1 - Front Cover.p65 - ProQuest

A Guide to the Microfilm Edition of
BLACK STUDIES RESEARCH SOURCES
Microfilms from Major Archival and Manuscript Collections
General Editors:
John H. Bracey, Jr., and Sharon Harley
Race, Slavery, and Free Blacks
Series II, Petitions to Southern County Courts, 1775–1867
Part E: Arkansas (1824–1867), Missouri (1806–1860), Tennessee (1792–1868), and Texas (1830–1867)
A UPA Collection
from

Cover: Courtesy of the Maury County, Tennessee, Archives.

BLACK STUDIES RESEARCH SOURCES
Microfilms from Major Archival and Manuscript Collections
General Editors:
John H. Bracey, Jr., and Sharon Harley
RACE, SLAVERY, AND
FREE BLACKS
Series II, Petitions to
Southern County Courts, 1775–1867
Part E: Arkansas (1824–1867), Missouri (1806–1860),
Tennessee (1792–1868), and Texas (1830–1867)
Edited by
Loren Schweninger
Senior Assistant Editor
Marguerite Ross Howell
A UPA Collection from
7500 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, MD 20814-6126
i

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Race, slavery, and free Blacks. Series II, Petitions to southern county courts,
1775–1867 [microform] / edited by Loren Schweninger ; assistant
editor, Marguerite Ross Howell.
microfilm reels ; 35 mm. — (Black studies research sources)
Summary: Reproduces a collection of approx. 15,000 petitions assembled
by the Race and Slavery Petitions Project, University of North Carolina at
Greensboro from state archives in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of
Columbia and Maryland, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
Accompanied by a printed guide entitled: A guide to the microfilm edition of
Race, slavery, and free Blacks. Series II, Petitions to southern county courts,
1775–1867.
Contents: pt. A. Georgia (1796–1867), Florida (1821–1867), Alabama (1821–1867),
Mississippi (1822–1867). pt. B. Maryland (1775–1866), Delaware (1779–1857),
District of Columbia (1803–1865). pt. C. Virginia (1775–1867) and Kentucky (1790–
1864). pt. E. Arkansas (1824–1867), Missouri (1806–1860), Tennessee (1792–1868),
and Texas (1830–1867).
ISBN 1-55655-878-3 (microfilm, pt. A) ISBN 1-55655-901-1 (guide, pt. A)
ISBN 1-55655-937-2 (microfilm, pt. B) ISBN 0-88692-692-0 (guide, pt. B)
ISBN 1-55655-969-0 (microfilm, pt. C) ISBN 0-88692-693-9 (guide, pt. C)
ISBN 0-88692-713-7 (microfilm, pt. E) ISBN 0-88692-755-2 (guide, pt. E)
1. Slavery—Southern States—History—Sources. 2. African-Americans—History—
To 1863—Sources. 3. Southern States—History—1775–1865—Sources.
I. Title: Petitions to southern county courts, 1775–1867. II. Schweninger, Loren.
III. Howell, Marguerite Ross. IV. Race and Slavery Petitions Project. V. Title:
Guide to the microfilm edition of Race, slavery, and free Blacks. VI. Series.
E441
326'.0975—dc21 2002027457
CIP
Copyright © 2005 LexisNexis,
a division of Reed Elsevier Inc.
All rights reserved.
ISBN 0-88692-755-2.
ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ................................................................................................................ ix
Scope and Content Note ........................................................................................... xv
Source Note ................................................................................................................ xxi
Editorial Note ............................................................................................................. xxi
Acknowledgments ..................................................................................................... xxiii
Reel Index
Reel 1
Arkansas
1824 ................................................................................................................. 1
1828 ................................................................................................................. 1
1831 ................................................................................................................. 2
1833 ................................................................................................................. 2
1835 ................................................................................................................. 2
1836 ................................................................................................................. 2
1839 ................................................................................................................. 2
1841 ................................................................................................................. 3
1843 ................................................................................................................. 3
1845 ................................................................................................................. 3
1846 ................................................................................................................. 3
1847 ................................................................................................................. 4
1848 ................................................................................................................. 4
1849 ................................................................................................................. 5
1850 ................................................................................................................. 6
Reel 2
Arkansas cont.
1851 ................................................................................................................. 6
1852 ................................................................................................................. 6
1853 ................................................................................................................. 7
1854 ................................................................................................................. 8
1855 ................................................................................................................. 9
1856 ................................................................................................................. 11
Reel 3
Arkansas cont.
1857 ................................................................................................................. 12
1858 ................................................................................................................. 14
1859 ................................................................................................................. 15
1860 ................................................................................................................. 16
1861 ................................................................................................................. 17
iii

1862 ................................................................................................................. 18
1867 ................................................................................................................. 19
Missouri
1806 ................................................................................................................. 19
1809 ................................................................................................................. 19
1810 ................................................................................................................. 20
1813 ................................................................................................................. 20
1816 ................................................................................................................. 20
1817 ................................................................................................................. 20
1818 ................................................................................................................. 21
1819 ................................................................................................................. 21
1821 ................................................................................................................. 22
1822 ................................................................................................................. 22
1823 ................................................................................................................. 23
1824 ................................................................................................................. 24
1825 ................................................................................................................. 24
Reel 4
Missouri cont.
1826 ................................................................................................................. 26
1827 ................................................................................................................. 27
1828 ................................................................................................................. 29
1829 ................................................................................................................. 30
1830 ................................................................................................................. 32
1831 ................................................................................................................. 33
1832 ................................................................................................................. 36
1833 ................................................................................................................. 38
Reel 5
Missouri cont.
1834 ................................................................................................................. 40
1835 ................................................................................................................. 41
1836 ................................................................................................................. 42
1837 ................................................................................................................. 45
1838 ................................................................................................................. 46
1839 ................................................................................................................. 47
1840 ................................................................................................................. 48
Reel 6
Missouri cont.
1841 ................................................................................................................. 50
1842 ................................................................................................................. 53
1843 ................................................................................................................. 56
Reel 7
Missouri cont.
1844 ................................................................................................................. 58
1845 ................................................................................................................. 62
1846 ................................................................................................................. 65
1847 ................................................................................................................. 66
1848 ................................................................................................................. 67
iv

Reel 8
Missouri cont.
1849 ................................................................................................................. 70
1850 ................................................................................................................. 72
1851 ................................................................................................................. 75
1852 ................................................................................................................. 76
Reel 9
Missouri cont.
1853 ................................................................................................................. 79
1854 ................................................................................................................. 81
1855 ................................................................................................................. 82
1856 ................................................................................................................. 83
1857 ................................................................................................................. 83
1858 ................................................................................................................. 85
1859 ................................................................................................................. 86
1860 ................................................................................................................. 86
Reel 10
Tennessee
1791 ................................................................................................................. 87
1795 ................................................................................................................. 87
1796 ................................................................................................................. 88
1806 ................................................................................................................. 88
1807 ................................................................................................................. 88
1810 ................................................................................................................. 89
1814 ................................................................................................................. 89
1815 ................................................................................................................. 89
1816 ................................................................................................................. 90
1817 ................................................................................................................. 90
1819 ................................................................................................................. 91
1820 ................................................................................................................. 91
1821 ................................................................................................................. 92
1822 ................................................................................................................. 93
1823 ................................................................................................................. 94
1824 ................................................................................................................. 96
1825 ................................................................................................................. 97
1826 ................................................................................................................. 99
1827 ................................................................................................................. 100
1828 ................................................................................................................. 102
Reel 11
Tennessee cont.
1829 ................................................................................................................. 104
1830 ................................................................................................................. 106
1831 ................................................................................................................. 108
1832 ................................................................................................................. 109
1833 ................................................................................................................. 111
1834 ................................................................................................................. 113
1835 ................................................................................................................. 117
v

Reel 12
Tennessee cont.
1836 ................................................................................................................. 122
1837 ................................................................................................................. 126
1838 ................................................................................................................. 131
1839 ................................................................................................................. 133
1840 ................................................................................................................. 138
Reel 13
Tennessee cont.
1841 ................................................................................................................. 142
1842 ................................................................................................................. 146
1843 ................................................................................................................. 154
Reel 14
Tennessee cont.
1844 ................................................................................................................. 165
1845 ................................................................................................................. 170
1846 ................................................................................................................. 177
Reel 15
Tennessee cont.
1847 ................................................................................................................. 186
1848 ................................................................................................................. 192
1849 ................................................................................................................. 203
Reel 16
Tennessee cont.
1849 cont. ......................................................................................................... 204
1850 ................................................................................................................. 216
Reel 17
Tennessee cont.
1850 cont. ......................................................................................................... 222
1851 ................................................................................................................. 226
Reel 18
Tennessee cont.
1852 ................................................................................................................. 241
1853 ................................................................................................................. 254
Reel 19
Tennessee cont.
1854 ................................................................................................................. 265
1855 ................................................................................................................. 276
Reel 20
Tennessee cont.
1856 ................................................................................................................. 289
1857 ................................................................................................................. 300
vi

Reel 21
Tennessee cont.
1858 ................................................................................................................. 310
1859 ................................................................................................................. 321
Reel 22
Tennessee cont.
1860 ................................................................................................................. 334
1861 ................................................................................................................. 344
1862 ................................................................................................................. 346
1863 ................................................................................................................. 347
1865 ................................................................................................................. 348
1866 ................................................................................................................. 348
1867 ................................................................................................................. 350
Reel 23
Texas
1832 ................................................................................................................. 351
1833 ................................................................................................................. 351
1835 ................................................................................................................. 351
1837 ................................................................................................................. 352
1838 ................................................................................................................. 353
1839 ................................................................................................................. 355
1840 ................................................................................................................. 356
1841 ................................................................................................................. 358
1842 ................................................................................................................. 360
1843 ................................................................................................................. 361
1844 ................................................................................................................. 363
Reel 24
Texas cont.
1845 ................................................................................................................. 366
1846 ................................................................................................................. 368
1847 ................................................................................................................. 369
1848 ................................................................................................................. 372
1849 ................................................................................................................. 374
1850 ................................................................................................................. 376
Reel 25
Texas cont.
1851 ................................................................................................................. 379
1852 ................................................................................................................. 382
1853 ................................................................................................................. 384
1854 ................................................................................................................. 387
1855 ................................................................................................................. 389
Reel 26
Texas cont.
1856 ................................................................................................................. 390
1857 ................................................................................................................. 392
1858 ................................................................................................................. 393
vii

1859 ................................................................................................................. 395
1860 ................................................................................................................. 397
1861 ................................................................................................................. 398
1862 ................................................................................................................. 399
1863 ................................................................................................................. 400
1864 ................................................................................................................. 401
1865 ................................................................................................................. 402
1866 ................................................................................................................. 403
1867 ................................................................................................................. 403
Name Index ................................................................................................................. 405
Geographic Index ...................................................................................................... 525
Subject Index.............................................................................................................. 533
viii

INTRODUCTION
The Race and Slavery Petitions Project:
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Established in 1991, the Race and Slavery Petitions Project was designed to
locate, collect, organize, and publish all extant relevant legislative petitions and a
selected group of county court petitions from the fifteen slaveholding states and the
District of Columbia, during the period from the American Revolution through the Civil
War. The chronology was chosen to coincide with the beginnings of state
governments and the end of slavery. With the establishment of state governments,
the number of petitions concerning race and slavery rose dramatically, and, though
slavery ended in 1865, cases continued to appear in various courts during the next
few years.
The Petitions Project has received financial support from the National Historical
Publications and Records Commission at the National Archives (1991–2005), the
National Endowment for the Humanities (1995–2005), the Charles Stewart Mott
Foundation (1997–2005), the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and the
director of the Race and Slavery Petitions Project.
In 1998, the project published a twenty-three-reel microfilm edition of relevant
legislative petitions.
In 1999, the project published a 450-page, frame-specific guide to the legislative
edition entitled A Guide to the Microfilm Edition of Race, Slavery, and Free Blacks:
Series I, Petitions to Southern Legislatures, 1777–1867 (Bethesda, Md.: University
Publications of America, 1999).
In 2001, the editor published The Southern Debate over Slavery: Volume 1
Petitions to Southern Legislatures, 1778–1864 (Urbana: University of Illinois Press,
2001).
In 2001, the project launched its Web site with database search capabilities for the
legislative petitions.
In 2003, the project published a 509-page, frame-specific guide for county court
petitions from Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi titled A Guide to the
Microfilm Edition of Race, Slavery, and Free Blacks: Series II, Petitions to Southern
County Courts, 1775–1867: Part A: Georgia (1796–1867), Florida (1821–1867),
Alabama (1821–1867), Mississippi (1822–1867) (Bethesda, Md.: LexisNexis, 2003);
the same year, the project published a 409-page, frame-specific guide for county
court petitions from Delaware, Maryland, and the District of Columbia titled A Guide
to the Microfilm Edition of Race, Slavery, and Free Blacks: Series II, Petitions to
Southern County Courts, 1775–1867: Part B: Maryland (1775–1866), Delaware
(1779–1857), District of Columbia (1803–1865) (Bethesda, Md.: LexisNexis, 2003).
Also in the same year, the project published a twenty-two-reel microfilm edition for
Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi and a sixteen-reel microfilm edition for
Delaware, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.
ix

In 2004, the project published a 695-page, frame-specific guide for county court
petitions from Virginia and Kentucky titled A Guide to the Microfilm Edition of Race,
Slavery, and Free Blacks: Series II, Petitions to Southern County Courts, 1775–
1867: Part C: Virginia (1777–1867) and Kentucky (1794–1864) (Bethesda, Md.:
LexisNexis, 2004); the same year, the project published a twenty-two-reel microfilm
edition for Virginia and Kentucky.
In 2005, the project is publishing the current edition and plans to publish two
guides and two microfilm editions of county court petitions from North Carolina and
South Carolina and from Louisiana.
County Petitions as a Historical Source
The county court petitions in this collection offer immediate testimony on a broad
range of subjects by a variety of southerners—black and white, slave and free,
slaveholder and nonslaveholder, men and women. The documents include rare
biographical and genealogical information about people of color; they detail how
slaves, as chattel, could and often did find themselves sold, conveyed, or distributed
as part of their masters’ estates; and they reveal the impact of market forces on the
slave family. The emancipation and guardianship petitions present an unusually clear
picture of the association between whites and free blacks, and the divorce petitions
provide a unique picture of slaveholding white women. These documents give a
unique view of the workings of local court systems: who approached the courts and
why; how they fared; how their pleas varied in different states and locales during
different time periods; and how judges and juries responded to their pleas. They
illuminate, in hidden and unexpected ways, intellectual history and religious
experience, containing references to debates over theology, ethics, law, social
theory, and epistemology that occurred outside traditional academic, religious, and
cultural institutions.
The value of these documents to scholars, students, and general readers of the
humanities cannot be overemphasized. They reveal not only what southerners were
saying but also what they were doing; not only what happened to slaves but also
how slaves responded to their condition. They show how complex political,
economic, legal, social, and cultural conditions affected the lives of all southerners,
black and white, female and male, slave and free. In seeking to understand the
impact of slavery on the people of the South, perhaps no available primary source
offers more topical, geographical, and chronological breadth, or penetrating depth of
subject matter.
During the fall of 1993, the editor spent fifty-one research travel days collecting
documents in Tennessee, first at the Tennessee State Library and Archives in
Nashville, and later in various county courthouses and local archives. At the state
archives, he perused the chancery court records on microfilm for nine counties
(Bradley, Coffee, Franklin, Giles, Knox, Marshall, Rhea, Smith, Sumner). An index
for Smith County contained the names of every slave and free black mentioned in the
chancery records; it was therefore relatively easy to go through the forty-one reels of
film. For the other eight counties, however, it was necessary to scan anywhere from
thirteen (Giles County) to forty-five (Sumner County) microfilm reels for relevant
petitions. Also at the archives, the editor sifted through 147 boxes of flat-filed
manuscript records for the Middle District Court, the appeals court for that section of
x

the state. Most of the cases began with a copy of the county court petition initiating
the litigation.
At the local level, the editor examined records in ten Tennessee counties: Bedford
(county courthouse in Shelbyville), Davidson (Metropolitan Nashville–Davidson
County Archives in Nashville), Dickson (countycourt house in Charlotte), Lincoln
(county archives in Fayetteville), Maury (Maury County Historical Society Loose
Records Project in Columbia, now called the Maury County Archives), Rutherford
(county courthouse in Murfreesboro), Williamson (Williamson County Preservation of
Records Archives, now called the Williamson County Archives, and county
courthouse in Franklin), Washington (Archives of Appalachia at East Tennessee
State University in Johnson City), Knox (county archives in Knoxville), and Hickman
(county courthouse in Centerville, where no petitions were discovered).
Subsequently, on trips in 1998 and 2000, the editor spent a total of six days in
Memphis at the Shelby County Archives collecting relevant documents.
The bulk of the Tennessee petitions contain information on buying, selling, trading,
mortgaging, and distributing estate slaves, but there is a surprising diversity of other
subjects covered in the documents, including interracial mixing, divorce, free blacks,
slave hiring, emancipation, black children, slave mothers, emigration, female slave
owners, and colonization to Liberia. There are also petitions about persons of mixed
ancestry, slave insubordination, breeding blacks, selling or trading babies, African
American genealogy, purchase of family members, and holding free blacks illegally in
bondage.
An example of this diversity can be seen in the petitions from Washington County,
located in the mountains of northeastern Tennessee, where one might think there
would be little documentation about slavery. In fact, a number of petitions in that
county involved slaves and free persons of color.
There are also a number of petitions that provide moving personal testimony about
the struggles of blacks for dignity and freedom. In Dickson County, Tennessee,
Fanny Gray, a woman of color, and her six children, sued by their “next friend” John
Scarbrough [also spelled Scarbourough] a certain John K. Colson [also spelled
Colston]. In her 1837 petition to the chancery court, she set forth the following facts:
in 1825, she had been purchased by her “husband” Simon Gray, an emancipated
slave; in 1834, she and her children had been emancipated by a decree of the
Stewart County, Tennessee, court; in 1835, Simon had died, leaving a will; in 1836,
Richard Cooly, described as “wholy insolvent,” was appointed administrator of the
estate. The suit charged that Cooly conspired with John K. Colson, Wilson K. Colson
[also spelled Coulston], James Scarbrough, and Joseph Smith to sell the family as
slaves. The only “responsible person” among them was Smith, but he was “old and
infirm and has been taken in by the affsaid Confederates sometimes indulging in the
use of ardent spirits.” When two of the “confederates” took Fanny and her children to
Smithfield, Kentucky, to sell, however, they were all arrested, the whites for
harboring runaways and the blacks as fugitives. Bribing local authorities, the whites
made their escape and returned to Tennessee, where John Colson gained
administration of the estate. Returning to Kentucky, Colson filed suit to recover the
family and received a judgment in his favor. He then returned to Smith County and
petitioned the circuit court to grant him permission to sell the blacks. He had always
regarded the family as slaves, he said, and in any event, Fanny “is a weak indolent
trifling lying mischievous Negro and unfit for freedom.” When the court rejected his
plea, Colson defied the order and sold Josiah and Cassandra, Fanny’s two eldest
xi

children, for $1,200. The final chapter came when the court, citing a $1,200 judgment
against him, noted that Colson had recently died with a small estate, and that
Fanny’s suit should therefore “abate.”
The twenty-one-page case includes a six-page petition and fifteen pages of related
documents. The citation for this case includes the following:
Petition of Fanny Gray, Josiah Gray, Cassandra Gray, Martha Gray, Eveline
Gray, Mary Gray, Henry Gray, and John Scarbourough to the Chancery Court of
Dickson County, Tennessee, 29 July 1837;
Related Documents: Order, 1 August 1837;
Copy of Bill of Sale, Thomas French to Simon Gray, 12 February 1825;
Copy of Registration of Bill of Sale, 17 March 1825;
Copy of Order, October Term 1836;
Certification of Copies, 29 July 1837;
Copy of Last Will and Testament, Simon Gray, 13 February 1827;
Certification of Copy, 29 July 1837;
Copy of Bonds, 1 February 1836, 3 October 1836;
Certification of Copies, 29 July 1837;
Answers, John K. Colson, 30 September 1837; Richard Cooley, William K. Colson,
30 September 1837; John K. Colson, 27 September 1837;
Complainants’ Statement, ca. September 1837;
Decree, ca. 30 March 1839, found in Records of the Chancery Court, Fanny Gray,
et al., v. John K. Coulston, et al., Record Book 1836–1846, pp. 214–134, Dickson
County Courthouse Annex, Charlotte, Tennessee.
The relatively small number of petitions collected in Missouri, Arkansas, and
Texas was due to several factors. The local records of these states were either in
the process of being flat-filed and organized (Missouri), had been discarded or
destroyed (Arkansas), or were widely scattered in various locations (Texas). In
Missouri—the northernmost southern and southernmost northern state—slavery was
not as prevalent as elsewhere, and even in counties where the black population
reached 25 percent, there were few relevant petitions. In addition, many of the
county court records were being processed through the state archives and were not
available for perusal. In Arkansas, most county records have been either discarded
or destroyed by floods and fires. Indeed, Arkansas proved to be the worst state
among the fourteen visited in the South with regard to extant probate and circuit court
records. In Texas, on the eve of the Civil War, slaves lived in 114 of the 151
counties. It was therefore necessary to be selective about which counties to visit.
During the fall of 1994 and early 1995, and in 2000, the editor spent fifty-four
research travel days in these three states: twenty-one in Missouri (October 1994 and
April 2000), ten in Arkansas (October–November 1994 and January 1995), and
twenty-three in Texas (January–February 1995).
At the Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City, the editor examined documents
from Boone County, located in what was called Little Dixie, discovering a number of
cases that could be added to the collection. The editor went through one thousand
cases for Cole County at the State Archives, on microfiche, with little success. In the
counties south of St. Louis—Jefferson (county seat Hillsboro), Ste. Genvieve
(county seat Ste. Genevieve), and Cape Girardeau (Jackson)—only a small number
of relevant documents were uncovered. Some of the best material came from the
supreme court cases at the State Archives in Jefferson City and the St. Louis Civil
Court records. In the supreme court case of Meachum v. Judy alias Julia Logan,
xii

John Berry Meachum, a well-known free black who purchased and freed a number of
slaves, was cited for illegally holding a free black in bondage. In her petition to the St.
Louis Circuit Court in 1834, Julia Logan said that she was “justly entitled to her
freedom but that she is now held as a Slave by Berry Meachum a man of color in St.
Louis and is bound and imprisoned in his (Meachum’s[)] house in St Louis where she
is kept as she is informed and believes for the purpose of being sold and removed to
some distant place.” The St. Louis court records hold a number of important civil
suits, including the original plea in the Dred and Harriett Scott case.
The best petitions from Arkansas came from the following collections: Pulaski
County (Little Rock) Probate records housed at the Arkansas Historical
Commission; Clark County circuit court records housed at the Clark County
Historical Association Archives at Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia; Bradley
County circuit court records housed at the county courthouse in Warren, Arkansas;
and the Records of the Arkansas Supreme Court housed at the University of
Arkansas—Little Rock Law Library. Various county courthouses were visited with
varying degrees of success, from finding no petitions to finding a few. The counties
include Greene (county seat Paragould), Mississippi County (county seats Blythville
and Osceola), Crittenden (Marion), and St. Francis (Forrest City) in the northeastern
portion of the state; Monroe (Clarendon), Phillips (Helena), Arkansas County (DeWitt
and Stuttgart), Desha (Arkansas City), Drew (Monticello), Chicot (Lake Village),
Ashley (Hamburg), and Bradley (Warren) in the southeast and toward south-central
section; White (Searcy), Pulaski (Little Rock, records at the Arkansas History
Commission), Saline (Benton), Hot Springs (Malvern), Clark (Arkadelphia), and
Hempstead (Hope) (and Southwest Arkansas Regional Archives in Washington,
Arkansas) located in a line from the central to the southwestern section of the state.
After consulting with Michael Heskett, who compiled Texas County Records: A
Guide to the Holdings of the Local Records Division of the Texas State Library of
County Records on Microfilm (Austin, Tex.: Texas State Library, 1990), five counties
were selected. Among the five only two proved to be worthwhile—Brazoria, county
seat of the same name, and Jefferson, county seat Beaumont—while the others had
either no antebellum records (Van Zandt and Hunt) or a scattering of documents
(Comal, with county seat New Braunfels, and Grayson, with county seat Sherman).
Five other counties were visited and, with one exception, they proved to be uneven
with regard to extant petitions. The best among them were Nacogdoches (county
seat of same name), one of the oldest counties in the state, and Travis (county seat
Austin), while Guadalupe (Seguin) and Bastrop (Bastrop) contained a few relevant
cases. At the East Texas History Center, Stephen F. Austin University,
Nacogdoches, the San Augustine County District Court Records house very good
collections, flat-filed and arranged chronologically.
The 1851 petition of Charles Reese to the Brazoria Probate Court provides an
example of the type of documents found in the Texas collection.
To the Hon S. W. Perkins chief Justice of said county
Your Petitioner Charles K. Reese Guardian of the minors Thomas R.
Erwin and Harriet N. Erwin, respectfully represents to your Honor that
said minors are the owners of the following slaves, a man named
Isaac, a woman named Ann and their four children another woman
Lucy & her child which and also a child named Nelly about seven
years old. Petitioner represents that said slaves were hired out one
year at public auction, but they were badly treated and were returned
xiii

considerably injured. He represents that on account of the number of
children he believes that said man & two [women] cannot be so well
hired out at public auction as they could be by agreement with the
hirers. He therefore prays that your Hon Court will grant an order
authorizing him to hire out said man & two women by such agreement
as he may be able to make
CR Reese
By atty
The Selection and Collection of County Court Petitions
There are no previous editions or publications of petitions concerning race and
slavery.
The number of surviving relevant county court petitions is massive. Perhaps a
quarter of a million of them are dispersed in state and local archives, libraries, and
county courthouses acrosss the South. Because of their wide distribution, the cost of
travel and photocopying, the limited time for collection, and, in certain counties, the
large number of petitions that mention slaves, the editor adopted the following
selection procedures:
1. Every major geographical region within each state is represented. In
Tennessee, for example, counties were selected from Appalachia (Sullivan,
Washington, McMinn, Bradley, Rhea, Knox), Cumberland Plateau (Overton,
Jackson, Smith, White, Warren), Cumberland Basin (Sumner, Davidson, Rutherford,
Williamson, Montgomery, Stewart), Southern Cumberland Basin (Giles, Lawrence,
Lincoln, Franklin), and Mississippi River Valley (Dyer, Shelby) as well as the major
urban centers of Knoxville, Nashville, and Memphis.
2. All accessible petitions written on behalf of or by slaves and on behalf of or by
free blacks from the selected counties are included.
3. All accessible petitions written by slaveholding white women seeking divorce or
alimony from the selected counties are included.
4. The guiding principle for the collection of all other county court petitions was to
select, after a thorough canvass, documents that reflect and represent the scope of
the county’s holdings.
Loren Schweninger
The Race and Slavery Petitions Project
University of North Carolina at Greensboro

