LENGTHY MANUSCRIPT COMPLAINT IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF LAW & EQUITY FOR THE DISTRICT OF HILLSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA, 1780. JOHN WILLCOX OF CHATHAM COUNTY NC CHARGES THAT THE MERCHANT FIRM OF JOSEPH & GEORGE ANTHONY MORRIS, OF PHILADELPHIA, TOOK "UNFAIR AND INIQUITOUS ADVANTAGE OF HIM" IN A SERIES OF TRANSACTION.
1780. 7" x 9". [6] pp, containing approximately 28-30 lines of ink manuscript on each page; followed by fourth leaf containing docketing information. The first three leaves are held together at the left edge with archival tape, and mounted to a card of heavier stock such that the pages turn freely and no text is obscured. The fourth leaf is laid down on the verso of the card so that the docketing information is showing. Very Good.
This lengthy complaint records a multi-year dispute between John Willcox [1728-1793], a merchant from Cross Creek [now Fayetteville], North Carolina; and Joseph [1714-1785] and George Anthony Morris [c.1742-1773], a father-son merchant team from Philadelphia. About 1760, John Willcox partnered with Thomas Hadley [1728-1781] in one of the earliest mercantile businesses in Cross Creek. Willcox and Hadley entered into partnership with the Morrises in 1767. Willcox and Hadley ran into financial troubles in the mid-1760s.
In 1769, the Morrises claimed Willcox-Hadley owed them $2005. Soon thereafter the Willcox-Hadley partnership dissolved; Willcox was left with the firm's debts. The Morrises sued Willcox and obtained a judgment. Willcox's estate was sold by the sheriff to Archibald Maclaine [1728-1790], a lawyer and agent for the Morris firm [and a known Loyalist]. The sale was announced in the Cape Fear Mercury for January 31, 1773. By the time Willcox was able to settle the balance of the debt in 1779, interest and fees had swelled it to unmanageable amounts. Willcox thus brought this complaint. [Willcox, George W.: JOHN WILLCOX, 1728-1793, OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA AND CHATHAM COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. Historical Research Co.: 1988.]. Item #31102
Price: $350.00