AMHERST COUNTY, VIRGINIA, PETITIONS

AMHERST COUNTY, VA petition Nov 1, 1776

From Albemarle and Amherst Counties in favor of freedom of religion

To the honourable, the Delegates & Senators, Representatives, of the Commonwealth of Virginia, assembled at the City of Williamsburg. The Memorial and Petition from Descenters from the Church of England & others in the Counties of Albemarle & Amherst…..”That your memorialists have never been on an equal footing with the other good people of this colony, in respect of religious Privilidge, having been obliged by law to contribute to the support of the established church, while at the same time they were moved from a Principle of conscience to support that church of which they called themselves members [for the sake of the peace of the colony]….now they ask “that they can support publick worship in that way & manner that they rather choose”……

Signed among others….

Charles Lewis

Charles Lewis, Jr.

Ben Davie (looks like this is really Davie)

John Garland

Saml. Denney

John Denney

Jason Denney (Could be Taylor Denney or Tasan Denney)

Richard Pilson

William Pilson

AMHERST COUNTY, VA petition Nov 1, 1779

“Some of your Petitioners have seen & the rest have heard of a draft of a bill [to find out the sentiments of the people concerning] free & equal Liberty & Priviliges in matters of Religion to all the inhabitants. “We your petitioners who are compos’d of Church of England-men, Presbyterians, Baptists, & Methodists do all unanimously & with one voice hereby declare to your honabl. House our hearty assent concurrence & approbation to the said bill & desire the same may be passed into a law.”

Signed among others

William Allen

Samuel Deneny

James McAlexander

AMHERST COUNTY, VA petition Oct 28, 1775

Against the Assesment bill.

The signers were against the state paying “for Teachers of the Christian Religion.”

Signed among others by Samuel Denney