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John Parrott: John Parrott (1756 Northumberland Co., Virginia - 1840 Green Co., Kentucky) was the second eldest son of William Parrott of Northumberland county, Virginia. He was born in 1756, fought in the Revolutionary War, owned a mill in Northumberland county, and finally went to Kentucky where he died in 1840. John was embroiled in some lawsuits, and these provide biographical details that would otherwise have gone undocumented. Today, these lawsuits help clarify family relationships, and give insight into family life and values of the period. Transcripts for some of his lawsuits will be posted here as they become available.
Spencer Currell v John Parrott, July 1789
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Transription by Jeanne Ashcraft, Ashcraft Historical Transcription, April 2015. The original spacing in the trancscript has been removed for easier web display. The suit was in Lancaster Co. John's wife was from Lancaster county, which is adjacent to Northumberland. 1790 - 004 CHANCERY: SPENCER CURRELL, THOMAS LEE, RICHARD LEE VS. JOHN PARROTT
Spencer Currell vs John Parrott 1789. July. Injunction filed send a copy to Mr. Heath 1790 Jan.y Contd Feb.y Contd April. Cont.d for Argument File next Court May. Injunct. argued and Indj. Injoined
except for 16/ [shillings] wch is
Decreed to Deft. each party to pay their own Costs To the Worshipfull
the Justices of Lancaster County sitting in Chancery humbly complaining sheweth unto yr worships yr orator
Spencer Currell that your orator some
time in the year 1784 hired of a certain John Parrott a negro slave for the terms of one year for which yr
otr agreed to pay the consideration of
three pounds, and accordingly gave his note of hand for the payment of the
money that yr ortr at the expiration of the year when his aforesd note was upon demand was presented with
certain orders drawn by the said John
Parrott upon yr ortr in favour of a
certain Thos Lee, and Richd Lee
to the amount of what yr ortr
was at that time indebted to him
the sd Parrott ^ that yr ortr knowing himself to be indebted to the said
Parrott did immediately accept
the sd orders and did afterwards pay the
amount of them to the said drawees as will appear by
their receipts hereunto annexed and which yr ortr
prays may be considered as part of
this his bill - But now so it is may it
please yr worships that the said John Parrott combining and confederating to and with divers other
persons at present unknown to ^ yr ortr
injure & oppress yr ortr hath commenced an action at Law against yr
ortr upon the aforesd
note and recovered Judgt thereon for the whole amount notwithstanding
the aforesd orders, All which actings & doings are contrary to equity and good
Conscience In tender consideration whereof and for as much as yr ortr is remediless in the premises by the strict
rules of ye common Law and is only relievable in a court of equity
may it please your worships to grant unto yr ortr
ye commonwealths most
gracious writ of Suppit and Injunct I shall pray [rotated view] Parrott Answer ads In Chancery Currell 1790. April, answer file Heath pro Def. Currell vs Parrott copy for Mr.
Heath To be answered on Thursday - To the Worshipfull the Justices of Lancaster County sitting in Chancery Humbly complaining sheweth unto your Worships yr orator Spencer Currell that your orator some time in the year 1784 hired of a certain John Parrott a Negroe Slave for the terms of one year for which yr orator agreed to pay the consideration of three Pounds and accordingly gave his Note of hand for the payment of the Money that your orator at the expiration of the year when his aforesd
note was upon demand was presented with certain orders drawn by the said John Parrott upon your orator in favour of acertain Thomas Lee, and Richard Lee, to the amount of what yr orator was at that
time indebted to him the said Parrott ^ that yr orator knowing himself to be indebted to the sd Mr. Parrott did immediately accept the said orders and did afterwards pay the amount of them to the said drawee's as will appear by their Receipts hereunto annexed and which your orator prays may be considered as part of this his Bill. But now so it is may it please your Worships that the said John Parrott Combining and confederating to and with divers other persons at present unknown to yr orator injure and oppress yr orator hath commenced an action at Law against yr orator upon the aforesaid Note and Recovered Judgmt
thereon for the whole amount notwithstanding the aforesaid orders All which actings and doings are contrary to Equity and good conscience In tender Consideration whereof and for as much as yr orator is Rimedilessin the premises by the strict Rules of the Common Law and is only Relievable in a court of Equity may it please your Worships to grant unto yr
orator the Commonwealths most gracious writ of Suppit
and Injunct and shall pray - - - 1735 Amt Received by on or from John Parrott on Spencer two Barrels of Corn and 18 / Shillings which
was money due the said Parrott from
the said Currell
