Quick Facts
- Date:
- 1755 - 1769
- Key People:
- Patrick Henry
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Parsonās Cause
American colonial history
Parsonās Cause, dispute involving Anglican clergy in colonial Virginia, arising (1755, 1758) when laws commuted clerical salaries, previously paid in tobacco, to currency at the rate of twopence a pound when tobacco was selling at sixpence a pound. A royal veto (1759) encouraged the clergy to sue for back pay. In the most publicized case (1763), Patrick Henry defended a Hanover County parish against a suit by the Rev. James Maury, assailing the crown interference and inducing the jury to return only one penny damages for the plaintiff. After a general twopenny act (1769) that reflected going rates, the clergy gave up their protest.
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