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
Series II of the microfilm edition includes all of the county petitions in the project’s
collection, representing an estimated 5 percent of the extant county court petitions
dealing with race and slavery in the fifteen southern states and the District of
Columbia.
This part of Series II consists of petitions from Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas,
and Texas.
Listed below is an inventory of these petitions by state and county.
Inventories of County Court Petitions
TENNESSEE
county dates total county dates total
Bedford 1836–1858 25
Blount 1849 1
Bradley 1840–1860 32
Cannon 1842, 1858 2
Carroll 1851 1
Coffee 1853, 1858 2
Davidson 1816–1866 162
Dickson 1837–1858 11
Dyer 1854 1
Franklin 1834–1861 15
Giles 1828–1866 73
Hickman 1827 1
Jackson 1817–1852 4
Knox 1795–1860 41
Lawrence 1851 1
Lincoln 1841–1866 24
Marshall 1840–1850 27
Maury 1821–1861 92
county dates total
Arkansas 1854 1
Bradley 1849–1860 9
Calhoun 1859 1
Chicot 1847, 1848 2
Clark 1824–1853 10
ARKANSAS
xv
McMinn 1845 1
Montgomery 1820–1856 12
Overton 1844–1855 3
Rhea 1810, 1846 2
Robertson 1841–1859 4
Rutherford 1823–1857 40
Shelby 1842–1867 78
Smith 1814–1866 84
Stewart 1825–1855 5
Sullivan 1829 1
Sumner 1823–1861 59
Warren 1838–1852 3
Washington 1791–1862 57
White 1824–1856 5
Williamson 1820–1862 172
Wilson 1827–1856 9
Total number of petitions 1,050
county dates total
Crawford 1828, 1843 2
Drew 1855 1
Hot Spring 1846 1
Jefferson 1852, 1853 2
Lafayette 1846 1

county dates total county dates total
Ouachita 1851 1
Phillips 1835–1861 25
Poinsett 1856, 1857 2
Pope 1860 1
Pulaski 1845–1867 33
county dates total
Bastrop 1842–1866 31
Bexar 1852 1
Bowie 1844 1
Brazoria 1833–1867 81
Cass 1848 1
Comal 1858 1
Fayette 1839, 1847 2
Fort Bend 1840 1
Gillespie 1858 1
Grayson 1865 2
Grimes 1848 1
county dates total
Boone 1823–1860 33
Cape Girardeau 1810–1857 27
Cole 1828 1
Franklin 1853 1
Howard 1844 1
Jefferson 1821–1852 14
Lafayette 1838, 1854 2
Lewis 1843 1
Lincoln 1836 1
Linn 1848 1
Madison 1836–1845 13
Marion 1842–1857 4
McDonald 1849 1
Monroe 1843, 1848 2
Montgomery 1850 1
Newton 1856 1
TEXAS
county dates total
Guadalupe 1847–1854 3
Harrisburg 1838 1
Hill 1853 1
Jefferson 1845–1864 17
Nacogdoches 1837–1865 40
Polk 1860 1
Red River 1847 1
San Augustine 1835–1863 54
Shelby 1856 1
Travis 1832–1865 60
Walker 1851 1
xvi
Saline 1836–1862 23
Sevier 1849, 1851 2
Union 1850 1
Total number of petitions 118
Total number of petitions 303
MISSOURI
county dates total
Perry 1836, 1853 2
Pike 1860 1
Platte 1852, 1853 2
Ray 1841 1
Saline 1851 1
Schuyler 1852 1
Scott 1842–1858 9
St. Charles 1817, 1854 2
St. Francis 1851 1
St. Louis 1806–1859 206
Ste. Genevieve 1825–1857 6
Warren 1853 1
Washington 1817–1850 3
Total number of petitions 340

Amended and revivor petitions, docket pages, court orders, interlocutory decrees,
and final decrees are sometimes included when the documents reveal important
information about slaves or slave owners, as are other documents relating to the
petitions, including subpoenas, writs, affidavits, bonds, answers, deeds, trusts,
exhibits, indentures, apprenticeships, inventories, appraisals, receipts, certificates
(recommendations), wills, commissioners’ reports, bills of sale, hiring contracts, trial
testimony, and depositions. The specific related documents connected with a given
case are listed in the Petition Analysis Record (PAR) preceding each petition.
What Is a PAR?
Every petition in the Series II microfilm edition is preceded by a PAR (Petition
Analysis Record). PARs are created from data in the Petitions Project Microsoft-
Access/Oracle database and offer a synopsis of information. This information
includes an accession number assigned by the project staff; “To Whom Addressed”;
location; date; petitioner(s) and defendant(s); slaves; free people of color; abstract;
related documents; result of petition; number of pages in petition and related
documents; petition location, repository; and a subject list for indexing and electronic
retrieval.
Accession Number consist of eight digits and is found at the top of each PAR. It
identifies the petition by series, state, year, and number within the year.
The first digit, 21484121, indicates the series as “County Court.”
The next two digits, 21484121, indicate the state of origin. The state numbering
system is as follows: 01=Alabama; 02=Arkansas; 03=Delaware; 04=District of
Columbia; 05=Florida; 06=Georgia; 07=Kentucky; 08=Louisiana; 09=Maryland;
10=Mississippi; 11=Missouri; 12=North Carolina; 13=South Carolina; 14=Tennessee;
15=Texas; 16=Virginia.
The next three digits, 21484121, refer to the year a petition was filed. The last
three digits of the year are used; e.g., 841 refers to 1841.
The last two digits, 21484121, refer to the sequence of a petition within a particular
year; e.g., 21 is the twenty-first petition in the year 1841.
The PAR #21484121, the twenty-first county petition for 1841 from Tennessee,
translates as follows.
2 14 841 21
series state year # within year
County Tennessee 1811
Court
Gaps in the sequence of accession numbers appear occasionally. As data from
the petitions were entered in the project’s database, an accession number was
assigned to a particular petition. Sometimes, due to a data entry error or the
discovery of a duplicate petition, an accession number had to be eliminated. Rather
than reassign accession numbers to maintain a proper sequence, the project’s
editors decided to tolerate occasional gaps since they do not interfere with the
identification of petitions.
xvii

To Whom Addressed field contains the exact wording of the petition’s salutation.
In the few cases in which a petitioner did not use a salutation, the “To Whom
Addressed” field does not appear.
Location field generally contains the county of origin of the petition; sometimes, in
district or circuit court cases, the field contains the county of origin of the petitioner.
Date refers primarily to the date when the petition was filed. This date usually can
be found on the docket page of the case. When the filing date is not available, other
dates are used: (1) dates used by the petitioner(s); (2) dates inferred from the related
documents; (3) dates inferred from the contents of the petition; (4) dates assigned by
the archives. Petitions for which a date could not be determined are assigned
accession numbers that contain “000” in the date part of the accession number. For
example, the first county court petition from the state of Mississippi for which the
date is unknown bears the accession number 21000001. These petitions have been
placed at the beginning of each state’s collection.
Petitioners and Defendants fields are used to record information about the
petitioner(s) and defendant(s). Their color, gender, and legal status are also included.
In addition, the total number of petitioners is also denoted.
Abstract field contains a brief summary of the main points of the petition and may
include background information or particularly illustrative quotations.
Related Documents field contains all documents relating to the petition, including
the name of the document, the county the document comes from if different from the
petition, the name of the prominent person mentioned in the document (not always
the petitioner or author), and the date. For example, Affidavit, Mary Smith, Baldwin
County, 11 May 1810. The letters “n.d.” indicate an undated document. Petitions
related to other PARs are indicated by the following: PAR #20381402. Or, for multiple
PARs: PARs #20381402, #20381404.
Result of Petition field contains information about the outcome of the petition, if
known (e.g., granted, rejected, dismissed, appealed, reversed, remanded).
Number of Pages in Petition field consists of the docket page, the body of the
petition, and signature pages. Any related documents that appear on the same page
as part of the petition or docket page are not counted as related documents. In other
words, if the petition or docket pages have related documents on them or parts of
related documents on them, the pages are counted as petition pages and not as
related document pages.
Number of Pages in Related Documents do not contain any parts of the petition
or docket page.
Location of petition cites information concerning the location of the original petition
within a county courthouse, archives, or library.
Repository cites the location of the county courthouse, archives, or library.
Subjects for each petition are included in the PAR. The first three subjects are
ranked first, second, and third in importance. Only ranked subjects are included in
the index. The other subjects (often there are a total of six or seven subjects per
PAR) can be found in the future by searching the Race and Slavery Petitions Project
Web site. Listed below are the five subjects most frequently ranked first in
Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas.
xviii

TENNESSEE
number of
subject petitions
Sale of slaves 120
Slave title dispute 115
Distribution of
slaves 108
Debts 108
Divorce 63
MISSOURI
number of
subject petitions
Freedom suits 191
Slave title dispute 28
Slaves in estate 10
Compensation 10
Divorce 8
xix
ARKANSAS
number of
subject petitions
Guardianship 26
Family, slaveholders 11
Women and property 11
Slave title dispute 10
Sale of slaves 8
TEXAS
number of
subject petitions
Slave title dispute 70
Slaves in estate 38
Guardianship 33
Estate 24
Hiring out 20

SOURCE NOTE
LexisNexis has microfilmed the petitions in this edition of Race, Slavery, and Free
Blacks, Series II: Petitions to Southern County Courts from the collection compiled
by the Race and Slavery Petitions Project at the University of North Carolina at
Greensboro. These petitions were collected from state and local archives, libraries,
and county courthouses throughout the South. The Petition Analysis Records
(PARs) that precede each petition list the location of the original petition.
EDITORIAL NOTE
This LexisNexis microfilm edition of Race, Slavery, and Free Blacks, Series II:
Petitions to Southern County Courts will consist of six parts. Within each part, the
county court petitions are organized by state and within each state by date.
Undated petitions will be placed at the beginning of the state’s holdings, although
every effort will be made to ascertain the filing date for each document. This index
contains a subject listing for each petition, as well as the names of all petitioners and
defendants listed in the court cases. Due to the large number, the index will not
contain the names of all slaves cited in the petitions and related documents. Slave
and owner names along with slaves’ relatives and hiring and selling price data will be
searchable when the county court information is transferred to the project’s Web site.
Illegible names will either be put in brackets with a question mark or be excluded.
xxi

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
It is a pleasure to acknowledge the archivists, librarians, clerks of court, probate
and superior court judges, and staff people at various locations in Arkansas,
Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas who graciously assisted the editor in locating,
photocopying, and microfilming relevant documents.
In Tennessee, they included Wayne Moore, Ann Alley, and Julia Rather at the
Tennessee State Library and Archives; Carol Kaplan of the Public Library of
Nashville and Davidson County; John Dougan, Shelby County Archives; William
Haywood, Maury County Archives; and Louise Lynch, Williamson County Archives.
In Missouri, they included Director Kenneth Winn and Senior Archivist Patsy
Luebbert of the Missouri State Archives; Wayne Dowdy of the Memphis/Shelby
County Public Library & Information Center Archives; Mariano V. Favazza, Clerk of
Court, St. Louis; and Local Records Archivists Joan Feezor and Barbara Catanzaro.
In Arkansas, they included Russell Baker and Jane Hooker of the Arkansas
History Commission in Little Rock; Kathryn C. Fitzhugh, Nicana Shermanand, and
Susan Goldner of the University of Arkansas–Little Rock School of Law; and Joan
Thurman Taunton, compiler of Abstracts of Arkansas Reports, January 1837 through
January 1861.
In Texas, they included Denise Johnson, an amateur historian and genealogist;
Michael R. Green at the Texas State Archives; and Don Carleton, Center for
American History, University of Texas at Austin.
It is also a pleasure to acknowledge members of the university community who
provided valuable assistance. As host institution, the University of North Carolina at
Greensboro (UNCG) set aside two large offices for the Petitions Project complete
with three hundred linear feet of shelf space, seven computers, two microfilm readers
and a microfilm reader/printer, a microfiche reader, two small laser jet printers, a
batch laser printer, and paid-for telephone, postal, and photocopying privileges. The
university contributed two graduate research assistants each year as well as
technical support for computer software and hardware.
Over the years a number of graduate research assistants and project staff have
checked and rechecked names and data and entered information into the project’s
database. They include Tonya Blair, Chad Bowser (assistant editor), James
Broomall, Jennifer Burns, Brian Candler, Sallie Clotfelter, Janie Copple, Nicole
Corlew, Jennifer Dorsey (postdoctoral fellow), Denise Ettenger, Brad Foley, Melissa
Garrison, Jim Giesen, Kori Graves, David Herr, Chuck Holden, Greg Houle,
Marguerite Ross Howell (senior assistant editor), Mike Huber, Kate Knight, Denise
Kohn, Dave MacWilliams, Ka’Mal McClarin, Lisa Marshal, Lisa Maxwell (assistant
editor), Nicole Mazgaj (assistant editor), Diane Mead, Adrienne Middlebrooks,
Courtney Moore, Zachary Moore, David Norton, Rebecca Parker, Fate Passmore,
Brenda Rice, Patrick Richards, John Schweninger, Michael Schweninger, Julia
Scaggs, Robert Shelton (assistant editor), Janice Sniker, Diana Sweatt, John
xxiii

Walker, Carlos Watson, Joy Watson, Laurette Wharton, Matisha Wiggs, Kellie
Wilson, Jeff Winstead, and Katherine Wright.
Administrators and staff members in the Office of Instructional Research and
Client Services contributed many hours maintaining the Petitions Project’s database,
constructing its Web site, and assisting with computer problems. They include Jim
Clotfelter, Kenneth McCollum, John Major, Tom Sheriff, Walter Anthony, Soraya
Trolinger, Andrew Marker, Judy Guard, Heidi Schachtschneider, Gary Thornton,
Gloria Thornton, Leonard Mobley, Josh Ortiz, and Gail Lankford. Deans of Arts and
Sciences Walter Beale and Timothy Johnston, history department heads Steve
Lawson and William Link, Debbie Otis of Contracts and Grants, and Beverly
Maddox-Britt, Charna Howson, Tisha Wallace, and Kay Canady of the Office of
Research Services generously donated time and effort to solving various problems.
Special thanks to John Young and Bruce Loving in the Office of Continuing
Education, who came to the editor’s rescue after several software failures. In 2003,
UNCG’s Jackson Library took over the Petitions Project’s database. Among those
who have contributed to this process are Library Director Doris Hulbert, Tim
Bucknall, Barry Miller, Dana Sally, Richard Cox, Justin Ervin, and Egemen Baykal.
UNCG’s Chancellor Emeritus William E. Moran supported the Petitions Project
from its inception and offered advice and counsel at crucial stages. The project could
not have been completed without the foresight and generosity of Mott Foundation
President Bill White. Other talented people at the foundation, including Jeanette R.
Mansour, George A. Trone, and Kevin Walker, guided the director in the application
process. Daniel P. Jones and Kathy A. Toavs of the National Endowment for the
Humanities and Mary A. Giunta, Robert Sheldon, and Michael Meier of the National
Historical Publications and Records Commission at the National Archives offered
guidance, suggestions, assistance, and moral support over the years.
The project’s advisory board has been especially supportive over the years. Ira
Berlin, Leslie Rowland, and Darlene Clark Hine went out of their way to respond to
questions and guide the editor in making decisions on editorial method at the outset;
Cullom Davis examined reports and proposals, offering useful suggestions; and
Richard Blackett, Barbara Fields, and Leon Litwack served the project with
distinction.
The editor’s wife, Patricia Jean Eames Schweninger, sustained the Petitions
Project during its first three years as an unpaid assistant.
xxiv

REEL INDEX
The following index is a listing of the petitions comprising Race, Slavery, and Free Blacks,
Series II: Petitions to Southern County Courts, Part E: Arkansas (1824–1867), Missouri (1806–
1860), Tennessee (1791–1867), and Texas (1832–1867). Each entry in this index has several
pieces of information. The four-digit number on the far left is the frame number at which a
particular Petition Analysis Record (PAR) can be found. PARs precede each petition on the
microfilm. The frame number is followed by the accession number for the petition. The
accession number has been assigned by the staff of the Race and Slavery Petitions Project,
and an explanation of the meaning of each of the numbers can be found in the Scope and
Content Note of this guide. Next is the name of the county where the petition originated. The
last part of each entry is an abstract that summarizes the nature and purpose of the petition,
often with quotations from the original documents. The grammar and spelling of the original
have been retained.
Reel 1
Arkansas
1824
0002 (Accession # 20282401). Clark County, Arkansas. Sarah Haney writes that before her
husband’s death, William McDonald [McDaniel] induced him to purchase a piece of land, using
a slave boy, Abram, as down payment. The price for the land was set at $1,100; McDonald
valued Abram at $600. Sarah Haney maintains that her husband “in his lifetime had been for a
long time sick & debilitated so much so that his sickness had almost entirely destroyed his
bodily & mental powers” and therefore was “utterly incapable & unfit to transact even common
business.” She asks the court to declare the sale null and void and order McDonald to return
Abram.
1828
0024 (Accession # 20282801). Crawford County, Arkansas. Israel Dodge writes that in 1825 he
purchased a slave girl named Darius for $400 from Mitchell Malone, acting overseer of
Alexander Mitchell. He paid $109.50 up front and executed a note to Malone for the outstanding
balance. Dodge claims that, since the purchase, he has discovered that the slave is diseased
and unable to work. He “expressly charges that both Mitchell & Malone both well knew of the
aforesaid defects in mind & body of said Negro at the time of the sale ... & at the time said false
& fraudulent representations.” Dodge therefore asks the court to declare the sale void and
return his money.
1

Reel 1 Arkansas
1831
0032 (Accession # 20283101). Clark County, Arkansas. Charlotte Hemphill is seeking her
rightful distribution from the estate of her late father, William Hemphill. Charlotte states that she
is the minor “daughter, orphan, and heir at law” of Hemphill, who died intestate in 1825. The
court originally appointed Andrew Hemphill and David Fish executors of the estate, which
included a number of slaves. In the intervening years, she contends, they have repeatedly
ignored the court-established settlement regarding provisions for her welfare and education.
1833
0049 (Accession # 20283301). Clark County, Arkansas. Robert Clady, a minor represented by
Jessie Pearce, writes that his father Jacob Clady [Klady] died in 1825, intestate, leaving land
and at least seven slaves to his widow, Hannah Clady. Hannah Clady retained possession of
the slaves, dividing the remainder of the estate among Clady’s siblings. Robert, however, did
not receive a share. Hannah later married Jonathan West, who then claimed possession of the
slaves. Robert asserts that “the said slaves has annually earned a large sum of money and the
rents and profits of the residue of said personal estate has annually amounted to a considerable
sum.” As “the said Hannah & Jonathan have refused to allow or pay to your orator the said
distribution share of said estate,” Robert Clady asks the court to direct such a division. Clady
also requests that West be restrained from removing the said slaves “beyond the Jurisdiction of
this court to parts unknown to your orator.”
1835
0062 (Accession # 20283501). Phillips County, Arkansas. In 1829, Edmund Clements borrowed
$400 from Sylvanus Phillips, using as collateral five slaves with the understanding that they
were a mortgage, to be returned if the debt was satisfied by a date certain. Before that date, and
prior his death, Phillips sold the slaves to Benjamin Porter, thereby transferring the debt. After
Phillips died, Phillips’s widow married John Burress [Burriss]. Clements disputes the legality of
the sale and states that Porter refused his offer to repay the loan and claimed legal title to the
slaves. Clements asks the state supreme court to overturn a lower court ruling supporting
Porter’s claim. He seeks to reclaim ownership of the slaves and the children born to them.
1836
0154 (Accession # 20283601). Saline County, Arkansas. William C. Walker through his
representative Samuel J. Cook writes that he is entitled to assets of the estates of his
grandparents, William Walker of Green County, Kentucky, and Elizabeth Walker Moody. Upon
the death of his grandfather, his estate, including land and slaves (and their increase), was
divided between his father, Thomas Walker, and his aunt, Nancy Walker. They have both died
leaving him sole heir. Before her death the aunt, Nancy Walker, and the slaves lived with her
mother, who remarried to a George Moody. Now Elizabeth Walker Moody has also died, and
William C. Walker charges that George Moody fled to Arkansas with at least eleven slaves to
evade court action. Walker asks the court to sequester the slaves while the case is resolved.
1839
0213 (Accession # 20283901). Clark County, Arkansas. On 1 January 1839, Benjamin and
Sarah Averett sold six slaves to Benjamin Reynolds for which they have not received payment.
Despite their several requests, Reynolds still owes them the $3,000 purchase price. They ask
the court to compel Reynolds to return the slaves and request that he pay $1,000 in damages.
2

Reel 1 Arkansas
0269 (Accession # 20283902). Clark County, Arkansas. On 1 January 1839, the petitioners
Young and Lucy Goodwin sold Benjamin Reynolds three slaves, Milly and her children, Louisa
and William, for $1,800, payable upon request. As Reynolds refuses to pay the debt, the
Goodwins ask the court to compel him to return the slaves along with $600 in damages.
1841
0285 (Accession # 20284101). Phillips County, Arkansas. William Moore and E. K. Harris,
executors of Jesse J. Shell’s estate, ask that the property in the estate, including sixteen slaves,
be sold at public auction and that the proceeds be divided among the Shell heirs.
1843
0297 (Accession # 20284301). Crawford County, Arkansas. John Pendleton, a free man of
color, has been found by a lower court to be guilty of moving into Arkansas without giving due
notice of his status, or providing a security bond “in case he should at any time thereafter be
unable to support himself.” Pendleton is appealing to the supreme court, asking that the case be
dismissed based on errors in the lower court’s proceedings and because the “act of the
legislature, upon [which] the indictment in this case was found, was unconstitutional and void.”
1845
0328 (Accession # 20284501). Pulaski County, Arkansas. Aramynta, manumitted in the last will
and testament of Cyntha Robinson (deceased), seeks freedom for herself and her four children.
She petitions the court to stop the sale of her children by William Woodruff, the executor of
Robinson’s estate, arguing that there is enough money in the estate to pay outstanding debts.
She also asserts that her youngest child, Mary, is free by virtue of having been born after
Aramynta was emancipated.
1846
0364 (Accession # 20284601). Pulaski County, Arkansas. At the age of seventeen, Jessup
McHenry, sole heir of his father’s estate, questions his own ability to manage such a large
estate responsibly. The estate includes “lands, slaves, stock, cattle, farming utensils, goods
chattels and effects of great value, which are in danger of suffering great loss and injury from
want of proper care and attention.” He petitions the court to appoint a suitable guardian “to
protect and guard his interests,” and suggests his friend, James McVicar, be named in that
capacity.
0370 (Accession # 20284602). Clark County, Arkansas. Richard Wilson asks the court to
suspend the execution of a $600 judgment against him won by William Gentry and others.
Richard Wilson states that in 1843 John Wilson borrowed $600 from Gentry and Absalom
Fowler, putting up a young slave named Robert as security. In 1845, Gentry sold the mortgage
on the slave to Richard Wilson. Fowler, however, sued Richard Wilson for his share of the
slave. The petitioner asks that the defendants be prevented from selling Robert as it is his
desire to have Robert sold “to pay the aforesaid sum of six hundred dollars interest due your
Orator.” In the interim, Wilson asks that Robert be hired out.
0390 (Accession # 20284603). Clark County, Arkansas. The petitioners ask the court to order
the partition of the estate of Benjamin Dickinson. They claim that John Dickinson, his brother
George, and sisters Martha, Zilley, and Sarah and spouses have refused to divide the estate
among the heirs. The estate includes forty slaves.
3

Reel 1 Arkansas
0431 (Accession # 20284604). Clark County, Arkansas. The heirs of Isaac Cates dispute the
distribution of his estate and ask the court to intervene. Following Cates’s death, John Blakeley
and Peter Johnson and Isaac Cates, administrators of the estate, recklessly sold off portions of
the estate, including slaves, in order to pay debts, say the heirs. All debts and claims against the
estate have been settled and the petitioners ask the court to sell the rest of the estate and divide
the proceeds.
0455 (Accession # 20284605). Hot Spring County, Arkansas. James Obaugh and the children
of William Pond Sr. contend that slaves held in trust for their mother, Mary, were improperly sold
by their father after Mary’s death. The slaves include a woman, Mariah, three children named in
the trust, and four born since that time. The petition states that four of the children were sold by
Pond to William Barkman, who—aware of the legal status of the slaves—hid and then resold
them, depriving Mary Pond’s heirs of property that is rightfully theirs. The petitioners ask the
court to call upon William Pond Sr. and William Barkman to account for the slaves and profits
resulting from their sale.
0548 (Accession # 20284606). Lafayette County, Arkansas. Benjamin Ryburn asks the court to
validate his claim to the slave woman, Julia. Edward Pryor, his brother-in-law, claims that Julia
was a wedding gift to him when he married Martha Ann Ryburn in 1826. Benjamin Ryburn,
however, believes his father, Matthew Ryburn, meant Julia to be a temporary gift. Debts in the
Pryor family caused Julia to be moved around to different family members, but she had returned
to Pryor’s possession when another Ryburn son forcibly took her and her children and sold
them to Benjamin Ryburn. When a jury found in Ryburn’s favor in 1850, Pryor, the defendant,
asked for a change of venue, asserting that Ryburn had “an undue influence over the minds” of
the people in Hempstead County. The court granted a change of venue to Lafayette County,
where the case is being heard.
1847
0631 (Accession # 20284701). Pulaski County, Arkansas. In this case, Ebenezer Cummins asks
the court to declare “illegal, nul & void” the sale of six slaves from the estate of William
Cummins to satisfy debts owed to a specific group of creditors, Adamson et al. In a suit filed in
Pulaski County, Adamson and others won a ruling of $382.87 from the estate, and the slaves
were levied and sold. Executor Ebenezer Cummins objected, testifying that the estate had other
creditors with equal, legitimate claims. He filed a petition to quash the ruling, which was
appealed by Adamson. Now Ebenezer Cummins asks that the court settle the matter so that all
creditors will have a fair share of the estate.
0655 (Accession # 20284702). Chicot County, Arkansas. At issue is the estate of the late Susan
Mills, widow of Ambrose Mills. The petitioners are or represent various Mills children and their
spouses. They ask the supreme court to overturn a lower court ruling that upheld the sale by
Susan Mills of the slave Cinthy and her daughter Sarah to John Mauldin. The Mills heirs charge
that the slaves were rightfully theirs through their father’s estate and that their mother, Susan
Mills was not authorized to sell them. John Mauldin, now deceased, is survived by his widow,
Nancy Mauldin.
1848
0739 (Accession # 20284801). Pulaski County, Arkansas. Eliza Kellogg, one of the daughters of
the late Benjamin Kellogg, requests that a guardian be appointed to represent her interests in
the estate of her deceased father. The estate includes five slaves: David, Dick, and Hannah and
her two children.
4