for the hire of a Negroe- I say Recd by me William Doggett 1735 October. Received by on or from John Parrott on Spencer Currell two Dollars which was money due the said Parrott from the said Currellfor Negroe hire - I say Received by me William Doggett Spencer
Currell Junr Copy Testi James Gordon, C.L.C. The Answer of John Parrott to the Bill of Compnt on Him in the Worshipful Court of Lancaster by Spencer Currell Complainnt - This Def.t saving & reserving to Himself all & all manner of advantages of Exception to the many Untruths, incertainties and etc in ye Compnts Bill of Complaint contained - for answer thereto, or to so much as this Def.t is advised is material to answer, answereth of faith -that He admits - that the sd Compnt in ye year 1784 - hire a Negro Slave Wench of ye sd Respondent, for ye sum of three pounds for wh ye sd Compnt gave his Note of Hand -But this Def.t denies that the receipts as annexed to ye sd Compnt Bill, of Mr. Richard & Thomas Lee were wholly to be applied as payment or discounts to ye sd Note of Hand - The two Barrells of corn in the first receipt this Def.t charges was a Balle of Corn due for Negro Hire the perceding [preceding] year of 1783 - & only ye 18/ [shillings] to be applied as credit to the Note - for ye sd Complaint was not modest & fair enough to acknowledge that He had hired a Negro of this Def.t two years successively - the one year for ten barrells of Corn & the latter for the three pound note - upon wh ye Def. obtained his Judgnt as the Compt says at [?] - the Receipt of Mr. Thos Lee for two Dollars - this Def.t charges, had no connection with the Note of Hand - it being a consideration allowed by ye Compnt for ye Cloathing of ye Negro - as this Def.t will sufficiently prove by a letter of ye Compnt hereto annexed -wh this Def.t prays together with his acct properly & fairly stated may be deemed a part of this Responnts Answer - this Def.t confesses as He was about to remove from Lancaster in the fall of 1784 - to London - He oferrd with yr Currell to allow Him ten shillings for ye time the wench was to stay which was accepted & oferrd upon by the sd Compnt wh credited on the note together wth ye sum of 18/ [shillings] pd to Richd Lee leaves a Balle in favour of this Defnt of one pound twelve shillings due this Defnt. Without that there is any other matter or thing not sufficiently answereth, [-red] or denied - and etc. This Defnt therefore prays that the Bill of ye Compnt may be [ ? ] & that He may be suffered to proceed at [ ? ] with his examination & [ ? ] duty bound & Mercy and shall pray North County [Jurisdiction] John Parrott yr Defnt named in ye above answer came this Day before me, one of the Commonwealth Justices of the Peace for ye County aforesd & solemnly made Oath to the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God to the truth of the allegations contained herein, as far as his own knowledge whatsoever - He has [ ? ] on this information or Knowledge of Others He verily believes to be true - Sworn under My Hand this 27th day of March 1790 Hon. H. Fallin 1783 Mr. Spencer Currell to Jn. Parrott, Dt Do
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Cr By Corn at Sundry times Due /////// 7 ///////////// 1 ///////////////1 1784 By Corn Redd towards Discharging///////////////// 2//////3//////3 The above 9/ which [Followed barrell//////3//////3 This balance of 2 Barrells of Corn Mr. Currell agreed to pay on Recd [ ? ] on my acct for the first years hire Jn. ParrottTo Mr. John
Parrott for [pmt ?] of Mr. Lawson
[Lawrence] Hathaway [rotated view] 1784. Spencer Currell To Jn. Parrott Dt To yr Note of Hand for the hire of The same negro a Secd year //////////£3 Three pounds for Clothing Do /////////////////////////// Cr By an Order on [] I Thos Carter to Mr. Lee//////////////////18 By Cash Allowed ////////////////////1 .///8 for the time the Negro had to stay////////////10 Ball Due on note///////////////////P [pound] 1 . 12 [shillings] By Cash Rec. of Mr. Thos Lee for the Clothing///////////// 12/ [?] Mr. Parrott am Fifty four yeares ever since last August and never was unjustly used nor mistreated by know man then what you have used me for to your note of hand to Mr. Heath you had from me for the hire of your Negro and order him to bring suite against me when you very well know and knew there was not one Shilling due the note of hand for only for three pounds and [to] Richard Lee fortey eight Shillings by an order from you [nine shillings] you [ ? ] at my ten Shillings you allowd, the time the Negro had to stay for the mo which was from - Octr, till Christmas two dollars I sent you by Mr Thos Lee which was to buy the ballance off [of] the Negroe's Clot. [Clothes] [cost] the hole [whole] up and you will find a ballance due of eleven Shillings and for you to give the note of hand to Heath with only a trifel [trifle] of rect appeares to me to be a [ ? ] fare price [] I had [received] from from Thomas Lees but had not any witness to them and [every] one of them at Court to [prove the rect] Heath took the advantage and if I was not [] over to to stop the sale of my good by Mr. Hathaway as [hoped] for money I will sue for damage and in the General Court from ye [ H // ] writ. Spenser Currell 29 of Oct.r 1787 [ ? ] if you not stop that [this] Execution I will [serve?] you as [ ? ] [servd d], [Colls ?] ] [Conway ?] Spencer Currell To John Parrott[?] To the hire of negro Wench Ten Barrells corn///////////////////10 //////////////Dt
