I tried to post this information on your comment wall but it would post right so I posted it here.
Wayne N. Parker
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/bedford/courts/parker2.txt
Parker Petition to be Declared Legal Heirs to James Orrey, 1822 - Bedford Co. VA LEGISLATIVE PETITION Dec. 11, 1822 To the Hon. Speaker of the house of Delegates and Senate of Virginia Your Petiononers Moses Parker, Jas Parker, John Parker & Sally Ramsey humbly represents that a certain James Orrey , or Orry ( a native of Great Britain) but a resident of the state of Virginia previous to 1776 and a soldier of the Revolution that in the year 1787 duly surveyed & patented (see Patent) a tract of land containing 206 acres on the side of the Blue-ridge in the County of Bedford on which he erected cabbins in which he resided until his demise in 1798, that many years previous to his death he steeled your petitioners Moses, Jas Parker and Nancy Parker since dead the mother of your petitioners John Parker and Sally Ramsey then children and whom he always acknowledged and recognised as his natural children & heirs; with their mother on the aforsaid land that they untill the death of the said Orrey were entirely under the control and Guardianship of this reputed father ( Jas Orrey ) and actually in his latter days supported him by their labour. That a short time previous to his death he willed the said land to your petitioners Moses & Jas Parker & Nancy Parker since dead who left as heirs your petitioners John Parker & Sally Ramsey and to Aaron Parker who died a few years after the said Orrey without any heirs, leaving the said will in the hands of Christopher Sutton that thru the carelessness of said Sutton was never put to record and the said Sutton dying a few years after the said Orrey and your petitioners being destitute of any education or advices and living retired from any society near the summit of the Blue-ridge on the aforsaid land and not doubting their title and believing the said will had regular been proven and put to record and continued to reside on the same, paying the taxes ( as may be seen by reference to the receipts accompanying this petition Your petitioners have latterly been informed by the Excheater of this county that an inquest had been holden at the Court house of their county and the land duly excheated. Your petitioners therefore pray that an act of your honorable body may be passed releasing to your petitioners the Commonwealths right to said tract of land your petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray Moses Parker Jas Parker John Parker Sally Ramsey ***** Mary Welsh Affidavit The affidavit of Mary Welsh of lawfull age being first sworn saith that upwards of Twenty years ago and a short time previous to his death that Jas Orrey made a will which he deposited in the hands of Christopher Sutton for safe keeping willing a certain tract of land lying in the County of Bedford of 206 acres to Moses, James, Aron & Nancy Parker (since dead) that your affiant was a subscribing witness therto and that she believes that it was owing to said Sutton's carelessness that the same was not put to record and that affiant further sayth that. That the said Jas Orrey always recognized said Moses, Jas, Aaron & Nancy as his natural children that they obeyed him as such living withing him and aiding to support him in his old days, that he settled apart of them on said land , that Moses Parker aided said Orrey in erecting cabbins have resided many years since on said land and further this affiant saith not. Given under my hand and seal this 27 day of Mar 1822 ***** Affidavid of Thomas Longwood The affidavit of Thomas Logwood taken at the request of Moses Parker after being sworn saith that to best of his recollection he was acquainted with James Orrey about the year 1773 who then was a citizen of this country & continued as such untill his death & further this affiant saith not. Given under my hand this 8 day Apr 1820 Submitted by Ray Parker <raypar@visi.net>
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