Reel 1 Arkansas
0742 (Accession # 20284802). Pulaski County, Arkansas. Katharine Kellogg requests that a
guardian be appointed to represent the interests of the minor heirs of their father, Benjamin
Kellogg. The estate includes five slaves—David, Dick, and Hannah and her two children. The
minor heirs include Benjamin, Jonathan, Harrison, Henry, and Sophronica.
0745 (Accession # 20284803). Pulaski County, Arkansas. Mary Kellogg requests that a
guardian be appointed to “take care of her property,” which was left to her by her late father,
Benjamin Kellogg. The estate includes five slaves—David, Dick, and Hannah and her two
children. The guardian’s report of 1857 states that Hannah and Dick were regularly hired out.
0752 (Accession # 20284804). Chicot County, Arkansas. At issue is a dispute over the Duncan
Campbell estate. When Campbell died in 1845, his will named brother Samuel as executor, and
stipulated that his estate, including at least eight slaves, be divided equally among Samuel and
his sisters Jane Bickerstaff [Biggerstaff], Mary Campbell, and Flora Ann Campbell. The will also
directed that the “yellow” slave Viney, who claims in her answer to be Campbell’s daughter, be
emancipated when she turned fifteen. In 1848 a lower court ruled that Samuel Campbell had
mismanaged the estate and had sold Viney to buyers in Missouri. A guardian ad litem was
appointed to retrieve and represent Viney, and Cornelius Campbell was named as the estate’s
administrator. Now the petitioners are suing for their shares of the Duncan Campbell estate.
1849
0831 (Accession # 20284901). Pulaski County, Arkansas. John B. Pelham asks the court to
appoint him guardian of Charles J. and Isabella A. Pelham. The minors are heirs to the estate of
William Pelham.
0834 (Accession # 20284902). Pulaski County, Arkansas. John Pelham, guardian of Charles
and Isabella Pelham, asks permission to sell the slave Milly and her child. Milly was willed to the
minors by Socrates Shepperd and has since given birth to two children, one of whom died.
Pelham states that the slaves “are not as useful nor profitable as the money would be if
judiciously invested ... in other slaves more proffitable to the said heirs.”
0840 (Accession # 20284903). Clark County, Arkansas. Pleasant M. Osborne [Osburn] writes
that as part of a business arrangement with the late Wiley Newberry, he borrowed money,
delivering as security six slaves and titles to land. Newberry’s heirs are treating the transaction
as a final sale, not as a mortgage, and refuse to return the slaves and land. Osborne asks the
court to compel the transfer of the property back to him.
0851 (Accession # 20284904). Bradley County, Arkansas. Edward and Catharine Barker write
that Catharine’s former husband, Simeon [Simon] Hiley, now deceased, left a considerable
estate, including at least five slaves, to which she should have been legal heir. Other heirs,
including Alfred Turner, Hiley’s brother-in-law, are now obstructing her access to the property.
The Barkers ask the court for an accounting of the Hiley estate in order to procure a more
favorable estate settlement.
0872 (Accession # 20284905). Sevier County, Arkansas. Sarah Campbell and Frances, Edwin,
James, and Laura Cook, children and heirs of the late William Cook of Bedford County, Virginia,
contend that their sister, Mildred Hopkins, and her husband, Francis, illegally retain two slaves
from their father’s estate. All debts have been paid, and the property, including “divers” slaves,
has been divided up and disposed of, except for Jim, a mulatto boy, aged ten when Cook’s will
was probated in 1847, and Bitt [Bett], a black girl about eight, both children of Eliza. The
petitioners ask that the court “take said slaves into possession, and hold them under the order
and direction of the Court.”
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1850
0990 (Accession # 20285001). Union County, Arkansas. Ann Welch was married to Joseph
Rhem until he died in 1846. Rhem left behind a considerable estate, including twenty-one
slaves. She subsequently married John Welch, and together they filed suit against the
administrators of the Joseph Rhem estate. Ann Welch asks that she be given her share of the
dower according to the value of the estate as it is calculated under proper management.
1019 (Accession # 20285003). Pulaski County, Arkansas. Julia E., Lydia A., and Mary H.
Gladish, “minors of more than fourteen years of age,” ask the court to appoint Joseph O. Ashley
as their guardian. They also desire that Ashley be named guardian of their siblings, Martha I.,
Richard A., and Florence I., who are “minors under fourteen years of age.” The children are the
heirs of the late James B. Gladish, who owned at least three slaves.
Reel 2
Arkansas cont.
1851
0002 (Accession # 20285101). Sevier County, Arkansas. Bob, a man of color, petitions the
Arkansas Supreme Court for his freedom, citing provisions in the will of his original owner, Elliott
Brown of Virginia. The will states that upon Brown’s death, Bob would serve his grandson
George Brown until Bob turned twenty-one, at which time he would be freed. George Brown
moved to Arkansas where Bob was sold to a succession of owners. He is now in the possession
of Isaac Jackson, who insists that he holds Bob as a slave for life. A lower court has upheld
Bob’s claim to freedom. Bob now appeals to the supreme court.
0120 (Accession # 20285102). Ouachita County, Arkansas. At her death in 1824, Mary Croom
of Wayne County, North Carolina, left to her daughter Sarah Coor “one negro Girl by the name
of Ginne & one Cow and Calf.” It was her desire, she said in her will, that “the property so to be
settled that my said Daughter shall have the benefit thereof clear from the controle and debts or
engagements of her husband during her life and at her death the said property be settled on the
children she may leave surviving her [p. 28].” Now in 1851 Croom’s grandson, James Vaughan,
seeks to gain possession of Ginne [also spelled Ginny, Jenny, Jenney] from William Parr, who
claims to have purchased her in 1828. Vaughan, representing other family members, contends
that the purchase was fraudulent. Vaughan states that since the late 1820s, Ginne has given
birth to eight living children: Jane, Wright, Jordan, Lucy, Tom, Jack, Caroline, and Minerva.
They range in value from $300 to $800, and their labor has been worth at least $700 per year,
including lawful interest. Vaughan says the estate of his sister is “entitled to the negro girl Slave
Ginne and her said Issue from while in possession of the said defendant since the Death of the
said testator [1824] together With the hire and proffits of the said negroes Slaves since the
Death of the Said Sarah Coor [1843].”
1852
0259 (Accession # 20285201). Phillips County, Arkansas. Andrew Bagley desires to sell
George, a slave belonging to the estate of William Tunstall. George is said to have a disease of
the kidneys and possibly could be “valueless.” Bagley “believes it for the interest of the heirs
that said negro should be sold and his value and proceeds be distributed among the heirs.” He
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has been offered “the sum of six hundred dollars for said negro and that he thinks this his full
value in his present condition.”
0262 (Accession # 20285202). Jefferson County, Arkansas. The petitioners—David Carter,
James Rhea, Elizabeth Rhea, and Landon Carter—represent the heirs of the late Matilda
Carter. Matilda’s mother’s will, executed in 1814, stated, “I give & bequeath to my daughter
Matilda M. Carter, a negro girl named Harriett.” As Matilda died shortly thereafter, the executor
of the mother’s estate took possession of Harriett and then, due to ill health, he hired the
defendant, Stephen Cantrell, to administer the estate. The petitioners contend that for almost
forty years, Cantrell “never informed your Orators of their rights” and instead “delivered them
[the slaves] nominally into the hands and ownership of his son George M. D. Cantrell.” Matilda
Carter’s heirs charge that the Cantrells, “as such trustees, and under such fraudulent
concealment, have converted said slaves to their own use and have applied the services, hire
and profits thereof, to their own use; and have refused to deliver up to your Orators the
possession of said slave[s].” The petitioners seek an injunction requiring the Cantrells to appear
in court and to ensure that Harriett and her nine descendants are not removed from the county.
0272 (Accession # 20285203). Bradley County, Arkansas. James Marks seeks a divorce from
his wife Sarah for a number of reasons. He said that she refused to permit him to read
newspapers and books “of a literary character” after supper. In addition, a woman of
considerable strength, she assaulted him on various occasions. Once she pinched him so hard
that it left marks on his skin for two weeks. The property to be divided includes a slave named
Washington.
1853
0288 (Accession # 20285302). Bradley County, Arkansas. The petitioners, Robert Hudson,
Nicholas Barnett, and Elizabeth Barnett, heirs of George Hudson, seek to undo years of alleged
mismanagement of Hudson’s estate. The mismanagement includes the hiring out and selling off
of several slaves to John Cabeen and other parties. The heirs ask the court to reinstate their
claim to their father’s estate by nullifying the sales and hirings executed by past guardians.
0331 (Accession # 20285303). Saline County, Arkansas. James Bratton requests that Robert
Hubbert be appointed as guardian for Asa Billingsley, Ann Billingsley, and Margaret Holcom,
minors under the age of fourteen. The three are heirs to the estate of Asa A. Billingsley, who
owned several slaves at the time of his death.
0334 (Accession # 20285304). Saline County, Arkansas. With the resignation of James Bratton,
the minor heirs of the estate of Asa A. Billingsley are without guardians. William Crowson,
administrator of the estate, which includes at least six slaves, requests that the court appoint a
guardian for the children.
0337 (Accession # 20285306). Jefferson County, Arkansas. Ann Rives seeks title to the slave
woman Betsy, left to her by her late mother, Martha Rowlet. Rowlet acquired Betsy from her
son-in-law Thomas Rives with the stipulation that at Rowlet’s death, Betsy and her future
increase would be held and used to benefit the petitioner, Ann Rives. Her husband eventually
regained possession of Betsy and her two children and sold them to Sam C. Roane. Now
Thomas Rives and Sam Roane are dead and Ann Rives petitions the court to nullify the sale so
that she and the children may benefit from the possession of three valuable slaves.
0402 (Accession # 20285307). Phillips County, Arkansas. The petitioner, John M. Hubbard,
states that Levisa Pillow, now remarried and known as Levisa Dobbin, borrowed $701.33 from
him. Dobbin retained sole control of her property, including five slaves—Dan, age about thirty-
7

Reel 2 Arkansas
five; Alfred, age about fourteen; Lucinda, age about fourteen; Adeline, age eleven; and Monroe,
age eight—pledging them as security against the loan. Hubbard asks that a commissioner be
appointed to sell as much of Dobbin’s property as needed to cover the debt.
0448 (Accession # 20285308). Clark County, Arkansas. On 22 June 1852, Dudley Spence sold
the slave Henry to James Dodd for $650, with the stipulation that he could reclaim the slave
“any time within two years” by repaying the purchase price. He now seeks to reclaim Henry, but
Dodd “refused to rece[i]ve the money and deliver the Negro.” Spence asserts that Dodd “sold
the said negro to one Wm. P. McLure for the sum of nine hundred dollars in cash.” The
petitioner claims that “the boy had belonged to your orator for a long space of time, and was a
favorite family servant and the only inducement for his selling him to the said defendant was the
understanding as aforesaid that the negro should be redelivered upon his repaying the amount
of the purchase money.” Spence believes that he was intentionally defrauded and asks the
court to validate his claim to the slave.
1854
0479 (Accession # 20285401). Saline County, Arkansas. William Crowson, executor of Asa A.
Billingsley’s estate, requests permission to hire out seven slaves—four adults and three
children—who belong to the heirs of the estate.
0486 (Accession # 20285402). Phillips County, Arkansas. In 1850, Edwin A. Hicks died,
stipulating in his will that his property should remain in the control of his wife Lucretia for as long
as she remained a widow. Now the petitioners—William and Mary E. Hutchinson, W. D. and
Nancy Burnet, George Thompson, and Lucretia Hicks, in-laws and heirs-at-law of the estate—
assert that their financial interests would be best served if the land and twenty-one slaves were
divided.
0498 (Accession # 20285403). Phillips County, Arkansas. John M. Hubbard, guardian of his
minor children, including John King Hubbard, Sarah Adeline Lucretia Hubbard, William St. John
Hubbard, and Edward Lester Hubbard, under age fourteen, asks that the slaves that came into
his possession in October 1852 for his children’s use be kept together for eight or ten years.
There were among the slaves “some in extreme old age some of a sickly habit some children
incapable of being of any avail at present by way of hire but rather a charge to the holder.” The
annual income would be as much or more if the slaves were kept together.
0505 (Accession # 20285404). Phillips County, Arkansas. Edwin A. Hicks, a minor, requests
that his mother, Lucretia Hicks, be named guardian of his share of his father’s estate. The
estate of the late Edwin Hicks includes twenty-one slaves.
0508 (Accession # 20285405). Bradley County, Arkansas. In 1843, Louisiana slave owner
Johnathan H. Koen, heavily in debt, was forced to sell eleven slaves to Charles Cappell. The
following year Koen’s son-in-law, Lorenzo Lewis, purchased the slaves and returned them to
Koen as a gesture of goodwill and family loyalty. Koen, however, fled with the slaves to Bradley
County, Arkansas, changed his name to Kolen, and remained there until his death in 1853.
When members of the family learned of Koen’s death, they filed suit to regain possession of his
property, including the slaves.
0536 (Accession # 20285407). Arkansas County, Arkansas. In October 1819, Leah Machen
received as a gift from her mother, Nancy Renwick of Newberry, South Carolina, title to a slave
woman, Sarah, and her children. Machen and her husband, John, took the slaves to Georgia
where Sarah gave birth to Celia. Later, in Alabama, Celia was illegally acquired by Isaac Payne
and then sold to Henry Thompson, who claims that Celia “was openly and publicly offered for
8

Reel 2 Arkansas
sale by one I. B. Payne” in the slave mart at Memphis and that he and his partner, Dr. Lewis
Shanks, purchased her for $412.50. Celia is now in her mid-twenties. Machen alleges that
Thompson “has received the profits and hire of the labor of the said Girl Celia from about the
year 1843 up to the present time and that her services and hire per annum since he has had her
in possession is worth at least the sum of one hundred and twenty five dollars.” More important
to the petitioner, however, is the fact that “the said Girl Celia is a family Negro and greatly
endeared and attached to the family,” and “your complainant is greatly attached to Celia and
prizes her above money and that no amount of money would compensate your complainant for
the loss of her.” Machen asks the court to order Thompson to return Celia.
0587 (Accession # 20285409). Phillips County, Arkansas. John Hubbard petitions to become
the guardian of his four minor children—John King Hubbard, Sarah A. L. Hubbard, William St.
John Hubbard, and Edward Lester Hubbard. The property, including slaves, is “undivided but
the interest of each minor therein is believed to be about equal to about Twenty five
hundred_ _ _ dollars.”
1855
0591 (Accession # 20285501). Saline County, Arkansas. William Crowson, on behalf of
Margaret Bratton, petitions the court to stop James Bratton from hiring out slaves belonging to
the Asa A. Billingsley estate. James Bratton and Margaret Billingsley married after the death of
her husband, Asa Billingsley. After their marriage, the Brattons hired out the slaves to pay for
the “boarding clothing and schooling” of Margaret’s children. Now James Bratton and Margaret
are divorcing, and she wishes to end Bratton’s claim to her slaves.
0596 (Accession # 20285502). Pulaski County, Arkansas. Joseph O. Ashley, guardian of the six
minor heirs of James B. Gladish, desires to sell three slave children, all under the age of
thirteen, because “the only means he has of paying said indebtedness is by sale of said negro
slaves.” He asks that “he may be directed to sell said slaves at Public or Private sale as to your
Honors shall seem meet.”
0603 (Accession # 20285504). Phillips County, Arkansas. Henry C. Bonner is the administrator
of the estate of John H. Rives, who died intestate in 1850. In December of 1852, “by direction of
your Honorable Court,” Bonner sold Isaac, one of the slaves in the estate, to a Charles Bonner
in order to pay some of the debts of the estate. As the order was never recorded, Henry Bonner
asks that the court “will make an order confirming the sale of the said negro child Isaac.”
0612 (Accession # 20285505). Bradley County, Arkansas. James M. Chadwick writes that John
A. Davis owes him $5,039 from past loans. As security Davis mortgaged four slaves “of copper
color,” Wiley, Milla, Julia, and Alabama, “and also all the right, title and interest which the said
defendant had in and to the Estate of one William Davis.” Chadwick states that Davis is unable
to repay the debts. Therefore, Chadwick requests “that the deed of mortgage may be foreclosed
and sale made by order of the court of the slaves therein mortgaged or so many of them as may
be necesary to pay the indebteness aforesaid.”
0623 (Accession # 20285506). Saline County, Arkansas. Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, widow of Paisley
Kirkpatrick, asks the court to appoint a guardian to manage the inherited property of her minor
children: Hannah Ellen, Lemuel, Isabella, Joseph, and Elizabeth Catherine. Their property
includes twelve slaves.
0626 (Accession # 20285508). Pulaski County, Arkansas. Almyra [Elmira] R. Duncan,
administratrix of the Charles D. Duncan estate, asks the court for permission to sell part of the
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Reel 2 Arkansas
estate so that she can pay debts of the estate, which include $51 for the hire of an unnamed
slave.
0632 (Accession # 20285509). Bradley County, Arkansas. The petitioner, Maria Bailey, asks the
court for an injunction to stop the sale of her slave Lewis. Bailey states that Benjamin Martin
recently won a decision in circuit court against her husband for $180. In the decision, the court
ordered that Lewis be transferred to Martin. Bailey states that “she obtained by gift the mother of
said Boy from her father, Benjamin Sanders, and that said slave was born since said gift.”
Bailey maintains that Lewis is “the sole and separate property of your Complainant, and free
from the debts of her said husband.” Lewis has been seized and is in the possession of the
Bradley County sheriff, who “intends advertising the said slave for sale.”
0652 (Accession # 20285510). Bradley County, Arkansas. In 1843, Louisiana slave owner
Johnathan H. Koen, heavily in debt, was forced to sell eleven slaves to Charles Cappell. The
following year Koen’s son-in-law, Lorenzo Lewis, purchased the slaves and returned them to
Koen as a gesture of good will and family loyalty. Koen, however, fled with the slaves to Bradley
County, Arkansas, changed his name to Kolen, and remained there until his death in 1853. In
his will he emancipated some of the slaves. In 1854, members of the family sued to regain
possession of his property, including the former slaves. The petitioners, John and Martha Ann
Ewell, Richard and Mary Emma Lewis, and James Yell, now seek to add a number of slaves as
defendants in their case against Eli Tidwell, Koen’s executor. The new defendants include Betsy
Williams and her two children, Clarissa and Hannibal; Emiline Morrow and her four children,
Sally, Osbern, Rolla, and Emily; and Charles, Albert, Rasha, Mercinda, Mary Ann, Temple, and
Betsy. The black defendants are, the plaintiffs assert, “slaves for life.”
0657 (Accession # 20285511). Drew County, Arkansas. Sally H. Sanders, the widow of William
Sanders, asks the court to confirm her title to the slave man Jerry and to lift the levies held on
him. Upon her husband’s death Sally Sanders received “a one half interest in said negro boy
Jerry and fifty dollars interest in Jerry’s wife.” Her son James held the other half interest in Jerry,
which he sold to Samuel Sanders, a minor, for the benefit of the petitioner, Sally Sanders. Sally,
however, says that she has not received any compensation for the sale, and thus should retain
the title to the slave. Now Samuel has incurred judgments for debts against him, levied upon the
slave Jerry who is “in the jail of the county ... advertised for sale to satisfy the execution
aforesaid issued against the said Samuel Sanders.” Sally Sanders claims that Jerry “is worth
the sum of one thousand dollars and his hire per annum is worth one hundred & fifty dollars.”
0731 (Accession # 20285512). Phillips County, Arkansas. James Crary, administrator of the
James Cleveland estate, tried unsuccessfully “to sell at private sale one half of the Democratic
Star office” which represents the Cleveland estate interest in the business. He has obtained an
inventory of the estate, which includes two slaves, and he maintains that “said office is
becoming a tax and burthen to said estate in its present condition and management.” He
petitions the court for permission “to sell at public sale, to the highest and best bidder, the one
half interest as aforesaid in the office.”
0738 (Accession # 20285513). Phillips County, Arkansas. James Crary, administrator of the
James Cleveland estate, writes that the personal property of the estate consists of one fiftyyear-old
slave woman and one slave boy, values unknown, and “half of the Democratic Star
printing office.” Since “the interest in the Printing office aforesaid is useless, profitless, and is
likely to be an incumbrance to said estate,” Crary asks the court for permission to sell the slave
woman.
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Reel 2 Arkansas
0740 (Accession # 20285514). Pulaski County, Arkansas. James Swan and David Dickson
petition the court for their share of the estate left by Gilbert Bardin to his wife, Charlotte, and
nephews James and Elijah Swan. The estate included at least seven slaves. Elijah Swan sold
his interest in the estate to Dickson for $1,000. Charlotte Bardin never settled the estate and
continued to enjoy its benefits as its administratrix, say the petitioners. Upon her death in 1851,
Charles Bertrand became guardian of her estate, one-third of which was left to a niece, the
remainder to the Little Rock Methodist Episcopal Church in care of its trustees. Swan and
Dickson charge that Charlotte Bardin did not recognize their claim to the Bardin estate and that
she “had no right or authority to dispose of any portion of said real estate or slaves after her
decease, or of any portion of said personal estate” except the portion of the estate to which she
was justly entitled “by way of her dower.” Her will, and other deeds of manumission, also
stipulated the emancipation of certain slaves to which Swan and Dickson charge “said
presented deed of manumission” should be considered “void and of no effect.”
0792 (Accession # 20285515). Phillips County, Arkansas. Levisa Pillow petitions for an
injunction to restrain her husband, or his creditors, from interfering with her property, asking that
a receiver be appointed to manage the property. She also asks for a divorce. Prior to their
marriage in 1853, Levisa Pillow and Wilson D. Dobbin signed a prenuptial agreement whereby
“the joint property of the two shall be used and controlled by them mutually during the time that
they may continue to live and cohabit together as Husband and wife.” At the time of the
marriage, Levisa (as a feme sole) owned property worth about $40,000, consisting of “a
valuable plantation, Negroes, stock farming utensils and wild Lands .... “With an income of
$6,000 or $7,000 a year, the couple could support themselves in “magnificent style.” Wilson D.
Dobbin had no property. Levisa, now old and feeble, alleges that she soon found her new
husband to be a habitual drunkard and profligate spendthrift who, within a short time, wasted
most of her estate so that she is now unable to buy supplies or to feed the thirty slaves on the
plantation. She also claims that Wilson uses violent language and has, on several occasions,
punched her, “bruising her person most shamefully.”
0812 (Accession # 20285516). Phillips County, Arkansas. Repeating much of the information in
her original divorce suit, Levisa Dobbin states that her husband Wilson Dobbin’s behavior has
deteriorated in recent months. She testifies that he struck her grown daughter a “violent blow in
her face with his fist and threatened to drive her from the plantation”; he whipped slaves for
petty offenses or for following Levisa’s directions; and he threatened to deprive her of a house
servant and a riding horse. When she ordered the foreman to whip a black man who sneaked
into her bedroom to be with the Negro girl sleeping there, she says Wilson countermanded the
order and severely whipped the foreman. In fact, the husband was guilty of “many acts of cruelty
toward the negroes.” Such cruelty, she believes, will cause slaves to run away. Indeed, she
believes that he has actually ordered slaves to run away “rather than obey the orders of your
Oratrix.” Levisa Dobbin again asks that a receiver be appointed to take care of her plantation
and other property, including slaves.
1856
0853 (Accession # 20285601). Phillips County, Arkansas. As father of four minor children—
John King Hubbard, Sarah A. L. Hubbard, William H. John Hubbard, and Edward Lester
Hubbard—all under the age of fourteen, John Hubbard asks to become their guardian to
supervise and manage their slaves. John Hubbard was first appointed guardian in 1854.
0856 (Accession # 20285604). Phillips County, Arkansas. Sarah W. Grant, administratrix of the
Henry Grant estate, asks that their slaves be kept together rather than hired out separately,
11