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Cr 1784/////////By Corn Recd at Sundry times amount.g to ////////// 7..1..1 //////////////By Corn Recd in part 9/ [shillings]//////////..3..3 ////////////////3..3 Due 2 BarrlsCorn This balc of Two Barrells Corn Mr. Currell agreed to pay me for in cash at the rate of 25/ [shillings] Barrel as the Corn was sellg at that price in Sept. of the Same year If he cou'd not let me have the corn when I wanted it, but after waiting till new corn was gathered he then flue from his word and insisted to pay the corn, & rather than have any more Dispute with him about it I agreed to take the corn which he was to pay Mr. Lee on my acct. This was in Discharge of the first year hire & in no way Relating to the Secd years hire which I have his note of hire for as he has Sworn to in his Bill- 1784 Mr. Spencer Currell To Jn Parrott Dfn To the hire of Negro three pounds///////£3 Clothing & tax /////////////Dt////////////////////Cr By an Order on Capt. Thos Carter To Mr. Ricd Lee ////////////////////////////////18s By Cash allowd for the time/////////////// ///////8/////// Which is the sum to the best of my knowledge I Desired Mr. Heath to bring Suit for & as to the 12/ [shillings] which he has Sworn to in his bill he paid to Mr. Thos Lee you'll find was to Satisfie me for the balance of Clothes he was to give the Negro as you'll Observe by his Own letter he wrote me Jn. Parrott 1785 Octobr Rec,d by on or from John Parrott on Spencer Currell Two dollars which was money due the said Parrott from the said Currell for Negroe hire I say Recd by me William Doggett 1785 I amt Recd by on or from John Parrott on Spencer Currell two barrells of corn and 18/ shillings which was money due the said Parrott from the said Currell for the hire of a Negroe I say recd by me William Doggett////////////////Richard Lee Spender
Currell Jur white space
Benjamin Linton v John Parrott, Aug 1805 to Jun 1823
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This case was filed in August 1805 when Peggy Parrott's husband, Benjamin Linton, sued her father, John Parrott, to recover the income generated by a slave Peggy had inherited from her grandfather, Thomas Yerby, but which John had rented out since her death. Peggy was named specifically in Thomas Yerby's will. Her father was John Parrott and her mother was Frances Yerby Peede. Frances had two children with John Parrott, one died young and the other was Peggy (aka Margaret). Frances Yerby died in June 1795, and Peggy married Benjamin Linton on the "13th or 14th February 1802. The case finally ended in June of 1823, when the plaintiff was awarded the court costs, but did not recover the lost income. A copy of Thomas Yerby's will is also included in this case file. Transription by Peggy Parrott Feige & Wayne Parrott 1823 -01.......................................................Peggy...........John Image Source: Continental Gazette, http://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/full_case_detail.asp?CFN=109-1823-021#img white space No reply ^ Ex'd 2nd Summons Front page Augt 1805
contd for ________ Front page reverse 25 Page 1 Page 2 Page 2 reverse Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 5 reverse Benjamin Linton, admin.....| Plff .............On the mention of the Plaintiff by
his Counsel, this cause is referred to the Master Commissioner,
and it is ordered that the Defendant,
when thereto required, do appear before the said
Commissioner, and on Oath render an Account of
the hire of the negroes Mark & Darky in the Bill
mentioned, from the period of the death of his wife,
until they came into the possession of the Plff,
And the said Commissioner is directed, to examine,
state and report to the Court, an account
rendered by the said Deft, or such evidence
as may be produced before him, together with
any special matter thought pertinent by
himself, or which either party may require. .............A Copy Page 6 Benjamin Linton Admr of Page 6 reverse 1796 To Hire of Ditto for this year.....................68:34 Imployed 5 hours at 75 cts pr hour / 3.75 Page 7 1796.....To the hire of Negro Mark.....£:15 ............Peggy T. Parrott to John Parrott Dt 1795 June to boarding Clothing and.....} Page 7 reverse Page 8 Page 9 Page 9 reverse Page 10
Page 11 reverse Page 12 This cause came on to be heard this
13th of June 1823 upon the bill, answer
examinations of witnesses, exhibits & the
report of Master Commissioner Lawrence
made in pursuance of the __________ order
of this court : Whereupon the court being
of opinion that in the event which happened
of the death of one of the two children
of Frances Parrot by John Parrot, intestate
& without issue the plaintiff in right of his
wife is entitled to the whole property
in Mark, rejecting as much of the commissioner's
report as allows hire for the
year in which Frances Parrot died,
as allows interest on the hires of Mark,
before the date of the commr's report.
