In Chancery: Haliday v. adm. of George H. Cockrell

Alexandria Gazette
6 July 1859

IN PRINCE WILLIAM CIRCUIT COURT, May 10th, 1859, James F. Haliday, plaintiff, against Samuel Cockrell, William G. Brawner, adm'r. of George H. Cockrell, dec'd., Sarah Ann Cockrell, William C. Harvey and Catharine his wife, Samuel D. Cockrell, George H. Cockrell, William Cockrell, Elizabeth Cockrell, Charles W. Cockrell, Joseph Cockrell, Sarah Cockrell, and Georgiana Cockrell, the last seven infants by guardian ad litem, defendants -- In Chancery.

The Court doth appoint Milton Fitzhugh, Clerk of t his Court, guardian ad litem of the infant defendants, George H., William, Elizabeth, Charles W., Joseph, Sarah, and Georgiana Cockrell; and thereupon the said infants, by their said guardian ad litem, filed their answer, and the plaintiff having proceeded in the mode prescribe by law against the absent defendants, Samuel Cockrell, William C. Harvey and Catharine his wife, George H. Cockrell, and Elizabeth Cockrell, and the bill having been taken for confessed as to the adult home defendants, William G. Branwer, adm'r. of George H. Cockrell, dec'd., Sarah Ann Cockrell, and Samuel D. Cockrell, upon whom process has been regularly served, and the cause set for hearing, this cause came on to be heard upon the bill and exhibits, and was argued by counsel; on consideration whereof the Court doth adjudge, order, and decree, that one of the Commissioners of the Court do state, settle, and adjust the account of William G. Brawner, adm'r., of George H. Cockrell, dec'd.; that he take an account of the debts due by the intestate George H. Cockrell; tha the take an account of all real estate of which said intestate died seized or entitled to; and that he inquire into and ascertain the amount and aggregate value of said real estate; that the Commissioner give notice of the day of his commencing to take the accounts and make the enquiries directed by this decree, by publication of a copy thereof once a week for four successive weeks in the Prince William Democrat, a newspaper published at Brentsville, in this County, or in the Alexandria Gazette, a newspaper published in the town of Alexandria, Virginia, pursuant to the set of Assembly, in such case made and proved; and said Commissioner will report his action under this decree to the Court, with any matter specially stated he may deem pertinent, or any party may require to be so stated.

A copy -- Teste:  M. FITZHUGH, Clerk


[Publication of chancery cases can offer up a wealth of information. Take the above case, which specifies "William C. Harvey and Catharine his wife" and also names the "infant defendants, George H., William, Elizabeth, Charles W., Joseph, Sarah, and Georgiana Cockrell."  ~cgl]

Wedding Wednesday: Returned to Her Home

Alexandria Gazette
April 21, 1896

RETURNED TO HER HOME

Mrs. Millard Ryan, alleged about ten days ago to have eloped from Washington with a boarder named Harvey, returned to her home in that city Sunday morning.  She did not return a penitent woman, as was generally supposed she would be, but an indignant and much-injured woman.  She states with much emp[h]asis that she had been at her mother's residence in Prince William county, Va.  Her mother, she says, will be in Washington and will corroborate her statement.  Mrs. Ryan says the night she left home she went to the Pennsylvania depot and purchased a ticket for Quantico, Va.  She left on the 8:30 train.  At Quantico she found that her mother had moved, and went to the house of a friend to learn where she had gone.  She was directed to her present home, and had been there ever since.  With reference to the disappearance of Mr. Harvey, she positively denied any knowledge of him or his whereabouts.  The suddenness of her disappearance was explained by the constant turmoil in the household and the sickness of her mother in Virginia.  Mrs. Ryan declares her innocence, and will abide by the decision of her husband.  If he refuses support she intends to go to her uncle in Leesburg.  Mrs. Ryan says he fully believes in the innocence of his wife, and declares they will overlook the recent unpleasant incident and try to live in peace and happiness.