Glasgow Papers Robert Glasgow's Reply

This defendant saving and reserving to himself ve for answer to the said bill answering saith he does not know of his own knowledge but is informed and believes that Archibal Willson of Ireland died intestate not in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety two as set forth in the bill of complaint but in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety five possessed of a large estate real and personal but who were his only heirs and next of kin this defendant has no certain information or belief but he believes Archibald Willson had six sisters named in the bill and all of who he survived. This defendant does not know when Rachel Glasgow one of the sisters of the said Archibald died but he believes she died intestate about the time stated in the bill leaving two children viz. James Glasgow this defendant's father and Ann Glasgow since intermarried with Hugh Shannon as set forth in the bill, that James Glasgow died as stated leaving the widow and children as stated in the said bill and that Ann Shannon died in Ireland not before the said Archibald as stated, but since his death, but whether she left any, or how many children this defendant hath no information or certain belief. He admits the marriages of his sisters as stated and that his mother Mary the widow of James Glasgow is also a daughter of one of Archibald Willson's sisters. And further states and shews to your Honors that he this defendant is the oldest son of the said James Glasgow. This defendant knows not nor does he admit that the estate of Archibald Willson on his death was divided into six equal parts for the purpose of distribution among the lineal descendants of the said six sisters or among whom or who those lineal descendants are. This Defendant admits and asserts that some time in July last by virtue of a power of attorney given by this defendant to Mr. John Rogers authorizing him the said John to receive any or all monies which might be due and coming to the defendant in Ireland, and especially from the agent or administrator over the estate of the said Archibald Willson, and said John received from Alexander Davidson in Ireland (who is the said administrator) the sum of Seven hundred and sixty four pounds seven shillings and a half penny and not the sum as set forth in the bill which is the whole amount as this defendant is informed and believes received by Mr. Rogers or any other person for this defendant acct of the estate of the said Archibald Willson and which after deducting eight hundred and fifty seven dollars and sixty two cents or there abouts for the necessary trouble charges and expenses incurred by Mr. Rogers in getting the said money and which he hath detained in his hands and hath been allowed him by this defendant as reasonable and just leaves a balance of two thousand four hundred and eighteen dollars sixteen cents which this defendant hath received of him shortly before the commencement of this suit and which is all that ever came to the hands or possession of this defendant from the estate of the said Archibald Willson, a true and correct account of which charges and expences is herewith filed in Exhibit (A). That of the said Seven hundred sixty four pounds seven shilling half penny this defendant is informed and believes one hundred and fifty pounds were received out of the chattel property of the said Archibald Willson but whether chattels real or personal this defendant hath no information or belief and that the balance was received out of the rents of the real estate of the said Archibald Willson accrued since his death but whether James Glasgow the father of this defendant were he alive would be entitled to received these sums out of the estate of the said Archibald as alleged in the bill this defendant knows not (nor does he admit was typed but had strike throughs over it). This Defendant further answering says that he is informed and believes that on the death of Archibald Willson his real estate was divided in six equal parts agreeable to the number of his sisters and that one sixth part by the laws of Ireland (which in this respect he is informed and believes are the same as in England) descended to this defendant as being the eldest heir male of Rachael Glasgow (his paternal grandmother) alive at the decease of Archibald Willson. That the said real estate is now waiting in Ireland to be disposed of as this defendant may deem proper and that he hath received this information by means of a communication from the administrator and his friends in Ireland who are interested therein, but this defendant does not know whether he has received all or a part only of the rent of the sixth part of the said real estate were he to compare the value received with the real value of the estate which he is informed is very considerable he would suppose he had received a part only. Whether he received the chattel property as eldest heir male to the said Rachael or in what right this defencant knows not but is informed and believes the chattel property was divided into a great number of parts and that the administrator hath sent and paid him nothing more than what he is strictly and legally entitled to as the administrator told Mr. Rogers when he received the money and that if the complainants are entitled to anything it is yet in the hands of the administrator which they may obtain on proper application in Ireland. It is not to be presumed that the administrator (who as this defendant is informed and believes) would pay to this defendant or to his attorney any more than his share or any part which might be coming to the complainants without a sufficient authority from them. He is informed and believes the complainants never made any application to the said administrator or to any other person in Ireland or ever took any measurres to obtain from thence their part of the said Archibald's estate if they are entitled to any. This defendant from ignorance and poverty having neglected his rights for a number of years and having at length with much difficulty and expence acquired but a small part of his just dues concieves it a very unrighteous and illegal requisition on the part of the complainants to make partition of that small part with them. And this defendant further answering says that if he has received from the estate of the said Archibald Willson any more than his share which he absolutely denies he is not accountable for nor liable to pay to the complainants the same or any part thereof as he would be liable to the administrator for the excess so received more than his share and that if the complainants are entitled to anything out of the said estate which this defendant does not admit they must look to the administrator as the representative thereof and not to this defendant. And this defendant submits to this Honorable Court whether the complainants are entitled to any relief or discovery from a Court of Equity which he utterly denies and hopes to have the same benefit of this defence as if he had plead or demurred to the said bill and all and singular the matters and things in the said bill contained and not herein and hereby sufficiently answered, confessed avoided traversed or denied this defendant does not admit to be true. And he denies all manner of fraud or conbination and prays to be hence dismissed with his reasonable cost and charges.

From papers of Robert Glasgow who researched
this Glasgow line from the late 1950's till his death in 1993.