In addition to being County Commissioner and ruling elder of the Presbyterian Church, Peter Mottice also served as Justice of the Peace in Stark County for a number of years.
View all the pages of Peter Mottice's Justice of the Peace case log here.
View all the pages and their transcriptions here.
This book records his activities as he discharged his duties. Although we are missing a number of pages -- the first page is numbered "82" -- many pages remain.
The earliest date recorded is 1837-38, but we know that he was serving as JP as early as 1828. There are many names from early Stark County logged in this book, and will take a long time to identify them all.
Here is the transcription of the first page, 82:
State of Ohio, Stark County Before me Peter Mottice, one of the justices of the peace for said County Personally came David Kimmel who being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that on the seventh day of February A.D. 1838 in the town of Waynesburg and the county of Stark and this Deponent says that a certain John W. Zents did then and there profane by curse [you can read this more closely yourself] against the peace and Dignity of the Law and further saith; that said John Zents is guilty of the fact charged and further the Deponent saith not sworn and subscribed before me this 12th Day of February AD 1838.
David Kimmel
Peter Mottice, Justice of the PeaceFebruary 13th 1838 the constable made return of the Warrant by bringing the body of the Defendant and am the solemn affirmation of the complainant judgment is hereby rendered against John W. Zents for fifty cents fine with cost of prosecution. February 13th 1838
Peter Mottice J PeaceJustice fees
Affidavit $00.25
Warrant 00.25
Judgment 00.12 1/2Constable fees
Serving warrant $00.25
mileage 00.12 1/2Paid. Fine paid and paid over to the treasurer of Sandy Township