Court and Testamentary Business, 1648.     463

         Decembr 29th This day came Walter Beane & Walter Liber A.

       Peakes afore the Gour & requested to be admitted ioyntly as

       admistrators of the estate of Willm Smithfeild late deceased,

       being equally the greatest Credrs to the sd estate; the sd Smith

       feild dying intestate, & not hauing any kindred in the prouince,

       who by priority of right ought to be admitted thereunto.

         Ordered by the Gour (tht though there is noe prnt power in

       the prouince to grant Lres of Amistraon) That the sd Walter

       Beane & Walter Peaks shall ioyntiy receaue & collect the estate

       of the sd Smithfeild, wch otherwise will fall to ruine, & come to

       nothing: & cause it to be appraysed by the oathes of Rich:

       Neuett, Jno Shittcliffe, & Jn Grimsditch & bring into the

       Registers Office, a true & pfect Inuentory wth the appraysemt

       thereof of the sd estate, wthin 22 dayes, if longer time uppon

       iust cause shall not be graunted them. And a just true &

       faythfull acct thereof, whensoeur they shall bee thereunto called,

       by the Judge of Testamentary Cawses wthin this prouince

         Copie Eod to Walter Beane & Peakes.

         Walter Beane & Walter Peaks sworne by the Gour to the

       Tenure of the Order

         Commisn to Mr Bretton to sweare the prties aforesd for the

       appraysmt of the abouesd Smithfeilds Estate. & to signe warrt

       for the Impanelling of a Jury to inquire of the sd Smithfeilds

       death.

         Rich: Neuett, Jno Shirtcliffe & Jno Grimsditch sworne accord

       ing to the Tenure of the Commisn

         warrt to Mr Willm Tompson, to impanell a Jury of 1 2 ffree

       men to make enquirs of the death of Wm Smithfeild, lately

       drowned uppon the ice in Brettons Bay, whensoeur hee shall

       bee thereunto called by Walter Beane or Waiter Peaks. & to

       make a true returne of the Verdict into the Registers Office,

       wth all possible conueniences.

         Know all men by these prnts tht wee Walter Beane & Walter p. 227

       Pakes doe hereby firmely bind orselues, both ioyntly & seuerally

       Or heyres & assignes to pay or cause to be pd unto the Ld Cecill

       Baltemore Propr of this pro: his heyres or assignes, the full

       summe or quanty of Three Thowsand pownd weight of good

       merchble leafe Tob. & cask.

         The Condicon of this Obligaon is such tht if the wthin bownd

       Walter Beane & Walter Peakes shall giue a iust, true & faythfull

       acct of the estate of Willm Smithfeild deceased. whensoeur they

       shall bee thereunto called by the Judge of Testamentary Causes

       of this pro: tht then this prnt obligaon to be uoyd or ells to stand

       in full force & uertue, wittnes Or hands this 29 Decembr 1648.

                                         Signed

       Recogniz Corá Gout       Walter Beane.

                               Walter Peakes.