Orphans Court Dockets 1774-1781
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Record of Orphans Court for Chester County, Pennsylvania 1774 - 1781 Transcribed by Chester County Archives Chester County Historical Society 1995 ORPHANS COURT DOCKET Dec. 20, 1774 to the Revolution At an Orphans Court held and kept at Chester, for the County of Chester the Twentieth Day of December in the Fifteenth Year of His Majesty's Reign, Annoque Domini 1774, Before Henry Hale Graham, Richard Riley and William Swaffer Esquires, Justices Present. [insert A] Upon the Petition of Ann Littler, the Court appoints William Clingan Esqr to be Guardian for Rachel and Elizabeth Littler, infants under the Age of Fourteen Years, the Children of Thomas Littler, late of East Caln, deceased. Upon the Petition of George Sharp, the Court appoints Samuel Sharp to be Guardian for Thomas Sharp an Infant under the Age of Fourteen years, the Son of Thomas Sharp, deceased. Upon the Petition of Sarah Gregg, the Court appoints Isaac Richards & William Miller to be Guardian for George, Mary, Isaac and Aaron Gregg, Infants under the Age of Fourteen Years, Children of Benjamin Gregg, deceased. Upon the Petition of John Gest, a Minor under the Age of twenty Years, Son of Simon Gest late of Concord deceased, the Court Admits Joseph Larkin to be his Guardian. Upon the Petition of Susanna and Rachel Collett, Minors under the Age of Twenty one Years, Children of James Collett, deceased, the Court admits of Richard Riley Esqr to be their Guardian. Upon the Petition of Margaret Collett, the Court appoints Richard Riley Esqr to be Guardian for Hannah & James Collett, Infants under the Age of Fourteen Years, Children of James Collett, deceased. Upon the Petition of Mary, Abigail and Hannah Johnson, Minors under the Age of Twenty one Years, Children of Abraham Johnson, late of Darby deceased, the Court admits of William Garrett to be their Guardian. Upon the Petition of Martha Johnson the Court Appoints William Garrett to be Guardian for John, Abraham & Martha Johnson Infants under the Age of Fourteen Years, Children of Abraham Johnson, late of Darby deceased. Upon the Petition of Walter Davis, the Court appoints Walter Finney to be Guardian for John and Jane Davis, Infants under the Age of Fourteen Years, Legatees of John & Susanna Minor deceased. William [] 11 [ ] Samuel Culin [tom] Guardianship which being Examined, are by this Court [ ] Confirmed. William Lewis Guardian for Peter Thomas, Son of [] Thomas, late of Radnor deceas'd, having Exhibitted the accompts of his Guardianship, which being Examined, are by this Court allowed of. Sarah McDowell Administratrix of the Goods and chattles of Joshua McDowell, late of London Britain deceased, who died Intestate made a return that in Pursuance of an Order of this Court of the Twentieth day of September last, she had on the Eleventh day of November following, Sold the Messuage or Tenement and two Tracts or parcels of Land in the same Order mentioned and Described, unto John Whan for the Sum of Two Hundred & Thirty seven Pounds; Praying a Confirmation thereof; Whereupon the said Sale so made, is by this Court Allowed, Approved & Confirmed. Caleb James Eldest Son and Heir at Law of Joseph James of West-Town deceased, Petitioned this Court setting forth that the said Joseph James sometime in or about the Year of our Lord ONe Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy two, died Intestate, leaving a Widow named Hannah, and Issue Ten Children and one Grand Child, Viz. Caleb, Mary, Ann, Joseph, Sarah, Elizabeth, Susanna, Moses, Jesse and Esther and Mary Marshall to survive him that Letters of Admon on his Estate were committed to the said Hannah who hath finally settled the Accompts of Administration; that the said Intestate was in his Life Time and at the Time of his Decease Seized Possessed of a certain Messuage, Grist Mill and Tract of Land in Middletown and Providence, Containing Seventy Acres; One other Messuage and Tract of Two Hundred acres of Land in West Town, one other Messuage and Tract of One Hundred and Sixty Acres of Land in West Town aforesaid, which he is Advised belongs to the said Widow and Heirs according to the Act of Assembly for the better settling lntestate's Estate: Praying that an Inquest may be A [ ] Divided or value the same according to Law. Whereupon it is Considered by this Court that a Writ Issue to the Sheriff of this County, requiring and Commanding him that taking with him Twelve free and lawful Men of his Bailiwick in his proper Person he go to all and singular the said Messuages, Grist Mill and Tracts of Land whereof the said Joseph James the Intestate died Seized, and there in the Presence of the Parties by him to be warned by the Respective Oaths and solemn Affirmations of the Free and lawful Men aforesaid, he shall cause the said MEssuages, Grist Mill and Tracts of Land, having respect to the true Value thereof to be parted and Divided as followeth, vizt: ONe [torn] and the