York County Orders and Wills Book 15

20 August 1716

Margaret Clarke an Indentur'd Woman Servant belonging to Alex: Spotswood
Esqr Lieut.Govr of this Colony came personally into Court & Acknowledged her
Voluntary Consent to Serve ye sd. Govr or his assigns ye full term of One Year after
ye time mentioned in ye sd Indenture is Expired on Consideration that he or they
shall cause her ye sd Margaret to be instructed in ye Act of Cookery for ye Space of 3
Months hence next Ensuing

Source:  York County Orders and Wills (15) 22, 20 August 1716.


19 November 1716

Articles of Agreemt Indented, Concluded & made ye Eleventh day of
July in ye Year of Our Lord One Thousand seven hundred & Sixteen Be-
tween Wm Levingstone of ye County of New Kent Mercht of ye One
part Charles Stagg of ye same County Dancing Master & Mary his
wife of ye Other part Whereast ye sd Charles Stagg & Mary his wife
by Two severall Indentures bearing date ye Twenty Third & Twenty
fourth days of Septembr One Thousand seven hundred & fifteen were
bound to ye sd Wm Levingstone to serve him in ye Colony of Virga: in ye
Arts, Professions & for ye time in ye sd Indentures mentioned & ye sd
Charles Stagg having for his Advancement & greater profit requested
for himself & his sd. wife to be free of ye service mentioned in ye sd In-
denture These Presents Wittness that ye sd Wm Levingstone
hath released & Acquitted & doth hereby release & Acquitt ye sd Charles
Stagg & Mary his wife of all service, Claimes or Demands which he
ye sd Wm Levingstone was or is any ways intituled to by vertue of ye
sd Indentures.  And ye sd Wm Levinstone doth further hereby assign &
make Over unto ye sd Charles Stagg all right, title or interest which he
ye sd Wm Levingstone might Claim in any Sums of Money or Other per-
quisites or profits already due for ye sd Charles Staggs service in teaching
or instructing any person or persons whatsoever in ye Science of Dancing
form ye time of ye sd Staggs Arrival in this Countrey, so as ye sd Charles
Stagg shall or may have & Enjoy to his own Use & behoof as well the
Entrance Money as Other ye Profits Arising grom ye sd scholars without
ye Lett or interruption of ye sd Wm Levingstone In Consideration whereof
ye sd Charles Stagg doth hereby Covenant & Agree to & with ye sd Wm
Levingstone that he ye sd Charles Stagg his Execrs or Admrs shall & will
well & truly satisfy & pay unto ye sd Wm Levingstone or his Assignes ye Sum
of Sixty pounds Currt money Yearly during ye space of Three years next
Ensuing ye date hereof (if ye sd Charles Stagg shall so long live) in maner
& form following that is to say, Sixty Pounds Currt Moeny being ye first
payment at Lady day which shall be in ye Year of our Lord One Thousand,
seven hundred & Seventeen, Sixty Pounds like money at Lady day
One Thousand seven hundred & Eighteen & ye Other sixty Pounds at Lady day
One Thouasand seven hundred & Nineteen Provided alwasy & it is ye true
intent & meaning hereof that ye sd Wm Levingstone & his Assigns whall
 be & are hereby Obliged to abate & deduct out of ye sd respective Yearly
payments after ye rate of five pounds Currt money for Each Month which
ye sd Charles Stagg shallbe diverted from teaching to dance in Consideracon
of his ye sd Charles Staggs being imployed in ye preparation & Acting of Plays
for ye joint benefit of himself & he sd Wm Levingstone.  And ye sd Charles Stagg
doth further Covenant & Agree to & with ye sd Wm Levingstone that he ye sd
Charles Stagg his Execrs & Admrs shall & will within ye space of Eighteen Months
next after ye Ensealing of these Presents well & truly consent & pay unto ye
sd Wm Levingstone or his Assigns ye Sum of Thirty five pounds seventeen
shillings which is in full of all Charges or Expences which ye sd Wm Levingstone
hath been at for horses, ferriages or otherways for ye greater conveniency
of ye sd Charles Stagg in Attending at ye respective places where he teaches to
dance at any time heretofore & also of all such sums of Money as ye sd Wm
Levingstone hath advanced to ye sd Charles Stagg or his wife either in species
