On 10 May 1788, Benjamin Belt mortgaged a tract of land and twelve slaves to Barbara Williams to secure a debt of £1600. Since the death of Barbara Williams, her executor, Thomas Williams, has held the mortgage. In 1791, Belt filed for insolvency, and Thomas Duckett was appointed his trustee. The petitioners claim that prior to the act of insolvency, Belt was indebted to them for "large sums of money and Tobacco on judgments, bonds." In addition, Duckett has declared Belt's property insufficient to satisfy all pending claims. Citing that the land, located "near the rising city of Washington," has greatly increased in value, the petitioners are of the opinion that all the debts could be satisfied if said land along with the slaves so mortgaged were to be sold. They therefore pray that "a sale of said Premises by the Trustee" be ordered.
Result: Granted.
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Repository: Maryland State Archives, Annapolis, Maryland