Reel 2 Arkansas
because some of them are still quite young. Toward this end, she asks the court that she have
full control over the slaves, rather than hiring them out per the commissioners’ suggestion.
0867 (Accession # 20285605). Phillips County, Arkansas. Henry M. Stewart, guardian of Mary
Louisa Stewart of Scott County, Illinois, asks the court for permission to sell four slaves in a
private sale to Edmund St. John Martin for $1,700. The slaves—Caroline and her three children
Frances, age twelve; Mary, age five; and Elizabeth, age fifteen months—were inherited by Mary
Stewart, “an infant of tender years,” following the death of her father James G. Stewart. The
sale would include two payments, one for $850 in cash and a note for $850 payable 1 January
1857. As his ward is a resident of a state “in which african slavery does not exist,” Henry
Stewart says it would be in her best interest to sell the slaves.
0874 (Accession # 20285606). Pulaski County, Arkansas. William Drake, guardian of Richard C.
Byrd, a minor, seeks permission to sell a “small Negro Girl named Matilda” to pay for Byrd’s
education. Byrd inherited the slave from his father, the late Richard C. Byrd.
0879 (Accession # 20285607). Pulaski County, Arkansas. Mary Ellen Byrd, daughter of Richard
C. Byrd, deceased, asks that the court replace William Drake with Charles Ayliff as her
guardian. She is over the age of fourteen and believes that she is entitled to three slaves in
Alabama, given to her as a gift by her late grandfather William Byrd.
0882 (Accession # 20285608). Poinsett County, Arkansas. At issue is the estate of William R.
Lipscomb, deceased, who owned “a large estate both Real and personal and consisting [of]
Lands negroes horses mules and other Stock and Implements Such as are generally used and
employed” on a plantation. The estate includes thirty-one slaves. The petitioners, including
Theophilus G., Margaret E., Sarah A. R., and Harriet N. Lipscomb, minor heirs, claim title to the
entire estate. They seek a partition of the property and recommend renting the land and hiring
out the slaves to pay debts against the estate. The plaintiffs are suing Colbert Coldwell, who
became administrator of the estate, representing other heirs, known and “unknown,” who are
making claims on the property.
Reel 3
1857
Arkansas cont.
0002 (Accession # 20285701). Saline County, Arkansas. Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, widow of Paisley
Kirkpatrick, who died intestate, asks the court for new commissioners “to lay off and designate
by proper metes and bounds the dower of your petitioner in the lands of said estate, and slaves
of said estate in accordance with the said decree of this court made at the January term thereof
A.D. 1853.” She states that after her husband’s death the court acknowledged her right to a
dower out of her husband’s holdings and appointed William Milliner, a son-in-law, as guardian
over the minor children. Kirkpatrick claims that said commissioners assigned her “a child’s part
of the slaves of said estate instead of one third of said slaves,” and “never assigned your
petitioner the one third part of the land of said estate.” In addition, she contends that the court
failed to issue a final order directing that even this portion of the property be transferred into her
ownership. Now one of the minors claims that she is entitled to any increase among the slaves
in the dower, as part of the family’s estate. Kirkpatrick disputes this claim, asserting that the
dower is separate from that property left to the children.
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Reel 3 Arkansas
0013 (Accession # 20285702). Saline County, Arkansas. The Kirkpatrick children, heirs to the
estate of the late Paisley Kirkpatrick, ask the court to appoint “three disinterested and suitable
persons as commissioners” to evaluate the estate and “ascertain each of your petitioners share
of said slaves for life ... and to divide said slaves as near as possible into six equal lots in value.”
The petitioners say that the debts incurred by Paisley Kirkpatrick have been paid off and that the
estate no longer needs to be held by the administratrix, Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, their mother.
0037 (Accession # 20285703). Phillips County, Arkansas. Sarah W. Grant, administratrix of her
late husband’s estate, asks that parcels of land be made available for sale to pay debts. She
also asks that the slaves be kept together to work the remaining land, rather than having them
hired out.
0045 (Accession # 20285704). Pulaski County, Arkansas. William Drake asks to be removed as
guardian of Mary Ellen Byrd, a minor who has inherited several slaves. He asserts that during
his term as guardian he never personally profited from any property belonging to his ward, and
requests that Charles Ayliff now be designated in his place.
0051 (Accession # 20285705). Phillips County, Arkansas. Frances Erwin is the widow of James
Erwin, who died intestate in 1857 with sizeable property holdings, including seventeen slaves.
Frances Erwin asks the court to appoint a guardian for the minor heirs and “lay off and assign”
to her a dower interest in one-third of the slaves. She also requests one-third of the profits from
the hire of their slaves and one-third of proceeds from rental of their plantation during the period
between her husband’s death and the allotment of her share of the estate.
0067 (Accession # 20285706). Phillips County, Arkansas. The petitioners, heirs, and legal
representatives of the late James Erwin ask the court to require Arthur Thompson, administrator
of Erwin’s estate, to turn over to them “money and personal property as he may have in his
hands not needed to pay the debts and expenses.” They also ask that the slaves allotted to
them be delivered, including Jobe, Vina, Eliza, Louisa, Charlott, Letty, Ben, Ann, Cloey, and
Fanny and her child.
0070 (Accession # 20285707). Pulaski County, Arkansas. Amelia C. Newton, widow of Thomas
W. Newton who died intestate, asks the court for a dower share in nine slaves worth between
$6,000 and $8,000. The other heirs include Thomas’s children—John William, Allen, Anna,
Robert, Thomas, and Charles. With the exception of John William, who is serving as the
estate’s administrator, all of the children are minors.
0073 (Accession # 20285708). Pulaski County, Arkansas. To pay the debts of his deceased
father’s estate, Administrator John William Newton asks to sell “the remainder (after the life
estate of the widow of said deceased), in certain slaves, to wit; Henry, Pauline and Ellen.”
0085 (Accession # 20285709). Poinsett County, Arkansas. At issue is the estate of William R.
Lipscomb, deceased, who owned “a large estate both Real and personal and consisting [of]
Lands negroes horses mules and other Stock and Implements Such as are generally used and
employed” on a plantation. He died possessed of thirty-one slaves. The petitioners, including
Theophilus G., Margaret E., Sarah A. R., and Harriet N. Lipscomb, minor heirs, claimed title in a
prior suit to the entire estate. In this amended petition, they admit that after “diligent inquiry and
investigation” they have learned that Jordan Lipscomb is the paternal uncle of William R.
Lipscomb, as was Richard Lipscomb, deceased, whose children are defendants in the suit. As
such, the defendants are entitled to one-half of the estate.
0092 (Accession # 20285710). Pulaski County, Arkansas. Charles F. Robinson, brother of
Littlebury Robinson, deceased, seeks guardianship over Hardy Robinson, Littlebury’s minor son
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and only surviving heir. At the time of his death, Littlebury possessed a large estate “consisting
of lands, negroes, stock, household furniture &c &c.” The property has “greatly depreciated,”
Charles Robinson says, and it is necessary for someone to look after the boy’s interest.
0099 (Accession # 20285711). Pulaski County, Arkansas. Paul C. Hill seeks to become
guardian for his six children, ages five through twelve, who live in Wythe County, Virginia. The
children own eight slaves “supposed to be worth Six Thousand One Hundred dollars.” He wants
to bring the children and slaves to Arkansas.
0102 (Accession # 20285712). Phillips County, Arkansas. Sarah H. Grant is the widow of Dr.
Henry Grant, who died intestate. She states that Grant died with a considerable estate—
including at least seven slaves—and that she has not been assigned her dower. Therefore
Sarah Grant asks the court to appoint commissioners to establish her dower and assign a
guardian for the affairs of her minor children.
1858
0106 (Accession # 20285801). Phillips County, Arkansas. John Hubbard, father and guardian of
his four minor children—John King Hubbard, Sarah A. L. Hubbard, William St. John Hubbard,
and Edward Lester Hubbard—asks for an extension in submitting his annual guardianship
report due to ill health.
0109 (Accession # 20285802). Phillips County, Arkansas. Sarah W. Grant, administratrix of the
Henry Grant estate, states that her three minor children “are the owners, as heirs aforesaid, of
seven negroes, three of which said negroes are little children and could not be hired out but
require the care and attention of a mother.” She asks the court to allow her “to keep seven
negroes under her controll and supervision until the younger of said negroes are older and
better able to take care of themselves,” and agrees to furnish an accounting of the hiring out of
any of the slaves.
0116 (Accession # 20285803). Pulaski County, Arkansas. Diadema [Diadenna] Collins, widow
of John F. Hudson who died in 1854, seeks her share of slaves in his estate from the county
sheriff, acting as “public administrator.” Hudson’s estate included land and six slaves, including
a dark mulatto woman Leath [Leah] and her five children: Sam, age twelve; Green, age ten;
Ann, age seven; Mary, age four; and Francis, age ten months. Diadema, who has since married
Alexander Collins, owned two slaves in her own right, Malinda, age twenty, and her infant son
Henry, but she never received a dower from her late husband’s estate. Now, four years later,
she and her husband are petitioning for her rightful share.
0127 (Accession # 20285805). Pulaski County, Arkansas. Margaret McDonald, administratrix of
the estate of Edward McDonald, deceased, asks to sell a “bad and vicious” slave named John,
or Jack, a Negro man age twenty-five or twenty-six. Though the slave was purchased by her
husband with her money, as his heir she can claim only one-half interest in John, who
McDonald describes as “almost utterly impossible to govern or control.” She is currently housing
him in the county jail to prevent him from running away. As the cause of “great trouble” and
considerable expense, John should be sold as soon as possible and the money invested
“otherwise,” says McDonald. (Note: John brought $1,100 when he was sold on 1 November
1858.)
0140 (Accession # 20285806). Pulaski County, Arkansas. Paul C. Hill, legal guardian of his
minor children James, Nancy, Alphius, Emily, Sarah, and James, asks to sell three slaves
owned jointly by the minors. The slaves include Hannah, a dark woman age eighteen; Susan, a
dark mulatto girl age thirteen; and Ephraim, Hannah’s son about three years old. Hill says that
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he has been offered $2,500 for the three and “that amount of money Judiciously managed
would be of greater benefit to his said Wards, than the slaves.”
1859
0144 (Accession # 20285901). Saline County, Arkansas. Thomas H. Crowson asks for
authorization to hire out slaves belonging to the estate of Asa A. Billingsley.
0153 (Accession # 20285902). Saline County, Arkansas. Thomas Crowson, administrator for
the estate of William Crowson, asks the court to approve the sale of slaves Mary and Cherry,
who were sold at two separate auctions. On 24 December 1858, Cherry was “struck off” to
Thomas Crowson for $980, and on the first Monday in January, Mary was “struck off” to
L. Thompson for $1,150. The women were sold for the benefit of the estate.
0167 (Accession # 20285903). Bradley County, Arkansas. The heirs of Nimrod B. Wheeler,
including his children Jane O. Camp, Nancy L. Gardner, Martha M. Stephens, and John and
Benjamin Wheeler, accuse the administrator of his estate, Richard Wheeler, of perfidy. At his
death [ca. 1852], Nimrod B. Wheeler possessed land, cattle, horses, and two female slaves with
several children each. In October 1853, Richard Wheeler obtained letters of administration, and
in January 1854, he sold the “negro woman Kitty and her three children, Sally, Hellen, and
Harriet,” for $1,556, and the “negro woman Ann & her two children” for $1,900. The plaintiffs
charge that Richard Wheeler, deceased, was not authorized to sell the property, and they are
now suing his heirs to provide restitution.
0181 (Accession # 20285904). Pulaski County, Arkansas. Martha F. and Marzee J. Tillman,
slave-owning minors over the age of fourteen, ask the court to appoint E. B. Harrell as their
guardian. Their holdings include four slaves: Sam, age twenty-six, valued at $900; Dick, age
thirteen, valued at $700; Fanna, a girl age fifteen, valued at $750; and Carolina, age five, valued
at $300. They have no legal guardian to act on their behalf.
0186 (Accession # 20285905). Phillips County, Arkansas. Sarah Beaty, wife of the late W. O.
Beaty, asks the court for her dower of “Negroes belonging to the Estate of my Deceased
Husband.” Her husband had owned three “stout, healthy and likely” slaves—Jack, age forty-five;
Margaret, age about fifteen; and Adeline, age about twelve. The commissioners assigned Jack
to the widow, explaining that though each of the female slaves would sell for more, the service
“of said Negro Man” was “fully as valuable to Mrs. Beaty during her life time, as the services of
either of the other two negroes.”
0201 (Accession # 20285906). Pulaski County, Arkansas. Paul C. Hill, legal guardian of his
minor children James, Nancy, Alphius, Emily, and Sarah, asks the court to confirm the sale for
$1,500 of “a negro man named Jack of dark color aged twenty years and a slave for life.” Jack
had been owned by his wards. Hill adds that on 17 August 1859, his son James F. Hill
“departed this life.”
0206 (Accession # 20285907). Pulaski County, Arkansas. James Robinson, administrator for
the estate of George W. Eason, deceased, seeks to sell a bright mulatto slave named George,
age fourteen, who suffers from epilepsy. The slave has “become a burden and expense,” and
as his disease progresses his “value daily become less.” George should be sold “as soon as
practicable and upon the best possible terms.”
0210 (Accession # 20285908). Calhoun County, Arkansas. Mary Jane Ledlow Pennington
seeks to become the guardian of her child, Adam S. H. M. Ledlow, son of her deceased
husband, Adam S. Ledlow. In 1855, following her husband’s death, the court appointed Alfred
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B. Lary as guardian of the boy, then two or three years old. Pennington, since remarried,
charges that her son has been taken from her, and that she has been denied visitation rights.
Moreover, she charges that he is being treated in a cruel and inhumane manner, running about
without proper clothing, remaining always “filthy, dirty, and unwholesome,” and associating
freely and intimately with Lary’s slaves. She seeks to replace Lary as the guardian of her child.
1860
0230 (Accession # 20286001). Phillips County, Arkansas. John M. Hubbard, guardian of his
minor children, including John, Sarah A., William, and Edward, asks that he be permitted to sell
some of his children’s land and slaves. His children own several tracts of land, ranging in size
from forty to 160 acres, including one on the Mississippi River. They also own ten slaves: Sam
Long; Johnson Muroe; Mary Bird and her three children Agnes, Grat, and Morris; Isabella and
her child Eveline; and Lucinda and her child Rosette. “[L]ands and negroes especially,” Hubbard
explains, “have reached a higher value than it has been Known to command for Many Years
previous.”
0235 (Accession # 20286002). Pulaski County, Arkansas. At the time of his death, Littlebury
Robinson possessed a large estate “consisting of lands, negroes, stock, household furniture &c
&c.” Shortly afterwards, in 1857, his son and heir, Hardy Robinson, age seven or eight, was
taken to Mississippi along with the slaves. Now Pleasant Jordan asks the court to appoint a
guardian for Robinson in Arkansas so the boy can pay the taxes on the land he owns in Pulaski
County.
0238 (Accession # 20286004). Pulaski County, Arkansas. On 12 April 1859, Elisha B. Harrell
was appointed guardian for Marzee Tillman, a minor owning one-half interest in four slaves:
Sam, age twenty-six, valued at $900; Dick, age thirteen, valued at $700; Fanna, a girl age
fifteen, valued at $750; and Carolina, age five, valued at $300. Jesse Butler and Benjamin F.
Pennington acted as security on the $6,000 bond provided by Harrell. Harrell has now left the
county, Butler says, “carrying with him the person and property of his said ward.” And Butler
believes that Harrell will squander the estate of the minor and “unless restrained will utterly
waste and exhaust the same.” Butler asks for an order releasing him from future liability on the
security he signed.
0241 (Accession # 20286005). Pope County, Arkansas. Elisha B. Harrell, guardian of the
property of the minor Marzee Tillman [Margie Tilman], asks the court to transfer his
guardianship from Pulaski to Pope County, where he and Tillman currently reside. He posts a
$16,000 bond with John McFaddin and Robert White as his securities.
0245 (Accession # 20286006). Bradley County, Arkansas. John Wheeler and his sister Nancy
Gardner argue that Richard Wheeler, administrator of their father Nimrod Wheeler’s estate,
defrauded them in 1854 by purchasing slaves from the estate at a discounted price. They
describe the sale as that of a “negro woman Kitty and her Three children named respectively
Sally, Helon [Hellen] & Harriot [Harriet] - at the reduced price of One thousand Five Hundred &
Fifty six Dollars ($1556).” Richard Wheeler has since died, and his son, William Wheeler, and
other heirs have taken over administration of the estate. The plaintiffs ask that the sale of Kitty,
who now has five children, be declared null and void, and that they be compensated for her hire
from January 1854 to the present.
0257 (Accession # 20286007). Pulaski County, Arkansas. James Robinson, administrator for
the estate of George Eason, seeks to sell Hannah, a dark mulatto who “is afflicted with a certain
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disease called ‘prolapsus uteri,’” or the slippage of her uterus. She is “so depreciated in value”
and of so little use that she should be sold “for the highest price that Can be obtained.”
0261 (Accession # 20286008). Saline County, Arkansas. William Beavers, administrator for the
estate of Martin Camp, deceased, requests permission to deliver two slaves, Cretia and Louisa,
to three minor children, heirs of the deceased. The slaves had been a gift to the minors from
their grandfather, Thomas Morgan of Georgia.
0264 (Accession # 20286009). Saline County, Arkansas. William Thompson, administrator of
the estate of John Thompson, deceased, asks the court’s permission to finish the crop of corn
and cotton planted during the spring of 1860. Thompson writes that he has hired additional
laborers and requests that the five field hands belonging to the estate be kept on the farm
during the year, and that he be authorized to pay “all such sums of money as may be necessary
in and about the finishing gathering &c of said Crop.”
1861
0269 (Accession # 20286101). Pulaski County, Arkansas. James Robinson, administrator of
George Eason’s estate, writes that the widow, Mary Eason, is insane and afflicted with
“rheumatic” problems. Robinson has sold the slave Hannah for $500, but Eason is a “great
trouble and expense.” He asks the court for permission to commit her to a lunatic asylum in
Nashville, Tennessee, arguing that such treatment “probably would be the means of restoring
her to her sanity.”
0276 (Accession # 20286102). Saline County, Arkansas. Elizabeth Camp, widow of Martin
Camp, petitions the court for permission to claim her dower from Camp’s estate. Several Camp
heirs are involved in the settlement of the estate. She asks that a three-man commission be
established to seek a settlement that will not break up the property. Two slaves in the estate,
Crisy and Sue [Lue], belong to three minor children.
0282 (Accession # 20286103). Saline County, Arkansas. Robert J. Coleman seeks to
administer the estate of Martin Camp, who died on 19 July 1860 intestate. The previous
administrator, William E. Beavers, has also died, and Camp’s widow, Elizabeth, has asked
Coleman to serve in this capacity. Several minors are heirs to the estate, which includes land
and slaves, but with the exception of Elizabeth, the family lives in Georgia. The “unadministered
Estate,” Coleman asserts, “should be immediately administered.”
0287 (Accession # 20286104). Phillips County, Arkansas. Robert Yerby, son of the late William
Yerby, who died in May 1850, seeks a guardian to oversee his interests in his father’s
considerable estate, consisting of “Lands, Negroes, Stock &C.” Robert’s mother, Cordelia
Yerby, recently died, and Robert, over age fourteen “and therefore Competent and authorized
by Law to choose some suitable person to act as his Guardian,” requests that his brother, John
Yerby, be appointed to act in that capacity.
0292 (Accession # 20286105). Pulaski County, Arkansas. George Gallagher, father of minor
children Maria Octavia and James, seeks to become their guardian to oversee the thirteen
slaves they inherited from their deceased mother, Margaret M. Gallagher. The slaves include
Scipio and his wife Mahala, worth $1,500 each, and their six children: Albert, age ten, worth
about $500; William, age nine, worth about $500; Scinda, age twelve, worth about $600; Martha
Ann, age four, worth $500; Margaret, age three, worth about $300; and an “Infant worth say two
hundred dollars.” Also included are George and his wife Frances, worth $1,500 each, and their
children, each worth $400: Maria, about seven; Little George, age five; and Prince, three years
old.
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0298 (Accession # 20286106). Saline County, Arkansas. William H. Thompson, administrator of
the estate of the late John H. Thompson, presents an accounting for slaves authorized for hire.
Aggy, age twenty-eight, and her son were hired for one year to Dr. James L. Isaacs for $80;
Tamar, twenty-one, was hired to Richard Stockman for one year for $80; Jack, age six, was
hired to Wayne Clark for one year for $160; Milly, age fifty-seven, was hired to the administrator
for one year for $40; Lucy, age eight, was hired to Letitia Thompson for one year for $15; and
Ephraim, age ten or eleven, was hired to S. M. Hardin for one year for $55. Thompson submits
the report to the court and “prays it to be so taken by your honor; and that this report be
confirmed and approved.”
0302 (Accession # 20286107). Saline County, Arkansas. Levi Dodd, appointed administrator for
the estate of John R. Etherly, seeks to hire out the slaves in Etherly’s estate. Dodd asks to “hire
said slaves at public hiring, or outcry,” on 1 January 1862. Two men, Handy and Tom, ages
twenty-one and sixteen, were “bid off” at $202 and $210 respectively, while “Lucy Ann & three
children” brought $80.
0321 (Accession # 20286108). Saline County, Arkansas. Levi Dodd, administrator of the estate
of slaveholder John R. Etherly, deceased, asks for permission to sell his “personal effects.” The
items should be sold as soon as possible, “first because said intestate left no white person him
surviving to superintend and take care of his property and effects”; and second, the perishable
property would surely “waste and be destroyed unless it be sold.”
0324 (Accession # 20286109). Pulaski County, Arkansas. Levi Dodd, administrator for the
estate of Zachariah Dodd, asks permission to hire out Nancy, a slave who “is in very delicate
health and unable to perform hard or constant labor.”
0327 (Accession # 20286110). Saline County, Arkansas. As guardian of the minor heirs of the
late M. M. Cloud, Louisa Cloud seeks to hire out “the negro man George” at a private hiring
commencing 1 January 1862. George is owned by her wards David, Sarah, Mary Jane,
Tennessee, and Susanna Cloud. In the end, she hired the slave herself for $150.
0335 (Accession # 20286111). Saline County, Arkansas. Guardian for the minor heirs of Asa
Billingsley’s estate, Thomas Crowson asks to hire out four “or more” slaves at a private hiring to
commence on 1 January 1862.
0338 (Accession # 20286112). Pulaski County, Arkansas. Pleasant Jordan, guardian of Hardy
Robinson, a slaveholding minor living in Mississippi, explains that his ward no longer owns
property in Pulaski County, and requests that he be discharged as guardian. Robinson’s
stepfather, Gabriel Hogan, had previously sold 120 acres of land Hardy inherited in that county
to Mildred Martin.
0341 (Accession # 20286113). Saline County, Arkansas. The son and administrator of the
estate of John H. Thompson, deceased, asks the court to accept the report of his hiring the
estate’s seven slaves. On 1 January 1862, William H. Thompson hired two Negro women at $80
each—“which is the largest amount that said slaves could be hired for”—a black man for $150
per year; a Negro boy for $55 per year; a Negro girl for $25 per year; an old Negro woman for
$30 a year; and “a small boy for his victuals and clothes.”
1862
0346 (Accession # 20286201). Saline County, Arkansas. With the death of estate administrator
William Thompson, son of deceased slave owner John H. Thompson, Wayne Clark, one of the
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heirs at law, seeks to become the administrator of the estate consisting chiefly of “Negroes,
horses, Cattle, Hogs.”
0349 (Accession # 20286202). Saline County, Arkansas. Wayne Clark, administrator of the
estate of John H. Thompson, deceased, seeks to distribute the estate’s slave property among
the rightful legatees. He observes that the times are so precarious, and the danger “of losing
Negro property through Black Republican Raids & Robberies” so great, that it would be best to
divide the property now, “there being no interest, that can be prejudiced or injured.”
0352 (Accession # 20286203). Saline County, Arkansas. Henry Beavers, administrator for the
estate of the late William Beavers, asks the court to “grant him the privilege” of cultivating
William Beavers’ farm and of keeping the “Negroes and the Stock of said deceased, together
with all farming utensils.” At the time of his death, William left a large family of young children,
an aged mother, and a widow, Beavers explains, and “if the negroes were hired, they would at
this time go for almost nothing, because of the great inactivity of trade and commerce pervading
the whole of our Community.”
1867
0359 (Accession # 20286701). Pulaski County, Arkansas. Marena M. Lefevre [various
spellings], heir of the estate of her late husband William B. Lefevre, asks to be “released from all
responsibility” as administrator of the estate. During the Civil War, six Negroes, valued at
$5,800, “were liberated and set free.” Thirteen horses, valued at $650, were “taken by the
Federal Army and others.” Lefevre says she took six mules, valued at $600, to southern
Arkansas, but they, too, were confiscated by the federal army. In short, except for two wagons
valued at $115, all the property inventoried and appraised in 1863 as being worth $8,533.50
was “taken from her by forces.”
Missouri
1806
0375 (Accession # 21180601). St. Louis, Missouri. Joseph Tayon represents that he is the
owner of the slaves named as defendants in this case. The slaves have run away and he asks
that the sheriff of the District of St. Charles seize “the said negroes so running at large” and
deliver them into his possession.
0389 (Accession # 21180602). St. Louis, Missouri. Joseph Tayon asserts that he is the owner of
a mulatto slave named Margarite. He reports that “a controversy has heretofore existed
between Margarite and a certain Francois Tayon ... in which the court, declared & set her the
said Margarite free.” Joseph Tayon was not a party to that case, but he “is now ready to
produce proof of his right of property in the said mulatress.” He asks that Margarite be delivered
to him and declared his slave.
1809
0394 (Accession # 21180901). St. Louis District, Missouri. Cavalier and Petit are merchants
from New Orleans. They inform the court that Joseph Robidoux, now deceased, secured a debt
for $15,011 by mortgaging “lands, tenements, Slaves and property.” The petitioners thus ask
that the heirs of Joseph Robidoux come forward and show just cause, if any, as to why said
mortgage should not be foreclosed.
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1810
0401 (Accession # 21181001). St. Louis District, Missouri. Betty, a woman of color, represents
that Joseph York detains her as a slave. She informs the court that she lived with Alexander
Eden in the Illinois Territory in 1806 and 1807 and that she lived there for more than sixty days
and was “never indentured according to Law.” Noting that Eden even declared “that she was
free,” the petitioner asserts that John Murdock “without Law or right” took her to Missouri. Betty
asks that counsel be assigned to her “to prosecute her claim for freedom,” that she may have
“reasonable liberty” to attend her counsel, that she not be removed from the county, and that
she not be punished for filing a suit.
0412 (Accession # 21181002). Cape Girardeau District, Missouri. Susannah Haux represents
that Marcus Stephenson keeps her in slavery while her mother and her mother’s family are all
free. Haux submits that she was removed from Bourbon County, Kentucky, before her trial to
establish her freedom concluded there. She asks that she be granted “the benefit of the law as
a pure person” and that she be protected until the records from Kentucky arrive in Missouri.
1813
0422 (Accession # 21181301). St. Louis County, Missouri. William Tarlton, “a black man, who is
admitted by the Court here to sue in this behalf as a poor person, complains of Jacob Horine of
a plea of trespass with force and arms.” Tarlton charges that the said Horine did “unlawfully beat
wound and abuse, take, enslave and imprison” him. The petitioner further reveals that he was
“deprived of his liberty there for a long time,” from 1 May 1813 until 24 September 1813,
“without any reasonable and lawful cause, and against the laws of this Territory.” Stating that
Horine committed “other outrages on him ... against the peace of the United States of America,”
Tarlton cites $1,000 in damages.
1816
0444 (Accession # 21181602). St. Louis County, Missouri. Matilda, a girl of color, informs the
court that Elisha Mitchel took her to live as a slave in the Indiana Territory. She has since
learned that “in consequence of an ordinance of Congress for the government of the
Northwestern Territory” she was “by virtue of the said ordinance entitled to her freedom.”
Matilda, “being young and unacquainted with her rights and unable to resist violence and
stratagem,” was seized and taken to the Missouri Territory and sold to William Christy of St.
Louis. In 1809 Christy sold her to Isaac Vanbibber, in whose possession she remains. “Poor
and friendless, unable to pay costs, or to give security,” the petitioner prays that she be
permitted to sue as a poor person for her freedom and that an attorney be assigned to her case.
1817
0463 (Accession # 21181701). St. Charles County, Missouri. Susan, an enslaved female,
maintains that her owner, James Royal, moved her from Maryland to the Indiana Territory in
1809. In 1812, Henry Hight, the administrator of Royal’s estate, removed Susan to Missouri.
Citing “an ordinance of Congress passed for the Government of said Territory,” the petitioner
prays “that an action may be instituted against the said Henry Hight in behalf your petitioner for
the purpose of recovering her freedom if she be entitled to it.” Susan also seeks the
appointment of counsel.
0481 (Accession # 21181702). St. Louis County, Missouri. Laban, a man of color, recounts that
his master, William Clark, brought him from Kentucky to Illinois in 1816, where he was sold to
Simon Vanordsdale. Vanordsdale then sold Laban to Risdon H. Price of St. Louis, Missouri.
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Citing the Northwest Territory Ordinance, the petitioner claims that “he is entitled to his freedom
and by law is free.” Laban prays “that an action may be commenced ... to enable your petitioner
to obtain his freedom and Counsel learned in the law maybe appointed to manage said Cause.”
0493 (Accession # 21181704). Washington County, Missouri. Antoine E. Partenay reminds the
court that he is currently involved in a suit with John H. Weber concerning “an action of Replevin
for three negroes.” Partenay does not believe that he can receive a fair trial in Washington
County because “John H. Weber has an undue influence over the minds of the inhabitants of
said County.” The petitioner therefore prays for a change of venue.
0500 (Accession # 21181705). Washington County, Missouri. Amable Partenay is currently
involved in a suit with John H. Weber “in action of Replevin for three negroes” and a suit with
Andrew Henry and Jesse Blackwell. Partenay believes these said men have an “undue
influence over the minds of the inhabants of the said County of Washington.” He therefore
seeks a change of venue.
1818
0509 (Accession # 21181801). St. Louis County, Missouri. Winney, a woman of color,
represents that her master and mistress, John and Phebe Whitesides, brought her from
