These are abstracts from Chancery Court Records of Maryland, and are housed at the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis. These are NOT wills, but are court proceedings to settle estates of people who mostly died without wills. A few may reference a will, but probably had problems in obtaining a clear title. Many people owned land which extended across the present Pennsylvania border; but after the Mason-Dixon line was established about 1765, these people lost part of their land, perhaps as much as a hundred acres, as the land had been sold both as part of Maryland and as part of Pennsylvania lands, thereby requiring new surveys and court actions to settle disputes. Many times these records provide family data on people with surnames other than those listed on the docket. These cases brought before the judge consisted of sworn testimony and each one holds a story. Perhaps you will find a story connected with your search.All records concerned Frederick County unless otherwise noted. (An "enfant" or minor was a person under the age of 21; courts appointed a guardian - usually a family member or other relative - to represent the minor's interest in their share of the property settlement.)
John TEMPLEMAN of Allegany County, Maryland purchased a tract of land, Turkey Island, 13 acres, lying in the Potomak River within Montgomery County, from Samuel Brooke BEALL and Thomas Brooke BEALE, both formerly of Montgomery County for 150 pounds cm on 29 Jan 1795. Because Templeman had not been a Maryland resident that long, he didn't know that deeds had to be validated through the court. Since that time, Samuel Brooke BEALE has filed under the insolvent law and conveyed all his property rights to Roger PERRY of Allegany County as Trustee for benefit of his creditors. In addition - Thomas Brooke BEALE has since died leaving a widow, Harriett BEALE and six children - .....Sarah BEALE .....Isaac Brooke BEALE .....Thomas Heugh BEALE .....Gustavus BEALE .....Mary Heugh BEALE .....Thomas Tilghman BEALE All of Allegany Co, Maryland. Templeman was granted title on 11 June 1807. [Montgomery Co, MD Chancery - MSA: S512-5341; MdHR: 17-898-5213; Loc: 1-37-2-7 dated 1806]
Elizabeth COUGH ..vs.. Rachel BISHOP, George HAIFLEIGH and w/ Catherine - 27 Jun 1833 John BISHOP, the Elder, d/ 2 Jul 1813 intestate widow - (now dec'd) and 8 Children - 1. John BISHOP (d/ @ 1829, intestate) ( all lived in Preston Co, VA) .....widow - Susanna 6 children .....1-1. Henry BISHOP (later moved to Garrett Co, Md) .....1-2. John BISHOP .....1-3. Joseph BISHOP .....1-4. Samuel BISHOP .....1-5. William BISHOP .....1-6. Rachel w/o John BETTEZ 2. Dedrich BISHOP (sold his share to brother Jacob on 30 Apr 1831) 3. Henry BISHOP (of Preston Co, VA; sold his share to brother Jacob) 4. Jacob BISHOP (lately d/ intestate) - Frederick Co, Md .....widow - Rachel and 6 minor children (named as guardian) .....4-1. Catharine w/o George HAIFLEIGH (named guardian of wife) .....4-2. Eve BISHOP .....4-3. Mary BISHOP .....4-4. Jacob BISHOP .....4-5. John BISHOP .....4-6. Hannah BISHOP 5. Christian BISHOP (of Preston Co, VA) 6. Elizabeth widow/o Martin COUGH 7. Catharine w/o David H. FRIES (sold her share to brother Jacob) 8. Eve w/o Henry LANTZ (of Preston Co, VA) John Bishop, the elder, possessed land tracts consisting of 123 acres, 11 perches. Purchased from Jacob SNIDER Jr of Frederick Co, Md on Deed WR 13:529-531 recorded 25 Sep 1795 for 15 pounds, 9 shillings; tract named "The New Location". Jacob SNIDER Jr's wife Catharine released dower. Purchased from Valentine BAIST of Fr Co, Md on Deed WR 18:79-81 recorded 25 Feb 1799 for 200 pounds; tract part of "Errors Corrected"; signed only by Valentine BAST (no wife). Purchased from Upton SCOTT of Annapolis, Md, a physician on Deed WR 20:547 recorded 27 Mar 1801 for 64 pounds, 5 shillings, 3 pence; tract part of "Resurvey on Runneymede"; signed by U. Scott (no wife). Purchased from Dedrich BISHOP of Fr Co, Md on Deed HS 36:60-62 recorded on 9 May 1831 for $175.00 to Jacob BISHOP (his brother) of Frederick Co, Md recorded 9 May 1831 - all rights to the estate of John BISHOP Sr, dec, in "Errors Corrected", "New Location", and part of "Friendship Agreement" adjoining David FOUTZ, Jacob CORRELL, Peter SHOEMAKER and Peter BABELON and others, of 124 acres; signed in German by Dedrich and wife Catharine. (Md Hist Soc Library - "The Mountain Democrat" of 9 Nov 1936 contained column called "Garrett County History of Pioneer Families" by Charles E. Hoye outlining the BISCHOFF family.) [MSA - Box 150, 1/41/12/30] (Chancery #64, pg 389, Equity case # 1309 dtd 27 Jun 1833)
James N. LINGAN, now deceased, conveyed to John HENDERSON, his brother, in May 1807, land in Montgomery County of 420 acres. Henderson then retained possession and profits of the land; but, some years afterward, John HENDERSON, died without making any payment. John HENDERSON left widow, Lydia who has possession of his personal estate, sufficient to pay debts against the estate. John HENDERSON, deceased w/ Lydia and minor children - .Richard HENDERSON .Sarah HENDERSON .Janet Lingan HENDERSON ======================== James N. LINGAN also died intestate, Montgomery County - leaving widow - Janet and 3 children, .Sarah w/o William B. RANDOLPH .George LINGAN, minor .Anne LINGAN, minor Bill Dismissed, not recorded. [Montgomery Co, MD Chancery - MSA: S512; MdHR: 17-898-3151; Loc: 1-33-3-24 dated 1817]
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