178 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1694 97.

        Lib. H. D.     Mr Lionel Copley informed this Depont so made void the

              former proceedings of George Plater Esqr & this Depont; the

              said eldest Son & heir in pursuance to the advice given him

              made Choice of Coll Nehemiah Biackiston & this Depont to

              be Administrators on his ffathers Estate in his behalfe, his

              sister and Young brother, and signifyed the same to Mr

              Kenelm Cheseldyn then Commissionated Comissary Genll by

              his Exncy Sr Edmond Andros; vpon the said Commissary's

              pervsall of the Will and finding it not to be perfected, he

              Rejected, Vacated & declared the same to be Void in Law,

              however Granted Letters of Administracon to Coll Biackiston

              and this Depont vpon their Giving Oath as the Law directs;

           P 97   the said Commissary Approved of three Judicious Men that

              were Nominated Appraisers who were by him likewise sworn;

              When they had Appraised what was brought to their sight &

              knowledge, they delivered to this Depont an Inventory signed

              & Sealed by them amounting to the Sume of One thousand

              One hundred thirty two pound Nineteen shillings & ten pence

              half penny, Dated the 14th day of October, in a few dayes Coll

              Blackiston departed this life, then this Depont (as by his

              Councill was and is advised) became sole Administrator, and

              proceeded to the paymt of the said Governor Copleys just

              Debts in the Countrey being duely proved, he having no

              legall or timely Caution to Reserve any part of the said Estate

              in his hands for the paymt of any Debt due to their Mats either

              by Sr Edmond Andros Capt Generall at his first or second

              coming or (in his absence) the presidents and Councill, or any

              of their Mats Receivers within this Province Untill this Depont

              had paid to diverse persons as farr as the Estate was appraised

              at and Amounted to, as by this Deponts Accompts and

              Receipts exhibited into the Commissary Genlls Office more fully

              appears, which is by the Laws of this Province and constitution

              of the same full and due Administration, as this Depont is by

              his Councill informed; this Depont further saith that some

              time in June last past, Esqr Randolph their Majts Surveyor

              Generall desired or Ordered him to Reserve what Effects of

              the said Governor Copleys Estate remained in his hands and

              pay no farther, for there was a Debt due to the King wch was

              of a higher Nature than any other Debts or to that Effect not

              declaring by what meanes Governor Copley became indebted

              to their Majts or in what Sume, but speaking generally; soon

              after their Mats Attorney Genll caused a Writ to be issued out

              against this Depont as Administrator of Lionel Copley at their

              Mats Suit, some time after that, this Depont was served with

           p. 98 a Writ of Quominus, as he Understood it to be, by the Order

              of Mrs Elizabeth Biackiston the Relict of Coll Nehemiah

              Blackiston their Majts Collector & Receiver for Potomock