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Archiver > LOWER-DELMARVA-ROOTS > 2000-02 > 0951539235
From: <>
Subject: Re: [LDR] Choptank Indian Lands POLK - STANFORD
Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2000 23:27:15 EST
In a message dated 00-02-24 21:42:55 EST, writes:
<< The answer could be anything at all. The chancery files are often
filled with wonderful material: depositions, long recapitulations of
particulars and the like. Unless someone here happens to know
this case - and John Polk imaginably is one such (are you paying
attention, John?) - you just have to see the original. >>
Yes I am awake. I had a chance to check out the Chancery file today at MD
Archives and can report the following -
The Chancery case was a suit brought in 1808 by Algernon Stanford and William
McDonald, against the orphan children, John, Sally and William, of Robert
Polk of Dorchester who died intestate in 1807 and left behind more debts
than his estate could cover. Suit was to force sale of 255 acre tract of land
obtained by Robert Polk from State of Maryland as part (Lot#7) of an earlier
sale of former Choptank Indian lands, in order to collect the proceeds.
The Chancellor, William Kilty, granted petition to bring suit. The case was
heard in due course, verdict rendered in favor of Stanford and order issued
to sell the property. The case got a little complicated for a number of
reasons
- the children were minors and lived in Sussex Delaware
- the State of Marylad was also looking to collect from Robert Polk
- Suit by Stanford and McDonald was actually on behalf of the estate of Betty
Lawber, of Kent County DE, for which Robert Polk had been executor but had
not settled before his death;
- Stanford and William McDonald ended up as administrators de bonis nom for
account and there were shortfalls
- Alexander Polk was appointed as administrator of Robert Polk's estate, but
he died and replaced by Alexander Laws and Lovey, his wife, Executrix for
Alexander Polk
- John Collins was Administrator de bonis nom for Robert Polk in Sussex DE
and had to keep separate account there.
- Various accounts and receipts were kept in different currencies dollars and
pounds sterling.
In the end the property was sold at auction for $3640 or L1365. State of MD
got L703, Courts and lawyers got L82 and Stanford got L580. Orphans got
nothing.
So now you know the rest of the story.
John (not the orphan) Polk
Havre de Grace
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