(Original in Court House at Edenton, N. C. )
"To the honoble the high Cort of Chancery
The Bill of Complaint of Matthew Pritchard and Sarah his wife Administratrix of Patrick Henley deceased and also Extrix of John Culpeper deceased Complaynants agt Captn John Hunt, Deft In humble manner yor Dayly Orator humbly shew to yor Honors that some time before the Decease of the sd Culpeper yor Orator Sarah's former husband One James Larkin of New England came to and agreed wth him for the use. of a Store house and accomodations for Such person as he should Send to look after the management and Sale of what Goods should be Sent by himself and Company after the Rate of Five and Twenty Shillings per Month and in pursuance of the sd Agreement the Sd Larkin and Company did send a Store ot Goods and one Thomas Chancy to Manage the Same who continued wth the said Store att yor said Orators Sarahs husband Culpeper house about the Space of Eighteen Months for which there became due the Sum of Twenty two pounds Ten Shillings. And yor Orator further humbly sheweth that after the Decease of her said Husband Culpeper She Entermaried with the Said Patrick Henley who was advised to take out Letters of Administration of the sd Clancy's Estate and upon obteyning of which William Duckenfield Esqr brought his Sute in the Honoble the Generall Cort agt yor Orators sd Husband & yor Orator for Twelve pounds as Administrator of the Estate of Clancys and Recovered the Same with Costs and the said Duckenfield has Since to witt the Last Generall Cort revived his sd Judgment by a Writt of Scire facias and yor Orators aie dayly in Danger of an Execution to be taken out against them for the Same
Now Soe is it may it please yor Honrs that Captn John Hunt by Virtue of a power from the sd Larkin or some other of the Company then living obteyned a Judgmt agt yor Orators sd Husband Henley and herself for all what Estate was in their possession by virtue of the Administration aforesaid and tooke the same out of their Hands as by the Records of the Honoble Generall Cort may appear May it therefore please yor Honors (yor Dayly Orators haveing noe Remedy by the Strict Rules of the Comon Law) to take the premises into yor Grave and Serious Considerations and to Grant unto them the Lords proprietors Writt of Subpa to the Said John Hunt Directed thereby comanding him att a Daye certaine and Under a Certaine penalty to appear before yor Honors and then and there Declare upon his Oath what Estate of the Sd Larkins and Company he has yett remaining in his hands and that soe much of the Same may be decreed to your Orators as will Satisfy the aforesaid Judgmt of Twelve pounds with Costs aforesaid and the Storage and accomodations aforesaid and that yor Orators m ly be further releived in the premises according to yor Honors Wonted Equity Justice and Good Conscience. And as in duty Bound they shall pra} r &c."
The above paper is without date, but as Matthew Pritchard married, about 1696 or 1697, Mrs. Sarah Henley widow of Patrick Henley, it was written shortly after this marriage. Mrs. Sarah Henley has a very large number of descendants among the "Friends. - " We have published it not only as a record of the Court of Chancery, but also that they may have the benefit of the Genealogy contained in it. — Editor.
