George Hope Jr. vs George Hope Sr. 1774 - Transcribed by Gail M. Walczyk
Spelling remains the same
Hope Junr
vs. . . . . . . Cy
Hope Senr
Bill
copd.
fid 31st May 1774chd
To the Worshipful Court of Accomack County in Chancery
Sitting humbly complaining Sheweth unto your Worships your orator George Hope Junior
of the Province of Maryland that about ten of twelve years past your Orators father
died seised in fee a Tract of Land lying in the Colony of Virginia in Occahannoc
Neck in the County of Northampton containing ninety five Acres or there abouts which
Land descended unto your Orator as heir at Law to his father & that your Orator was
an Infant of tender years at the time of his father's Death, Your Orator further
shews that your Orator's Uncle Johannes Watson knowing that your Orator was indigent
offered to take your Orator and maintain and educate him without making any Charge
against your Orators Estate for the Same if he the Said Johannes was appointed Guardian
to your Orator And that your Orators Uncle George Hope Senior of Accomack County
being desirous too be appointed Guardian to your Orator expressly promised that if
he was appointed he would do the Same, that he would make no charge against your
Orator's Estate for the Education and maintenance of your Orator, in Consequence
of which Promise the Said Johannes waived all Pretension to the guardianship of your
Orator and making no Opposition, the Said George Hope Senior was appointed at a Court
holden for Northampton County on the day of in the year on thousand Seven
hundred and Guardian to your Orator & as such entered upon and took possession
of the Said Tract of Land and held possession of the Same during the Space of four
years, during which Time the Said Hope Senr leased it out the first year at private
Sale for six pounds current money of Virginia the Second year for eleven pounds fifteen
Shillings At publick Sale the third year at private Sale for Seven pounds ten Shillings
& the fourth year also at private Sale for Seven pounds ten Shillings, tho your Orator
has reason to believer that had the Said Hope Senr leased the Land every year at
publick Sale he might have received as much or more to it yearly as he received the
Second year; Which above Sums of Money your Orator charges that the Said Hope Senr
did receive as Guardian to your Orator; But now So it is may it please your Worships
that the Said Hope Senr doth refuse to Account to your Orator for the aforesaid Profit
of his Estate or for any part of the Same alledging that the Expence of maintaining
and Educating your Orator was more than equivalent to the profits of your Orators
Estate whereas the Said Hope Senr well knows that he promised not to make any charges
against your Orator for Maintenance and Education and that even if he was to charge
for Such Maintenance and Education as he gave your Orator it would be by no means
equal to the Profits he received from your Orators Estate All Which Actings and Doings
fo the Said Hope Senr are contrary to Equity and Good Conscience In tender Consideration
whereof and for as much as your Orator is without Remedy by the Strict rules of Law
and has no redress except this Worshipful Court where all matters of this Nature
are properly Cognisable To the End therefore that the Said Hope Senr may be compelled
to declare upon Oath whether he did not make the promise above alledged or what promise
he did make whether he was not appointed Guardian to your Orator, Whether your Orator
was not possessed of Land hereto mentioned or of what Estate your Orator was possessed
and what Estate the said Hope Senr. received as Guardian to your Orator, Whether
the said Hope Senr did not lease the Said Lands for the [-----] sumes alledged or
for what Sums Whether he did not receive the Sums alledged or what Sume he did receive
and finally that upon Oath true and perfect Answer he may make to all the matters
herein contained in the Same manner as if again particularly interrogated, and may
cone to an Account and pay your Orator the Profits which he made by your Orators
Estate And that your Orator may be relieved according to Equity and good Conscience
May it please your Worships, the premisses being considered to grant to your Orator
his Majestys Writ of Subpeona to be directed to the Said George Hope Senr thereby
commanding him at a certain day and under a certain Penalty therein limited personally
to be and appear before your Worships in this Worshipful Court then and there to
answer all and singular the Premisses, and to Stand to, perform and abide by Such
Order & decree therein as to your Lordships Shall seem meet; And your Orator Shall
ever pray &c
George Hope Junr
by Luther Martin his Attorney
Hope. .
. . . . . Spa in Canc
Hope
Sumon'd Tully R. Wise Shff
ex WA
George
the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France & Ireland King Defender of
the Faith &c To the Sheriff of Accomack that you Summon George Hope (the Elder) to
be and appear before Our Justices of our Court of Our County of Accomack in Chancery
at the Court House thereof on the last Tuesday in July Instant To Answer unto the
Bill of Complaint of George Hope (the younger) Exhibited against him And this he
Shall in no wise Omitt under the penalty of One hundred pounds And have then there
this Writ Witness George Holden Clerk of our said Court at the Court House the Seventh
Day of July In the Twelfth year of our Reign
Geo. Holden
Sources:
_____. Accomack County VA Chancery Causes, 1727-1805. George Hope Jr. vs George Hope Sr., 1774-007. Local Government Records Collection, Accomack County Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. Accessed 12 Sept. 2011 .
© Copyright 2011 by Gail M. Walczyk