ITEM NO. 97
	
NAME                          PLACE                              OCCUPATION                            DATES
Ralph Stonier               of Congleton CHS              Brazier (craftsman)                 1671 – 1722

There follows 13 lines of legal Latin of 1722, with many elisions and shorthand signs for commonly used constructions, 
which I cannot read. It does, however, name Thomas Rooke, yeoman, and one Francisco.

Text is in early 18th century secretary hand, with many elisions and shorthand signs for commonly used constructions. 
It appears to be a Court of Chester document, on the occasion of the death of Ralph Stonier who died apparently 
intestate. His Administrator was his neice, Jane Stonier, who might have inherited if she administered the goods and 
chattels properly. The women’s Property Act, whereby women were allowed to own property, however, did not come 
in until late in the 19th century.

“The Condicon of this Obligacon is such that if Jane Stonier above bound on (undreadable shorthand referring, I think, 
to the Latin) Neice and ~~~~ Administrator of all and singular the goods, chattels (elision) and credit of Ralph Stonier 
late of Congleton in ye County and (District?) of Chester ….(?) doe make or cause to be made a true and perfect 
Inventory of all and singular the goods and chattels and credits of the said deceased which have or shall come to the 
hands possession or knowledge of her the said Jane Stonier ~~~~ or into the hands and possession of any person or 
persons for her and the same soe made doe exhibit or cause to be exhibited into the Registry of the County Court of 
Chester at or before the Twentieth ~~~day of July next ensuing. And the same goods chattells and credits and all other 
the goods chattells and credits of the said deceased at the time of his death which at any time after shall come to the 
hands or possession of the said Jane Stonier ~~~~or into the hands and possesdsion of any other person or persons for 
her doth well and truly administer according to law. And further doe make or cause to be made a true and (nice?) 
attempt of her (Action?) at or before ye 21st day of Aprill shall be in ye year 1723 and all the rest and residue of the 
said goods chattells and credits which shall be found remaining upon the said Administrator’s attempt the same being 
first examined and allowed of by the Judge or Judges for the time being of the same Court shall deliver and pay unto such 
person or persons respectively as the said Judge or Judges by his or their decree or sentence pursuant to the true intent 
and meaning of a late Act of Parliament made in the two and twentieth and three and twentieth yeares of the raign of 
the Late Sovereraigne Lord King Charles the second (Juritulo (?) An Act for the better settling of Jutostatos (3 states) 
shall limit and appoint. And if it shall hereafter appear that any Last will and Testament was made by the same deceased 
and the Executor or Executors therein named doe exhibit the same unto the said Court making request to have it 
allowed and approved accordingly the said Jane Stonier  ~~~ above bound on being …..?    ….the said Laws(?) of 
Action(?)  (approbation of such Testament afterwards being first had and made) in the said Court. Then the Obligacon 
to be void and of none effect or ….. (?) in full force and virtue (?). 
Sealed and delivered in the presence of:  Robt. Herbert  Jon. Barry      Jane Stonier   Thos. Rooke (with three seals 
visible).