Richard Shurling Claim for Indian Depredations
I Recently found the following document filed in the Georgia State Archives.It is a claim filed by Richard Shirling for losses incurred due to Indian depredations in Camden County Ga in 1793.The claim was ultimately disallowed, but it places Shirlings in Ga much earlier than previously thought.
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A list of property stolen and conveyed off & destroyed by a party of Creek indians in the year (1793) Seventeen Hundred & Ninety three belonging to Richard Shurling then living in Camden County state of Georgia.
Amount of Slaves lost at that time Twelve in numberOne Negro man Slave name Job about 27 or 8 years old Worth at that time being a Black smith$900.00
To one Negro man Named Hal 32 years old 575.00
One Negro Woman Phillis 25 years old worth 400.00
her two children Tom & Dave from5 to 3 years old 450.00
To one Negro woman named Amy about 45 years old and
her children being six in number a boy Jeb about 15
years old one girl about 14 years old the other
four their ages not recollected worth $1875.00
To 52 head of Cattle worth $5 per head 260.00
To 4 horses-- Worth ------ $60 240.00
2 other horses worth one hundred dollars each 200.00
To 1000bushels of Corn worth one dollar per bushel 1000.00
3 sows & pigs worth ten dollars apiece 30.00
16 Two years old Barrows & spaed sows worth 48.00
To household & furniture worth 125.00
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6103.00
GeorgiaStewartPersonally came before me Robert Burke a justice of the
Countypeace in and for said County Richard Shurling and after being duly sworn Deposeth and saith that the above Account of Twelve Negroes and Fiftytwo head ofCattle, Six horses, One hundred Bushels of Corn, Three Sows & pigs, Sixteen Two year old Barrows & spaed sows and household & furniture As stands stated in the above account is Just and true and that they were Carried off by the Creek Indians and that he has never received back any of the above described property nor neither has he ever been compensated in any for the same nor neither has he received pay fro any source for any part.Sworn to and subscribed before me this 22 July 1835.
Robert BurkeJ.P. his
Richard +Shurling
Mark
GeorgiaStewartPersonally came before me Robert Burk a justice of the peace in and
Countyfor said county Johnual Stewart who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he was well acquainted with Richard Shurling in the year Seventeen hundred Ninety three for at that time I was Overseeing for him , knew all his Negroes well and have a very good recollection of the Old Negroes or work hands and know there was some small ones and know that they were taken off by a party of the Creek Indians for we with other followed after them and was unable to take them from the Indians and believe that they were in number and description as stated in the account and worth them fully as much as charged in the account and that Richard Shurling did reside in Camden County in the year Seventeen hundred and Ninety three and State aforesaid and that a party of Indians did Rob and take off all the above described property from the premises of Richard Shurling as charged in the account as well as I recollect – This deponent considers the amount Charged for the property destroyed and taken off as a moderate estimate of their value and the spoliations was committed in the latter part of the year seventeen hundred and Ninety three. And that the said Shurling has never received back any of said propertyor pay for the same as deponent knows of.
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 22nd July 1835
Robert BurksJ.P. Johnual Stewart
Georgia We whose names are hereunto annexed do certify that we have
Stewart County been acquainted with Richard Shurling & Johneal Stewart and are respectful men and their Oath is entitled to faith and Credit as much as any men.July 22nd 1835.
David Burks
Mark Fleming
John W. Foster
Written on Reverse side of Claim;
Richard Shirling 1793
Twelve Negroes --------------- $2200.00
52 head of cattle---------------260.00
6 horses -----------------------440.00
1000 bushels of corn ----------1000.00
19 hogs &c ---------------------78.00
household furniture -----------125.00
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$6103.00
This claim was presented just before the last day limited for the reception of claims; & is therefore with strong distrust, no reason being given for the delay.The claim is believed to carry on the face of it evedence of fraud.The claiment swears to the loss of one hundred bushels of corn; & it was so entered in the account at one hundred dollars.But in the account, the hundred (for bushels) is changed into a thousand , & also the hundred (for dollars) is changed into a thousand, & in adding up, it is counted as a thousand.In this manner an attempt is deliberately made to obtain nine hundred dollars more that is even sworn to.
This attempt, connected with the entire failure to account for the very great delay in presenting so large a claim, utterly discredits it.
Disallowed
August 15th 1835
John A. Cuthbert Comr.
More Replies:
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Re: Richard Shurling Claim for Indian Depredations
Vera Moore 11/01/02