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MSS.
Archives
of Md.
Black Book
No. 2
Paper 44
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That on or about the Beginning of the Year One thousand seven
hundred and ffifty six being by some Means inform'd that he the
said Valerius Duchart was an Alien and as such liable to have his
Property Escheated, he therefore imparted to the said Doctor William
Lyon his Apprehension on that Account, and requested his ffriendly
Assistance therein.
That the said Duchart was by the said William Lyon soon after
introduced to one of the Honourable Members of the Lower House
of Assembly then Sitting, to consult him in Regard to his Naturaliza-
tion, but for some Reasons was persuaded by the said Honourable
Member to apply to the Provincial Court, which was then shortly
to be held; but before the Expiration of that Time it pleased the
Almighty that he should perish (with one of his Servants) in the
Ruins of a Barn, which in a hard Gale of Wind was Blown down.
That your Petitioner as principal Creditor soon after Viz.t in the
Month of May 1756 procured Letters of Administration on the
Estate & Effects of the said Valerius Duchart, and on or about the
21.st of the said Month of May the before mentioned Doctor Lyon
being privy to the Deceased's being an Alien from the Confidence, he
had before placed in him, Did lodge in the Land Office a Pre-Emption
of Escheat for all the Land, the said Duchart dyed possessed of in
Baltimore County, and, as your Petitioner is informed by the said
Lyon, has since procured a Patent for the same
And your Petitioner further begs leave to represent to Your
Excellency and Honours
That by the aforementioned Escheat the Widow and Seven Chil-
dren of the said Duchart are deprived of the Value of near four
hundred Pounds Currency, and left destitude of all manner of Sup-
port, Your Petitioner verily and truely believing there will scarce be
Assets sufficient to discharge the demands, that are daily made
against the Estate of the deceased.
That the Widow and Children aforesaid are the more Deserving
of your Pity and Relief in this their Distress, as the deceased by his
Integrity and Industry proved during his Life Time a good Neigh-
bour and a Use full Member to the Community, as by incontestible
Evidence can be made to appear
That Relief afforded to this unhappy Family under their present
Dilemma will prove a great Encouragement to Strangers to come
and reside amongst us
And Finally, that as Doctor William Lyon soon after lodging the
Pre-emption aforementioned did frequently, and very publickly
declare (by way of Canvassing so ungenerous a Proceeding) that he
had made the said Escheat for the Benefit of the Widow and Orphans
and to prevent any other Person from Escheating the same to their
Detriment
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