Diana:

I believe the Orange County Order Book notation > Charles & Peter
Copland, Plts. Agt Samuel Kercheville Deft. In Debt > is the "style"
or title of a lawsuit, which in modern usage would probably be styled:

Charles Copland and Peter Copland, Plaintiffs
versus
Samuel Kercheville, Defendant

The notation "In Debt" signifies that the plaintiffs' allegation[s]
were based upon a debt owed to them by the defendant. "Debt" was a
theory of common law providing recovery for those who prevailed in the
lawsuit.

Marilyn Symonds

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