or in Goods & Merchandizes since ye sd Staggs arrival in Virga: And it is further
Covenanted & Agreed between ye sd parties in manner & form following, that
is to Say, that ye sd Wm Levingstone & Charles Stagg shall with all conveniant
Speed after ye Ensealing of these Presents use their best Endeavours to Obtain a
Patent or Lycence from ye Governour of Virga: for ye Sole Priviledge of Acting
Comedies, Drolls or Other kind of Stage Plays within any part of ye sd Colony
not only for ye Three Years next Ensuing ye date hereof but for as much longer
time as ye sd Governour shall be pleased to grant ye Same for ye joint benefit
of ye sd Wm Levingstone or Charles Stagg or their Assignes & neither of ye sd parties
shall accept of or Use such Lycense without assuming ye Other as Partner in
manner aforesd.  And ye sd Charles Stagg & Mary his wife do hereby Covenant & 
Promise that they ye sd Charles Stagg & Mary shall not only Act in ye sd Stage Plays
(sickness & other reasonable Accidents Excepted) but shall also use them best
Endeavour to teach & instruct Others in ye way & manner of Acting according
to ye best of their skill as well for ye Three Years next Ensuing ye date hereof
as for such further & longer time as they ye sd Charles & Mary his wife or
Either of them shall stay in Virga:  And Moreover that neither ye sd Charles Stagg
nor Mary his wife shall Act any Plays withing ye sd Colony of Virga: without
ye Consent of ye sd Wm Levingstone or his Assigns during ye sd term of Three Years
next Ensuing ye date hereof nor at any time thereafer in case no Patent or
Lycence be Obtained from ye Governr in manner aforesd.  And if ye sd Charles
Stagg & Mary his wife shall at any time Act with ye Consent of ye sd Wm Levingstone
or his Assigns, he ye sd Wm Levingstone shall have & receive One half of all the
Profits arising by Such Plays, he or they bearing One half of ye Charges accrueing
thereon in manner hereafter mentioned.  And ye sd Wm Levingstone doth further
Covenant & Agree with all convenient speed to cause to be Erected & built at
his own proper Costs & Charge in ye City of Wmsburgh One good substantiall house
commodious for Acting such Plays as shall be thought fitt to be Acted there
And it is further Covenanted & Agreed by & between ye sd Parties that ye sd Wm
Levingstone & Charles Stagg shall bear an Equall share in all Charges of Cloaths
Musick & other Necessaries required for Acting ye sd Plays (ye Rent of ye Play house
at Wmsburgh only Excepted which is declared as aforesd to be ye proper Charge
of ye sd Wm Levingstone) & shall also have, receive & Enjoy an Equall share of ye
Profits arising thereby.  And for as much as ye sd Wm Levingstone hath at his own
Proper Cost & Charge sent to England for Actors & Agreed by & between ye sd parties to
these Presents, that ye Money Arising by ye sd Plays ye same Allowance shall be made
both for ye Musicians & Actors as Others Equqlly Qualified hired here in Virga
shall or ought to receive by ye Day or Otherways.  And Lastly ye sd Parties do
hereby Mutually bind & oblige themselves their heirs, Execrs & Admrs
respectively ye one to ye other for ye true performance of all & singular the
Articles hereby before mentioned so far as they severally relate to them
selves whilst married, or if ye sd Mary becomes a Widow in ye penal sum
of five hundred pounds sterl to be paid by ye party failing his heirs Execrs
or Admrs to ye party performing or willing to perform his part of ye Pre-
misses & to ye Execrs Admrs or Assigns of ye party so performing In Witness
whereof ye parties to these Presents have hereunto interchangeably sett
their hands & seals ye Day & Year first above written

Charles Stagg (seale)
Mary Stagg (seale)

Sealed & Delivered by ye sd Charles Stagg
in presence of Wil Robertston

hir
Dority Henry
marke

At a Court held for York County 19 Novr 1716

Charles Stagg & Mary his wife in Open Court presented & Acknowledged
ye within Articles to Wm Levingstone & on his mocon they are
Admitted to Record

Test Michl Dewick Cl Cur

Source:  York County Orders and Wills (15) 52-54, 19 November 1716.


