[handwritten on a folded sheet of paper]
[front page]

State of Newhampshire
Rockingham ss  
To Benjamin Butler Esquire one of the justices of the peace in and for said county---

John Judkins of Deerfield in our said county Cooper complains and gives the said Justice to understand and be informed that Samuel Marston of Deerfield aforesaid gentleman on the eleventh day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty seven with force and arms at Deerfield aforesaid in the county aforesaid in and upon your Complainant in the peace of God and said State then and there being did make an assault [upon] him your complainant then and there did beat and wound and ill treat and other wrongs the said Marston then and [there] did to youre complainant contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided and against the peace and dignity of the State Wherefor the said John Judkins prayes that the said Samuel Marston may be held to answer this complaint and that Justice may be done in the premises.
                                                                                                                    John Judkins


Rockingham ss July 12th 1827
Then the above named John Judkins personally appeared and made oath that the above complaint by him subscribed is in his belief true

                                                                                                                    Benj Butler J.Peace


[page 2]

State of Newhampshire
Rockingham ss

To the Shreiff of said county or his deputy or to those of the Constables of the town of Deerfield in said County
    Greeting

Whereas John Jenkins of Deerfield in oure county said county [sic] Cooper has established [?] to me Benjamin Butler Esquire one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said county of Rockingham his aforesaid complaint upon oath as in the other side against Samuel Marston of the same Deerfield gentleman.  We commend you in the name of the State of Newhampshire to apprehend the said Samuel Marston in youre precinct [?] and bring him before me or some other Justice of the peace for said county to answer to the Complaint and we further command you that you summon the said John Judkins and also Eben [?] Marston and Moses James and David Burbank to appear when and where you may have the said Samuel Marston before me or some other Justice of the peace force said county for examination and testify what they know relative to the said complaint.  Herein fail not.  Given under my hand and seal this twelfth day of July, A.D. 1827
                                                                                            Benj Butler J. Peace


[page 3 is blank]

[page 4]

Rockingham ss July 14 1827 Pursuant to the within Complaint and Warrant I have Apprehended the body of the within named Marston & have him before Benjamin Butler esq one of the Justices of the peace for the said County for the purpose within mentioned & have notified Complainant of time & place of trial & have also summoned the within named James Marston & Burbank to appear as witnesses.  

                                                                            Joshiah B Tilton
                                                                            Sheriff

[list of charges, totaling 3.79, is partly illegible, but includes 2.00 for attendance at court]

[Source: Collection of Peter Tiersma]