blackman > > [illegible] > Stephen Miller > > Recorded 6 > Recorded --- **PDF p. 19 - Judgment and jury verdict (printed form; scanned upside down)** > THEREFORE it is commanded that the Sheriff of ***Lancaster*** District, do summon ***forty eight*** good and lawful men, to be drawn by ballot, according to the directions of the Acts of the General Assembly of the said State, in such case made and provided, to be and appear before the Justices of the said State, at the Court of Common Pleas, to be holden at ***Lancaster*** on the ***first Monday after the 4th Monday in March*** next, by whom and so forth, and who neither and so forth; to recognize and so forth; because as well and so forth; and the same day is given to the parties aforesaid, at the place aforesaid. > And afterwards, that is to say, on the day, and at the place aforesaid, before the Justices aforesaid, come as well the said ***Plaintiffs James Blackman & others*** by ***their*** attorney aforesaid, as the said ***Defendant*** by ***his*** attorney aforesaid, and the Jurors aforesaid, being demanded, some of them, to-wit: ***Leroy [Secrest?] foreman*** ... come and being drawn by ballot, according to the directions of the said Acts of the General Assembly aforesaid, and sworn of the Jury aforesaid, to say the truth of the within contained, do on their oaths say, that ***the said Jonathan is guilty of the trespass in manner & form and they find the lands in the annexed plat to be the lands of the plaintiffs marked A B C D E F G H & four dollars & twenty five cents damages*** above [struck: as the said] > > [Margin:] Judgment entered up & signed 18 June 1827 > Jno McKenzie c.c.p.l. --- **PDF pp. 20-21 - Fragments of the state grant (1787)** *[Badly damaged, with large pieces missing. These seem to be what is left of the grant that went with the 1786 James Blackman plat (see the "Feby 5th 1787" docket on p. 2).]* > [p. 20, outside fold:] Thomas Pinckney > [p. 20, upside down:] Peter Freneau > Secretary > [p. 20, torn lower edge:] ... Blackm[an] ... Heirs ... > > [p. 21:] ... [Bl]ackm[an] ... > Given under the Gr[eat Seal of the State. WIT]NESS, his Excellency ***Thomas Pinc[kney]*** [Esquire, Governor and Commander in Chief in and over] the said State, at Charleston, this ***fifth*** Day of [torn] [in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven] Hundred and ***Eighty Seven*** and in the ***Eleventh*** [Year of the Independence of the United States of America.]