Difference between revisions of "Cases Argued and Adjudged in the High Court of Chancery"

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(Frontispiece, Evidence, and edits)
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|link=https://catalog.swem.wm.edu/law/Record/55235
 
|link=https://catalog.swem.wm.edu/law/Record/55235
 
|shorttitle=Cases Argued and Adjudged in the High Court of Chancery
 
|shorttitle=Cases Argued and Adjudged in the High Court of Chancery
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|commontitle=Vernon's Reports
 
|vol=volume two
 
|vol=volume two
 
|author=Thomas Vernon
 
|author=Thomas Vernon
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|editor=William Melmoth and William Peere Williams
 
|publoc=London, In the Savoy
 
|publoc=London, In the Savoy
 
|publisher=Printed by E. and R. Nutt and R. Gosling (assigns of Edw. Sayer) for J. Tonson
 
|publisher=Printed by E. and R. Nutt and R. Gosling (assigns of Edw. Sayer) for J. Tonson
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|year=1726-28
+
|year=1726-1728
 
|lang=English
 
|lang=English
 
|set=2
 
|set=2
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|desc=33 cm.
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|desc=Folio (33 cm.)
−
}}Thomas Vernon (1654-1721) was one of the preeminent practitioners in chancery cases of his day and a politician in the House of Commons.<ref> Stuart Handley, [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/28248, “Vernon, Thomas (1654–1721)”], “Oxford Dictionary of National Biography”, (Oxford University Press, 2004- ), accessed 22 Nov 2013.</ref> He was admitted to the Middle Temple in 1672 and called to the bar in 1679.<ref>Ibid.</ref> In 1680 he married Mary Keck, daughter of one of the day’s leading chancery counselors, a union which helped his career in the same field.<ref>Ibid.</ref><br /><br />He amassed great wealth from his labors, enabling him to spend £62,000 on land between 1685 and 1717.<ref>Ibid.</ref> He also engaged in politics, becoming a knight of the shire in 1715.<ref>Ibid.</ref> He remained active in chancery until his death and was the thirteenth busiest practitioner the year before his death.<ref>Ibid.</ref><br /><br />His reports were published posthumously, the manuscript of which was the subject of some controversy.<ref>Ibid.</ref> After his death, his wife, his trustees, and his heirs claimed the papers as their own.<ref>Ibid.</ref> Ultimately, the court decided to keep and publish the papers without collecting profit from the work.<ref>Ibid.</ref> Scholars consider the first edition of the work, of which George Wythe had a copy, to be so full of error that it is nearly useless.<ref>J. G. Marvin, ''Legal Bibliography or a Thesaurus of American, English, Irish, and Scotch Law Books'' (Philadelphia: T. & J. W. Johnson, Law Booksellers, 1847) 709.</ref> Later editions correct the mistakes from the first edition and are considered the “best of the old Chancery reporters,” however, “unless they are read with scrupulous attention, they may prove to be dangerous guides.”<ref>Ibid.</ref>
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}}[[File:VernonCase1726V1Frontispiece.jpg|left|thumb|250px|<center>Frontispiece, volume one.</center>]]Thomas Vernon (1654-1721), a preeminent practitioner in chancery cases and a politician in the House of Commons, was admitted to the Middle Temple in 1672 and called to the bar in 1679.<ref> Stuart Handley, [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/28248 “Vernon, Thomas (1654–1721)”], “Oxford Dictionary of National Biography”, (Oxford University Press, 2004- ), accessed Nov 22, 2013. Subsequent biographical information derives from this source unless otherwise noted.</ref> Vernon amassed great wealth from his labors, enabling him to develop a large country estate near Hanbury in Worchestershire. He also engaged in politics, becoming a knight of the shire in 1715. He also remained active as a practitioner, working in the chancery court until his death in 1621.<br />
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<br />
 +
Vernon's ''Reports'' were published posthumously, the manuscript of which was the subject of some controversy. After his death, Vernon's wife, trustees, and heirs all claimed his papers. Ultimately, the court decided to keep and publish the papers without collecting profit from the work.<ref>Ibid.</ref> Scholars consider the first edition of the reports, edited by William Melmoth and William Peere Williams, full of errors making it nearly useless.<ref>J. G. Marvin, ''Legal Bibliography or a Thesaurus of American, English, Irish, and Scotch Law Books'' (Philadelphia: T. & J. W. Johnson, Law Booksellers, 1847) 709.</ref> Later editions correct the mistakes in the first and are considered the “best of the old Chancery reporters,” however, “unless they are read with scrupulous attention, they may prove to be dangerous guides.”<ref>Ibid.</ref>
  
 
==Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library==  
 
==Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library==  
 +
There is no doubt that Wythe owned the first edition of this title&mdash;a copy at the Library of Congress includes George Wythe's bookplate in each volume. We also know that Wythe ordered these reports from London merchant John Norton in a letter dated May 7, 1770. The letter's endorsement indicates it was answered on July 28, 1770.<ref>Mason, John Norton & Sons Newton; Abbot, 1968, p. 134, "Andrews' reports".</ref> Finally, [[Thomas Jefferson]] listed ''Vernon's reports. 2.v. fol.'' in his [[Jefferson Inventory|inventory]] of [[Wythe's Library]], noting that he kept the volume himself. He later sold it to the Library of Congress. Not surprisingly, all four of the [[George Wythe Collection|Wythe Collection]] sources (Goodwin's pamphlet<ref>Mary R. M. Goodwin, [http://research.history.org/DigitalLibrary/View/index.cfm?doc=ResearchReports\RR0216.xml ''The George Wythe House: Its Furniture and Furnishings''] (Williamsburg, Virginia: Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library, 1958), L.</ref>, [[Dean Bibliography|Dean's Memo]]<ref>[[Dean Bibliography|Memorandum from Barbara C. Dean]], Colonial Williamsburg Found., to Mrs. Stiverson, Colonial Williamsburg Found. (June 16, 1975), 7 (on file at Wolf Law Library, College of William & Mary).</ref>, Brown's Bibliography<ref>Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, May, 2012) Microsoft Word file. Earlier edition available at: https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433</ref> and [http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe George Wythe's Library]<ref>''LibraryThing'', s. v. [http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe "Member: George Wythe"], accessed on June 28, 2013.</ref> on LibraryThing list ''Vernon's Reports''. The Wolf Law Library moved a copy of the first edition from another rare book collection to the [[George Wythe Collection]].
  
