156   Chancery Court Proceedings, 1675.





       Liber C D  4th day of ffebruary in the year of our Lord 1674 before us Thomas
              Sprigg and Robert Carvile Gent by virtue of a Comission on the
              nature of a writt of mandamus issued out of his Lordships Court of
              Chancery to us directed by the Oaths of Cuthbert ifenwick John
              Gittings, John Darnall Robert ifenwick Richard ifenwick Peter
              joy, W.m Innis, John Nuthall, Jonathan Pryter, W.m Wilson, John
              Hall and W.m Hill twelve Good and Lawfull men of the S.d County
              Impannelled to Enquire what Lands or Tenem.ts Emperor Smith
              & Abdelo Martin of the Said County deced Seized of at the time
              of their Death as of ffee & of what manno.r & how much those
              Lands & Tenem.ts are of value by the year in all issues & who the
              Same do Occupy and who hath paid the Rent for the Same & who
              is the next heir to the Same lands & of what age the heir is and at
       (fol. 165) what time ye S.d Emperor Smith & Abdelo martin dyed Said
              Juro.rs upon their Oaths Say as followeth
               That they find that George Beckwith and ifrances his wife in
              Right of the Said ifrances being Seized in fee of a Certain parcell
              of Land late ye land of Nicholas Harvey father of her the Said
              ifrances Called S.t Joseph's manno.r & Scituate on the South Side of
              Putuxent River did by writeing under their hands and Seales bearing
              date the Eigth day of ffebruary 1658 and now to us produced for
              ye consideracon therein menconed fully freely and absolutely Give
              Grant Bargain Sell assign and Set over unto Emperor Smith and
              Abdelo Martin all their Right Title and Interest Claim and demand
              whatsoever of in and to one parcell of Land Scituate Lying on the
              South Side of Putuxent River by the Back Creek being Surveyed
              and Laid out for one hundred Sixty and five acres more or Less To
              have & to hold the S.d Land with all timber Trees and other Rights
              & appurtenances to the Same belonging unto the Said Emperor
              Smith & Abdelo martin their & Either of their heirs for Ever with
              Warranty ag.t them the S.d George and ifrances & their heirs & all
              Claiming by from or under them any Title or Right whatsoever and
              that by Virtue of the Said Grant they the Said Emperor Smith &
              Abdelo martin Entered into & became Seized or possessed of the one
              hundred Sixty five acres of Land & being So in possession thereof
              the Sd Emperor Smith & Abdelo martin made Some Division of the
              s.d Land to be held by them in Severalty & not Long after dyed the
              Said Emperor Smith without issue Leaving the S.d Abdelo And
              afterwards to wit about Seven or Eight years Since the Said Abdelo
              dyed Leaving issue three daughters w.ch they believe are all Liveing
              and that the Eldest of them is ab.t 17 years old And the Said Jurors
              upon their aths do further Say that the S.d Emperor Smith and
              Abdelo martin were aliens & dyed W.thout being Naturalized to their
              knowledge and that Since their Deaths John Peirce and Richard
              Baily or one of y.m have been in possession of the S.d Lands &
              Still are & that the s.d Land is worth four hundred pounds of