( 104 )                          8^th of 9ber Anno 1692
     (Sir) Thomas Lawrence, Barr^t. their Maties Secretary for Maryland
the Province of Maryland _____
 
 
m^r John West of Somerset County Greeting Know ye that for the Espetial trust
& Confidence, I have & doe repose in your knowledge fidelity Care & Circumspection
I have Ordained Constituted & Appointed and by these presents doe ordaine Constitute and
appoint you the Said John: West to be Clerk and keeper of the Records of Somerset
County. hereby willing & requireing y^w to aske demand & receive, and take into y^r Custody
all Records, Transcripts, precepts papers & Enrollments whatsoever unto the sd County
Court belonging or in any wise appertaining and the Same to Secure & preserve to
the best of your power. And further I doe hereby authorize and empower you to Act
doe and performe the aforesd Office of Clerk & keeper of the Records of y^e sd County
as fully and amply as any Clerk of a County Court of this Province may or ought
to doe Saving & reserving to my Self the full tenth part of all & Singular the profits
and perquisits of Right to the Said place & Office belonging or anywise appertaining
or accrueing. And the Other nine parts thereof, to have, hold, enjoy & take to your
Self, your Owne propper use & behoof. So long as you shall continue in the said
Office. Given at S^t. Maries this present October y^e 20^th.22 Anno Dom: 1692
 
Maryland S^t Maryes                                                           Thomas: Lawrence.  „  Sealed
After w^ch Comission was read the sd West was Sworn Clerk of this Court
 
Know all men by these p^rsents that wee John: West. Stephen: Horsey & William
Coulbourne of Somerset County Gents. are holden & firmly bounden unto S^r. Thomas
Lawrence. Barr^t. Secretary of the Province of Maryland in the full & just Sum of
fifty thousand pounds of good Sound Merchantable tobacco in Caske to the w^ch payment
well & truly to be made, we bind our Selves every One of us Our Heirs Execcutors
Adm^rs and Assigns by these presents Sealed with our Seals & dated this twenty third B
day of December in the fourth year of the Reign of o^r Sovereign Lord & Lady Wm &
Mary by the grace of God of England Scotland ffrance & Ireland King & Queen defenders
of the faith &ca. & in the year of o^r Lord. 1692. //