To the Worshipful the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Kent upon Delaware. The Petition of John Galloway acting Executor of the Testament and last Will of Thomas Ringgold the Younger late of Kent County Maryland Esquire – Humbly sheweth.

That Thomas Ringgold the Elder late of Kent County Maryland Esqr. Deceased did in his Lifetime to wit on the 21st day of September 1771 bargain and sell to a certain Benedict Brice all the Lands of the said Thomas situate on the Branches of Choptank River which he bought of Joseph Cowman, Jesse Doyne (by Assignment of Thomas Browning, James Broadway Henry Wells Francis Kain William Wheeler James Russell Elijah Mouncey Wheelor Meredith and his Wife Daniel Rash and his Wife and Samuel Harwood containing by estimation in the whole three thousand one hundred and Ninety two Acres and all contiguous with all the Stock Plantation Utensils Provisions Horses and other Improvements thereon and also 4 Negroes to Wit Michael Jim Beach, Jim Powell and Sam for the Consideration of Six Thousand Two hundred and fifty pounds current Money of Maryland estimating Dollars at Seven & six pence each acres the said Thomas on the day and year aforesaid did enter into a Bond of the Penalty of Twelve Thousand five Hundred Pounds to the said Benedict conditioned that the said Thomas or his Heirs should or would at any time after the said Money should be paid as in the said Bond mentioned at the request of the said Benedict Brice his Heirs or Assigns convey the Lands aforesaid to the said Benedict his Heirs or Assigns as by the said Bond to the Court herewith shown more fully appears – That afterwards the said Thomas Ringgold the elder departed this Life without executing such Conveyance having by his last Will and Testament constituted and appointed his only Son and Heir the said Thomas Ringgold the younger his sole Executor which said Thomas Ringgold the younger afterwards departed this Life without executing such Conveyance having first made his last Will & Testament & thereof constituted and appointed Michael Earle William Hemsley Joseph Earle Richard Tilghman 4th and your Petitioner his Executors all of whom your Petitioner excepted have in due form of Law renounced the said Executorship and your Petr. hath taken upon himself the Burthen of the Execution of the said Testaments all of which by authentic documents shown to the Court legally appears – That the consideration money aforesaid has been all paid by the said Benedict Boice and no Conveyance executed by your Petitioner for the said Lands. Now the Prayer of your Petitioner is that according to the Laws of this State in such Case made and provided your Worships make an Order that your Petitioner convey to the said Benedict Brice the Lands aforesaid according to the said Bond executed by the said Thomas Ringgold the elder the said Benedict now requesting such Conveyance be made the said Bond having been first duly proved and recorded as the Law directs.

And your Petitioner as in Duty bound &c John Galloway

Dover. August 11th. 1778

Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Kent County, Roll: 784, Image 95, Book W, Vol 1, page 131. Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61025/images/31303_221871-00094?pId=2432801

Transcribed 19 Nov 2024 by Nancy Maliwesky