Manuscript, History of Daniel Parke, 1724

Containers:

Box 1, Folder 1724.00.00

Scope and content:

D. 3 pages. Daniel Parke has Virginian and English estates--heavily in debt--his wife [Jane] the daughter of Philip Ludwell had a considerable fortune--two daughters: Frances married to John Custis and Lucy married to Wm. Byrd--in 1705 Queen Ann made him Governor of Leward Islands held this for 5 years and acquired considerable estate there--in Dec. 1710 he was murdered by the inhabitants "who plundered his house of all his plate, mony, jewells, and household stuff"--no reparation ever made--the pretense for this was the suspicion that the Governor was too familiar with some of their wives namely Mrs. Chester by whom he was supposed to have a child--confirmd this by his liberality to the child (at his death too young to be christened)--by his will left all his estate in the Leward Islands for the use of his child called Lucy Chester--the mother Katherine Chester--if Lucy died before she came of age he "began at last to remember his lawfull children", gave Frances Custis all his estate in Virginia and England--willing that his daughter should pay the legacies hereafter mentiond and all his debts--hard upon her however Mr. Custis and his wife discharged all the debts due both in England and Virginia amounting to many thousand pounds and then paid the legacies--got no account of debts in the Leward Islands--Mrs. Custis wrote the executor Mr. Rhodny--he said very few of the General's papers came to hand, the mob having destoyed them--a Mr. Perry owed money--now at last after more than 14 yrs. are past a man who calls himself Dunbar Parke, married to Lucy Chester, demands L10,000 of Mr. Custis (Frances long since dead) for debts owed by Daniel Parke in the Leward Islands--no notice ever given of such debts before--since all estates and debts in the four Leward Islands were given to Lucy Chester she ought to be liable for the debts--if the estate in England and Virginia must assume these debts as well as those in Va. and Eng. neither Frances nor Lucy Burd will have anything left from the estate--not the meaning of the testator.

Docketed "This paper gives much information respecting the murder of Govr. Parke and other family matters."

Language:

English.

Names:

Parke, Daniel, 1664 or 1665-1710

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