19 November 1716

Articles of Agreement Indented, Concluded & Made ye Eleventh day of
July in ye Year of our Lord One Thousand seven hundred & Sixteen Be-
tween Wm Levingstone of ye County of New Kent Mercht of ye One part
& Charles Stagg of ye same County Dancing Master & Mary his wife of ye Other
part.  Whereof ye sd Charles Stagg & Mary his wife by Two severall Inden-
tures bearing Date ye Twenty Third & Twenty fourth days of Septemr One
Thousand seven hundred & fifteen were bound to ye sd Wm Levingstone to serve
him in ye Colony of Virga: in ye Arts, Professions & for ye time in ye sd Indentures
mentioned, & ye sd Charles Stagg having for his Advancement & greater profit
requested for himself & his sd wife to be free of ye service mentioned in ye
sd Indenture.  These Presents Wittness that ye sd Wm Levingstone hath
released & Acquitted & doth hereby release & Acquitt ye sd Charles Stagg &
Mary his wife of all service, Claim or demand, which he ye sd Wm Leving-
stone was or in any way intituled to by vertue of ye sd Indentures.  And ye sd
Wm Levingstone doth further hereby assign & Make over unto ye sd Charles
Stagg all right, title or interest which he ye sd Wm Levingstone might Cliam
in any Sums of Money or other perquisites or Profits already due for ye sd
Charles Staggs service in teaching or instructing any person or persons
whatsoever in ye Science of Dancing from ye time of ye sd Staggs Arrival in
the Countrey, so as ye sd Charles Stagg shall & they have & Enjoy to his own
use or behoof as well ye Entrance Money, as other ye profits arising from
ye sd Scholars without ye Lett or interruption of ye sd Wm Levingstone for
Consideration Whereof ye sd Charles Stagg doth hereby Covenant & Agree to
& with ye sd Wm Levingstone that he he sd Charles Stagg his Execur or Admrs
shall & will well & truly satisfy & pay unto ye sd Wm Levingstone or his
assigns ye Sum of Sixty pounds Currt money of Virga: Yearly during ye
space of Three Years next Ensuing ye date hereof (if he ye sd Charles Stagg shall
so long live) in manner & form following that is to say, Sixty pounds Currt
money being ye first paymt at Lady day which shall be in ye Year One Thousand
seven hundred & seventeen, Sixty Pounds like money at Lady day One
Thousand seven hundred & Eighteen & ye Other Sixty pounds at Lady day
One Thousand seven hundred & Nineteen, Provided always & it is ye true
intent & meaning hereof that ye sd Wm Levingstone & his assigns shall be
& are hereby obliged to Abate & deduct out of ye sd respective Yearly paymts
after ye rate of five pounds Currt money for Each month which ye sd Charles
Stagg shall be diverted from teaching to dance in Consideration of his ye sd
Charles Staggs being imployed in ye preparation & Acting of Plays for ye
joint benefit of himself & ye sd Wm Levingstone.  And ye sd Charles Stagg
doth further Covenant & Agree to & with ye sd Wm Levingstone that he ye sd
Charles Stagg his Execrs & Admrs shall & will within ye Space of Eighteen months
next after ye Ensealing of these Presents will & truly Content & pay unto ye sd
Wm Levingstone or his Assigns ye Sum of Thirty five pounds seventeen shillings
which is in full of all Charges & Expences which ye sd Wm Levingstone hath
been at for horse ferriages or Otherways for ye greater conveniency of ye sd
Charles Stagg in attending at ye respective places where he teaches to Dance
at any time heretofore & also of all such Sums of Money as ye sd Wm Levingston
hath advanced to ye sd Charles Stagg or his wife iether in Species or in Goods
& Merchandizes since ye sd Staggs Arrival in Virga: And it is further Covenanted
& Agreed between ye sd partys in manner & form following that is to say, that
ye sd Wm Levingstone & Charles Stagg shall with all convenient Speed after ye
Ensealing of these Presents use their best Endeavour to Obtain a Patent or
