Kent County, Maryland
Chancery Papers
Transcribed and Contributed by Cynthia Lawson: celawson@hotmail.com
Kent County, Maryland 1836
12149
Woodall, James, Catherine vs.
Lemuel, Henry, Fredus, Julia A., Rosetta, Emeline, Ira, Matilda, Joshua, Lawrence J., George R., Millicent & Edward Vansant. Fredus Meakins & Mary udr., John Hurlock & Elizabeth udr., Juletta, James & Ira Clark, Benjamin Cox & Frances udr., Jas. W. Price & Sarah uxr., George Vansants Estate
Kent Co. 1836
Bill, Answers, Dea??, Bond, Trustees Report, Auditors Report
George Vickers, Trustee
Not recorded
Cornwhitte?
Free Gift
To the Honourable Theodorick Bland Chancellor of Maryland
The Bill of Complaint of James Woodall and Catherine Woodall his wife of Queen Ann’s County in the said State humbly sheweth, that a certain George Vansant of Kent County deceased, the elder was in his lifetime seized and possessed in fee of a Farm and Plantation lying and being in Kent County aforesaid, called “Free Gift” containing one hundred and forty nine acres more or less.
That he departed this life intestate prior to the year Eighteen hundred and twenty leaving the following children and heirs at law who were seized of the same, viz, Garrett, Lemuel, Ephraim, Elizabeth, John, Ira, George, Mary, Fredus and Henry; that the said Ephraim died about the year 1824 having first duly made and executed his last Will and Testament by which after devising sundry personal estate to different persons he devised all of the residue of his estate to be equally divided between his brothers George and Lemuel aforesaid; that the said Ira died intestate before the said Ephraim and without issue; that the said Garrett Vansant is also since deceased and intestate, leaving four children and heirs at law, viz, Frances who has intermarried with a certain Benjamin Cox, Sarah who has intermarried with James W. Price, and Millicent and Edward Vansant, minors under the age of twenty one years, that the said Mary Vansant intermarried with a certain Fredus , that the said John R. Vansant departed this life intestate in the year 1832 or 1833 leaving the following children his heirs at law, and all under the age of twenty one years; viz, Fredus Vansant, Julia Ann Vansant, Rosetta Vansant, Emeline Vansant, Ira Vansant, Matilda Vansant, and Joshua Vansant; that the said Elizabeth Vansant the daughter of George Vansant the elder, intermarried with a certain William Clark, who is since deceased intestate as to the said real estate, leaving the following children and heirs at law, to wit, William H. Clark, who is since deceased intestate and without issue (leaving his brothers and sisters herein named his heirs at law) Catherine Woodall the wife of James Woodall your orator, Elizabeth now Elizabeth the wife of John Hurlock, Julitta Clark, James Clark, and Ira Clark, the last three infants and under the age of twenty one years; that the said George Vansant the son of George Vansant aforesaid is also since deceased intestate, leaving the three following children and heirs at law, to wit, Lawrence S. Vansant, George R. Vansant and Tammisina Melvina Vansant, all infants under the age of twenty one years and which said Tammisina Melvina Vansant is also since deceased intestate and without issue leaving the said Lawrence S. Vansant and George R. Vansant her heirs at law;
Your orator and oratrix further represent that they have heard that the said Lemuel Vansant purchased the interest of the said Garrett his brother in the said land and afterward sold all his interest and the interest said to have been purchased to the said Henry Vansant and that the said Fredus Meakins and wife sold their interest in the said land to the said Henry Vansant, but your orator and oratrix know nothing of these facts and they can find no deed for such supposed sales on record in Kent County and that all the persons entitled to the said land are seized thereof.
Your orator and oratrix further state that the said land is incapable of division so to be of advantage to the parties nor can the same be sold or divided on account of the minority of many of the persons entitled and who are under the age of twenty one years, and your Orator and Oratrix are remediless in the premises except by the aid and interposition of this Court; To the end therefore, that the said Lemuel Vansant, Fredus Meakins and Mary his wife, Henry Vansant, Fredus Vansant, Julia Ann Vansant, Rosetta Vansant, Emeline Vansant, Ira Vansant, Matilda Vansant, Joshua Vansant, John Hurlock and Elizabeth his wife, Julitta Clark, James Clark, Ira Clark, Lawrence S. Vansant, George R. Vansant, Benjamin Cox and Frances his wife, James W. Price and Sarah his wife, and Millicent and Edward Vansant to answer the premises, May it please you Honor to grant to your Orator and Oratrix the State of Maryland’s Writ of Subpoena, commanding the said Lemuel Vansant, Fredus Meakins and Mary his wife, Henry Vansant, Fredus Vansant, Julia Ann Vansant, Rosetta Vansant, Emeline Vansant, Ira Vansant, Matilda Vansant & Joshua Vansant, of Kent County, & John Hurlock and Elizabeth his wife, Julitta Clark of Queen Ann’s County, and James Clark, Ira Clark, Lawrence L. Vansant, George R. Vansant, Benjamin Cox and Frances his wife, of Kent County, James W. Price and Sarah his wife, of Queen Ann’s County and Millicent Vansant and Edward Vansant of Kent County, to appear and answer the premises and that your orator and oratrix may have a decree for the sale or division of the said land and such other and further relief as the nature of their case and equity and good conscience require, ??, and they will ever pray ??.
George Vickers, Solicitor for Complainants.
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George was married to Sarah Merritt and he was the son of Ephraim Vansant and Elizabeth Hall.
George Vansant, the elder owned 149 acres in Kent County, Maryland: the plantation was known as “Free Gift.” From the chancery papers his ten children, their spouses, and his grandchildren included: