Stafford County, Virginia Deed and Will Book, 1686 - 1689; pp. 47- 47a .
Whereas by Venue of an Ordr. of Rappa. County Court
Robt. Taliaferro was appointed Guardian to his Bro. & Sistr Charles & Katherine Taliaferro
& was further ordered by ye Court at ye same time to possess himself wth wt of Coll, Cadwalr. Jones his Estate hee could come at on behalfe of ye sd Orphants in pursuance of which sd Ordr beareing date ye 2 of March 1686/7
ye sd Robert Taliaferro did possess himself of one younge Negro named Frank a Carpenlr. & Cooper & aftr to witt ye 8th of March followinge ye sd Coll. Jones did by Deed of Assignment undr his hand assignd ye sd things together with ye sd Negro Franck soe seized & possessed by the said Robt. Taliaferro aforsd in Right of ye Children and
Whereas I John Battaile marryd Katherine Taliaferro one of ye Orphans abovesd made humble suite to ye sd Court of Rappa. to be possessed with ye Estate of my sd Wife in ye hands of sd Robert Taliaferro Guardian as aforesd
at which sd Court being ye 1st of June 1687 ye Court did ordr me ye sd John Battaile possession as aforsd of one moytie of ye sd Estate soe seized by Robert Taliaferro as aforesd & made over to him by Coll. Jones aforesd part of which sd Estate to win. ye above named Negroe Frank ye sd Rob. Taliaferro did publickly in open Court relinquish to me & made over to me & gave me full authority to possess my selfe wth him in right of my Wife aforesaid which sd Negro Frank
I have by these presents sold unto Wm. Fitzhugh his heires for ever for ye full vallue of Nine Thousand pounds of Merchantable Tobo & Caske And I doe by these presents for my selfe my heires to & wth ye sd Wm. Fitzhugh to Warrant & defend sd Negro Frank from ye clame of ye Coll. Cadwaldr Jones. his heires or assigner,
or from Francky, John, Robert, Charles & Rich Taliaferroor any or either of them their heires & assigns in ye penall sume of Eibhteene thousand pounds of Tobo.
In Witness whereof I have set my hand & Seale this 7 day of June 1687.
In presence of Robt. Franckland, John Battaile John Bashford.
This Deed of Sale wwas acknuwd. by the sd John Battaile unto Wm. Fitzhugh in ye County Court of Stafford this 8 day of June 1687 And was then recorded.