Lycence from ye Governor of Virga: for ye sole Priviledge of Acting Comedies, Drolls
or Other kind of Stage Plays within any part of ye sd Colony, not only for the
Three Years next Ensueing ye Date hereof but for as much longer time as ye sd
Governr shall be pleased to Grant ye Same for ye joint benefit of ye sd William
Levingstone & Charles Stagg or their Assigns & neither of ye parties shall
accept of or use such without assuming ye Other as Partner in maner aforesd
And ye sd Charles Stagg & Mary his wife do hereby Covenant & Promise that
they ye sd Charles & Mary shall not only Act in all ye Stage Plays (sickness
& other reasonable Accidents Excepted) but shall also use their best Endea-
vours to teach or instruct Others in ye way & manner of Acting according
to ye best of their skill as well for ye Three Years next Ensuing ye date hereof
as for such further & longer time as they ye sd Charles & Mary or Either of them
shall stay in Virga: & moreover that neither ye sd Charles Stagg nor Mary his
wife shall Act any Plays without ye sd Colony of Virga: without ye Consent of ye sd
Wm Levingstone or his assigns during ye sd term of Three Years next Ensuing
ye date hereof nor at any time thereafter in case no Patent or Lycence be
obtained from ye Governr in manner aforesd.  And if ye sd Charles Stagg & Mary
his wife shall at any time Act with ye Consent of ye sd Wm Levingstone or his
Assigns, he ye sd Wm Levingstone shall have & receive One half of all ye
Profits arising by such Plays, he or they bearing One half of ye Charges accrue-
ing thereon in Maner hereafter mentioned.  And ye sd Wm Levingstone
doth further Covenant & Agree with all convenient speed to cause to bee
Erected & built at his own proper Cost & Charge in ye City of Wmsburgh
One good substantial house commodious for Acting such Plays as
shall be thought fitt to be Acted here.  And it is further Covenanted &
Agreed by & between ye sd parties that ye sd Wm Levingstone & Char Stagg
shall bear an Equall share in all Charges of Cloaths, Musick & Other
necessarys required for Acting ye sd Plays (ye Rent of ye Playhouse at
WmsBurgh only Excepted which is declared as aforesd to be ye proper
Charge of ye sd Wm Levingstone) & shall also have, receive & Enjoy an
Equall share of ye Profits arising thereby.  And for as much as ye sd Wm
Levingstone hath at his own proper Cost & Charge sent to England for
Actors & Musitians for ye better performance of ye sd Plays, it is hereby
Covenanted & Agreed by & between ye sd Partys to these Presents that
of ye Money arising by ye sd Plays ye same Allowance shall be made both
for ye Musicians & Actors as Others Equally qualifyed hired here in
Virga: shall or ought to receive by ye Day or Otherways.  And lastly ye sd
Parties do hereby Mutually bind & Oblige themselves their ehris
Execrs & Admrs respectively ye One to ye Other for ye true performance of
all & singular ye Articles herein before mentioned so far as they
severally relate to to themselves whilst married, or if ye sd Mary becomes
a Widow in ye penal Sum of five hundred pounds Sterl to be paid by
ye party failing his heirs, Execrs or Admrs to ye party performing or willing
to perform his part of ye premises, & to ye Execrs, Admrs or Assigns of ye
Partys so performing.  In Wittness whereof ye Partys to these Presents
have interchangeably sett their hands & seals ye Day & Year first
above written

Will Levingstone (seale)

Sealed & Delivered
 in presence of Wil Robertson

At a Court held for York County 19 Novr 1716

Wm Levingstone in Open Court presented & Acknowledged ye written
Articles to Charles Stagg & Mary his wife & on their mocon they are
Admitted to Record

Test Michl Dewick Cl Cur

Source:  York County Orders and Wills (15) 54-56, 19 November 1716.


15 August 1720