404 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1694 97.

      Lib. H. D. The humble Petition of Murrene Duvall Junr the Son of

               Murrene [)uvall deceased, in most humble Manner sheweth

               your Exncy

              Murrene That your Petitioner on Tuseday last did make

               his Address vnto this County Court, in Ordr to

                    Choose his Guardian (by Reason his ffather &

              Mother in Law, with whum he doth live do take little care for

              his proficiency in Learning, and lesser of his plantation, for his

              future good) And your petitionr was not admitted, neither

              would the Court suffer him to have as much as Assurance of

              some satisfaction when he comes at Age, for the vse of his

              plantation till then: ffor my Brother did proffer to give One

              thousand pounds of Tobacco p Annum for the vse of the plan

              tation & would have had it Recorded, but they Refused

              Audience, choosing rather that his ffather in Law should wear

              out Land without any benefit; likewise they threaten to have

              your petitioner whipt, if he comes any more there.

               Therefore your Petr doth humbly desire your Excell to

              Grant him the same priviledge of your Clemency to Orphans

              tht others have, and to Admit & Ordr he may Choose his

              Brother John Duvall, for his Guardian and your petr shall ever

              pray.

               The Petition is Referred to the Worshipfull the Justices of

              this County to see that Justice be done to the petr & to give

              me a Reason why he may not Choose a Guardian.

                                              ffr. Nicholson

               The Report vpon the sd Ordr of Reference follows, Vizt

               In obedience to your Excells Ordr The Court does shew

              these following Reasons, Vizt

          p. 313 The Article concerning the Orphans Learning, to the

              knowledge of some of the Court is false.

               And that concerning his Plantation the Court is satisfyed by

              Evidence that Coll Ridgely has fenced the whole in with a lite

              ifence, and has planted out a Nursery of Apple Trees, and has

              taken Ordr to build on the sd plantation; and are satisfyed by

              a Clause of the said Orphans ffathers Will that his now Mother

              in Law is appointed Guardian to him & the rest of the Orphans

              till they come to the years of Eighteen.

               The Court being satisfyed in the falseness of this Orphans

              petition admonished him to be dutifull to his ffather & Mother

              in Law, and threatned (if he came with the like lying petition

              to the Court) to Chastize him for the same: And likewise Coll

              Ridgely has promissed vpon the good behaviour of the Orphan

              to do much for the intrest of the Orphan on his plantation; All

              which is humbly Offered & signed p Ordr of Court

                                p Stephen Blatchford Depty Clk.