The Virginia Gazette

Some time in the year 1769, or 1770, my brother James Byrn, of Frederick county, borrowed a sum of money from one John Routy, and as security for the payment thereof mortgaged his land to him, after which he removed to Fincastle; but, before he went away, I purchased the land of him, and undertook to take up the mortgage he had granted to Routy. Agreeable thereto, on the 31st of October 1775, I went and tendered him the money my brother had borrowed of him, with the interest which had accrued. His answer was, that he could not settle with me till he got the mortgage deed, but promised that week to get it from the office, and settle the matter. So far, however, from complying with his word, I saw him no more till Nov. 28th, following, when I went to make the second tender of the money, amounting to 49l. 11s. 1d. principal and interest, in Virginia paper currency, pistareens, and dollars; but the said Routy, although he charged my brother 6s. a piece for dollars, and 48s. for half-joes, refused taking dollars at more than 5s. 9d. I expostulated with Routy upon the injustice of his demand, but, deaf to reason, and I think honesty likewise, he crammed the money into his miser's bag, where it is supposed there is about 50l. more, which he keeps hid in rocks and holes. I now leave the publick to judge whether the above proceedings of John Routt, alias Routte, alias Routy, are not rather the actions of a rogue than an honest man: and to corroborate this opinion, he is shrewdly suspected to be an enemy to America, has had three bastards by as many poor girls, one of which he now lives with in the state of fornication.

JOSEPH BYRN.