512 Provincial Court Proceedings, 1674/5.




          Liber M M   the tenth day of April One thousand Six hundred Seventy three
                  petitioning the Provinciall Court in the absence of the Said John
                  was by the Said Court Sett free But the Said John Saith that by
                  the Said Indenture the Said Christopher Ought not to be free for
                  that he Saith the Same is not the Act and Deed of the Said Abell
                  London and this he prayes may be enquired off by the Country
                  and the Said Christopher likewise Therefore Comãnd is given to
                  the Sheriff of St Maries County that he cause to come here twelve
                  &c who neither &c by whom &c to recognize &c because aswell &c.
                    Now here at this day to wit the thirtenth day of ffebruary in the
                  43th yeare of the Dominion of Caecilius &c Annoq3 Doth 1674
                  Came the said Christopher by his Attorny and the Said John by
                  his Attorny and the jurors of that jury came likewise to wit Roger
                  Baker Thomas Bowdie John Burage John Garnish James Veitch
                  Justinian Gerard John Gittings Cornelius Watkinson Wm Watts
                  Walter Hall Robert Proctor and James Bowling who being im
                  pannelled Sumãned and sworne to say the truth in the premisses
                  upon their Oathes doe say Wee find for the plaintiff Therefore it
                  is considered by the Court here that the said Christopher recover
                  against the Said John Stephens the summe of foure hundred and
              p. 501  fifty pounds of tobacco for his Corne, and his Cloathes hoes and
                  axe in Kind as also the summe of nine hundred & twenty pounds
                  of tobacco for his costs and charges in this behalfe laid Out and
                  expended and the Said John Stephens in mercy.

                  Robert Wells Hance Hanson late of Kent County otherwise called
                      agt Hance Hanson of Kent County in Maryland was
                Hance Hanson Sumöned to answer unto Robert Wells in a plea
                             that he render unto him the Summe of Eight hun
                             dred pounds of tobacco which to him he oweth &
                             unjustly deteineth.
                    And whereupon the Said Robert by Keneim Cheseldyn his At
                  torny Saith that whereas the said Hance Hanson the Sixtenth day
                  of September in the yeare One thousand Six hundred Seventy foure
                  by his certaine writeing Obligatory Sealed with the Seale of the said
                  Hance here in Court produced whose date is the Same day and
                  yeare abovewritten did Oblige himselfe to pay or cause to be paid
                  unto Robert Wells of the place aforesaid the full and just Summe
                  of Eight hundred pounds of tobacco in caske On the tenth day of
                  October next ensueing the date thereof to be paid upon the Planta
                  tion of John Wells notwithstanding which the said Hance the said
                  Summe of Eight hundred pounds of tobacco to him the said Robert
                  though often thereunto required the said summe of Eight hundred
                  pounds of tobacco according to the tenor of his Said writeing Obliga
                  tory hath not paid though often there unto required but the Same to
                  pay hitherto hath and Still doth deny to the damage of the said