Kentucky to the Indiana Territory in 1795; several years later, they moved to Missouri. Since
coming to Missouri, Winney has borne nine children. She contends that her residency in Indiana
entitles her and her children to their freedom. However, Phebe Whitesides now claims
ownership of Winney and her children, Hannah, Lewis, and Malinda; the representatives of the
late Thomas Whitesides claim ownership of Winney’s son, Jerry; John Whitesides claims her
son, Daniel; Robert Musick claims Winney’s daughter, Jenny; Isaac Votean claims her
daughter, Nancy; John Butler claims her daughter, Lydia; and Michael Hutton claims ownership
of her daughter, Sarah. Winney “prays that such order as the law directs may be made to
enable her to sue for her freedom and as next friend to each of her said children to sue for their
freedom.”
0546 (Accession # 21181802). St. Louis County, Missouri. Jack, a man of color, avers that his
former owner, Eusebius [Eusebus] Hubbard, signed and sealed “a certain instrument in writing”
whereby he became free upon Hubbard’s death. Noting that Barnabas Harris now holds him as
a slave, Jack prays “such order may be taken to enable him to recover his freedom as the law
directs.”
0556 (Accession # 21181803). St. Louis County, Missouri. Arch, a man of color, avers that his
former owner, Eusebius [Eusebus] Hubbard, signed and sealed a certain “instrument in writing”
whereby he became free upon Hubbard’s death. Noting that Barnabas Harris now holds him as
a slave, Arch prays “your honor to make such order in his behalf to enable him to sue for his
freedom as the law requires.”
1819
0566 (Accession # 21181901). St. Louis County, Missouri. Marie, a mulatto girl under the age of
twenty-one, represents that her master, Nicholas Beaugenoux, moved her from the Missouri
Territory to Clair County in the Illinois Territory in 1815. A year later, Beaugenoux returned to St.
Louis, Missouri, with Marie and sold her to Auguste Chouteau. “Advised she is free and entitled
to liberation,” Marie “prays that she may be permitted to sue as a poor person in your honorable
court by her said mother and next friend, Margueritte a free black woman against the said
Auguste P. Chouteau” to gain her freedom.
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0580 (Accession # 21181902). St. Louis County, Missouri. Milly, “a black woman who petitions
as well for herself as for her two infant children, Eliza aged about 4 years and Bob aged about 2
years,” asserts that Mathias Rose illegally holds them as slaves. Milly recounts that she was
brought into Missouri from “the now state then Territory of Illinois” about two years earlier. She
states that “under the laws of Illinois & the ordinance of Congress she is entitled to be free.” The
petitioner “prays that she & her children above named may be entitled to sue for their freedom
as poor persons in this honorable court.”
0591 (Accession # 21181903). St. Louis County, Missouri. Jennings Beckwith owned a female
mulatto slave named Winney, who was worth $650 and whom he planned to free at “a future
day therafter.” On 21 October 1817, Beckwith sold Winney to Samuel Donner for $300 with two
conditions: Winney would serve Donner until she paid him $350, and Donner could only hire out
Winney until she earned and paid him the money for her freedom. Beckwith contends that
Donner has not paid him the $300 owed, even though Winney has paid Donner “greatly
upwards” of $300 towards her freedom. Citing Donner’s refusal to pay, the petitioner asks that
Donner be subpoenaed and be compelled to pay $300, plus interest since the date of the sale.
1821
0623 (Accession # 21182101). St. Louis County, Missouri. Pelage, a woman of color under the
age of twenty-one, represents that she was born in 1802, the property of Antoine Loulard of St.
Louis, Missouri. While Pelage was still an infant, Loulard sold her to Francois Valois. In 1810 or
1811, Valois moved with Pelage from St. Louis to the Illinois Territory. Two years later, Valois
returned to St. Louis. Pelage asserts that her residence in the Illinois Territory entitles her to
freedom. She therefore “prays your honour to be permitted to Sue as a poor person” for said
freedom.
0635 (Accession # 21182102). Jefferson County, Missouri. Thomas and Susan Horine, heirs of
the late Jacob Horine, ask the court to appoint Thomas Maddin Sr. of Ste. Genevieve County
and Josiah McClenehan of Washington County as their guardians. Jacob Horine’s estate
includes slaves.
1822
0639 (Accession # 21182201). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. William Hickman informs the
court that John McCabe mortgaged a “negro boy” named James in 1821 to secure a debt of
$225 due to Matthias Bolinger. Bolinger then assigned the debt to Hickman. McCabe has since
died. Hickman charges that neither McCabe nor his heirs have paid the debt. Hickman asks the
court to sell the slave to satisfy the debt and costs of the suit.
0646 (Accession # 21182202). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. In June 1813, Nicholas
Buckner conveyed nine slaves in trust to Alexander Buckner for the use and benefit of his
daughters. Since that time, one slave, Letty, has been freed, and three others have died. Susan
Evans, one of the said daughters, asserts that she owns an equal and undivided share of the
slaves. She and her husband, James Evans, ask the court to sell the slaves and distribute the
proceeds.
0654 (Accession # 21182203). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. In June 1813, Nicholas
Buckner conveyed nine slaves in trust to Alexander Buckner for the use and benefit of his
daughters. Since that time, one slave, Letty, has been freed, and three others have died.
Adaline Shade, one of the said daughters, asserts that she owns an equal and undivided share
of the slaves. She and her husband, William Shade, ask the court to sell the slaves and
distribute the proceeds.
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0661 (Accession # 21182204). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. Thomson Bird avers that he
agreed to pay Levy Wolverton $500 for a female slave, “which slave was then in bad health.”
The agreement would only be valid “if she should recover her health and become sound & well.”
The slave, however, did not recover, and Bird withdrew his offer. Wolverton then sold the slave
to John Bird. Wolverton has since died, and his administrators, Thomas Graves and Samuel
Ravenscroft, have sued Thomson Bird for payment of $500, plus court costs. The petitioner
seeks an injunction preventing Graves and Ravenscroft from proceeding with their suit.
0675 (Accession # 21182205). St. Louis County, Missouri. James H. Peck is the courtappointed
attorney for Pelagie [Pelage], a woman of color currently suing for her freedom. Peck
charges that Francois Vallois, defendant in the pending case, has sold Pelagie against the order
of the court. Vallois sold Pelagie to John Cabanna, who is currently shipping her to New Orleans
to be sold beyond the jurisdiction of the court. The petitioner asks that Vallois and Cabanna
“shew cause why an attachment should not issue against them for a contempt of Court.” A
related document reveals that Pelagie was born the slave of Antoine Loulard.
1823
0694 (Accession # 21182301). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. In 1821, William Sublett
secured a loan from John Erwin with a slave named Milly. According to the agreement, Erwin
would hold the slave until the loan was paid. Erwin asserts that Milly died in February 1822,
prior to the date the debt became due. He also alleges that William moved to Illinois before
paying said debt, leaving two slaves, Anthony and Moses, within the court’s jurisdiction and
currently in the possession of Thomas Sublett. Erwin seeks an injunction preventing the
Subletts from removing the slaves from the state. In addition, he seeks payment of the debt.
0706 (Accession # 21182302). St. Louis County, Missouri. Malinda and Nelly, “free persons of
colour,” submit that Robert Wilburn held them as slaves and took them to Illinois in 1820. After
five months, the petitioners prepared to sue for their freedom, whereupon Wilburn “with a view
to defeat and hinder that application removed your petitioners to the State of Missouri.”
Asserting that the laws of Illinois entitle them to their freedom, Malinda and Nelly “pray that they
may be permitted to sue in your honorable court as a poor person to establish their right of
freedom.”
0720 (Accession # 21182303). St. Louis County, Missouri. Thomas Hanly mortgaged two slaves
named Peggy and Charles to John O’Fallon for $500 on 26 April 1821. O’Fallon maintains that
“the said Hanly nor any person for him did not during his lifetime pay to your petitioner the said
sum of money in said note of hand above mentioned ... or any part thereof,” even though “the
same was long due and payable previous to the decease of said Hanly.” Citing that “the said
note still remains wholly unpaid,” the petitioner prays that Andrew Elliott, administrator of
Hanly’s estate, “may be summoned and required to shew cause if any he hath ... why the said
mortgage shall not be foreclosed.”
0727 (Accession # 21182304). Boone County, Missouri. Mark Reavis informs the court that he
purchased a slave named Oney and her three children from John Sears on 31 August 1819 “at
& for the price of one thousand dollars.” He contends that Sears sold the slaves with the
representation “that the said negroe Woman Oney, was sound & healthy, & free from any
defect.” Reavis, however, argues that Oney “was then & there sick” from a disease called “the
White swelling” and that she “continued to be afflicted with said disease, in so much, that she
has been of but little use or service to your Orator.” The petitioner further cites that the said
Sears has obtained a judgment against him for the purchase money remaining. He therefore
prays that the court “disist from the issuing executions or otherwise proceeding on the said
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Judgement so wrongfully obtained” and that Sears be summoned and “make answer to all and
singular the allegations in this bill Contained.”
1824
0785 (Accession # 21182401). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. William Thompson,
administrator of the estate of John Whittenburgh, asserts that the intestate died “considerably
indebt and no money on hand.” He informs the court that Morgan Byrne, former guardian of the
minor heirs of the estate, recently obtained a judgment ordering him to sell the slaves belonging
to the estate for payment of guardian expenses. Thompson argues that Byrne intended this
legal action to “defraud, harass, and impoverish” Whittenburgh’s estate, charging that Robert
English had replaced Bryne as guardian at the time of said suit. The petitioner prays that the
order to sell said slaves will “be rescinded can[c]elled and rendered of no effect” by the court.
0795 (Accession # 21182403). St. Louis County, Missouri. John Darby of Caldwell County,
Kentucky, established a trust “to secure to his said wife a secure and comfortable living both
during his life and afterwards if she should survive him and to provide for and advance his said
children.” This trust consisted of “a negro woman named Rachel aged about 26 years and her
three children” along with sundry household furniture. The Darbys later moved to St. Louis,
where John and his wife died in 1823. Martrom Lewis, husband of Elizabeth Darby Lewis and
guardian of Hiram Darby, prays that “the said negroes and property may be decreed to be
divided among the persons having an interest therein ... and if that be impracticable from the
nature of the property and the number of the claimants, that then the said property may be
decreed to be sold.”
0809 (Accession # 21182405). Boone County, Missouri. Mary Strode seeks a divorce from her
husband Stephen on the grounds that he has “abandoned her ... & has never since returned to
her and willfully deserts and absents himself from her ... without a reasonable cause for the
space of two years.” The decree granting the divorce cites that Stephen’s property included “a
negro man slave named Harry and a negro woman slave named Cynthia also one House and
six head of cattle now held by said Mary Strode” and that said property should “be retained by
said Mary Strode for the use and benefit of said Mary & the children of the said Mary & the said
Stephen now residing with said Mary.”
1825
0824 (Accession # 21182502). St. Louis County, Missouri. Jenney, a free woman of color,
reminds the court that she previously instituted a suit against Robert Musick for her freedom.
The court decided in her favor. Since the ruling, Jenney has borne one child, Winnette. The
petitioner reports that “Ephraim Musick the father of the said Robert seized her & her said Infant
child and yet detains them in custody, depriving them of their liberty, without any charge of a
criminal or supposed criminal nature ... without any just cause whatever.” Jenney seeks a writ of
habeas corpus directed toward the said Musick.
0840 (Accession # 21182503). St. Louis County, Missouri. Celeste, a woman of color, asserts
that her mother was a free Indian woman named Scypion. She represents that the late Joseph
Tayon claimed Scypion as his slave; however, by the laws of the “Spanish government of upper
Louisiana,” now Missouri, Scypion was a free woman. Celeste argues that her mother’s status
entitles her and her children and grandchildren to freedom, yet Lefrenier Chouvin, administrator
of the estate of Helen Chevallier, holds them in slavery, “deprived of their natural freedom, and
... subjected entirely to his will and controul.” Celeste prays that they may be permitted to sue
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“for the recovery of their freedom” and that “your Petitioners may be permitted to sue as poor
persons.”
0867 (Accession # 21182504). St. Louis County, Missouri. Isreal, a man of color, submits that
his master, William Rector, brought him to Illinois, where they lived for eighteen months. Arguing
that the laws of Illinois entitle him to freedom, Isreal prays “that he be permitted to sue as a poor
person to establish his freedom aforesaid” and that counsel be assigned to him “for that
purpose.”
0887 (Accession # 21182505). St. Louis County, Missouri. Isreal, a man of color, informs the
court that he has filed a petition for his freedom. He further reveals that “he is in the custody of
John K. Walker the sheriff of this county & ... that he is retained and advertised for sale to satisfy
several Executions in the hands of the said sheriff against a certain William Rector who sets up
a pretended claim to your petitioner as his slave, and that unless a special order is made by
your honour to have him released from confinement he will be subject to be sold, and doomed
to a lasting and ignominious slavery.” Isreal seeks a writ of habeas corpus.
0892 (Accession # 21182506). Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri. Joseph Wilkinson of Calvert
County, Maryland, made and published his last will and testament in 1820 and thereby devised
his land and slaves in the Missouri Territory to his sons, Walter, James, and Thomas Wilkinson.
James Wilkinson and his children charge that the said Walter Wilkinson obtained letters of
administration for the estate in Missouri and has since kept the land and slaves for his own use.
The petitioners suggest that at the time of Joseph’s death his estate in Missouri included
approximately thirty slaves. They also contend that Walter Wilkinson has submitted a falsified
account of the estate and has pretended to sell some or all of the estate slaves to Joseph
Pratte, Robert Brown, and Charles Valle. The petitioners seek an account of the estate and onethird
of the property and slaves.
0927 (Accession # 21182507). St. Louis County, Missouri. Mary, “a free girl of color,” states that
she is the descendant of Scypion, a free Indian woman illegally kept in slavery by Joseph
Tayon, and “that your petitioner is consequently a free person according to the laws of the land.”
She further avers that “she is in the custody and possession of the said Peirre Chouteau Senr ...
who detains your petitioner under the pretence that she is a slave.” Mary “therefore prays to be
permitted to bring her action against the said [Pierre Choteau Sr.], suing as a poor person,
according to the Statute, to recover her freedom.”
0983 (Accession # 21182508). St. Louis County, Missouri. In 1810, Genevieve Charleville
mortgaged a plot of land and a six-year-old mulatto slave named Philip to Pierre Chouteau.
Chouteau states that he took possession of the said slave after Charleville’s death in 1822. He
further reports that Charleville’s husband, Pierre Duchoquette, from whom she had been
separated, has obtained a judgment against him for recovery of Philip or his value. The
petitioner therefore prays that “the said Pierre may be enjoined from further proceeding against
your orator upon the said Judgment and that your orator shall have such further and other relief
in the Premises as to this Honorable Court shall seem meet.”
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Reel 4
Missouri cont.
1826
0002 (Accession # 21182602). St. Louis County, Missouri. The petitioners, “free persons of
colour,” maintain that they are the descendants of a free Indian woman, Marie Scypion, “whose
mother was a free native north american Indian; that the father of said Scypion was a negro
man, whose name was Scypion.” They further recount that Joseph Tayon illegally kept Marie as
a slave. Contending that Pierre Chouteau Sr. illegally detains “your petitioners in slavery,” they
pray that they may be permitted to sue as poor persons for their freedom and that they may be
assigned counsel.
0009 (Accession # 21182603). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. Fanny Waters, administratrix
of the estate of Thomas Waters, secured a loan from James Brady with three slaves. Waters
sold an additional six slaves to Brady to settle a suit initiated by Richard Davis against the
estate. The slaves were to remain in Brady’s possession until the sum was paid in full. Charles
Ramsey, administrator of Brady’s estate, notes that Fanny Waters has died and that her heirs
“took the said negro slaves in this bill mentioned out of the possession of your Orator without his
consent & without having paid your Orator ... the sum that was due said James from the estate
of said Thomas W Waters.” Ramsey therefore prays “that said heirs shall be restrained from
medling with the Estate of said deceased Thomas W Waters real or personal and that said
administrator Ellis be restrained from making distribution thereon among said heirs.” He also
asks that Ellis “shall be compelled to account with and pay your Orator the several sums due
him.”
0030 (Accession # 21182604). St. Louis County, Missouri. Joseph Jefferson, a mulatto man,
affirms that “he was born in the state or virginia from a black mother, and free white father,
whose name is Thomas Jefferson, in a state of slavery.” He reports that the said Thomas
Jefferson “sold your petitioner as a slave to one James McKnight, on condition that said
McKnight Should not hold your petitioner in slavery any longer, than till your petitioner should
arrive at the age of twenty one years of age.” He further recounts that McKnight brought him to
Missouri and sold him to Timothy McKnight. The petitioner points out that William McCutchen
“has held your petitioner ever since the death of said Timothy McKnight deceased, in his
possession and custody as his slave.” Jefferson contends that he is now twenty-seven years of
age and is “deprived of his natural freedom and personal liberty contrary to the terms of the said
contract between the said James McKnight and the said Thomas Jefferson.” He therefore asks
that he be permitted to sue as a poor person for his freedom.
0037 (Accession # 21182605). Jefferson County, Missouri. Reuben Smith, husband of Susan
Horine Smith, seeks to exercise his marital right “to an equal moiety of the personal Estate” of
his father-in-law, the late Jacob Horine. He informs the court that “the property of which he is
desirous of having a division made, & to have the one half thereof delivered to him, is as
follows—to wit negroes money bills notes bonds accounts bank stock and all other personal
property of any and every discreption of whatever discreption it may be belonging to the estate
of said Jacob Horine deceased.” He therefore prays “that by an order of your Court, the said
property may be equally divided & that the one equal half part thereof may be assigned to him.”
He notes that the other half of said property belongs to Susan’s minor brother Thomas.
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0062 (Accession # 21182606). St. Louis County, Missouri. Thirty-five-year-old John Merry cites
that he was born after the passage of the Northwest Ordinance and “that under the operation of
said ordinance he was born free and of right is free according to the laws of the land.” He
charges, however, that a certain man by the surname of Pensino “claimed and held your
petitioner in servitude, in the character of a slave, from his birth, untill within a few years past,”
when Pensino’s son, Lewis, took possession of him. Merry further asserts that he and Lewis
agreed that Lewis “should liberate & discharge your petitioner from servitude as a slave, for the
consideration of the sum of four hundred and fifty Dollars.” Shortly after said agreement, Merry
asserts that the said Lewis “seized your petitioner by main force, and put your petitioner into the
common Jail” and then transported him to New Orleans, where he was sold to Andrew
Shecksni. The petitioner reveals that he ran away after said sale and reached Illinois, where he
was seized and jailed. Now held in St. Louis by Louis Menard and Clayton Tiffin, the petitioner
“prays, that he may be permitted to produce the remainder of” the purchase price for his
freedom and that he be permitted to sue as a poor person “for the recovery of his natural liberty
and freedom.” [A portion of the petition is missing.]
1827
0076 (Accession # 21182702). St. Louis County, Missouri. Francois LaGrange, “a free man of
color,” avers that his master, Pascal Cerre, sold him to Pierre Menard of Kaskaskia, Illinois, in
1815. LaGrange cites that he lived in Illinois for two or three months until Menard “sent your
petitioner, on board of a boat, bound for New Orleans, to serve as a hand.” He further reports
that he returned to Illinois after being “absent from Kaskaskia five or six months on said voyage”
and that he lived with Menard for another two or three months until “he was sent to St Louis and
sold to Pratte, Berthold, Chouteau, and Cabanne, who now hold your petitioner in bondage as a
slave contrary to the laws of this land.” Asserting that his residency in Illinois entitles him to
freedom, the petitioner prays “to be permitted to institute suit in the Circuit Court for his freedom,
and that he may be permitted to sue as a poor person.”
0086 (Accession # 21182703). St. Louis County, Missouri. Theotiste, a woman of color,
represents that she was born in Prairie Durocher, Illinois, into the possession of P. Bourbeau.
She informs the court that she remained with the Bourbeau family until 1817 or 1818, when he
sold her to Manuel Lisa of Missouri; after Lisa’s death, Pierre Chouteau Jr. bought Theotiste at
public auction. Theotiste charges that her residency in Illinois, from her birth until 1817 or 1818,
entitles her to her freedom. She therefore prays that she “be allowed and permitted to institute
suit for her freedom ... and that she be permitted to sue as a poor person.”
0097 (Accession # 21182704). St. Louis County, Missouri. John Singleton, a man of color,
submits that his mother, Phillis Singleton, was emancipated in Illinois prior to his birth. He
recounts that he has lived as a free man in Illinois, “having been reared there from his birth to
manhood,” until about six years ago when Jeptha Lamkins kidnapped him, took him to Alabama,
and sold him to Zachariah Neal. Singleton cites that he sued Neal for his freedom; however,
Henry Bryon took him to New Orleans and sold him before the suit was decided. The petitioner
states that Robert Lewis shortly thereafter took possession of him and claimed him as his slave.
Singleton reveals that he ran away, boarded the steamboat America (commanded by Alexander
Scott), and sailed to St. Louis, where he was arrested and jailed as a runaway slave. Singleton
charges that Scott, acting as Lewis’s agent, had him arrested and plans to return him to Lewis in
New Orleans. The petitioner seeks a writ of habeas corpus and permission to sue as a poor
person for his freedom against Alexander Scott and Robert Lewis.
0107 (Accession # 21182705). St. Louis County, Missouri. Molly, “a free girl of colour,”
represents that she was the slave of Frances and Colonel Elias Rector of Kentucky. She
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informs the court that Rector took her to Illinois and promised to emancipate her after four years
of service. He then took her to St. Louis, where she resided for three or four years before
returning to Illinois. Molly maintains that Rector sold her to his brother, Stephen Rector, just
before his death, and “told said Stephen in the presence of your petitioner that she your
petitioner should be free at the expiration of four years from the time of said sale.” The petitioner
charges that she stayed with Steven Rector for more than four years, living with him in Illinois
for one year, before he sold her to John Bivens of Missouri. Molly therefore prays that she “be
permitted to bring suit as a poor person, for the recovery of her natural freedom and liberty” and
that counsel be assigned to her.
0114 (Accession # 21182706). Boone County, Missouri. Robert Lemon, formerly of Scott
County, Kentucky, states that he sold four slaves to his son-in-law, John Spence, in May 1823
to protect them from the debts of his son, John Lemon. He reports that Spence moved the
slaves to Boone County, Missouri, where he died in September 1823, leaving a widow and two
children in Kentucky. Spence’s widow Betsy and brother Andrew became administrators for the
intestate’s estate. The petitioner avers that he and the Spence family then moved to Boone
County, Missouri, where he took possession of three of the slaves. Lemon asserts that his son
Andrew and Betsy Spence “have never regarded the said negroes as the property of or
belonging to the estate of John Spence decd. and have not inventoried or pretended to exercise
any control whatever over them.” However, the petitioner charges that they “refuse to reconvey
to your Orator the negroes afsd.” The petitioner asks the court to summon Andrew and Betsy
Spence to answer the petition and to compel them “to pay to your Orator the prices named in
the bill of sale for the negroes afsd. or reconvey to your Orator the negroes afsd.”
0123 (Accession # 21182707). St. Louis County, Missouri. Peter, a man of color, states that “he
was born a slave in the family of William Walton and about seventeen years since was taken to
the state of Illinois by and with the permission of said William Walton in which state of Illinois he
continued to reside with Edward Lansford [Lunsford] who married the daughter of William
Walton.” When Lansford and his wife separated, Mrs. Lansford moved to Missouri, taking Peter
with her. Now in the possession of James Walton, Peter asserts that his residency in Illinois
entitles him to his freedom. He therefore “prays your honor may make an order authorizing him
to commence & prosecute a suit for his freedom.”
0137 (Accession # 21182708). St. Louis County, Missouri. “Milly, a free mulatto woman Harry
Dick a free black man or negro, William a black negro boy aged about twelve years, David
Shipman a mulatto boy aged about three or four years and an infant child of said Milly
represents that your petitioners were heretofore the slaves of David Shipman, who formerly
resided in Kentucky.” They cite that Shipman moved to Indiana in the fall of 1826, taking them
with him, and that he emancipated them in October. They further note that Shipman and they
moved to Illinois, where “your petitioners resided in the same place exercising their freedom
without the control of any person” until January 1827, when Stephen Smith seized them and
claimed them as his property. The Illinois Circuit Court discharged the petitioners from his
custody, and they “were then free and unmolested, and continued to reside with their late
master David Shipman” until early May. On the night of 4 May, “they were again seized by said
Smith assisted by others and violently taken away in the nighttime, and carried by compulsion to
the City of St. Louis.” Milly and the other petitioners pray “that they and each of them may be
permitted to sue as paupers to establish their freedom.”
0170 (Accession # 21182710). St. Louis County, Missouri. Aspasia, “a free woman of color,”
represents that “she is detained and restrained of her liberty in the custody of Sullivan Blood
constable of ... St Louis.” She proclaims that “she is not thus detained and restrained of her
liberty for any criminal or Supposed criminal matter.” Aspasia asks the court to issue a writ of
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habeas corpus “to be directed to the Said Sullivan Blood, commanding him on a day certain, to
have the body of Your Petitioner before Your Honorable court.”
1828
0186 (Accession # 21182801). St. Louis County, Missouri. Paul, a man of color, asserts that he
has recently filed a suit for his freedom and that he “fears that he will not receive a fair trial in the
said court in which said suit is now pending.” He contends that the judge is “prejudiced against
the petitioner & his claim to freedom so that he cannot and does not expect a fair and impartial
Trial.” The petitioner therefore “prays a change of Venue & that said cause may be sent &
certified to some other county for trial.”
0192 (Accession # 21182802). St. Louis County, Missouri. Helen, a woman of color, has
initiated a suit against Pierre Chouteau Sr. for her freedom, but she “verily beleives the Judge of
this Court is prejudiced against her and her claim to freedom so that she cannot and does not
expect a fair trial of her said cause.” The petitioner therefore “prays this Court to award a
change of venue in said cause to some other Court and County where the cause complained of
does not exist.”
0201 (Accession # 21182803). Cole County, Missouri. John Inglish has recently sued Jabash
Murray for physically abusing Cato, a slave belonging to Inglish. Murray charges that Inglish has
“undue influence over the minds of the inhabitants of the County of Cole.” Of the opinion that he
cannot receive a fair trial, Murray petitions the court for a change of venue.
0207 (Accession # 21182804). St. Louis County, Missouri. Matilda, “a free girl of color,” states
that she was born in 1807 in Prairie Durocher, Illinois. She reports that Susan Lacount
[Lacompt] held her in slavery there “untill about ten years since, when she was delivered over
by said Mrs. Lacount ... to Philip Rocheblave of St. Louis, as his slave.” Matilda affirms that
“your petitioner is infarmed, and so believes the fact to be, that being born in the Territory, (now
State) of Illinois, She is now held and detained in Slavery contrary to the law of the land.” She
seeks permission to sue as a poor person for her freedom against the Rocheblaves. She also
asks the court to pass orders to ensure that she is not removed from the court’s jurisdiction, that
she have reasonable freedom to meet with her lawyer and attend court, and that she not be
“subject to any severe treatment on account of her application for freedom.”
0221 (Accession # 21182805). St. Louis County, Missouri. Dolly, “a colored woman about 40
years of age,” informs the court that “she is now held in slavery by a certain John Young & your
petitioner humbly conceiving that she is entitled to her right to freedom prays that she may be
permitted to institute a suit (as a poor person) for the purpose of obtaining the same and that
Counsel may be assigned her.” Dolly cites “that the ground upon which she claims her freedom
is that the said John Young conveyed her to the French River mines in the North Western
Territory & kept and detained her there six months contrary to the laws, usages & customs of
that Country.”
0236 (Accession # 21182806). St. Louis County, Missouri. Dolly is a woman of color held in
slavery by John Young. She began a suit “to establish her right to freedom,” but “the threats and
declarations of the said John Young” make her fear that Young will treat her “severely” and
remove her from the state before the trial of her case. Dolly asks the court to issue “a writ of
Habeas Corpus” and to compel Young to give bond that he will not mistreat or remove her.
0244 (Accession # 21182807). St. Louis County, Missouri. George Relfe represents that he
“was born a slave in the State of Virginia the property of one James Duff.” When Duff’s daughter
married James Relfe, Duff gave George to the couple. Shortly thereafter Relfe moved to
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Missouri and then to Illinois, taking seventeen-year-old George with him. While in Illinois, James
Relfe “recognized your petitioner to be free” and asked him to sign a labor contract stipulating
that he would work for James Relfe until he reached the age of twenty-eight. Unfortunately,
George could not read and “has since learned that said writing if valid would bind him to serve
said Relfe ninety nine years.” Now in Missouri, the petitioner cites that James Relfe admitted the
contract was invalid and “accordingly about a year or more ago ... informed your petitioner that
he was free and suffered him to go at large and act as a free man which your petitioner did for
several months.” However, George charges that Relfe, “contriving how to cheat your petitioner
out of the right which he had acquired,” asked his father-in-law “to reclaim your petitioner, and
make sale of him.” Duff did so, through an agent, selling George to Augustus Jones, who sold
him to Thompson H. Ficklin. The petitioner “upon the facts aforesaid claims his freedom and
prays that he may be permitted to sue as a poor person to establish his freedom.”
0253 (Accession # 21182808). St. Louis County, Missouri. Twenty-five-year-old Susette
petitions on behalf of herself and her three children, John, Angelique, and Edmund, and states
that Nicholas Beauvais “held and claimed her as a slave from the time of her birth until his
death, which happened sometime in the year Eighteen hundred and fourteen or fifteen.” Susette
recounts that “she fell to the lot of Julie Jarrot, the daughter of said Beauvais” when Beauvais’s
estate was divided among his heirs. She further notes that the Jarrots lived in Illinois, resulting
in her conveyance “to the town of Cahokia in the State of Illinois.” She cites that she has been
sold several times in Illinois and that she is currently detained as a slave by John Reynolds.
Susette “is advised and believes that neither she nor her children, who were all, born since your
petitioner was taken to the state of Illinois, can legally be held in slavery.” She therefore prays
that she and her children “may sue as poor persons to establish their freedom.”
1829
0267 (Accession # 21182901). St. Louis County, Missouri. In 1827, Peter sued James Walton
for his freedom. When the case came to trial, several of Peter’s witnesses failed to appear. The
Waltons convinced Peter that he could prove his case on the basis of their testimony, so Peter
let the case go forward instead of requesting a continuance. He lost and motioned for a new trial
based on the conduct of the Waltons and the lack of crucial witnesses. Peter now petitions the
circuit court again, stating that he was born in North Carolina, “the property of Wm. Walton.” He
notes that Walton moved with him to Missouri around 1808; a year later, Walton gave Peter to
his daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and Edward Lunsford [Lansford]. He informs the court
that the Lunsfords took him to Illinois, where he stayed for two years. Currently held as a slave
by James Walton of St. Louis, Peter “is advised and believ[es] he is entitled to his freedom.” He
therefore prays “that he may be permitted to sue in forma pauperis to establish his right thereto.”
0300 (Accession # 21182902). St. Louis County, Missouri. Milly, a woman of color, states “that
she was born in the State of Maryland the property of one Lee.” She declares that Lee sold her
to Moses Bigsby, who moved her to Ohio, where she lived for approximately fifteen months.
Milly informs the court that “she is now held in slavery by Wiley Williams in the county of St.
Louis, and state of Missouri.” Advised that she is entitled to her freedom, the petitioner prays
“that she may be permitted to sue as a poor person to establish her right thereto.”
0307 (Accession # 21182903). St. Louis County, Missouri. Vincent, a man of color, states that
his master, Jesse Duncan of Kentucky, hired him out in Illinois in 1815 or 1816. He reports that
the said Duncan died in 1818 or 1819 and that his heirs—James, John, and Coleman Duncan—
continued to hire him out in that state. Vincent informs the court that the Duncans carried him to
Missouri in 1826, where they have hired him out for the past three years. The petitioner, fearful
of being taken to New Orleans and sold, argues that he is entitled to his freedom. He therefore
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prays that “he may be permitted to institute suit as a poor person to establish his freedom that
counsel may be assigned to him & that such order may be made for his security as the Law &
his case requires.”
0335 (Accession # 21182904). St. Louis County, Missouri. Vincent Duncan, a man of color,
maintains that his owner, Jesse Duncan, hired him out in Illinois from 1816 until 1819. The
petitioner points out that the said Jesse died in 1819 and that his heirs continued to hire him out
in Illinois. In 1826, Coleman Duncan (one of Jesse’s heirs) carried Vincent into Missouri and
hired him for a year to a free man of color named Jerry, otherwise known as Jerry Duncan. The
petitioner argues that his years of work in Illinois entitle him to his freedom. He “therefore prays
that he may by order of your honor be permitted to institute his suit for Freedom & prosecute it
as a poor person.”
0342 (Accession # 21182905). St. Louis County, Missouri. Carey Ewton, “a free man of colour
held in slavery,” declares that “he was born as a slave in the family of one Robertson” in 1790 in
Petersburg, Virginia. He relates that he was sold in 1800 or 1801 “in & by virtue of an execution
against said Robertson” to Richard Cox, who took him to Washington County, Kentucky. The
petitioner points out that he was bought and sold by several men over the next twenty-eight
years and taken to several states; from 1818 or 1819 until 1824 or 1825, he worked in the Fever
River Lead Mines in Illinois. Carey reports that William Ewton [Ooton] eventually bought him and
held him in bondage until his death in 1826 or 1827, whereupon Benjamin Wilder bought him at
the estate sale. Carey Ewton argues that the years he lived and worked in Illinois entitle him to
his freedom. He therefore asks the court to let him sue as a poor person for his freedom, to
appoint counsel for him, and to ensure that he is allowed to prosecute his case.
0351 (Accession # 21182909). St. Louis County, Missouri. “The petition of Nicholas Jones
respecfully sheweth that he is detained in custody as a slave by John W Honey and John H Gay
illegally because he is entitled to his freedom. The said Nicholas says that he is entitled to his
freedom because he was by his former master Trueman Tyler of Prince George’ County
maryland regularly emancipated many years since ... according to the laws of the State of
Mayland. The Said Nicholas prays that he may be permitted to Sue as a poor person.”
[Transcription of petition.]
0368 (Accession # 21182910). St. Louis County, Missouri. Maria Whiten, a woman of color,
explains “that she was born a slave in the state of Virginia and was the property of Jesse
Whiten.” She reports that Whiten moved to Kentucky in 1828 and then to Illinois, taking her and
her infant son, Patrick Henry, with him. She further cites that Whiten hired himself and her to
Abraham Granger and “established himself with your petitioner in December 1828 in the state of
Illinois.” The petitioner reveals that Jesse Whiten, “on his death bed called upon witnesses and
declared that it was his desire and his last will and testament that your petitioner and her infant
child should be free.” She asserts that “from the death of the said Jesse Whiten until within a
few days your petitioner has resided in the state of Illinois considered to be and acting as a free
woman.” Whiten informs the court that Garland Rucker recently kidnapped her and her son and
now holds them as slaves in Missouri, “endeavoring to sell them as slaves.” The petitioner asks
the court’s permission to press suit as a poor person for her freedom.
0378 (Accession # 21182911). St. Louis County, Missouri. Patrick Henry, an infant boy of color
and represented by his mother and next friend, Maria Whiten, contends that Garland Rucker
kidnapped him and his mother and is holding them as slaves. He puts forth that he was born a
slave in Virginia, the property of Jesse Whiten. He further cites that they moved to Kentucky and
then to Illinois, while under Whiten’s ownership. The petitioner states that before his death in
February 1829, the said Whiten “called upon witnesses and declared that it was his desire and
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his last will & testament that your petitioner and his mother should be free.” Patrick Henry
declares that he lived as a free person in Illinois until kidnapped by Rucker. He seeks
permission “to institute suit by his next friend in forma pauperis to establish his right to freedom.”
0389 (Accession # 21182913). Boone County, Missouri. Amos Barnes reports that he
purchased “a certain negro boy slave” from Benjamin Cave on 21 January 1828, with the
understanding “that the said slave was sound and healthy in body and mind except that said
slave was frost bitten in the Toes of one foot.” He notes that he purchased the slave for $375
and sold the slave to David Williams a week later. Barnes relates that the slave died of
consumption later that year and that Williams “demands of your Orator the said purchase
money paid by him to your Orator.” He further cites that Cave has also filed suit to obtain the
money owed for the slave, plus interest and court costs. The petitioner avers that Cave has won
his suit, and he fears that he will try to collect on the judgment soon. Alleging that Cave “well
knew that slave was afflicted with the said disease called the consumption and that said slave
then was and ever would be of no use or value,” Barnes prays that Cave may be restrained
from “all further proceedings in said Judgment until final hearing of this Cause.”
1830
0425 (Accession # 21183001). St. Louis County, Missouri. Joe, “a black man,” informs the court
that his master, Coleman Duncan, allowed him to be taken from Kentucky three years ago “to
Galena in Illinois where he was held as a slave & has been held as a slave till this present time.”
In addition, for six or seven years in succession, James Duncan hired Joe out to work in the salt
works for two or three months each fall. While in Illinois, Joe sued James Duncan for his
freedom, but the suit was dismissed due to the fact that Coleman Duncan is his owner. The
petitioner therefore “insists that he is free & that he is entiled to sue as a pauper for the
obtainment of the judgment of the Court to that effect.”
0434 (Accession # 21183002). St. Louis County, Missouri. Matilda, a woman of color under the
age of twenty-one, asserts that she was born on 16 March 1810 in Illinois to Sarah, a free
woman of color. She recounts that she lived in Illinois until about two months ago, when Charles
St. Vrain brought her to Missouri. Noting that St. Vrain “now holds your Petitioner in Slavery,”
Matilda prays “that She may be permitted to Sue as a poor person to Establish her freedom that
Counsel may be assigned to her that her mother Sarah may be appointed her next friend ... &
that Such order may be made for her personal Security as her case requires & the Law
provides.”
0441 (Accession # 21183003). St. Louis County, Missouri. Ralph, a man of color, relates that
James Duncan hired him out in Illinois and the Michigan Territory. He further reveals that he
sued Duncan for his freedom in Illinois; however, the court dismissed the suit because Coleman
Duncan was Ralph’s actual owner. Ralph reports that Coleman Duncan fled the state before a
suit could be filed against him and that James Duncan then kidnapped him and brought him to
St. Louis. The petitioner fears that “it is the intention of said James & Coleman to take your
petitioner to some place where the fact of his freedom is unknown & sell him for a slave.” He
therefore prays that “he may be permitted to sue as a poor person to establish his freedom” and
that he may be assigned counsel and “that such order may be made ... in his behalf as his
personal safety requires.”
0464 (Accession # 21183004). St. Louis County, Missouri. Jack represents that “he was born in
africa, was brought from Africa to South Carolina, was brought from South Carolina to the City
of Saint Louis” by David Williamson, who sold him to Charles Collins. He further asserts that
Collins sold him to a man named English and “the said English took him to Carolton in the State
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of Illinois” in 1829. The petitioner reports that he resided in Illinois for twelve months before
Collins took him back to St. Louis, where he now resides. Noting that “he is still held in slavery
by the said Charles Collins,” Jack prays “that he may be permited to sue in forma pauperis to
establish his right” to freedom.
1831
0472 (Accession # 21183101). St. Louis County, Missouri. Jonathan and Gilbert Duncan, men
of color, charge that Coleman Duncan seized Gilbert and held him as a slave. They further
contend that Coleman offered to sell Gilbert to Jonathan and “threatened that if Said Jonathan
would not purchase Said Gilbert to take said Gilbert to Some other place & sell him as a Slave.”
Believing that Coleman had a title to Gilbert, Jonathan admits that he agreed to give Coleman
$100 in advance; he and Gilbert then signed a promissory note for an additional $300. The
petitioners argue that Gilbert was entitled to his freedom long before these transactions were
made. They assert that Coleman falsely imprisoned Gilbert and held him as a slave and that
Edward Tracy and Charles Wahrendorff now hold the bond for $300. The petitioners seek an
injunction preventing Tracy and Wahrendorff from suing them for payment and that “Said Bond
may be delivered up & cancelled.”
0489 (Accession # 21183102). St. Louis County, Missouri. Twenty-four-year-old Nelly Richards,
a woman of color, represents “that she was born in Charles County Maryland, lived there until
she was fourteen years old the property of Kitty Middleton at whose death she was left free.”
After Middleton’s death, Richards reports that she was sent to Middleton’s son-in-law, William
Sewel, in Virginia. The petitioner submits that Sewel then moved her to Indianapolis, Indiana,
“where your Petitioner was allowed freedom by the Judgment of the Court of that State.”
Richard asserts, however, that Sewel then moved her to Louisville, Kentucky, and later to St.
Louis, where he continues to hold her as his slave. Richards “is advised and believes that she is
entitled to her freedom and therefore your petitioner prays that she may be permited to sue in
forma pauperis to establish her right thereto.”
0497 (Accession # 21183103). St. Louis County, Missouri. Carey, a man of color, represents
that “about nine years ago your Petitioner was the Slave of one Thomas J Hughes.” He informs
the court that Hughes brought him to Galena, Illinois, “for the purpose of employing your
Petitioner in the mining business there”; they returned to St. Louis after six weeks. Carey
charges that “he is now held in Slavery by Benjamin Wilder” and that Wilder “talks of selling &
sending your Petitioner to some distant place & your petitioner is afraid he will do so.” Arguing
that his residency in Illinois entitles him to his freedom, Carey prays “that he may be permitted
to institute Suit for his freedom as a poor person” and that “counsel may be assigned to him to
prosecute his suit.”
0514 (Accession # 21183104). St. Louis County, Missouri. Thirty-year-old Mariquette, a woman
of color, informs the court that she was born in Kaskaskia, Illinois. She further asserts that “she
was purchased when an infant” and taken to Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, and that “she has
continued to reside in this state from that time until now held as a slave.” Pointing out that
Samuel McKinney purchased her about six or seven months ago, Mariquette maintains that
“she has a claim to and is entitled to her freedom.” She therefore prays that “she may be
permitted to institute suit to establish her right to freedom.”
0526 (Accession # 21183105). St. Louis County, Missouri. Jane, a woman of color, states that
her former master, Colonel Richard B. Dallam of Maryland, brought her to Kentucky and
manumitted her. She lived as a free woman until Dallam’s death ten or fifteen years later. The
petitioner points out that Dallam’s son, William Dallam, recently brought her to St. Louis and
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claims her as his slave. Jane “is confident that if she shall be allowed to institute suit for her
freedom as a poor person that she will be able to establish her right thereto by legal evidence.”
She therefore “prays that she may be allowed to sue as a poor person and that this honorable
Court will assign her counsel to prosecute her suit for her.”
0538 (Accession # 21183106). St. Louis County, Missouri. Twenty-one-year-old Thenia, a
woman of color, petitions on behalf of herself and her three-year-old mulatto daughter,
Charlotte. She represents that “she was born in Kentucky, the slave of one Mr Bozier,” who
gave her to his son-in-law, Jacob Weaver, while she was still a child. About four or five years
ago, Weaver moved Thenia and his family to Illinois. For a short time, they lived near
Waggoner’s Point and then moved to “half breed country,” where Charlotte was born. The
petitioner asserts that “for several years past Mr Weaver occasionally expressed the intention of
selling your petitioner, but was prevented by the opposition of his wife, in whose right he at first
obtained her.” She now notes that Mrs. Weaver has recently died and that Jacob carried her
and Charlotte to St. Louis, selling them to Green Crowder, a slave trader, who placed them in
jail until he could take them to the “Southern market.” Thenia argues “that, by reason of her
residence in Illinois as aforesaid, she & her child are entitled to their freedom.” She therefore
prays that they “may be permitted to sue as poor persons, in the common form of law.”
0548 (Accession # 21183107). St. Louis County, Missouri. Tenor Washington, a woman of
color, represents that she was born a slave, the property of Cage B. Gill of Virginia. She further
recounts that Gill carried her to St. Louis and sold her to Henry Scott, who “by and with the
consent of the said Henry your petitioner was taken in his presence” from St. Louis to Lebanon,
Illinois, where she lived for over a year with Jeremiah Johnson before returning to St. Louis. She
informs the court that Johnson plans to return to Illinois, so Henry Scott’s brother, John Scott,
now claims her as a slave. Washington contends “that the above facts entitle her to institute suit
in forma pauperis to establish her right to freedom and that your honor will make such order as
the law authorises to protect her while that said suit is pending.”
0559 (Accession # 21183108). St. Louis County, Missouri. John, a person of color, informs the
court that his mother Susan [Susett] was born in Missouri and was later “taken to the State of
Illinois about fifteen years since and during her residence there your petitioner was born.” He
represents that he was removed to Missouri shortly after his birth and was later “taken again to
Illinois ... where your petitioner was sold.” John avers that William Campbell “has for seven
years past and does now hold and restrain your petitioner as a slave.” He “further represents
that said Campbell as he says is on his way ... with your petitioner to Washington City but he
has reason to fear he may be conveying him to New Orleans for Sale.” John therefore prays
that “he may be permitted to sue as a poor person that he may establish his right to his
freedom.”
0583 (Accession # 21183109). St. Louis County, Missouri. Julia, a woman of color, reports that
“she was born in the state of Tennissee the slave of Asa [Carrington], about twenty five years
since.” She further relates that Carrington moved her to Kentucky, where he later died, and that
Carrington’s widow and his son Joseph brought her to Illinois, where they established residency.
The petitioner points out that “the said Joseph Carrington brought her to the city of St Louis and
state of Missouri and sold her as a slave for life to one Samuel McKinney where she is now
living.” Believing that “the above transactions and events entitle her to freedom,” Julia “prays
she may be permitted to sue in forma pauperis to establish her right to her freedom.”
0605 (Accession # 21183110). St. Louis County, Missouri. Dunky, a woman of color, represents
“that she was born in Africa from which place she was shiped by persons unknown to her, and
landed at Charleston in the State of South Carolina about twenty years ago.” She further
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recounts that Alcorn Beard and James Bryon brought her to Kaskaskia, Illinois, where “she was
delivered to William Morrison at the place last aforesaid whom she served as an indented
servant”; in September 1830, “she was delivered to Andrew Hay,” who kept her in Kaskaskia
until 3 April 1831, “at which time he removed her to the city of St. Louis ... where he the said
Andrew Hay holds your Petitioner in servitude.” Believing “that she is justly entitled to her
freedom,” the petitioner “prays that she may be permited to prossecute for the same in the
circuit court of the county of Saint Louis and State aforesaid in forma pauperis and that Stephen
W Foreman & Geo D Shaw be assigned as counsel.”
0624 (Accession # 21183111). St. Louis County, Missouri. Vina, a woman of color, asserts that
“she was brought some years since to the state of Missouri by a man named Mitchel and
afterwards taken to the state of Illinois where she obtained her freedom and that for several
years she has lived both in the state of Illinois and in the state of Missouri as a free person.” She
further notes that she has lived “free” in St. Louis since 1827. Vina informs the court that an
agent of Martin Mitchell had her “comited to jail as a run away slave.” The petitioner prays that
“she may be permited to sue as a poor person to establish her right to freedom and that your
honor will make the proper order to protect her from removal from the jurisdiction of this court
while the said suit shall be pending.”
0634 (Accession # 21183113). St. Louis County, Missouri. Margaret, Henry, and Sally, “persons
of colour,” represent that they are the infant children of Jane, who has also instituted a suit for
freedom. They inform the court that Jane’s owner, Colonel Richard B. Dallam, freed Jane and
that she lived as a free woman for ten to fifteen years in the same town and neighborhood as
her former master. The petitioners assert that they were born after the date of Jane’s
manumission. They further reveal that William Dallam, son of the late Col. Richard Dallam,
recently brought them and their mother to St. Louis, claiming them as his slaves. The children
allege that Dallam is “making preparations to carry off your petitioners to the South beyond the
reach of assistance & where it will be impossble for them to assert thier right to freedom.” They
therefore “pray that they may severally be permitted to sue as poor persons by thier next friend
George Brown, and that your honour will assign them counsel to prosecute their suits for
freedom.”
0655 (Accession # 21183114). St. Louis County, Missouri. Louisa, “a girl of color aged nine
years,” petitions by her next friend, Silas L. Duvall, and represents that she was born a slave in
Virginia. She further explains that the said Duvall, her owner, gave her to his son-in-law,
Sanford Calvert, in 1829; shortly thereafter, Calvert took her to Galena, Illinois, where they
remained until the fall of 1831, at which time “the said Calvert brought your petitioner to the city
of St Louis state of Missouri where she has since resided.” Louisa contends “that the above
facts entitle her to freedom and that she is unlawfully held in slavery by the said Sanford
Calvert.” She therefore prays “that she may be permited to sue in forma pauperis to establish
her right to freedom and that your honor will make the necessary orders to prevent your
petitioner from being removed from the jurisdiction of this court.”
0680 (Accession # 21183115). St. Louis County, Missouri. Anna, a woman of color, represents
that Thomas Higginbottom gave her to his daughter “as a portion of what [he] intended to give
her” upon her marriage to John Parkinson. The petitioner informs the court that the Parkinsons
moved to Illinois in the summer of 1830, taking her with them “with the knowledge & approbation
of Said Higginbottom.” Anna relates that she lived there until Higginbottom reclaimed her about
July 1831. The petitioner charges that she is now being offered for sale and that Higginbottom
plans to sell her “to some one who will take her to New Orleans or some distant place so as to
prevent her from suing for freedom and proving her right thereto.” Currently “in the possession &
under the power” of Pleasant Rose, Anna asks that “a writ of Habeas corpus may issue
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requiring said Rose to bring your Petitioner before the Court” and that “she may be permitted to
sue for her freedom as a poor person.”
1832
0689 (Accession # 21183201). St. Louis County, Missouri. Anson and Michael, children of color,
represent that their mother Matilda obtained her freedom more than thirteen years ago, “so
adjudged by the courts of Missouri under the territorial government.” They further recount that
she moved to Illinois, where they were born and where they lived “free and at liberty until this
day,” when they were “forcibly taken” from Illinois to St. Louis by Elijah Mitchel [Mitchell] and
others. Contending that they are “now claimed as slaves,” the petitioners fear they will be
removed “by force beyond the jurisdiction of this court and state.” Anson and Michael therefore
“pray that they may be authorised to sue to establish their right to freedom” and that a writ of
habeas corpus may issue “to prevent them being conveyed from the said jurisdiction.”
0703 (Accession # 21183202). St. Louis County, Missouri. Nathan, a child of color, petitions by
his mother and next friend Lydia and asserts that his mother once was the slave of Elisha
Mitchel [Mitchell]. He states that Mitchel brought his mother into Illinois in 1807, where he died
in 1808. Nathan informs the court that Mitchel’s widow Jenny administered his estate in St. Clair
County, Illinois, and that she attempted to claim Lydia as a slave of the estate, despite their
residence in Illinois. The petitioner points out that Lydia filed a “Suit of tresspass assault &
Battery & false imprisonment” against Jenny Mitchel in 1809 and won, thereby gaining her
freedom. Nathan argues that he was born in Illinois after Lydia won her case and “has always
been a free person & so regarded” until yesterday when Alexander Fields and others took
Nathan “in the night” and transported him to St. Louis. Fearing that Fields will remove him from
the court’s jurisdiction, the petitioner prays “that he may be permitted to sue as a poor person to
Establish his freedom” and that other proceedings may be ordered “as will Secure the personal
Safety of your Petitioner.”
0716 (Accession # 21183203). St. Louis County, Missouri. Sam, a person of color, maintains
that his mother, Lydia Titus, was the slave of Elisha Mitchell [Mitchel] and that Mitchell brought
Lydia into the Illinois Territory in 1807. He reveals that Mitchell died shortly thereafter and that
his widow Jenny Mitchell administered the estate in St. Clair County, Illinois, attempting to claim
Lydia as a slave of the estate, despite their residence in Illinois. Sam reports that his mother
filed a suit for her freedom against Jenny Mitchell in 1809 and that the court granted her
request. The petitioner argues that he was born after this suit and that the family has “enjoyed
their freedom in the territory and state of Illinois until yesterday when they were arrested
imprisoned and seized as slaves by one Alexander P Fields Elijah Mitchel & others.” Alleging
that Fields, Mitchel, and others “threaten and intend immediately to remove your petitioner out
of this state to prevent his asserting his right to freedom, and to hold or sell him as a slave
elsewhere,” the petitioner prays that “he may be allowed to sue as a poor person” to establish
his right to freedom.
0726 (Accession # 21183204). Boone County, Missouri. Tom, a man of color, represents that he
made a contract to purchase his freedom for $350 from Peter Wright earlier in the year.
Because “doubts was entertained as to the power & ability of your orator to make said contract,”
Tom reveals that he persuaded James Wright and Mr. Field to act as his agents to complete the
transaction. Charging that his agents paid the money and witnessed and received the deed, the
petitioner states that Peter Wright, several days later, enticed James Wright to return the deed
by offering to file it with the court and “save (said Jas. Wright & Field ... the trouble of going to
Court.” Tom reports, however, that Wright concealed the deed instead and never filed it. Of the
belief that Wright’s “unjust and iniquitous” actions have “deprived [him] of the evidince of his
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freedom,” the petitioner prays that Wright be subpoenaed and that the court will “order & decree
that said defendant deliver up to this Complainant said deed of emancipation.”
0734 (Accession # 21183205). St. Louis County, Missouri. Jack, an enslaved man, informs the
court that his owner, Jack Fulton, transported him, at age nine, from Kentucky to Kaskaskia,
Illinois, where he remained for a year until his owner died. He reports that Joseph Barton
purchased him at the sale of Fulton’s personal estate and that he lived with Barton for nine
years in Illinois and three years in Missouri. He further cites that Barton’s widow inherited him
when Barton died and that he has served her, dividing his time between Illinois and Missouri.
Jack now believes that Mrs. Barton sold him in April to the firm of Glasgow, Ross and Company,
where William Glasgow holds him as the company’s property. The petitioner prays “your Honor
to permit him under the laws of the State of Missouri to sue for his freedom.”
0748 (Accession # 21183206). St. Louis County, Missouri. Susan, a fourteen-year-old enslaved
girl, attests that she was born in Kaskaskia, Illinois, around 1818 to Dunkey [Dunky], “a native
African” owned by William Morrison [Morreson]. She explains that Morrison gave Susan to his
daughter when she married Andrew Hay and that Hay later sold her to Lemon Parker in Galena,
Illinois. The petitioner points out that Parker then brought her to St. Louis, where he holds her as
a slave “well knowing her to be free.” Susan asks the court’s permission “to sue as a poor
person, to establish her right to freedom.”
0757 (Accession # 21183208). St. Louis County, Missouri. Marianne, a person of color, sues by
her next friend and mother, Lydia Titus, stating that Lydia was once owned by one Elisha
Mitchel [Mitchell]. She informs the court that Mitchel moved to Illinois in 1807, taking Lydia with
him. She further asserts that upon Mitchel’s death her mother sued and received her freedom in
Illinois from Mitchel’s widow, who was the administratrix of the estate. Marianne maintains that
Lydia remained in Illinois, where she had several children (including the petitioner). She insists
that she and her siblings lived “in the uninterrupted injoyment of [their] liberty” until a few days
ago when Alexander P. Fields and Elijah Mitchel had her arrested, imprisoned, and brought to
St. Louis, where she is detained as a slave. Citing that Fields and Mitchel “threaten and intend
to remove her immediately out of this state and hold or sell her as a slave,” Marianne “prays that
she may be allowed to sue as a poor person” to establish her freedom.
0792 (Accession # 21183211). St. Louis County, Missouri. Leah, a woman of color, claims that
Arthur Mitchel has claimed her as a slave for the past five or six years and that “she is Justly &
Legally entitled to her freedom.” She recounts that Mitchel moved her from Kentucky to Ohio
with his family and that he leased a farm there and “continued to employ your Petitioner in said
State of Ohio on said Farm for about six months in said year 1817.” Leah further asserts that
she sued for her freedom in Ohio in 1826 and was declared by the court of common pleas to be
free. The petitioner informs the court that Mitchel continues to hold her and her children in
slavery “in defiance of Said Judgement & discharge” and that he plans to move from Missouri
and is “endeavoring to sell” her and her children. Leah therefore seeks permission “to sue as a
poor person to establish her freedom,” the appointment of counsel for her, and a writ of habeas
corpus to compel Mitchel to produce her and her two children Archibald and Brunette before the
court.
0805 (Accession # 21183213). St. Louis County, Missouri. Mahala, a woman of color, attests
that she was born in the state of Illinois and has been free since her birth. She further avers that
her mother, also a free woman of color, was hired by the late Elisha Mitchel [Mitchell]. The
petitioner informs the court that Martin Mitchel, who claims to be the executor of Elijah Mitchel’s
estate, has had her arrested as a runaway slave belonging to the estate. She therefore prays
that she be permitted to sue as a poor person to establish her freedom and that counsel be
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appointed for her. Fearing that Mitchel will try to remove her to thwart her suit, Mahala also
requests a writ of habeas corpus and asks the court to compel Mitchel to give bond not to
remove her from the court’s jurisdiction until her suit is settled.
0823 (Accession # 21183215). St. Louis County, Missouri. Matilda, a woman of color, declares
that “about thirteen years since she obtained her right to freedom by a judgement of the court in
the Missouri territory” and that “from that time to this she has resided in the state of Illinois and
admited to be and considered a free woman.” She informs the court that on 22 May 1822 Elijah
