Raskell and Roge and Short Arsed Raskell

In American Slavery, American Freedom by the great Edmund S. Morgan, when discussing the efforts at social control in the 17th century Virginia colonial era, he quotes the Surry County, Virginia records for April 16, 1660, that Bartholomew Owens of said county described Captain George Jordan as a “Raskell and Roge and shorte Arsed Raskell”. Owens further stated that he “Longed to kick that short arse”. Owens “spoke scandalous words” against the county commissioners averring that “he would never have justice in that county” and “highly reviled” Captain Jordan (one of the county commissioners). 

Here is a link to my review of American Slavery, American Freedom.

Later that same year, hearing that Owen “hath of late in divers places in ye said Countye & Elsewhere Scandalized & Defamed them in Generall by taxing them with Injustice”, the Surry County commissioners appointed Jordan “to sue & prosecute said Owen at next Court.” Owens was convicted, but the penalty remains unclear.

I was attracted to the quote by the colorful imagery and idiosynscratic spelling, but the episode does reflect fairly common insubordination even among the small landholders toward the the governing commissioners, who were large landholders and baldly used their power to favor their own interests.

The other thing that struck me was that I found a typed copy of Surry County records in about 2.4 seconds using Google, whereas Morgan spent months and years researching the award-winning book. (Francis Parkman Prize for 1976.)

(See my post of favorite authors.)