John B. Minor to Tappahanock Superior Court, 13 January 1844

Charlottesville 13 Jany. 1844.

D Sir

I learn by a letter, just rec'd but in a manner too indefinite to found any actions upon, that a suit is pending in one of the Courts of Essex. I presume the Superior Court, and I take it for granted, in Chancery between Wormeley's ex'ors, and the the heirs of Staige Davis, of Middlesex, in which is involved the title to a tract of land near Urbanna, of which Mr Davis died seised many years ago, and which appears to have been sold by his heirs, or some of them, to a Mr Oakes.

The same letter informed me that Mr Wright, had been employed as counsel for Davis' heirs, but as I can only conjecture that his address is Tappahannock & it is important to have the information I seek without delay, I take the liberty of trespassing upon your Courtesy, so far as to request you to communicate this letter to Mr Wright, if he resides at Tappahannock, or within your reach, and if otherwise, to send me, yourself, a brief statement of what I wish to know.

I am anxious to learn 1. The style of the suit, that is the names of the parties, plaintiff and defendant, and the court where it is pending.

2. When it was instituted, and so far as Davis' heirs are concerned, for what purpose,

3. Whether process has been duly served on the heirs, and the suit revived as to such as are dead &c.

4. Whether answers appear to have been filed by or for any of the heirs, & if for any, for which, and are they in person, or by guardian ad litem.

5. What grounds, generally, do those answers take.

I am thus particular, because none of the heirs, with whom I can now advise, knew, or at least can remember anything, whatsoever of the demand, or the suit, and it seems to them not only unfounded, but strangely stale and antiquated. The late Prof. Davis, who was principally interested, & had facilities not possessed by any of the survivors, may perhaps have been acquainted with the fact of the assertion of the claim and, possibly, adopted measures to repel it.

I do not wish to incur the expense of copies of the papers above referred to, because I do not know, as yet, whether there is an interest to justify it, but whatever reasonable charges shall attend the communication of the intelligence I wish, either on your part, or Mr Wright's, will be immediately remitted.

I owe you an apology for thus obtruding myself, stranger as I am, upon you, but and I know not to whom else to address myself, I hope I shall have your indulgence, and that I shall be favoured by you or Mr Wright, with an early reply.

I am, very respectfully

Your friend & servt.

John B. Minor

Charlottesville VA Jan 15 Paid To the Clerk of the Superior Court Tappahannock Essex Co Va.