Letter received by Banks from John Thomas Bell, 7 July 1794 (Series 91.05) - No. 0001

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Sir,

In Compliance with your Wish I have the Honor to send you the Case of William Harrison a Prisoner for Debt in the Castle at Lincoln.

On the 26th Decr. 1781 Edward Kingston of Crowland in the County of Lincoln Baker (the Uncle of the Applicant) made his Will and after making the several Devises and bequests therein mentioned appointed his Nephew sole Executor and Residuary Legatee.  Some Circumstances attended the Execution of this Will which induced Mr. Harrison to give his Mother (the Sister of the Testator) a Bond for 950 to permit him to prove the Will without Litigation.  After proving the Will he got in several Considerable Sums of Money without discharging any of the Legacies.  In the mean Time a Suit was instituted by Mary Kingston the Mother of the Testator to prevent Mr. Harrison from proving the said Will, setting up another of a prior Date more regularly executed.  But Harrison was left in Possession of his Executorship. Yet the said Mary got in several Sums of Money to a considerable Amount belonging to the Testator and died without rendering any Account thereof to his Executor Mr. Harrison but the same fell into the Hands of his Daughter.  Mr. Harrison's Mother Prudence Harrison who in order to bring Mr. Harrison to Account prosecuted him for the 950 £ Bond, but he being out of the way he suffered Judgment of  Outlawry and upon that Judgment was thrown into Goal.  A Bill was then filed in the Exchequer against him and Decree made appointing a Receiver of the Estate of the Testator and containing an Injunction against Mr. Harrison's acting as Executor. 

Now Mr. Harrison solicits your Interest and Assistance to get this Decree carried into immediate Effect on all parties because he says in this Case there would be mutual set off which would at least procure his Liberty.

From some Mismanagement of his own Attorney his Mother (who prosecutes him) got hers appointed Receiver and Manager and therefore has it in her power to delay the finishing the Business at pleasure.

July 10