70         Chancery Court Proceedings, 1671-72.

        Liber CD By virtue of this Praecept I have Caused Twelve Good & Lawfull
        (fol. 77) men of my Bailiwick whose names are hereunder written to Come
        at the time and place within named as I am by this Precept Com
                          manded.
                    Robert Henly       John iferson
                    John Douglass      William Hinsey
                    John Worland       Hugh Thomas
                   Will Marshall       Peter Carr
                    Rich.d Dod         John Harvey
                    Thomas Gibson      Richard Smoote
                                            Benj.a Rozer Sher.
        An Inquisition Indented & taken at Pechawaxen in the County
        before us Henry Adams & Thomas Mathews by virtue of a Com
        mission in the nature of a writt of Mandamus hereunto annexed to
        Inquire by the Oaths of Twelve Good          and Lawfull men of the Said
        County whether William Battin late      of Charles County deced was
        Seized in his Demeasne as of ffee at the time of his Death of a
        Certain Tract Of Land in the said County on the north Side of
        Potomock River near Caedar Point & Lying in Pechawaxen Creek
        Containing of five hundred acres or thereabouts Sometime Since in
        the possession of John Bowles Gentl of what mannor the Said parcell
         p. 61    of Land was holden and by what Services and how much the Same
        (fol.is of value by the year in all Issues and profits and at what time
          the Said William Battin dyed and who is his next heir or heirs and
          of what age the Said heir or heirs are and who the Said parcell of
          Land from the Death of the S.d William Battin have did or doth
          Occupy and the issues & profits hath did and doth receive and by
          what Title and how and by what manner by Robert Henly, John
          Douglas John Worland William Marshall Richard Dodd, Thomas
          Gibson, John iferson William Hinsey, Hugh Thomas, Peter Carr,
          John Harvey Richard Smoote Good and Lawfull men of the Said
          County of Charles Co.tY who Sworn upon their Oaths Say That
          Cap.t Will.m Battin late of Charles County deced was possest of and
          Dyed in possession although he were not Lawfully Seized as of ffee
          at the time of his Death of the Land above menconed by Reason
          that there appeareth not any Lawfull Title to Coll.° Samuell Smith
        (fol. 78) of Virginia from whom the Said William Batten purchased the
              Same and that the Said William Batten dyed about the Last of
              October Anno Dom 1662 and that the Said Land was and Continued
              in the possession of Margery Batten the Relict of the Said William
              Batten till the fifth of may Anno Dom 1663 or thereabouts, and
              from that time till the day of the date hereof in the possession of
              John Bowles Gentl who married the Said Relict. And further they
              Conceive that the Said Margery Batten during her widowhood and
              the afore named John Bowles from that time till this present the