Appendix. 63,9

Rich.^d Bennett in 1749. died Seized of Turkey Point, but before
his Death devised the same in tail to Bennet Chew
Thomas Cotterell who Sets himself up as heir at Law of Tho.^s
Robinson in 1752 Preferred his petition to the Gen.^ll Assembly of
the Province of Maryland Suggesting thereby that Robinson was
not indebted to Brown and that the Act in 1720, was obtained by
the great Influence and Power of the said Richard Bennett, and
thereby prayed that leave might be given to bring in a bill to Repeal
the s.^d Act as to moiety of Turkey Point supposed to belong to his
Ancester Robinson, and altho' the said Cotterell offerr'd no Evi-
dence to falsify the said alegation in the said act in 1720 to wit
" that Robinson died considerably indebted to Brown " a Bill was
brought in and passed into a Law by the Governor and uper and
Lower houses of Assembly of the province of Maryland to repeal
the said Act of Assembly in 1720 as to a moiety of Turkey Point
and merely as it is conceived because the Devisee of R^d Bennett
who is now a minor under the age of 21 years cannot now prove
that the said Robinson died indebted to Brown as by a Copy of the
said Act hereunto Annexed may appear
It is conceived the said bill ought not to pass into a Law for many
reasons
1.^st For that it appears the said Act in 1720 was obtained at the
Instance of the Commissioners of his Majestys Customs, who are
Interested in the Law and have had no notice of the Petition of the
said Tho.⁸ Cotterell or any opportunity of opposing the same, or
making good the allegations in the said act, or Falsyfying the said
Robinsons Petition
2.^dly For that it being alledged in the Act in 1720 that it Evidently
appeared that Robinson was Indebted to Brown, ought to be taken
for true especially after the Death of the said Richard Bennett and
thirty three years Length of time, unless the Contrary could be
clearly proved, and the Rather as it appears by the Copy of an
Account of the said Peregrine Browns against the said Tho.^s Robin-
son found amongst the Papers of the said Richard Bennett deceased
and Indorsed in the hand writing of the said Richard Bennett in
the following words " taken from an Attested Copy in M.^r Dulany
hands, who has the same to Sue for on Behalf of the Crown," that
the said Thomas Robinsons Estate in the year 1716 was Indebted
to the said Brown in the sum of £247-18.1 1/2 Stt w.^ch was much
more than the Value of a Moiety of Turkey Point at that time, as
by the said Copy of the Account aforesaid, indorsed as aforesaid in
the hand writing of the said Richard Bennett hereunto annexed
may appear.

Calvert
Papers
No. 520
[1754]

3.^dly For that the said Act in 1720 distroy'd a good Security that
Richard Bennett had to Recover from Birchfield & Brown £250.
Sterling and gave him a good tittle to what was Supposed to be

[p. 31