doth adjudge order & decree that the pltff
recover of the deft the sum of £106 : 4 s : 10 d.
____ the costs of this suit. Page 13 Page 14 reverse Page 15 Jno: Hunter----------Ch--------Ch-----------Ch---------------------------A. Cowherd white space Cover folder column 1 ======= ======== Column 2 March ct Column 3 June Ct, 1816, Refered white space
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Transription by Peggy Parrott Feige & Wayne Parrott In this case filed in Nov. 1810, the tables are turned, and John Parrott sues his sson-in-law, Benjamin Linton. John considered himself to be his dead child's heir, and thus entitled to the proporty the child had inherited from its grandfather, Thomas Yerby. Instead, his surviving daughter and her husband ended up with the property, and after the daughter's death, John wanted the property back. That John Parrott and Frances Yerby Parrott were the parents of Peggy Parrott Linton is confirmed, as is Peggy's marriage to Benjamin Linton in 1802 and Frances Yerby Parrott's death in 1795. It specifies that the other child of John Parrott and Frances Yerby died Sept 1793. The case was dismissed by John in July 1927, almost 17 years after he filed it. 1827 - 026, Louisa County - Chancery Causes: John Parrott vs Benjamin Linton To the Court of Louisa in Chancery sitting humbly
complaining therewith to the court your Orator John Parrott.
That Thomas Yerby by his last will and testament
duly admitted to record and herewith filed to which
reference is mayed for greater certainty among other bequest
grant to Frances Parrott (the former wife of your Orator)
two neroes viz Mark & Darky during her life and
after her death to be equally divided between her
children by your Orator. Under this devise or bequest
your Orator took possession of these negros. Your Orator further and after keeping some time sold him and he
then hoped (hopped) from person to person until in March first
or thereabouts he made his way into the house of
a certain Zachariah Herndon who altho agreed
to deliver him up still retaining possession of
the same. Also he well knows that your Orator
is entitled to half of the said negro and his profits
To the end therefore that justice may be done
in the promises let the said Linton & Herndon be Page 2 Page 4 This respondent saving to himself all benefit
of exception to the many errors, insufficiencies
etc in the Complt's bill, for answer to the material parts thereof saith that some time in the
year 1809, this respondent purchased of a certain
John ______ & John Herndon for valuable consideration a negro man named Mark, whom
they as your respondent is informed, had purchased of a certain Benjamin Linton; but whether
he is the same negro mentioned by that name
in the will of Thomas Yerby, your respondent
knows nothing : As to the complete title to the
slave mentioned in the bill, he knows nothing
except what is devised from the construction
of the will in said bill referred to from which
your respondent is advised, it results that
the Complt can neither recover the negro, nor
his profits : this however is submitted to the
Court : your respondent is farther advised that
the Complt's remedy if any is not law ^. He
denies all fraud & prays to be hence dis-
missed with his costs. ^Your respondent is also advised that the Complt's
remedy if any is barred by the act of Limitations
which he now pleads in case of his recovering more
than five years having elapsed from the Complt's own
showing since he lost possession & the slave having
been all that time either in Albemarle or Orange Page 5 Page 6 For not answering a bill in Cover Folder cover
June 1812 set for trial June Ct 1813 1819 August Ct cond 1826 July Court Order 1827 July Court | |||||||||
