Francis Brown, perjurer

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on December 21, 2007 - 2:10pm.
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Francis Brown was expelled for perjury over a land deal.

According to "The Colonial Records of North Carolina," Volume V, (p. 1057), Brown was expelled from the House on Dec. 5, 1758 for lying to a select committee.

From the records, it appears that Brown told the committee that he paid "thirty odd shillings in Gold" to a Mr. Corbin "Back Quits Rent" on a piece of land. But after interviewing Corbin, the committee determined that Brown had lied.

"It appears, That the Said Francis Brown, through Precipitation and Heat, had Sworn to an untruth in the matter above said," the records read. 

Brown was expelled "as unworthy a seat" and prohibited from holding office in any town or county or any future legislature.

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Re: Francis Brown, perjurer

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on December 21, 2007 - 3:29pm.

Thanks. I was going to look that up later.

— RTB 

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Re: Francis Brown, perjurer

Submitted by gercohen on December 21, 2007 - 3:22pm.

"quit rent" was a property tax in colonial times. In even older times, it was money paid to a feudal owner in place of services due by the tenant to the owner. "quits rent" was another spelling.

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