Provincial Court Proceedings, 1681/1682.  153

     aforesaid Sume of Thirteene thousand Six hundred Ninety & six          Liber W. C.
     pounds of tobacco debt as also the sume of
     pounds of tobacco for Costs of Suite. & the Deft in Mercy &Ca

    Raymond Stapleford Richard Meekins late of Dorchester County
          agt Planter was attached to answere unto Ray-
  Richard Meekins  mond Stapleford of a plea wherefore with
                    force and Armes the Close of him ye sd Ray
     mond called the Reserve att Dorchester County aforesaid did breake
     & the Grasse of ye sd Raymond in the said Close growing to the
     vallue of five pounds with his feet in walking troad downe & con
     sumed, & twenty white oake timber trees of the vallue of tenn
     pounds in the sd Close growing did fall Cutt downe and destroy,
     & other Enormities to him did doe to ye greate Damage of him
     the said Raymond Staple ford and against the Peace &c.
       And Whereupon the said Raymond Stapleford by Robert Ridgely
     his Attorney Complaineth that whereas the said Richard Meekins
     the second day of June in the yeare of our Lord 1680 wth force &
     Armes the Close of him the said Raymond Called the Reserve at
     Dorchester County aforesaid did breake, & the Grasse of the said
     Raymond in the said Close growing to the Vallue of ffive Pounds
      his feete in walking trod downe & consumed, and twenty white
     oake Timber trees of the vallue of tenn pounds in the sd Close grow
     ing did fall Cutt downe and destroy & other Enormityes to him
     did doe to the Damage of him the said Raymond the sume of
     Twenty pounds sterling And thereupon he bringeth his suite:
       And the said Richard Meekins by Kenelm Cheseldyn his At
     torney Cometh and defendeth the force and injury when &c and
     Prayeth Liberty to imparle hereunto untill next provinciall Court
     & it is granted unto him ye same day is given to ye plt also:
       Now here at this day to wit the fourth day of March in ye seav
     enth yeare of ye Dominion of the Right honoble Charles Lord Balte
     more &c Annoq Doni 1681 Came the said Richard Meekins by his
     Attorney aforesaid & sayth that as to ye comeing wth force & Armes &
     also of breaking the Close aforesaid of the said Raymond and Cut
     ting downe the timber trees aforesaid & also the residue of the
     said trespasse he is in noe wise guilty as the said Raymond in his
     declaracon hath above declared against him & of this he puts him
     self upon the Country; but the said Raymond Came not but made
     default Therefore it is Considered that the said Raymond Staple-
     ford take nothing by his writ aforesaid but be in mercy for his false
     Clayme threin. and the said Richard Meekins may goe thereof
     without day. and that the said Richard Meekins Recover agt the sd
     Raymond stapleford the sume of Eight hundred & sixteene pounds
     of tobacco for his Costs & charges by him about his defence in this
     behalfe Laid out & Expended & the said Richard may have thereof
     Execution