Mitchel and others took her “by force” from Illinois and brought her to St. Louis, where they are
“detaining her on the bank of the Missisippi for the purpose of conveying her out of the
jurisdiction of this court by force.” She therefore “prays that she may be permitted to sue in
forma pauperis to establish her right to freedom.”
0830 (Accession # 21183216). Boone County, Missouri. The heirs and distributees of William
Hill are desirous that Catharine Hill, administratrix and widow of the intestate, “make distribution
to them of all the money and effects in her hands belonging to said estate,” which are being
unjustly held by the said Hill. They charge that the said widow sold two slaves, Dilse and her
son, for $750 and refused to give them any of the proceeds arising from said sale. Noting that
an estate slave named Ben “is now in possession of said Catharine,” the petitioners ask the
court to order Catharine Hill to account for the hire and sale of the slaves, to distribute the estate
(including funds) to the heirs, and to sell Ben and divide the proceeds among the heirs.
1833
0859 (Accession # 21183301). St. Louis County, Missouri. Milly, a woman of color, avows that
she was born in Maryland, the property of a person surnamed Lee. She reports that said Lee
sold her to Moses Bigsby [Bigby], that she was “by him taken to the State of Ohio, about fifteen
years ago,” and that Bigsby “detained” her there for about fifteen months. Milly maintains that
Wiley Williams of St. Louis now holds her in slavery, “when she is advised & believes she is
entitled to her Freedom.” The petitioner therefore prays that “she may be permited to sue as a
poor person to establish her right thereto.”
0867 (Accession # 21183302). St. Louis County, Missouri. In 1827, Aaron Young agreed to
allow his slave, James Wilkinson, to hire himself out in order to earn $200 to purchase his
freedom. During the fall of 1827 and the winter of 1828, with Young’s permission, Wilkinson
worked for a Mr. Osborn [Osburn] in Illinois for four months. Afterwards in 1828, again with
Young’s “assent & permission,” Wilkinson worked four months for Young’s brother in Galena,
Illinois. Wilkinson paid Young the money for his freedom more than four years ago, but Young
continues to hold him in slavery. Wilkinson seeks permission to sue as a poor person for his
freedom and asks the court to assign him counsel.
0873 (Accession # 21183303). St. Louis County, Missouri. Nat, a man of color, claims that he
lived in Clarksville, Missouri, three years ago with his master, Stephen Ruddle. Ruddle moved to
Illinois, taking Nat with him, and “held him to labour as a slave upwards of two Years.” Recently,
Ruddle brought Nat to St. Louis to sell him to “New Orleans traders.” Nat seeks permission to
sue as a poor person against Ruddle to “establish his freedom” and asks the court to appoint
counsel for him.
0892 (Accession # 21183304). St. Louis County, Missouri. Adolphe, Marcelline, and Maria
Vincent petition by their next friend, Charles D. St. Vrain, and represent that they were born of
Louise Vincent, a female slave in St. Louis, who belonged to the widow and heirs of Antoine
Vincent Bovis. In 1829 Joshua Pahlen [Pahlin] purchased them at public sale in St. Louis and
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transported them to his residence in Illinois, where they remained for twelve to fifteen months.
Noting that Pahlen died three or four months ago, the minor Vincents report that they recently
“returned to this State and Since their return have been claimed and held as slaves by Marie P.
Leduc Esq the administrator of said Pahlen.” The petitioners ask to sue as poor persons, by
their next friend, to establish their freedom.
0903 (Accession # 21183305). St. Louis County, Missouri. Harriet, a woman of color, asserts
that Lucinda Carrington took her and her mother from Kentucky to Illinois when the Carringtons
moved in October 1829. She further charges that Carrington kept her and her mother in Illinois
until the end of December, “during all of which time the said Lucinda required Services of your
Petitioner & her mother as her slaves & kept your Petitioners mother at labor as such slave in
her family.” Harriet informs the court that Carrington sent them to Missouri to be hired out when
the neighbors began to talk about the two slaves being free. She relates that she and her
mother were returned to Illinois after working in Missouri for nine months and were kept as
slaves by Mrs. Carrington for another two months before they were sold to Samuel T.
McKinney. Currently held by McKinney or Thomas D. James, “a negro trader,” Harriet “prays
that she may be permitted to sue as a poor person to Establish her freedom.”
0914 (Accession # 21183306). St. Louis County, Missouri. Louise Vincent affirms that she was
born into slavery in Missouri, “the property of Antoine Bovis.” After Bovis’s death, she lived with
Bovis’s widow and heirs until 1829, when Joshua Pahlin [Pahlen] purchased her and her three
children, Adolphe, Marcelline, and Maria, for $750 at auction. She reports that at some point
after the purchase, Pahlin took her and her children to Illinois, where they remained for about
fifteen months. The petitioner notes that Pahlin died three or four months ago and that she and
her children returned to Missouri, where Marie P. Leduc, administrator of Pahlin’s estate, has
claimed them as slaves belonging to the estate. Vincent prays that “she may be permitted to
bring suit under the Laws of this State as a poor person against said Leduc for her freedom.”
0940 (Accession # 21183307). St. Louis County, Missouri. Mary, a woman of color, petitioned in
1827 to sue Francis Menard and Andre Landreville for freedom for herself and her three
children. Mary reveals that she was born into slavery about 1800, in Kaskaskia, Illinois, and
worked as a slave in Illinois until 1824, when her second owner, Francis Menard, sent her to St.
Louis to Andre Landreville. From 1824 until 1827, Landreville hired her out “either for his own
use and profit, or as the agent of Said Menard.” When Mary and her children sued in 1827,
Landreville disclaimed all right to them, “since which time, he has not claimed or exercised any
authority over your petitioner.” Mary’s lawyers repeatedly summoned Menard, but he remained
in Illinois, avoiding the subpoenas. The suit finally abated after one lawyer died and the other
left the state. A few days ago, two men hired by Menard tried to kidnap Mary and her oldest
child, Virginia. Mary proclaims that she and her children are “entitled to their freedom from
Slavery, to exercise and enjoy their natural liberty.” She asks permission to sue as a poor
person to recover her and her children’s freedom.
0956 (Accession # 21183309). Boone County, Missouri. Isham Reavis moved with a female
slave named Patience from Kentucky to the Illinois Territory around 1810. After two years,
Reavis moved back to Kentucky with Patience, who gave birth to a son named Sanford shortly
thereafter. Around 1821, Reavis moved with his slaves to Missouri. He sold Sanford to Edward
Reavis, who later sold Sanford to Mark Reavis. Sanford asserts that he is entitled to his freedom
because of his mother’s residence in Illinois. He asks for permission to sue as a poor person for
his freedom with counsel assigned. In order to pursue his freedom suit, Sanford asks the court
to ensure that Mark Reavis gives him “reasonable liberty to attend the said Circuit Court and his
Counsel” and does not remove him from the court’s jurisdiction before the case is decided.
Having been informed that Reavis has sold or is planning to sell him to Edward Camplin, “who
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intends to take your Petitioner without this state to parts unknown,” Sanford requests the court
to issue a writ of habeas corpus for himself and to require Reavis or whoever possesses
Sanford to give bond “so that your Petitioner may have the full benefit and advantage of his
suit.”
Reel 5
Missouri cont.
1834
0002 (Accession # 21183401). Boone County, Missouri. On 17 July 1833, Sanford, a man of
color, petitioned for permission to sue against Mark Reavis for his freedom. A jury at the
February 1834 term of the circuit court decided in Sanford’s favor, and Reavis appealed to the
state supreme court, which upheld the verdict in a May 1834 decree. Meanwhile, in March 1834,
Sanford petitions the court again concerning an incident that occurred in November 1833, while
his freedom suit was pending. Sanford charges that Thomas G. Berry, James Reavis, and Joel
Herne, “with the connivance and consent of Mark Reavis,” assaulted and kidnapped him one
November night. They “placed around your petitioners neck a rope and dragged your petitioner
with force & violence out of the house ... & with said Rope choked your petitioner, & then and
there with force & violence placed your petitioner upon a horse & tied him thereon.” The men
then detained him in chains for thirteen or fourteen hours. Sanford asserts that the men
intended to remove him from the jurisdiction of the court and to sell him as a slave, thus
thwarting his freedom suit against Mark Reavis. Sanford asks permission to sue as a poor
person against Thomas Berry, James Reavis, and Mark Reavis. He wishes to file a plea of
trespass and charges of assault and battery and false imprisonment against them.
0022 (Accession # 21183402). Boone County, Missouri. Morgan Bryan died intestate in
Kentucky in 1823 or 1824, leaving an estate that included ten slaves. Four of Bryan’s heirs
charge that his wife Sarah Bryan moved the slaves from Kentucky to Missouri in 1825 without
their consent. The petitioners charge that such removal, under the laws of Kentucky, resulted in
Sarah Bryan’s forfeiture of all rights to the slaves. Upon her marriage to James McClelland in
1827, Bryan relinquished control of two of the slaves (Phillis and her daughter Milley) to
McClelland. McClelland died in 1833 and the slaves were inventoried as part of his estate. The
other eight slaves are now in the possession of Sarah McClelland, her son-in-law David
Hickman, and two of her sons—John Bryan and Milton Bryan. The petitioners seek an account
of the increase and hire of the slaves, a sale of the said slaves, and the distribution of the
proceeds among the heirs.
0067 (Accession # 21183403). St. Louis County, Missouri. Mary Ann, an “infant of color,”
petitions by her next friend James Loper, representing that Robert Duncan illegally holds her as
a slave. Mary Ann’s mother was born free in Pennsylvania and indentured to one Mr. Page until
she was twenty-eight years old. Page sold her indenture to John L. Sutton, now dead, and Mary
Ann was born while her mother was under Sutton’s control. Sutton and Robert Duncan have
claimed Mary Ann as a slave since her birth. Sometime in 1820, Mary Ann’s mother was sold as
a slave in Louisiana. Mary Ann argues that Sutton was well aware that both she and her mother
were entitled to their freedom. She asks to sue as a poor person for her freedom.
0076 (Accession # 21183404). St. Louis County, Missouri. Rachel, a twenty-year-old mulatto
woman, represents that her master, J. B. W. Stockton, took her to the Michigan Territory about
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five years ago and established residency in Prairie du Chien on the east side of the Mississippi
River. During the two years that Rachel served the Stockton family in Michigan, she bore a son
named James Henry. Stockton brought Rachel and her son to St. Louis, where they were
eventually sold to William Walker, a slave trader. Fearing that Walker is planning to sell her and
her son in New Orleans, the petitioner prays that she and her child “may be allowed to sue as a
poor person in the St. Louis Circuit Court for freedom and that the said Walker may be
restrained from carrying her or said child out of the jurisdiction of the St Louis Circuit Court till
the termination of said suit.”
0093 (Accession # 21183406). St. Louis County, Missouri. In 1787, Josias William Dallam of
Maryland executed a deed of manumission for seven slaves, freeing them at various times. The
deed also stipulated that any future children or grandchildren born to any of those slaves were
to be freed at twenty-three years old. Lemman Dutton petitions by her mother and next friend,
Grace Dutton, and asserts that she is the granddaughter of Hannah, a slave mentioned in the
deed, who was supposed to become free in 1800. Noting that Hannah’s daughter Grace was
born circa 1792 and would have been twenty-three years old in about 1815, the petitioner avers
that she was born in June 1816, after her mother accrued her right to freedom. Although Grace
is now “in the enjoyment of her liberty,” John Paca of St. Louis claims Lemman as his slave
through his wife, daughter of Josias William Dallam. Lemman Dutton seeks permission to sue
as a poor person “to recover her freedom” and asks the court to assign counsel to her.
0111 (Accession # 21183407). St. Louis County, Missouri. Nelson Kerr, a man of color, says
that his owner Matthew Kerr hired him out to work in Illinois for six months for a Mr. McAdams.
Stating that he is “Justly entitled to his Freedom,” Nelson asks for permission to sue as a poor
person, with counsel assigned, to establish his freedom.
0120 (Accession # 21183411). St. Louis County, Missouri. Judy, a woman of color, sues Berry
Meachum for her freedom. In 1823, Judy was the slave of Benjamin Duncan in Kentucky.
Duncan hired her out to work for approximately one month in Indiana, then brought her back to
Kentucky. Later, Duncan sent Judy to Missouri and sold her to Berry Meachum, a free man of
color. Last summer, Meachum allowed Judy to hire herself out “on paying Said Meachum twelve
dollars per month.” Judy hired herself out to work in Galena, Illinois, for about one month “with
the full knowledge and consent of Said Berry Meachum.” Judy insists that she is entitled to her
freedom, but she “is bound and imprisoned in his Meachum’s house in St Louis where she is
kept ... for the purpose of being Sold and removed to Some distant place.” She “prays that she
may be permitted to sue as a poor person to establish her freedom” and that counsel may be
assigned to her.
1835
0137 (Accession # 21183501). St. Louis County, Missouri. Milly, a woman of color, represents
that “she was born a slave in the state of Kentucky and as the property of Jesse Duncan.” Now
the property of James Duncan, Milly avows that the said James took her from Kentucky to
Galena, Illinois, and then to Missouri to “the mining region called Dubuques mines.” The
petitioner further recounts that she “commenced proceedings to recover her freedom,”
whereupon the said James removed her to the town of Louisiana in Missouri and “subsequently
she was brought down the river Mississippi and is now in the City of St Louis.” Milly “prays that
your Honor will grant her leave to sue as a poor person to recover her freedom.”
0144 (Accession # 21183503). St. Louis County, Missouri. Mary Farnham, now twenty-one or
twenty-two years of age, was born into slavery in Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri. In 1830, her
master sold her to Russel Farnham of St. Louis. Shortly thereafter, Farnham removed Mary to
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the Lower Rapids on the Mississippi River and then to Fort Edwards for a year. The petitioner
asserts that she “believes that having been held as a Slave at those places ... beyond the
northern boundary of the State of Missouri & the other, in the State of Illinois ... she is informed
she is now entitled to her freedom.” Now held as a slave by Samuel D. Walker, Mary Farnham
prays that she may “be permitted to institute a suit as provided for by law, & that your petitioner
be permitted to sue as a poor person” to establish her freedom.
0150 (Accession # 21183504). St. Louis County, Missouri. Michael Edwards, “a coloured lad,”
claims that J. J. Birdsong illegally detains him in slavery. Edwards informs the court that he was
born in Kaskaskia, Illinois, and insists that “he has never done any thing whereby he has
forfeited his freedom.” Nonetheless, he reveals that Birdsong “has and does still detain him the
said Edwards in custody against Law & right and against his will in the Common Jail of the
County of St. Louis and with the intent and purpose as he ... believes, of conveying him out of
this State, in order that he may sell him in some one of the more Southern states.” The
petitioner therefore prays that he “be allowed to sue as a poor person for the purpose of
establishing his freedom.” He further requests that counsel be assigned to him, that Birdsong be
prevented from moving him out of the state, and that he not be “subject to any severity because
of his application for freedom.”
0158 (Accession # 21183507). St. Louis County, Missouri. Asserting that she is a free person of
color, sixteen-year-old Mary Ann charges that William Walker illegally detains her in slavery.
The petitioner points out that she had been owned by James Steel of Bourbon County,
Kentucky. She further recounts that Steel’s will authorized his widow Catharine to emancipate
Mary Ann, which she did in 1821 when Mary Ann was two years old. She now asserts that “after
the death of Catharine Steel Some of the heirs of James Steel claimed that your petitioner was
a slave” and sold her as such. The petitioner prays “that a Writ of Habeas corpus may be issued
by this Honorable Court directed to Said Walker requiring him to bring the body of your
petitioner before Said Court and that Such proceedings may be thereupon had as her case &
and the Law requires.”
0164 (Accession # 21183508). St. Louis County, Missouri. Daniel Wilson, a man of color,
represents that Edmund Mellvin Sr. holds him in slavery. He asserts, however, that “he is
entitled to his freedom.” He cites that Mellvin “settled permanently in the State of Illinois at which
place he kept your Petitioner with him as a Slave putting him to labor there and hiring him out
for wages for about a fortnight.” Wilson further recounts that he “was ordered Back to the State
of Illinois where he was again hired out in that State for wages.” Arguing that his residency in
Illinois entitles him to his freedom, the petitioner prays that “he may be permitted to institute suit
as a poor person to establish his freedom.”
1836
0199 (Accession # 21183601). Madison County, Missouri. Lavina, “an infant under the age of
twenty one years of age,” informs the court that her mother Lucinda, a mulatto woman, was
born in Tennessee, the slave of Isham Harrison. She further states that Harrison moved Lucinda
to Gallatin County, Illinois, where she resided for more than three years and “that by the Laws
then in force in said territory she in virtue of such residence became free” and that after “said
Lucinda became a free person,” she, the petitioner, “was born of the said Lucinda.” Now held in
slavery by Amy Harrison, the petitioner prays “that she may be permitted to sue the said Amy
Harrison as a poor person By Cornelius Campbell her next friend to establish her freedom.”
0207 (Accession # 21183602). Madison County, Missouri. Campbell, “a free person of color,”
informs the court that his mother Lucinda, a mulatto woman, was born in Tennessee, the slave
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of Isham Harrison. He further states that Harrison moved Lucinda to Gallatin County, Illinois,
where she resided for more than three years and “that by the laws then in force in Said Territory
she thereby became a free person and that afterwards gave Birth to your petitioner.” Now held
in slavery by Amy Harrison, the petitioner prays “that he may be permitted to sue said Amy
Harrison as a poor person by Cornelius Campbell his next friend to establish his freedom.”
0215 (Accession # 21183603). Madison County, Missouri. Isaac, “a free person of color,”
informs the court that his mother Lucinda, a mulatto woman, was born in Tennessee, the slave
of Isham Harrison. He further states that Harrison moved Lucinda to Gallatin County, Illinois,
where she resided for more than three years and “that by reason of such residence under the
laws then in force in said Territory she became a free person, and that after such residence in
said Territory of Illinois as aforesaid the said Lucinda gave Birth to your petitioner.” Now held in
slavery by John Miller, the petitioner prays “that he may be permitted to sue the said John Miller
By Cornelius Campbell as his next friend, as a poor person to establish his freedom.”
0224 (Accession # 21183604). Madison County, Missouri. Burwell, “a free person of color,”
informs the court that his mother Lucinda, a mulatto woman, was born in Tennessee, the slave
of Isham Harrison. He further states that Harrison moved Lucinda to Gallatin County, Illinois,
where she resided for more than three years and “that by the laws in force then in said Territory,
the residence aforesaid entitled her to her freedom and that she thereby became a free person
and that after the aforesaid residence of said Lucinda in said Territory she gave Birth to your
petitioner.” Now held in slavery by Henry Powell, the petitioner prays “that he may be permitted
to sue said Henry Powell by cornelius campbell his next friend, as a poor person to establish his
freedom.”
0232 (Accession # 21183605). Madison County, Missouri. Carter, “a person of color,” informs
the court that his mother Lucinda, a mulatto woman, was born in Tennessee, the slave of Isham
Harrison. He further states that Harrison moved Lucinda to Gallatin County, Illinois, where she
resided for more than three years and “that by reason of such residence and by the laws then in
force in said Territory she became a free person and that after said residence in said Territory
said [Lucinda] gave Birth to your petitioner.” Now held in slavery by Amy Harrison, the petitioner
prays “that he may be permitted to sue said Amy Harrison as a poor person, by cornelius
Campbell his next friend to establish his freedom.”
0240 (Accession # 21183606). Madison County, Missouri. Jane, “a free person of color,”
informs the court that her mother Lucinda, a mulatto woman, was born in Tennessee, the slave
of Isham Harrison. She further states that Harrison moved Lucinda to Gallatin County, Illinois,
where she resided for more than three years and “that by the Laws then in force in said Territory
the said Lucinda by such residence became a free person, and that after such residence the
said Lucinda gave Birth to your petitioner.” Now held in slavery by Amy Harrison, the petitioner
prays “that she may be permitted to sue said Amy Harrison as a poor person by cornelius
Campbell her next friend to establish her freedom.”
0249 (Accession # 21183607). Madison County, Missouri. Lucinda, a mulatto woman, informs
the court that she was born in Tennessee, the slave of Isham Harrison. She further states that
Harrison moved her to Gallatin County, Illinois, where she resided for about three years.
Lucinda argues that “by the Laws then in force in said Territory of Illinois she became a free
person in virtue of said residence in said Territory.” Now held in slavery by Amy Harrison, the
petitioner prays that “she may be permitted to sue the said Amy as a poor person to establish
her freedom.”
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0260 (Accession # 21183608). Madison County, Missouri. Barton, “a free person of color,”
informs the court that his mother Lucinda, a mulatto woman, was born in Tennessee, the slave
of Isham Harrison. He further states that Harrison moved Lucinda to Gallatin County, Illinois,
where she resided for more than three years and “that by the laws then in force in said Territory
she thereby became a free person and that afterwards she gave birth to your Petitioner.” Now
held in slavery by Amy Harrison, the petitioner prays “that he may be permitted to sue said Amy
Harrison by cornelius Campbell his next friend as a poor person to establish his freedom.”
0269 (Accession # 21183609). Madison County, Missouri. Thornton, “a free person of color,”
informs the court that his mother Lucinda, a mulatto woman, was born in Tennessee, the slave
of Isham Harrison. He further states that Harrison moved Lucinda to Gallatin County, Illinois,
where she resided for more than three years and “that by the laws then in force in said Territory
she by her residence as aforesaid became a free person and after she became free the said
Lucinda gave Birth to your petitioner.” Now held in slavery by Amy Harrison, the petitioner prays
“that he may be permitted to sue said Amy Harrison as a poor person by Cornelius Campbell his
next friend” to establish his freedom.
0278 (Accession # 21183610). Perry County, Missouri. Margaret, “a black woman,” charges that
Leo Fenwick illegally holds her as a slave. Margaret declares that Martha Childs, of Anne
Arundel County, Maryland, emancipated her on 1 January 1835. She further avows that Leo
Fenwick carried her from Maryland to Missouri and “that he has kept her since his coming into
the State as a slave ever since.” The petitioner therefore “prays leave to sue as a poor person,
to establish her right to freedom.”
0311 (Accession # 21183611). St. Louis County, Missouri. Phillis, a free woman of color,
informs the court that her daughter Julia recently filed a freedom suit against Robert Duncan.
Although the court decided in Julia’s favor, Duncan and his wife, Sally Adams, continue to hold
Julia as a slave. Phillis seeks a writ of habeas corpus on her daughter’s behalf.
0318 (Accession # 21183612). St. Louis County, Missouri. Delph, a woman of color, represents
that her owner, Josiah Ramsay Sr. of Callaway County, emancipated her in 1826. Since 1827,
when the deed was filed in the county clerk’s office, Delph maintains that she has “in fact gone
at large, & acted as a free person ever since.” Charging that Stephen Dorris now claims her as
a slave and has attempted to forcibly remove her from St. Louis, the petitioner “prays for leave
to sue in the St Louis Circuit Court as a poor person, in order to establish her said right to
Freedom.”
0343 (Accession # 21183613). St. Louis County, Missouri. Green Berry Logan, “an infant of
color,” asserts that he is “illegally held in slavery by a certain Berry Meechum, a free man of
color, and being desirous of prosecuting a suit for the recovery of his freedom, he cannot do so
except by his next friend.” He therefore “prays that Judy alias Julia Logan his mother be
appointed his next friend to institute and prosecute a suit for the recovery of his freedom”
against the said Meechum.
0346 (Accession # 21183614). St. Louis County, Missouri. Ben claims that “he is now held in
Slavery in St Louis by Dr Thomas J White for William L Woods who claims your petitioner as his
Slave.” Ben explains that he was “hired to Labor ... in the State of Illinois where he was kept at
Labor with the Knowledge & consent of Said Woods for the Space of Seven Weeks.” He
therefore “prays that he may be permitted to sue as a poor person to establish his freedom.”
0359 (Accession # 21183617). St. Louis County, Missouri. Green Berry Logan, by his mother
and next friend Judy Logan, charges that “Berry Meechum a free man of color ... holds him in
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slavery.” Claiming that he was born after his mother moved to Indiana and “long after her right
to freedom accrued,” Logan “prays that he may be permitted to sue as a poor person by the
said Judy ... in order to establish his right to freedom.”
0366 (Accession # 21183619). Boone County, Missouri. John Wilson, administrator of Ignatius
Owen, claims that the defendant, William Woodruff, is in the possession of slave named Betsey,
who rightly belongs to Owen’s estate. Charging that Woodruff has no title to Betsey, the
petitioner asks that Woodruff be called before the court to answer these charges.
0381 (Accession # 21183620). Lincoln County, Missouri. Eleanor Erwin charges that Francis
Henry, executor of the estate of Malcolm Henry Jr., “has converted a large amount of said
Estate to his own use” and that he “did embizzle and conceal a great part of the goods and
chattles of said testator.” Erwin submits that Malcolm Henry Jr. left specific instructions in his will
concerning the distribution of his property, which included slaves. She further charges that
Francis Henry has not distributed the property according to these instructions. The petitioner
therefore prays that Francis Henry be summoned and “that upon a final hearing of this cause
your Honor will decree that the said Francis pay to her such sum of money as your honor shall
find would have been the residue of said estate after the payment of legacies debts & expenses
of said Estate if said estate had been properly managed.”
1837
0449 (Accession # 21183701). St. Louis County, Missouri. Celeste, a woman of color,
represents that Alexander Papin illegally holds her in slavery, “contrary to the provisions of an
ordinance passed by Congress of the United States.” She informs the court that her mother
Judy was born in Virginia and taken to Louisville, Kentucky, about 1796, where William Sullivan
purchased her. Around 1798, Robert Bunton bought Judy and took her to a town in the
Northwest Territory, where she was held in slavery for two years or more. Afterwards, Judy was
sold to William Lecompt of St. Louis, where she has remained in slavery. Noting that she was
born in St. Louis, Celeste “prays that she may be permitted to sue as a poor person in order to
establish her right to freedom.”
0468 (Accession # 21183702). St. Louis County, Missouri. Andrew petitions by his grandmother
and next friend, a woman of color named Judy. He informs the court that the said Judy was born
in Virginia about 1786 and was brought to Kentucky, where Robert Bunton purchased the tenyear-old
enslaved girl. After this purchase, Bunton took Judy to Vincennes in the Northwestern
Territory, where he kept her for more than two years; he later sent her to Kaskaskia and sold
her to William Lecompte. Lecompte then removed her to his residence in St. Louis. Andrew,
now owned by John B. Sarpy, maintains that he should be free according to “an ordinance
passed by the congress of the United States on 13th day of July 1787.” The petitioner prays that
he be permitted to sue as a poor person and that counsel be assigned to him in order to prove
his “right to freedom.”
0485 (Accession # 21183703). St. Louis County, Missouri. Jack asserts that he was the
property of Harrison Winn in Virginia “some twelve or fourteen years ago.” Shortly after that
time, Winn took Jack from Virginia to Illinois, where Winn hired him out. When Winn died, he
bequeathed Jack to William Thompson, who transferred him to Absalom Link, Jack’s current
owner. Jack claims that his hiring out in Illinois entitles him to freedom. He therefore prays “that
he may be permitted to sue as a poor person in the Circuit Court for St Louis County ... in order
to prove his right to freedom and obtain the same.”
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0496 (Accession # 21183705). St. Louis County, Missouri. Judy, a woman of color, informs the
court that she was born in Virginia about 1786 and was brought to Louisville, Kentucky, where
William Sullivan purchased the ten-year-old enslaved girl. After this purchase, Sullivan sold her
to Robert Bunton, who took her to Vincennes in the Northwestern Territory, where he kept her
for more than two years; he later sent her to Kaskaskia and sold her to William Lecompte.
Lecompte then removed her to his residence in St. Louis. Judy asserts that “she is now illegally
held in slavery by a certain Berry Meachum, a free man of color of Saint Louis County contrary
to the provisions of an ordinance passed by the congress of the United States on the 13th day
of July 1787.” She therefore prays “that she may be permitted to sue as a poor person in order
to establish her right to freedom.” Depositions in related documents contain differing accounts of
Judy’s legal status ca. 1796. Some report that she was an indentured servant while others claim
that she was held in slavery.
1838
0526 (Accession # 21183801). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. George, “a free person of
colour,” informs the court that a certain Mr. Bradshaw sold him to Basel Craig in Arkansas in
August 1836. George recounts that Craig transported him to various places: to a place near
Jonesborough, Illinois, where he worked for eight weeks; to the Wisconsin Territory, where he
performed the “usual services of a slave” for nine months; to Michigan, where he was hired out
“to several different individuals” until June 1837; to Illinois again, where he was given to Craig’s
brother, William Craig, to work one week near Greens Ferry; and finally to Missouri, where
Basel Craig hired him out to three different men. Noting that Jacob H. Neely, one of the said
three men, currently holds him in his possession, the petitioner asserts that “in consequence of
the premises, [he] has become entitled to his freedom.” He “humbly prays your honor, that leave
may be granted unto him to sue before your honorable court as a poor person to the end that
your petitioner may establish his right to freedom.”
0544 (Accession # 21183802). Lafayette County, Missouri. Chloe, “a free person of color,”
represents that Nicholas Wren once held her in slavery in Kentucky. She informs the court that
Wren’s will stipulated that she should be set free in the year 1820, if his wife Elizabeth had died,
or at the time of her death thereafter. Chloe contends “that a certain William Renick of Lafayette
County has for many years held your Petitioner in slavery since the death of said Elizabeth
Wren and still sets up claim to your petitioner contrary to her will or consent.” Citing that “in fact
and truth [she] is and of right ought to be free,” the petitioner “prays your Honor to permit her to
