44 Chancery Court Proceedings, 1674-75.





         Liber C D   Caecilius &c.a To the Sheriff of Dorchester County Greeting
              \Vhereas it was Commanded the Sheriff of Calvert County that
              he take John Bally if he Shall be found in his Bailywick & him
              Safe keep So that he have his Body before O.r Justices of our
              provinciall Court to be held at S.t maries the Sixteenth day of
              Octob.r 1666 to answ.r unto Raymond Stapleford in an action of
              debt upon acc.° to the Value of four hundred fifty five pounds two
              Shillings Eight pence new England money and forty five thousand
              and five hundred twenty Eight pounds of Tobacco Cask at
              which Said Sixteenth day of Oct.r the Same Sheriff returned that
              the Said John Baly was not found in his Bailywick Whereupon it.
              was then Considered by our Said Court that an Attachm.t ag.t the
              Estate of the Said John Baly be Granted the Said Raymond w.ch
              accordingly iss.d for forty five thousand five hund.d Twenty Eight
         p. 122    pounds of Tob.° and four hundred fifty five pounds two Shillings
         (fol. 152)     Eight pence New England money & one hundred pounds more
              directed to the Said Sheriff of Calvert Co.tY & the Same in the
              Custody of the Same Sheriff to keep untill the Said John Bayly or
              his Attorney appear to ans.r the Suit of the S.d Stapleford at
              y•e next prov.” Co.rt to be held the Eleventh of Decemb.r then next
              comeing And Whereas afterwards to witt at our prov.ll Court held.
              at S.t maries the fourth day of June 1669 the S.d John Baly peti
              tioned our Said Co.rt that Whereas in the month of July 1666 he
              put to Sea upon a Voyage Intended for Ireland from thence In
               tended to Barbadoes & So back again for Maryland but by reason
               of the defectiousness of ye Vessell the master & Company did put
               into ifyall where by distress of weather the Vessel was Cast away and
               So the pet.r could not return thence untill November then last that
               in the pet.rs absence the Said Raymond Stapleford upon false Sug
               gestions & Imaginary prtences took out a Warrant against him for
               455£. . 2s. . 8d & for 45528.£ of Tob° directed to the Sheriff of Calvert
               County who at a Court held at S.t maries the 16th of Octob.r brought
               & Returned his writt of non Est Inventus Whereupon the Court
               Granted Stapleford an attachm.t on the pet.rs Estate w.thout proofe
               of any thing to be due unto him w.ch attachm.t was Confirmed at a
               Court held the 9.th of Ap.ll 1667 that Stapleford by virtue thereof
               getts out of the hands of Severall men in Ready pay & Bills to the
               value of ten thousand Six hundred thirty Seven pounds of Tob.° of
               yo.T pet.rs Effects as also his Chest w.ch was at his Lodging wherein
               were Sundry Sort of Goods & his Apparell as also his Book accompts
               Letters of Correspondency Bills of Lading, Receipts Releases Bills
               Bonds & without produceing any Inventory of the writeings
               neither of the Goods nor Apparrell that were in the Said Chest or
               any appraisem.t that Ever was made of them, That yo.r petr knowing
               himself at his departure not to be anything Indebted to the Said
               Stapleford but he in the pet.rs debt above one hund.d thousand