Complaint regarding the estate of Frances Wythe

Introduction and summary.

Letter text, 4 July 1776

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To the worshipful the Justices of Norfolk County siting in Chancery humbly complaining excellency sheweth unto by your worships your Orator George Wythe that his Brother Thomas Wythe who died about thirty three years past, by his Testament, among other things bequeathed to his wife Frances the property of one half his Slaves with the use of the other half during her Life; & to his Neice, Uphan Sweny the s'd other half of his Slaves after the death of his Wife — that Thomas Claiborne afterwards married the said Uphan Sweny, & not long afterwards Your Orator by desire of his Mother, without receiving any consideration, delivered up to the s'd T. Claiborne so many of the s'd Slaves with their increase as are agreed to be equal in value to one half of [text obscured] excepting two named Hannibal & Corinna who your orator's Mother wished to be retained & of whom the former is now dead & the other is living too old to be of any value — that the s'd Thos. Claiborne gave Your Orator a Receipt for the Slaves as delivered to Him, who as Your Orator believes (for at this distance of time he cannot recollect with certainty) were ten named Cate, Tally, Esther, Hannah, Aggy, Franky, Will, George, Ross, & Owen; which receipt was not recorded & having been mislaid cannot be found. Now for as much disputes may arise after the death of the s'd Thomas Wythes widow now Mrs Mosby between the representatives of the s'd Thomas Claiborne Euphan his Wife, who are both dead & your Orator or his Representatives

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to prevent such disputes, or for the adjustment of them, if they should happen — that the representatives of the Widow of Thomas Claiborne are Francis Tarrant & Anne his Wife & Daughter & Thomas Claiborne Wm. Claiborne & George Claiborne who survive of the s'd Thos. Claiborne's Children — & Wm. Happer of Jno. Wilson the only surviving acting Exr. of the s'd T. Claiborne dec'd all of whom being interested in the Question Your Orator pray, may he made parties & Defendants & may such if them as are of them are of full age upon oath & those who are Infants by guardian to be assigned by this worshipful Court upon oath or without oath, answer the allegations before stated; & that commissions may be awarded to take the examinations of such witnesses concerning the subject matter of this Bill & that their testimony may be perpetually preserved — May it please Yr. Worships to grant to your Orator the Commths writ or writs of Subpoena to be directed to the s'd Defts. before named commanding them to appear & answer the premises & to abide the order of the Court therein

Jno. Neirson for

Complaintant

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Nov 1793??? Cont	Text Unreadable
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Jan 1794 Cont	Text Unreadable
Feb 1794 Cont	Text Unreadable
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June -- Cont
July Cont
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Sep Cont
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Jan 1795 Cont
Feb??? -- Cont
Mar Cont
Apl Cont					May Cont June Cont July Cont Aug Cont Sep Cont Oct Cont Nov Cont Jany 1796 Cont Feb Cont Mar 1796 Cont Apl Cont May Cont July ... Cont Aug .... Cont Sept -- Cont Oct -- Cont Dec -- Cont Jany 97 - Cont Feby -- Cont Mar -- Cont Apl -- Cont May -- Cont June - Cont July - Cont Sept - Cont Oct - Cont Nov - Cont Dec - Cont Jany 1798 Cont Feby - Cont Mar - Cont Aplil -- Cont May 1798 Cont June -- Cont July -- Cont Aug -- Cont Sep -- Cont Oct -- Cont Nov -- Cont Dec -- Cont Jan 1799 Cont Feb -- Cont Mar - do. Apl - do. May - do. June - do. July - dismissed by ptis?? [parties???] direction??? References External links Race & Slavery Petitions Project.