You remember this map? It’s an overlay of a Surry Land Patent Map from 1614 – 1666. It showed where John Roger’s held 200 acres of land he was granted on May 14, 1666. He later deeded this property (highlighted on the map where it is likely to be) to Edward Grantham where 1694 he was the subject of a presentation by the Grand Jury for “Entertaining Indians contrary to Law & for not comeing to church.”

Edward bought 200 acres in Surry County on September 23, 1682, from John Rodgers, Sr., and his wife Mary.  The land was purchased for 1,000 pounds of tobacco with the contract written on the back of the land patent that had been issued to Rodgers in 1666 by Governor William Berkeley.

Edward sold 100 acres of this land to William Jonson in 1684 for 1,650 pounds of tobacco. The other 100 acres and “40 foot dwelling” was sold to Thomas Davis in 1686 for 3,500 pounds of tobacco.

Edward received a land patent of 300 acres on May 29, 1683. The land was located in Southwarke Parish, Surry County, on the branches of Cypress Swamp adjoining Thos. Jordan. The patent was granted for the transportation of six persons into the colony: Isabel Huberd, Jon. Bincks, Tho. Peel, Jon. Anderson, Jon. Walker, & Timo. Jackson. Edward Grantham’s property on Cypress Swamp was known as Grantham’s Reeds. Many of the deeds concerning this land mention the “cart path,” which was actually a well traveled road leading from North Carolina to Southwarke Church and the warehouses at Gray’s Creek.

Here’s a passage about John Rogers from Southside Virginia Families, Volume 2 by John Bennett Boddie noting his role in Bacon’s Rebellion.

Here’s a much longer account of Sir Thomas Grantham’s role in the Bacon Rebellion shared with me today by someone who shared an interest in Edward Grantham in particular.

(AUTHOR NOTE: the following story is a reprint of my breaking news post on WKRN’s “Nashville Is Talking” on December 11, 2009)

Former Tennessee GOP spokesman and political consultant Bill Hobbs has been ordered by a Williamson County court to undergo counseling and pay $100 to a domestic violence shelter.

The judgment stems from an alleged domestic assault charge filed by his wife Anna Hobbs in October. An arrest warrant was issued October 12, 2009 charging William H. Hobbs with domestic assault. His bail was set at $1,500. You can view the public documents here.

Here’s what the affidavit of complaint says:

On 10-12-2009 at approx 5:30 PM, BPD Officer Huddleston was dispatched to Vanderbilt Med Ctr, 21st Ave, Nashville, in response to a reported domestic violence assault. Upon arrival, Officer Hudleston spoke with Anna Hobbs. Mrs Hobbs stated that on 10-11-2009 at approx 11:15 PM she and her husband William got into an argument that turned physical when Mr. Hobbs struck the left side of Mrs Hobbs head and knocked her down. Mrs Hobbs also suffered visible injuries to her left wrist. A short time later, Mr Hobbs left the residence. On 10-12-2009 Mrs. Hobbs head was so painful that she went to Vanderbilt ed Ctr for treatment. Vanderbilt reported the incident to BPD. Mrs Hobbs gave a written statement to Officer Huddleston.

According to the order granting bail that was signed by the defendant: “The defendant is directed to vacate or stay away from the home of the alleged victim and to stay away from any other location where the victim is likely to be.” Hobbs could not be reached for comment as of this post.

A scheduled court appearance on February 2, 2010 at 9 a.m. will be waived if Hobbs incurs no new charges and abides by court ordered counseling.

Hobbs’s only other known run in with the law was in June of 2006 on a class B misdemeanor for driving on a suspended license.

Hobbs worked in communications for Belmont University before parting ways in 2006 following a controversial blog post denigrating the Islamic faith. Hobbs later went on to work as the Communications Director for the Tennessee Republican Party where he made international news for depicting then Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama as a Muslim.