remaining Two third parts thereof as followeth, viz. Two Twelfth parts thereof to and for the said Intestate's Son Caleb, one Twelfth part thereof to and for the said Intestate' s Daughter Mary, another Twelfth part thereof to and for the said Intestate's Daughter Ann, another Twelfth part thereof to and for the said Intestate's Son Joseph, another Twelfth part thereof to and for the said Intestate's Daughter Sarah, another Twelfth part thereof to and for the said Intestate's Daughter Elizabeth one other Twelfth part thereof to and for the said lntestate's Son Moses, [ insert B? where is it?] another Twelfth part thereof to and for the said Intestate's Son Jesse, another twelfth part thereof to and for the said Intestate' s Daughter Esther, and the other Twelfth part thereof to and for the said Intestate's Grand Daughter MAry Marshall. But if the said Messuages, Mill and Tracts of Land cannot be divided in Manner and form aforesaid, without Prejudice to or spoiling the whole, that then he cause the same to be Valued and appraised by the Inquest aforesaid, and how he shall execute the said WRit he cause to be returned forthwith under his and their Hands and 2 Seals. Samuel Crosby eldest Son and Heir at Law of Richard Crosby late of Ridley deceased, Petitioned this Court, setting forth That the said Richard Crosby some Time in or about the Year of our Lord, One Thousand SEven Hundred and Seventy, died Intestate, leaving a Widow named Alice since Intermarried to George Spear and Issue Five Children, namely Samuel, Susanne, Joshua, Elisha and Alice, to survive him that letters of Admon on his Children were granted to William Worral who hath finally settled the Accompts of Admon; that the said Intestate was in his Life-Time and at the Time of his Decease Seized and possessed of a Certain Messuage or Tenement, Plantation and Tract of Land, Situate in Ridley aforesaid Containing about ONe Hundred and Thirty Acres. And also of a Certain Piece of Marsh Meadow Ground, Situate i Ridley aforesaid, Containing about Six Acres, Which he is advised belongs to the said Widow and Children, according to the Act of Assembly for the better settling Intestate's Children; Praying that an Inquest may be Awarded to divide or Value the same, according to Law. Whereupon it is Considered by this Court that a Writ Issue to the Sheriff of this County requiring and Commanding him that taking with him Twelve free and lawful Men of his Bailiwick, in his Proper Person he got o the said Messuage Lands and Premises whereof the said Richard Crosby the Intestate died Seized; and there by the Respective Oath & solemn Affirmation of the free and lawful Men aforesaid (in the Presence of the Parties by him to be warned) he cause the same to be parted and divided (having respect to the true Value thereof) in manner following to wit, One third part thereof to and for Alice the said Intestate's Widow, & the Remaining two Third parts thereof, as followeth, viz, two Sixth parts thereof to and for the said lntestate's Son Samuel, One Sixth part thereof to and for the said Intestate's Daughter Susanna, one other Sixth part thereof to and for the said lntestate's Son Joshua, another Sixth part thereof to and for the said Intestate's Son Elisha, and the other Sixth part thereof to and for the said Intestate's Daughter Alice; but if the said Messuage, Lands and Premises cannot be divided in Manner aforesaid, without Prejudice to or spoiling the Whole, that then he cause the same to be Valued and Appraised by the Inquest aforesaid and how he shall Execute the said Writ, he cause to be returned to this Court forthwith under his and their Hands and Seals. Upon the Application and Request of Mary Cox and John Lewis, Administrators of the Goods and Chattles, Rights and Credits which were of John Cox, late of Chester deceased, who died Intestate, it is Considered by this Court that they the said Mary Cox and John Lewis Administrators aforesaid, shall and may Sell and Convey, a CErtain Messuage or Tenement, Water Corn Mill or Grist Mill, Boulting Mill and Saw Mill and three Pieces of Land, one of them on which the said Messuage is Erected is Situate in the Township of Chester, and Begins at a Black Walnut Tree standing on the North side of a small run, being a Corner of James Day's Land, thence North Fifty Degrees East along the said James Day's Line, Twenty eight Perches to a Black Oak, thence South Forty six Degrees East by Land of Jonas Preston, One Hundred and Twenty three perches to a Stone standing in a small Run in the Line of Caleb Cobourn's Land, thence down the same several Courses thereof; about Forty two perches to a poplar Tree standing on the South side of the said Run by Chester Creek, thence up the said Chester Creek Traversing the several Courses thereof about One Hundred and Twenty five perches to a small White Oak, thence North Seventeen Degrees West by the Mill Land, thirty 3 five perches to the place of Beginning, Containing Forty eight acres and an half.