Randolph County, W. V. The Story of "The McCans and Their Pots" ********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ********************************************************************** ********************************************************************** The records for this work have been submitted by Dorothy M. Phillips ********************************************************************** ********************************************************************** The following concerns a trial between Patrick McCAN and James SCHOOLCRAFT. On August 23, 1797 the suit of James SCHOOLCRAFT and his wife against Patrick McCAN was tried before a jury. The original summons in SCHOOLCRAFT'S plea of trespass and damage to the extent of 50 dollars, had been dated May 1796. They complained that Patrick McCAN, in December 1794, under color of his office as Constable, without right did seize and execute 1 large "Pot" that would contain 8 gallons, under value of 3 pounds, the property of Mary Schoolcraft and sold said pot by public sale to one Elijah RUNYAN. Plaintiff's damages, the sum of 50 dollars, and against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth, etc. Quite a number of witnesses were summoned. Those for Patrick were, Daniel and John McCAN, his brothers. After trial, the jury found for the Plaintiff. 5 pounds fine as damages. Judgement so ordered. As a matter of interest and humor, I have added the following text to this trial story. The Story of "The McCans and Their Pots" December 10, 1570 John SMYTH willed an anvil and an "OLLA AENEA" , and that the anvil and the olla aenea belonged NOT to John SMYTH , but to William McCAN, and had been left to his daughter, Janet, and was proved and accorded to her. "The actual meaning of "Aenea" was of brassy color *The meaning of "Olla" (from latin) meaning A Jar or Earthenware Pot or Jar of wide mouth This little excerpt was taken from a historical article about Irish History, was noticed by myself, after reading Patrick's trial. It struck me that it was exceedingly funny, and good for a "chuckle" because of this immigrant, Patrick McCAN and his own lawsuit. Patrick had a son "William" born 1792. SO! Here again the McCAN family involved in a Lawsuit over the ownership of a "Large POT" (OLLA AENEA) some hundereds of years later. It seemed fitting that since these two "minor offenses" truly warranted being recorded here into history, and i find myself obligated to reprint it here for all the "McCANS" and their offspring to read, and to be "Slightly Confused, Bemused, and perhaps Amused by it. Dorothy McCann-Phillips