Sallie R. Shands Petition to Sell Land Inherited by Shands & Bowers Children

Circuit Court, Prince George County, Virginia, October 24, 1885²⁹⁴⁸

To the Honorable Judges of the Circuit Court of Prince George Co. Va,

Humbly complaining sheweth unto your Honor your oratrix Sallie R. Shands that F. R. Rives in his life time deeded about one hundred and forty five acres of land lying in Prince George County Virginia, to the children of E. A. Shands. Said land adjoins the lands of Sarah Webb & others. Your oratrix further sheweth unto your Honor that the said E. A. Shands departed this life in the year 1862 leaving the following children, viz your oratrix and E. A. Shands, F. R. Shands, Mary S. Shands who married James R. Bower, and she has since died leaving the following children Mattie S. Bower, John Bower and William Bower, the last two infants under 14 years of age, and William Shands who died leaving a widow Annie T. Shands and child William Shands under 14 years of age.

Your oratrix futher sheweth that the said F. R. Shands conveyed all interest he had in said lands to E. A. Shands on the day of 188 see copy of said deed filed marked Exhibit s. Your oratrix further sheweth unto your Honor that the said land is of no value as it is to the infants, having since the war not so much as even paid the taxes.

Your oratrix thinks it would be of very great advantage to the said infants if the land could be sold, and a safe investment made of the proceeds, as your oratrix has already had a very handsome sum offered for 100 acres of the said land, namely for $8.00 per acre cash, which your oratrix believes and charges therefore that it will be greatly to the interests of the said infants Mattie S. Bower, John Bower, Wm. Bower and Wm. Shands to sell the said land and invest the proceeds of sale in some other property.

In tender consideration where of your oratrix prays that E.A. Shands, Mattie S. Bower, J. R. Bower, Wm. Bower, John Bower, Annie T. Shands & William Shands be made parties defendant to this bill and required to answer the same, that O. B. Roller be appointed a guardian, ad litem for the infant defendants, who shall defend the infants' interest and shall also answer this bill, that the said land be decreed to be sold, and the proceeds invested as the court shall direct, that proper process issuee, and all proper orders and decrees may be made and inquiries directed, and that all such other further & general relief in the ? may be afforded your oratrix as the nature of the case may require or to equity shall seem meet, and your oratrix will ever pray &c.