Substantial early American legal manuscript titled “Statement of the Proceedings of the Court of Chancery of the State of New York relating to the Estate of John Griffiths dec’d”, signed and dated 5 August 1802 by Peter Jay Munro (1767–1833), prominent New York attorney and jurist. Four-page folio manuscript in an elegant clerical hand detailing lengthy Chancery proceedings involving the estates of John Griffiths and Anthony Griffiths, inheritance disputes, executor accounts, land sales, trust investments, and claims involving heirs including Richard Wolfe. The document traces litigation beginning in 1793 and references proceedings before noted New York legal figures including James Kent—later Chancellor of New York and one of the most influential American jurists of the early republic. The manuscript summarizes: the filing of a Chancery bill by Frederick De Diemar and Cornelia his wife, disputes concerning the will and estate administration of John Griffiths, references to executors, real estate proceeds, and trust investments, sales of New York real estate producing over $25,000, investments in 8 percent U.S. stock, and continuing litigation over distribution of inheritance funds. Signed at conclusion by Peter Jay Munro, an important figure in early New York legal history who served as Recorder of New York City and was associated with the development of post-Revolutionary American jurisprudence. An exceptional and historically rich early Republic legal manuscript with strong connections to New York Chancery practice and the formative American legal system. Condition: moderate toning, fold wear, scattered foxing and handling wear consistent with age; manuscript remains highly legible overall. An impressive legal and historical document suitable for advanced collections of early American law and New York history.
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Statement of the Proceedings of the Court of Chancery of the State of New York relating to the Estate of John Griffiths dec’d On the 4th Novr 1793 Frederick De Diemas & Cornelia his wife exhibited their Bill in the Court of Chancery of the State of New York against Joseph Griffiths stating that John Griffiths the Father of the said Cornelia had made a will whereby she had become entitled to one third Part of his Estate. That the Executors named in the said will were dead – that Administration with the will annexed had been granted to the Defendant who had possessed himself of all the said Estate. And praying that he might be compelled to discover the real Estate & to account for the personal Estate which had come to his hands or those of the deceased Executors, and to pay the Complainants their Proportion of the Personal Estate & of the Profits of the real Estate – On the 22d March 1794 the Defendant filed his Answer & thereby admitted all the material Facts stated in the Bill; discovered the said real Estate, set forth an Account; & also set forth a will of Anthony Griffiths a son of the said John Griffiths dec’d whereby the said Anthony directed his Estate to be sold & one third of the Proceeds to be put at Interest by his Executors & the Interest applied to the Maintenance of Richard Wolfe until he should arrive at age after which the whole one third should be paid to him – In the progress of the suit the Chancellor ordered an Account of the Estates to be taken by John Ray one of the Masters of the Court but he dying before he had reported, it was again referred to James Kent another of the Masters; Mr Kent being appointed a Judge, a third Reference was made to Thomas Cooper a Master. While the Cause was in this Situation the Defendant died & the Suit thereby abated. On the 4th April 1797 The Complainants filed their Bill of Revivor against the Representatives of Joseph Griffiths – An Answer to this Bill were put in, in March 1798 & an Order for Revival soon after made – On the 5th March 1798 the Complainants prayed & obtained leave to amend their Bill by striking out the prayer for an Account of the Monies which had come to the hands of the Executors of John Griffiths dec’d Mr Cooper the Master to whom the Cause was last referred reported (among other things) that on the 1st May 1800 there would be due to Richard Wolfe of the personal Estate of John Griffiths his Grandfather (exclusive of a Debt due to that Estate from Thomas Pomeroy of London) $2247.98 But if the Debt from Pomeroy should be recovered then $5315.63 On an Application to the Mayors Court of New York by the Representatives of Joseph Griffiths in pursuance of a Statute of this State for the Division of real Estate among Tenants in Common, the real Estate of the late John Griffiths dec’d was ordered to be sold by Commissioners – The said real Estate was accordingly sold. The Sale was advantageous, & produced the nett sum of $25037.50 part of which was paid in Cash & the Residue secured by Mortgage. Of this sum the Master reported that Richard Wolfe was entitled to $6259.37 The Master also reported that of the Estate of Anthony Griffiths dec’d (exclusive of his share of the Debt from Pomeroy) the Sum of $298.38 was to be placed at Interest for the benefit of Richard Wolfe until he should arrive at the age of twenty one years, when the Principal would be due to him. And that if the Debt from Pomeroy should be recovered then the Sum of $1121.13 was to be placed at Interest for the same purpose – If part only of Pomeroys Money shall be received, then the Wolfes Share of both Estates is to be encreased in proportion. The several Reports of the Master have been confirmed – The Money arising from the Sale of the Real Estate of John Griffiths dec’d was lodged in the Bank of New York but on the 12th May 1801 the Chancellor being unwilling that it should remain unproductive Ordered that so much thereof as belongs to Mr Richard Wolfe should be invested in 8 pr cent Stock of the U. S. in trust for him or his Representatives – This order has been complied with & the Interest when received again invested – There is now held in Trust for Mr Wolfe (according to the Information of the Trustees) $4100 U.S. Stock is at present 9 pr cent above par – The Residue of the Amount due Mr Wolfe is either due on the Mortgage taken to the Commissioners who sold the said real Estate or is yet to be paid by the Representatives of Joseph Griffiths – Mr Wolfes Interest in the Estate of John Griffiths dec’d & in that of Anthony Griffiths dec’d stands as follows – If the Debt from Pomeroy shall be recovered then he will be entitled to 1/4 of the John Griffiths Estate real & personal — 16575.00 1/3 of the Anthony Griffiths Estate — 1121.13 ——— 12696.13 If the debt from Pomeroy shall not be recovered then Mr Wolfes Interest in the said Estates will be as follows 1/4 of the John Griffiths Estate real & personal — 9106.75 1/3 of the Anthony Griffiths Estate — 298.38 ——— 9405.13 In order to settle these Estates as conveniently as possible the Baron De Diemar was empowered to receive the Debt from Pomeroy; but it is stated that before he received this power he had already compounded with Pomeroy & released the Debt on receiving 10/ in the Pound, whereby in the Opinion of the other parties to the suit he has made himself liable for either therefore charge him with the whole debt & & thus a new Contest having arisen no final decree has yet been made. Mr Wolfe will perceive from the proceeding statement that the great Delays have occurred in the prosecution of this Cause, they have arisen either from inevitable accidents or from the Inattention of the Parties & are nowise chargeable to the Court – Altho Mr Wolfe was not a party to the Cause & had no Representative in the Country his Interests have been fully attended to & preserved — A Petition will be presented to the Court at the next Term to obtain a transfer of the beforementioned Stock to Mr Wolfe & proceedings will be instituted to recover for him the rest of the Monies to which he has a just claim — 5 August 1802 — Peter Jay Munro — Docket Notation In the Case of R. J. Wolfe Statement
