Plaintiff: Attorney General Sir Robert Raymond, on behalf of the Relator, Ptolomy James, incumbent of the parish church of Great St. Helen's, Bishopgate St., LondonDefendants: Edward Colt, citizen and weaver of London, Churchwarden of St. Helen's; Robert Hall, citizen and upholsterer of London, Churchwarden.

Timeline of events: June 18, 1720: Isaac Berkeley (merchant of Great Britain and late inhabitant of Calcutta) made a will leaving a life interest in 10,000 rupees to his wife Mary; and after her death the sum of 1,000 rupees (£500) to the church of Great St. Helen's. The East India Co. was the executor. Isaac died; Mary died.

July 25, 1723: Vestry meeting decided to invest temporarily in South Sea Stock while they decided what to do: James urged buying a parsonage or increasing his salary. Colt (and James and Hall) received the legacy from the Company.

circa August 21, 1723: Money invested in South Sea stock at £102 3/8.

circa September 14: Colt and James allegedly informed Hall that his signature was required to sell stock which they had contracted to sell; he refused. Dispute over whether legacy to vestry, to wardens, to incumbent.

December [1723?]: Inhabitants of parish consulted: suggest repair of Church (details), since increasing the minister's salary would only benefit the seller of the impropri-ation (details), or buying the impropriation.

October-November 1723: Michaelmas term: James brought Bill of Complaint in Chancery against Colt and Hall, alleging that they held that the legacy was theirs absolutely, and that this was contrary to Equity. Subpoena'd defendants appeared and gave their answers (contradictory); denied combining with the Generall Traders; submitted to the will of the Court.

December 17, 1724: Cause debated before the Master of the Rolls who declared that the legacy should be considered a Charity and therefore should be applied to repairing the church, and should be controlled by the Wardens not the Incumbent; and that the Relator and Defendants should attend one of the Masters in Chancery and decide what exactly to do.

January 27, 1725: Master's report of various proposals, including building a gallery or installing an organ.

May 19, 1726: Cause heard before the Lord Chancellor Peter King who ordered that the Wardens should buy lands, and use the rents for repairs.