CrystalCChapman
Jan 11, 2019
Okay, I've had some time to look this up. This is the transcription of the Subpoena for the missing heirs to appear. It was filed in Warren County, Kentucky in February of 1821 (Not 1824 as my bad memory attested--sorry!).
To the honorable, the judge of the Warren Circuit Court in Chancery setting: Justly complaining your orators, David Chapman and John Chapman, respectfully represent to your honor that their ancestor Thomas Chapman departed this life sometime about the ___ day of ___ intestate and left as his heirs at law your orators and George and Thomas Chapman who were his sons born in lawful wedlock. That he also left as heirs the following grandchildren in lawful descendants of other sons of said Ancestor who had departed this life before this said Ancestor, to wit: George, Betsy, Patsy and Hanna Chapman, infant heirs of Abner Chapman, dec”d. Narcissus, Washington and Jefferson Chapman, infant heirs of Absolom Chapman, dec’d. Mariah, George, Mahaley, Nancy and Susan Chapman, infant heirs of Jesse Chapman, dec’d which said Abner, Absolom and Jesse were the sons of said Thomas, dec’d as above stated.
Your orator also states to your honor the said George Chapman, Thomas Chapman and said heirs of Absolom Chapman are non-residents of this commonwealth. Your orators further represent to your Honor that said Ancestor Thomas Chapman, deceased, was at the time of his death possessed___in fee simple of his own right the following tracts of land situated lying and being in Warren County and Commonwealth of Kentucky and within the jurisdiction of your Honorable Court to wit two tracts each for two hundred acres, two other tracts each for 95 acres, one ___ for five acres the patents for which said land are herewith filed and referred to for greater certainty another ___deeded to said Ancestor by Absolom Chapman in his lifetime for 318—two hundred of which said last mentioned tract said Ancestor in his lifetime sold and conveyed to one Joseph B. Lapsley, leaving 118 acres remaining of said last mentioned tract of land, and also one other tract of land of 453 acres divided by your orator David to said Ancestor in his lifetime for which said two last men obtained tracts of land copies of said Deeds are herewith filed and referrd to for greater certainty. All which land is of considerable value and is mostly without improvement as _____by any person your orators as heirs of said Thomas Chapman, dec’d are respectively entitled each to one seventh part of said land and are desirous to use, occupy and enjoy the same and are unable to derive the benefit and use that they are entitled to in said premises and sell and dispose of the same to their sole benefit unless they can have a division and allotment thereof according to equity and justice and from the infancy of many of the co-heirs and the non-residence of others that division cannot be made by ___amicably as it overwise would be.
To the end therefore that Justice may be done your orators in the premises may said George and Thomas Chapman and the infant heirs of Abner Chapman, the infant heirs of Absolom Chapman and the infant heirs of Jesse Chapman all be made defendants to this bill and may your Honor grant your orators the Commonwealth this writ of subpoena directed and commanded ___and on the final hearing hereof may your Honor decree and award that the above tracts of land shall be equally divided according to the law of ___between said Heirs of said Thomas Chapman, deceased, and that your orators shall each and respectively have his share attached to him in ____and that said Heirs shall respectively execute deeds of release the one to the other and may your Honor decree and award to your orator all such other and further relief as to equity and Justice shall belong and your orators in duty bound will ever pray be.
