Richmond November 11th 1844
My dear Sir,
Your letter of the 19th ultimo
was duly received, in relation to the sale of the Effingham Forest
estate in Fauquier County, and inquiring what interest your
family had in the matter. I have been prevented
by constant engagements from replying soner to your
communications. The suit of Norton v. Norton has
been depending for about 40 years, having been institu-
ted originally in Winchester, but afterwards removed
to this City in consequence of Judge Tucker (who had been
counsel in the cause for several of the parties) being
made Chancellor of the Winchester District, and from his
unwillingness to sit in this case. Some seven or eight
years since, there was a decree for the sale of the
Fauquier lands, and a sale was made in pursuance
thereof and Charle
Your family, as constituting a portion of the heirs of your grandfather,
John H. Norton deceased are parties to the suit, and have a
nominal interest in the disposition of the proceeds of
the property under the control of the Court. The [illegible]
however brought by the creditors of J. H. N. to subject
the wholeto their debts, under 2 mortgages made by him
in his life time, and Mrs. Ambler claimed to charge it
for the annuity devised to her by his will, which
with the interest would exceed the whole value of the
estate. I am of opinion that the whole fund will be exhausted
either by the creditors, or by Mrs. Ambler's annuity, in which event,
there would be nothing left for the heirs of J. H. Norton.
My own individual interest is in conflict with that of the heirs.
Mr. Philip Harrison a lawyer of this City, is counsel for several
of the heirs, but I am not aware that your father is repre-
sented by any particular counsel, though his interest in the
questions involved in the suit, is the same with that of the
other heirs represented by Mr. Harrison.
Yours very truly,
George H. Norton Esquire Robert C. Ncholas