John Page letter to John Hatley Norton, 1790 February 27

John Page letter to John Hatley Norton, 1790 February 27

John Page, New York, letter to John Hatley Norton, Winchester, Virginia, dated February 27, 1790. Page writes that he is not responsible for his father's debts and that his may be paid by his son.

MS1936.3.2066
Folder 200

Ink on paper

[Page 1]

New York Feb^y. 27^th. 1790

Dear Sir

I lament that the Hurry of
Business here has made me neglect
your Letter so long especially as you
call on my Honor for attention to it -
had that been ^really concerned in it however,
no Business should have made me delay
my full Answer - but the Truth is
I do not look upon myself as answer=
=able for any Part of my Fathers Debts
I am not his Executor - & "the Heir is
not bound farther than Assets descend
=ing" now, no Part of my Fathers Estate
came to my Hands which he did not
give me long before his Death, &
he sold to pay his Debts the Estate at
Hobb's Hole which had not only been
twice entailed on me but which he
had promised me & Col R. Burwell before
I married his Daughter - The H. C^t. of Chan
=cery is to determine whether I am to
pay & what Proportion of my Fathers
Debts - Had not my Father however died

[Pages 2 and 3]

possessed of Personal Estate fully sufficient to
pay his Debts I should have made a Point
of Honor of paying my full Proportion of
them - but till the Money the Bonds he had
the Lots he ordered to be sold his large Crop
growig when he died & the rest of his perso=
=nal Estate has been applied & to that
Purpose & fails I can not think myself
bound in law Equity or Honor so circum=
=stanced as I was &amp am to pay any Part
as to my privated Debt to you my Hope
is that I shall be able to satisfy you
fully in my Absence from Virg^a. my
Son who has ample Powers of Attorney
has directions to pay all my Debts as
soon as possible. Your Indlugence I hope
will be no Disadvantage to you & will
be a Favor to him & your Friend

John Page

[Page 4]

To
John Hatley Norton Esq^r.
Winchester
Virginia

John Page

New York
27. Feb^y
1790
John Page
British Acc^t.

answ^d. 11 June 1790