 
==Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy==
 
==Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy==
 +
Rebound in black leather with red leather labels and black marbelled endpapers. Purchased through the generosity of Daniel W. Baran and Lena Stratton Baran, Class of 1936.
 +
 
View this book in [https://catalog.swem.wm.edu/law/Record/55235 William & Mary's online catalog.]
 
View this book in [https://catalog.swem.wm.edu/law/Record/55235 William & Mary's online catalog.]
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===References===
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==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
  
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[[Category:Chancery Reports]]
 
[[Category:Chancery Reports]]
 
[[Category:George Wythe Collection at William & Mary's Wolf Law Library]]
 
[[Category:George Wythe Collection at William & Mary's Wolf Law Library]]
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[[Category:Known Surviving Wythe Volumes]]
 
[[Category:Titles in Wythe's Library]]
 
[[Category:Titles in Wythe's Library]]

Revision as of 10:35, 6 February 2014

by Thomas Vernon

Vernon's Reports
VernonsCasesArgued1726v2.jpg

Title page from Cases Argued and Adjudged in the High Court of Chancery, volume two, George Wythe Collection, Wolf Law Library, College of William & Mary.

Author Thomas Vernon
Editor William Melmoth and William Peere Williams
Translator {{{trans}}}
Published London, In the Savoy: Printed by E. and R. Nutt and R. Gosling (assigns of Edw. Sayer) for J. Tonson
Date 1726-1728
Edition {{{edition}}}
Language English
Volumes 2 volume set
Pages {{{pages}}}
Desc. Folio (33 cm.)
Location [[Shelf {{{shelf}}}]]
  [[Shelf {{{shelf2}}}]]
Frontispiece, volume one.
Thomas Vernon (1654-1721), a preeminent practitioner in chancery cases and a politician in the House of Commons, was admitted to the Middle Temple in 1672 and called to the bar in 1679.[1] Vernon amassed great wealth from his labors, enabling him to develop a large country estate near Hanbury in Worchestershire. He also engaged in politics, becoming a knight of the shire in 1715. He also remained active as a practitioner, working in the chancery court until his death in 1621.


Vernon's Reports were published posthumously, the manuscript of which was the subject of some controversy. After his death, Vernon's wife, trustees, and heirs all claimed his papers. Ultimately, the court decided to keep and publish the papers without collecting profit from the work.[2] Scholars consider the first edition of the reports, edited by William Melmoth and William Peere Williams, full of errors making it nearly useless.[3] Later editions correct the mistakes in the first and are considered the “best of the old Chancery reporters,” however, “unless they are read with scrupulous attention, they may prove to be dangerous guides.”[4]

Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library

There is no doubt that Wythe owned the first edition of this title—a copy at the Library of Congress includes George Wythe's bookplate in each volume. We also know that Wythe ordered these reports from London merchant John Norton in a letter dated May 7, 1770. The letter's endorsement indicates it was answered on July 28, 1770.[5] Finally, Thomas Jefferson listed Vernon's reports. 2.v. fol. in his inventory of Wythe's Library, noting that he kept the volume himself. He later sold it to the Library of Congress. Not surprisingly, all four of the Wythe Collection sources (Goodwin's pamphlet[6], Dean's Memo[7], Brown's Bibliography[8] and George Wythe's Library[9] on LibraryThing list Vernon's Reports. The Wolf Law Library moved a copy of the first edition from another rare book collection to the George Wythe Collection.

Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy

Rebound in black leather with red leather labels and black marbelled endpapers. Purchased through the generosity of Daniel W. Baran and Lena Stratton Baran, Class of 1936.

View this book in William & Mary's online catalog.

References

  1. ↑ Stuart Handley, “Vernon, Thomas (1654–1721)”, “Oxford Dictionary of National Biography”, (Oxford University Press, 2004- ), accessed Nov 22, 2013. Subsequent biographical information derives from this source unless otherwise noted.
  2. ↑ Ibid.
  3. ↑ J. G. Marvin, Legal Bibliography or a Thesaurus of American, English, Irish, and Scotch Law Books (Philadelphia: T. & J. W. Johnson, Law Booksellers, 1847) 709.
  4. ↑ Ibid.
  5. ↑ Mason, John Norton & Sons Newton; Abbot, 1968, p. 134, "Andrews' reports".
  6. ↑ Mary R. M. Goodwin, The George Wythe House: Its Furniture and Furnishings (Williamsburg, Virginia: Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Library, 1958), L.
  7. ↑ Memorandum from Barbara C. Dean, Colonial Williamsburg Found., to Mrs. Stiverson, Colonial Williamsburg Found. (June 16, 1975), 7 (on file at Wolf Law Library, College of William & Mary).
  8. ↑ Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, May, 2012) Microsoft Word file. Earlier edition available at: https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433
  9. ↑ LibraryThing, s. v. "Member: George Wythe", accessed on June 28, 2013.
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