sue as a poor person to establish her freedom.”
0639 (Accession # 21183803). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. Malinda Morris charges that
her husband, Thomas Morris, “has been guilty of such cruel and barbarous treatment as to
endanger the life of your petitioner.” In addition, she alleges that he “has committed the crime of
Adultry.” Morris reports that she owned a slave named Maria and Maria’s two children, Jeph and
Mahala, at the time of her marriage; she also possessed livestock, furniture, and $850 in cash.
Morris seeks a divorce, restoration of her property, and an injunction preventing her husband
from removing or disposing of her slaves.
0654 (Accession # 21183804). Boone County, Missouri. Jesse Dale secured a loan from Henry
Barlow in October 1836 with a slave named Jesse. Barlow died intestate in 1837. Thomas
Cranmer, Barlow’s administrator, charges that Dale never repaid the loan. He therefore “prays
Judgement for his Debt, &c, in the mortgage Deed mentioned, and that the Equity of redemption
of the said Jesse B. Dale in and to the said certain man slave in the mortgage Deed mentioned
may be foreclosed, and that the said slave may be sold to satisfy the sum of money due your
petitioner as administrator.”
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0663 (Accession # 21183806). St. Louis County, Missouri. Celeste, “a woman of color,”
represents that she had instituted a suit for her freedom against Alexander Papin. She reports
that her child Celestine also sued Papin. Celeste maintains that the previous cases were lost
even though “the testimony before the Jury was in law strong and conclusive in favor of their
right to Freedom.” Believing “the Judge of this court is prejudiced against the claim of her and
her said child,” the petitioner “prays that the venue may be changed to some other circuit where
the cause complained of may not Exist.”
0667 (Accession # 21183808). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. George, “a person of color,”
informs the court that he has a suit pending for his freedom and that he is currently hired out to
Jacob Neely. He claims that “last Thursday morning,” B. [Basel] Craig came to Neely’s “and
attempted to seize” him. Craig also has advertised a reward of $20 to anyone who would catch
and return George to him. As a result of Craig’s actions, George “has been compelled to lie out
ever since last thursday morning.” He fears that he is in danger of being taken out of the
jurisdiction of the court, and believes that he is especially unsafe at Neely’s as Neely resides
along the Mississippi River. He asks to be taken into protective custody by the sheriff.
1839
0674 (Accession # 21183901). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. William Johnson hired out a
slave named Harriet and her youngest child to Joseph Lewis in 1836. Shortly thereafter, Lewis
agreed to purchase the slave and her child for $700. After a few months, Lewis discovered that
Harriet and her child had a disease called “Scorfula” or the “King’s evil.” Lewis, a poor man who
could not afford to institute a suit against Johnson, approached Johnson with his discovery.
Johnson promised to investigate the problem and to ascertain what would be a “moraly right
and honest” response. After several months of bickering, Lewis finally initiated his suit. He
requests that Johnson be summoned so that he can recover his purchase money, plus
damages.
0701 (Accession # 21183902). Boone County, Missouri. Young Hicks seeks compensation from
William Raymond and John McGee for the services of a slave named Anderson, who was hired
out to the defendants for a one-year period at $100. The defendants agreed to furnish Anderson
with numerous items of clothing and “further bound themselves to treat the said boy with
humanity and to return” him to Hicks on 25 December 1838. Hicks complains that the
defendants “not regarding their promises and undertakings aforesaid” allowed Anderson to die
while in their possession. They also never paid Hicks the hire money. Hicks asks for damages in
the amount of $2,000. Depositions from two physicians, who attended Anderson, reveal that he
suffered from pleurisy and died during a “cold and damp” spell in February 1838.
0719 (Accession # 21183903). St. Louis County, Missouri. Lewis, “a boy of color,” represents
that his grandmother Judy was held as a slave in the Northwest Territory. He reports that Judy
was an indentured servant, who was sold for life to William Lecompte. He further asserts that
Judy and her daughters, Celeste and Aspisa, have all been granted their freedom by “separate
and distinct juries.” Currently held in slavery by John Stacker, Lewis “prays that he may have
leave by Celeste his mother and next friend to sue as a poor person in order to establish his
right to freedom.”
0730 (Accession # 21183905). St. Louis County, Missouri. Seyton, “a woman of Color,”
represents that “she is Justly entitled to her freedom, but yet she is held in Slavery by William
Littleton.” She explains that George Hacker once owned her and took her to the southern part of
Illinois around the year 1825. She further reveals that Hacker gave her to his daughter upon her
marriage to the said Littleton, who kept her as a slave in Illinois and later took her to Missouri.
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Believing that Littleton wants to sell her as a slave, Seyton fears that “she will be sent to a
distant place where she will be unable to procure the evidence of her freedom.” She therefore
prays “that she may be permitted to sue as a poor person to establish her freedom that counsel
may be assigned to her that Such orders may be made & such Legal steps taken as will Secure
her personal Safety.”
0739 (Accession # 21183907). St. Louis County, Missouri. Polly Wash claims that she is entitled
to her freedom because she “was hired out ... to one Capt Payne of the Steamboat Banner, as
chambermaid and in that capacity of chambermaid made several trips up the Illinois river as far
as Peoria, for wages at the rate of fifteen dollars a month & at one time within the jurisdiction of
the state of Illinois was detained for about five weeks.” Now held by in slavery by Joseph
Magehan, the petitioner prays “that she may be permitted to sue as a poor person in order to
establish her freedom.”
0746 (Accession # 21183908). St. Louis County, Missouri. Andrew petitions by his mother and
next friend Celeste, charging that “he is now held in slavery by a certain Peter Sarpy contrary to
law.” He informs the court that the Circuit Court of St. Louis recently declared Judy, his maternal
grandmother, and other family members, including Celeste, “to be free.” He submits, however,
that Sarpy claims him as his slave and that he fears Sarpy will remove him from the jurisdiction
of the court. Andrew therefore prays that “he may be permitted to bring suit as a poor person ...
for the recovery of his freedom against the said Peter Sarpy.” He further requests that Sarpy “be
compelled to give bond and security to have your petitioner forthcoming to answer and abide by
the Judgement of the court in the premises.”
1840
0758 (Accession # 21184001). St. Louis County, Missouri. According to witnesses in this case,
Robert Loughridge and Reuben Cranmar live beside each other, but they do not get along. The
witnesses have testified that Loughridge has, on several occasions, threatened to shoot
Cranmar. On 7 February 1840, Cranmar was shot in the shoulder. Witnesses have accused
Perry and Hanson, two slaves hired by Loughridge, of shooting Cranmar from Loughridge’s
stable and hiding the gun in the hayloft. They have reported that Loughridge was laughing about
the shooting. The state has charged Perry and Hanson with shooting Cranmar and has charged
Loughridge with accessory before the fact and aiding and abetting the crime. In his petition,
Loughridge asserts that “the minds of the inhabitants of said County are so prejudiced against
your petitioner that a fair trial Can not be had therein.” Loughridge requests a change of venue.
0788 (Accession # 21184002). Madison County, Missouri. Lucinda, “a free person of color,”
represents that she lived in Tennessee with her owner, Isham Harrison, twenty-four or twentyfive
years ago. She states that “whilst so in his possession, the said Harrison removed to the
County of Gallatin, in the then Territory now state of Illinois taking with him your petitioner.”
Lucinda points out that Harrison lived in Illinois for three or four years, “knowingly & willingly
subjecting her to involuntary labour & service as a slave, contrary to & in violation of the Law
then in force in said Territory.” Insisting that she is “entitled to her freedom in virtue of said
residence & involuntary servitude in said Territory,” Lucinda informs the court that Amey
Harrison and Caleb Cox, the administrators of Isham Harrison’s estate, continue to hold her in
slavery. The petitioner therefore prays “that she may be permitted to sue them as a poor person
in order to establish her right to freedom.”
0802 (Accession # 21184003). St. Louis County, Missouri. Brunetta Barnes represents that she
was born to free parents but is held in slavery by Berry Meachum, a free person of color and a
Baptist preacher. Barnes charges that Meachum treats her “with harshness and inhumanity to
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wit by frequently & cruelly beating her.” Barnes prays the court “to grant unto your petitioner
permission to sue for her freedom as a poor person.” Fearing that Meachum will remove her
from Missouri as a result of her petition, the petitioner also asks the court to issue a warrant for
her seizure and to compel Meachum or whoever possesses her to abide by the court’s orders.
0814 (Accession # 21184004). St. Louis County, Missouri. Sixteen-year-old Archibald Barnes
petitions by his next friend, Peter Charleville, claiming that his parents “were at the time of his
birth and still are free.” He insists “that he was born free: and that by no act of his own, nor by
any proceedings of any authoritative tribunal has his right to his freedom been forfeited”;
nonetheless, Barnes asserts that he is held in bondage by Berry Meachum, a free person of
color, who treats him with “great inhumanity harshness and severity.” Barnes therefore prays
that the court will “grant unto your petitioner permission to sue for his freedom as a poor
person.” Fearing that Meachum “will remove him unjustly and unlawfully beyond the limits of the
State of Missouri (as he has often made threats of doing) in consequence of this application to
your honour,” the petitioner also asks the court to require Meachum to give bond that he will
obey the court’s orders and to issue a warrant to the sheriff to bring him before the court.
0831 (Accession # 21184005). St. Louis County, Missouri. Charles was the slave of the bishop
of St. Louis and “was engaged in whitewashing the House, in Painting and Plastering” a
nunnery in Cahokia, Illinois. Now held in slavery by Rev. Peter Verhagen, Charles believes his
history of working in Illinois entitles him to freedom. He therefore “prays that your Honor will
grant him leave to Sue as a poor person, in order to establish his right to freedom.”
0864 (Accession # 21184006). St. Louis County, Missouri. Pierre, a man of color, represents
that his mother Rose was born in 1768 in Canada. In 1791 John Stork took Rose to Prairie du
Chien in the Northwest Territory, where she remained, “rendering service to him and his family,”
until Stork’s death three years later. In 1795 Andrew Todd brought Rose to St. Louis and sold
her to Pierre Joseph Didier, who later sold her and her two young sons to Auguste Chouteau.
Rose gave birth to Pierre and several other children while owned by Chouteau. After
Chouteau’s death, Edward Chouteau bought Pierre, later selling him to Therese Cerre
Chouteau. Pierre declares that he is a free man, “first because his mother was born free, being
a native of a British Province in which slavery was not tolerated, and secondly, because if his
mother were born a slave, she became by her residence at Prairie du Chien a free person under
the Ordinance of 1787.” Pierre prays that he may be permitted to sue as a poor person against
Therese Chouteau to recover his freedom. He also asks for reasonable liberty to attend court
and counsel and protection from severe treatment or removal from the court’s jurisdiction.
0875 (Accession # 21184007). St. Louis County, Missouri. Fifteen-year-old Brunetta Barnes
asked and received permission from the court in July 1840 to sue for her freedom against Berry
Meachum, a free man of color, and she initiated her suit. Barnes now petitions by her next
friend, Peter Charleville, charging that the said Meachum sends her “to sell and deliver milk on
board the several steamboats lying at St Louis wharf.” She further reveals that she visits the
ships “before it is fully light” and has received “insults of the grossest character from various
members of the crew of different vessels.” Barnes confides that she has asked Meachum not to
send her on this errand, where she is “exposed to wanton insult,” but Meachum “has declared
his determination to pay no regard to her request.” Averring that he “could easily spare her
without any loss to himself,” the petitioner prays that “your honor may make an order to the
effect that the said Meachum shall discontinue sending her on board the steamboats aforesaid
for the purposes aforesaid or upon any other pretext whatsoever.”
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Reel 6
Missouri cont.
1841
0002 (Accession # 21184101). Boone County, Missouri. In 1839, the county court ordered a
public auction of the slaves belonging to the estate of Samuel Crockett and appointed Cyrus
Lusk as commissioner to conduct the sale. At the sale on 1 January 1840, Nimrod Bishop
purchased two slaves for $501: thirty-eight-year-old Ann and her two-year-old son Warren. After
the sale, Bishop discovered that Ann was very sick with “negro Consumption with dropsy” and
that she must have been ill “long before and at the time of the sale.” He called in a doctor to
treat her, but she was “wholy beyond the reach or aid of any medical skill” and died after eleven
months. Nimrod Bishop and John Barnes, Bishop’s security for the purchase of the slaves,
claim that Cyrus Lusk knew of Ann’s illness at the time of the sale but that he fraudulently
withheld the information. Bishop tried to cancel the sale, but Lusk refused and later won a suit
for payment. Bishop and Barnes ask the court to stop further proceedings on Lusk’s suit, to
cancel the sale, to return Warren to Lusk; and to compensate Bishop for Ann’s medical
expenses.
0018 (Accession # 21184102). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. In 1826 Mary Ann and
Ignatius Wathen transferred various property and rights to Nathaniel Wickliffe, who established
a trust estate for Mary Ann and her children that would be administered by Johnson Ranney.
Ignatius later died. Before Mary Ann married Richard Wathen, they drew up a marriage contract
that set aside her trust property and the property inherited from her father to her separate use.
This property includes slaves. The petitioner charges that her husband and other defendants
have defrauded her of her said trust estate, and she fears that “her said separate property is
greatly endangered of being sacrificed” to pay her husband’s debts. Mrs. Wathen asks the court
to issue an injunction preventing any further action involving her property until the case is
settled. She also asks the court to investigate the various transactions, to appoint a new trustee,
and to return her property to her trust estate.
0050 (Accession # 21184103). St. Louis County, Missouri. Louis Scott, a man of color,
represents that his owner, William Burd, sent him to work in Illinois for six days, “for which work
your Orator verily believes his said master received payment.” Because slavery is “contrary to
the laws of State of Illinois,” Scott “prays that he be permitted to sue in your honorable Court for
his freedom as a poor person.”
0083 (Accession # 21184104). St. Louis County, Missouri. Twenty-three-year-old Charles, a
man of color, asserts that he was born in Cahokia, St. Clair County, Illinois, where his mother
was a “servant” to Joseph Troke. When Charles was eleven years old, the sheriff of St. Clair, by
court order, took him as a levy against Troke and sold him to Alfred Cowles. Four years ago,
Cowles sold Charles to Ebenezer Pickering, who, in turn, sold him to Samuel Christy. Samuel
Christy died. His widow, Belina Christy, now holds Charles and “pretends to claim your
petitioner as her property, and restrains him of his just rights, liberty & freedom.” Of the belief
that he is entitled to his freedom, the petitioner prays “this honorable Court to grant him leave to
sue as a poor person, in order to establish his right to freedom.”
0103 (Accession # 21184105). St. Louis County, Missouri. Mary Robertson, a woman of color,
asserts that she has “firm grounds on which she claims her right to freedom.” She informs the
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court that her owner, Amos L. Corson [Corsen], took her to Alton, Illinois, in early March 1841
and kept her there for four and a half months, “at labor in every respect as a slave” although
slavery was “contrary to the Laws of Said State.” On or about 24 July 1841, Corson sent her
back to Missouri, where Ringrose D. Watson now holds her in slavery. Mary Robertson
therefore “prays that your Honor will grant unto your petitioner leave to Sue as a poor person in
order to establish her right to freedom.”
0111 (Accession # 21184106). St. Louis County, Missouri. Jonathan, a thirty-four-year-old man
of color, states that his owner, Edward Gleason, moved from Virginia to Tennessee, taking
Jonathan with him. After Edward Gleason’s death, his son James D. Gleason inherited
Jonathan. James Gleason moved to Illinois in 1831 and lived there until his death four years
later. During that time, Gleason hired out Jonathan in St. Louis, but he also brought Jonathan to
Illinois to work. In 1832, Jonathan worked for eight months on Gleason’s farm in Madison
County, Illinois. In 1838, Gleason’s widow Eleanor married Aza Willoughby, but the couple
separated soon after “on account of the bad conduct and habitual intemperance of the
husband.” Eleanor Willoughby started divorce proceedings, but in the meantime, Joel Darrah
won a suit against Aza Willoughby, and the St. Louis sheriff levied execution on Jonathan as
Willoughby’s property. Jonathan is now in jail. With Eleanor Willoughby’s full consent, Jonathan
asks to sue as a poor person to establish his right to freedom.
0126 (Accession # 21184107). St. Louis County, Missouri. Squire Brown states that his former
owner, Henry Brown, hired him out to work in Illinois several times, for several months at a time,
between 1839 and 1841. In May 1841, William C. Anderson bought Squire Brown from Henry
Brown. Squire asks permission to sue as a poor person “to establish the right of your petitioner
to freedom.”
0136 (Accession # 21184108). St. Louis County, Missouri. Peter, “a colored man” represents
that, “in the spring of 1833,” John Richardson took him “to Dubuque in the Territory of Iowa and
there [he] worked for his master in the business of mining,” for eight years, “by and with the
consent and direction” of Richardson. Peter cites that the Iowa Territory “is a portion of the
United States in which Slavery is not allowed by the laws of the United States, and therefore
your petitioner believes he is fully entitled to his freedom.” Peter “prays the Honorable Court,
that an order may be granted, allowing the petitioner to sue ... as a poor person, to establish his
right to freedom; that counsel may be assigned him; that he have reasonable liberty to attend
his Counsel and the Court” and that he receive protection from harsh treatment “on account of
his application for freedom” and protection against removal from the court’s jurisdiction.
0144 (Accession # 21184109). St. Louis County, Missouri. On 25 February 1841, Charles, a
man of color, filed a freedom suit against Belina Christy. Three days later, he was “forcibly
seized in the public streets of the City of St. Louis on sunday” by two men “pretending to act
under the Authority of the defendant.” They carried Charles across the Mississippi River to St.
Clair County, Illinois. They tried to imprison him in the county jail, but the jailer refused to take
Charles “on the ground that there was no offence alledged” against him. That night, Charles
escaped from the men and returned to St. Louis. Charles “now claims the protection of this
honorable Court.” He asks the court to require Belina Christy to give bond not to remove him
from the court’s jurisdiction until his case is decided and to issue a warrant for his appearance
before the court. In conclusion, “your petitioner states that he believes that he will be again
ta[ken] out of the jurisdiction of this Court unless the said warrant issues.”
0148 (Accession # 21184110). St. Louis County, Missouri. Alsey, “a woman of color,” relates
that she was born into slavery about thirty-eight years ago in Kentucky. She further recounts
that her master, Zachariah Cross, gave her, at age fourteen, to his daughter and son-in-law,
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Rachel and Robert Funkhauser [Funkhouser] [Funkhowser]. Alsey reports that the Funkhausers
took her to Illinois, where she “continued to reside ... at the Saline & at Shawnytown” for five
years. The petitioner informs the court that Cross reclaimed her after five years, because
Funkhauser was “greatly involved in debt,” and that he took her back to Kentucky, eventually
bringing her to Missouri where she was sold. Claiming that she is “now held in slavery and
deprived of her just rights, freedom and liberty” by William Randolph, the petitioner “prays your
honorable Court, to allow her to sue as a poor person in order to establish her right to freedom.”
0194 (Accession # 21184111). St. Louis County, Missouri. Mary Robertson won the right earlier
to sue as a poor person to establish her freedom during the next court term. She now
represents that she is currently imprisoned in the St. Louis County jail and that the constable is
about to sell her “to satisfy executions against her pretended owner Amos L. Corsen.” Believing
that such a sale will result in her removal from the court’s jurisdiction, the petitioner “prays that
Your Honor will cause your petitioner to be brought up before your Honor by a warrant under the
hand of your Honor” to protect her from being sold before her case is tried.
0200 (Accession # 21184112). St. Louis County, Missouri. Milton Duty brought twenty-seven
slaves with him when he moved from Mississippi to St. Louis, Missouri, in March 1837. Duty
died in August 1838, leaving behind a will that emancipated his slaves. Preston and the other
slaves charge that the administrator of Duty’s estate, George W. Coons, is colluding with his
father, David Coons, to defraud the estate by destroying or concealing documents and
presenting claims for debts that Duty paid before his death. The petitioners object to the validity
of several other claims made against the estate by various parties. They maintain that Coons
has made no attempt to collect debts owed to the estate or to hire out the slaves to pay the
debts. Instead, he has obtained permission from the county and probate courts to sell the
slaves. Among other requests, Preston and the other petitioners ask the court to permit them to
sue as poor people, to appoint special commissioners to examine and validate the accounts and
the various claims, to settle the estate properly, and to award them their promised freedom. In
the meantime, they ask for an injunction to stop Coons from selling them until the estate is
settled.
0263 (Accession # 21184113). St. Louis County, Missouri. George Coons, administrator of the
estate of Milton Duty, submits that there are numerous claims against the estate. He further
cites that there are twenty-six slaves in the estate. Believing “the hire of the said slaves will not
in any reasonable time enable him to pay the said debts,” the petitioner prays that he be
permitted to sell as many slaves “as will be sufficient to pay said demands.”
0267 (Accession # 21184114). St. Louis County, Missouri. Armistead Lawless, a free person of
color, owned real and personal estate in St. Louis, including three slaves. A mob attacked
Lawless on 15 May 1832, destroying his property. Lawless fled to Illinois accompanied by
Clayton Tiffin and Tiffin’s attorney, George Strother, now deceased. They went to a justice of
the peace and had papers drawn up, which gave Tiffin control of Lawless’s property. Lawless,
being illiterate and under mental stress, also signed a second unexplained document when
instructed to do so. Tiffin convinced Lawless that his life was in danger and persuaded him to
move to Canada, giving him a carriage and pistols. En route, Lawless decided not to leave
Illinois and turned back. Tiffin and Samuel Merry took over Lawless’s property in St. Louis,
hiring out or selling the slaves and renting the property, from which they are now receiving
proceeds. Lawless and his two tenants in common, John W. Paulding and Hugh Lackey, ask
the court to appoint a receiver to manage the disputed property until the case is settled and to
require Merry and Tiffin to account for their handling of Lawless’s property since 1832. They
also request that the court nullify the second document signed by Lawless, which the
defendants claim is a deed of conveyance giving them full title to the property. Lawless,
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Paulding, and Lackey ask the court to order Tiffin and Merry “to deliver up possession and to
execute a deed of conveyance and quit claim to your orators of said lots, tenements and
property in said deed.”
0312 (Accession # 21184115). St. Louis County, Missouri. In an earlier case, twenty-three-yearold
Charles sued Melanie Christy for his freedom. Christy now responds by petitioning the court
for a change of venue, claiming that “the Judge of the said Court has prejudices against the
petitioner’s defence to the said suit.” In January 1842, Christy again petitions the circuit court for
a change of venue, maintaining that “the Judge of said Court is prejudiced in said case.”
0317 (Accession # 21184116). Boone County, Missouri. William Provines informs the court that
he purchased a slave named Lewis in 1840 from Cyrus Lusk, who was acting under a court
order to sell the slaves in the estate of Samuel Crockett. Provines purports that he paid “a full
and fair price,” believing Lewis to be sound and healthy; however, Lewis died from “an incurable
hereditary disease called negro consumption” five months after the purchase. The petitioners
note that Lusk has filed suit against Provines and his security, John Vanhorn, for the balance of
the purchase price. Alleging that Lusk knew of Lewis’s condition at point of sale and fraudulently
concealed it from Provines, the petitioners insist that the only way they can prove Lusk’s
knowledge is by “a discovery on oath of the plaintiff himself.” Provines and Vanhorn ask the
court to compel Lusk to “discover and set forth” his knowledge of the situation “to the end that
the said petitioners may have a fair trial at law.”
0326 (Accession # 21184121). Ray County, Missouri. John, a mulatto, claims that his
grandmother, “an Irish Subject of the Kingdom of Great Britian living in Ireland,” agreed to serve
a seven-year indenture in return for passage to the United States. Arriving in Virginia sometime
in the 1780s, the ship captain bound her to the Offutt family. She died two or three years later,
“leaving two free white Children.” One of these children, Love, was “raised in a negro quarter
and treated in every Respect as a slave.” Love bore “two bastard Mulatto Children” and was
about to sue for her freedom when the Offutt family “run her off” to Kentucky to live with another
branch of the family. In Kentucky, Love married a slave named Frank, who was freed upon his
master’s death; her son John was born in 1813 or 1815. In 1818 or 1820, Love sued for and
received her freedom, but the Offutts took her four children to Louisville to prevent them from
suing as well. The two oldest children did eventually obtain their freedom, but John was “run off”
to Missouri, where he has lived for the last eighteen to twenty years as a slave of James Offutt.
John asks for permission to sue as a poor person for his freedom. Fearing that Offutt will
remove him from the court’s jurisdiction if not required to give bond, the petitioner also asks for
the court’s protection while his suit is pending. [Related depositions add much more detail and
directly contradict this petition in important ways, such as the race of the people named.]
1842
0363 (Accession # 21184201). Scott County, Missouri. James Miller and Benjamin Hacker
dispute the ownership of two slaves, Harvey and Charles. Miller insists that Hacker has “in his
possession or in his power and control certain papers” that prove Miller’s ownership of the
slaves in question. The petitioner “prays that this Court may be order compel the production of
Said papers and documents.”
0379 (Accession # 21184202). Jefferson County, Missouri. Nancy Thurmond, the administratrix
of William Rian’s estate, reports that her mother, Mary Ann Burns Rian, received two slaves
from Samuel Burn’s estate around 1795. Her mother then moved to Kentucky in 1800 taking
these two slaves with her. After living in Kentucky for one year, Mary Ann married William Rian.
Rian moved with his family to Missouri in 1809 where he died in 1839. His estate was initially
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managed by Eli Wiley. Shortly after Rian’s death, Joseph Walsh, acting on Wiley’s behalf,
supervised a sale of slaves in Rian’s estate. At this sale, Walsh purchased one slave himself
while Nancy Thurmond purchased five others. A court decision later rejected this sale,
whereupon Thurmond took over the administration of said estate. The petitioner now asks the
court to annul an earlier judgment “against the estate of Rian” obtained by Joseph Walsh. She
furthermore seeks an order barring further legal action by Walsh and his codefendents “until this
cause is heard and determined in equity.”
0444 (Accession # 21184204). St. Louis County, Missouri. Rose, a woman of color, was born in
Montreal around 1768. John Stock took Rose as a slave to Prairie du Chien in the Northwest
Territory of the United States, where she remained with Stock until his death in 1794. In 1798,
Auguste Chouteau purchased Rose and her two children, Benoist and Tuissaint. While Rose
was in Chouteau’s possession, she gave birth to several more children, including Pierre, the
petitioner. Upon Chouteau’s death, Pierre became the property of Chouteau’s wife and then the
property of Gabriel L. Chouteau. He petitions the court for permission to sue for his freedom
because his mother was born free and “secondly because if his mother was born a slave, she
became by her residence at Prarie Du Chein ... a free person.”
0472 (Accession # 21184206). St. Louis County, Missouri. Hardage Lane claims that he is
entitled to one-third of a certain tract of land in St. Louis County. Jacques Clamorgan conveyed
this land by deed to Joseph Brazean on 8 November 1803. Later that same day Brazean
conveyed said land to Apauline Clamorgan, Cyprien Clamorgan, and St. Eutrope Clamorgan.
Brazean’s deed stipulated that said land would pass to Apauline Clamorgan upon the death of
Cyprien and St. Eutrope. Upon Apauline’s death, the property passed to her four children: Louis,
Henry, Cyprien, and Louisa. Louisa’s share passed, at her death, to Alexander Freyer, who in
turn sold it to Hardage Lane. Lane claims that his title to the land is not being recognized, and
he asks the court to confirm his right to the land.
0500 (Accession # 21184208). St. Louis County, Missouri. Henry, Margarett and her children,
and Sally Jackson are held as slaves by James V. Frazier. They claim that they are the children
of Jinny Jackson, a free woman of color and the daughter of Peggy. Peggy was granted her
freedom prior to Jinny’s birth and, by virtue of her status, the petitioners request permission to
sue as poor persons for their freedom.
0507 (Accession # 21184209). St. Louis County, Missouri. Jinny Jackson, a woman of color,
asks the court for permission to sue for her freedom. She states that her mother Pegg was the
slave of Richard Dallam, who executed a deed of manumission for Pegg and her children in
1787. The petitioner bases her right to freedom on provisions made in this deed.
0524 (Accession # 21184210). St. Louis County, Missouri. Vica, “a woman of color aged about
nineteen years,” recounts that she was born into slavery in North Carolina, the property of
Isabella Walker. Vica points out that “she was taken from that state to the state of Mississippi,
where she resided” with the said Walker until Walker’s death about 1838. She further cites that
Walker’s son Felix claimed her and took her to Illinois in March 1841, leaving her with Chesley
Evans, “a relation of this petitioner.” Vica alleges that Felix Walker “intended giving her freedom
papers.” However, after Vica lived in Illinois four months, Walker’s son-in-law, Benjamin Dill,
asked her to come to St. Louis to care for his wife. Vica went, because “she felt and continues
to feel a strong affection for [her] ... with whom she was reared from early infancy.” In October
1841, the Dills returned to Mississippi, leaving Vica with John Sparr. Sparr sold her to Lyman
Shaw, who sold her to Samuel Hobart on 25 April 1842. Fearful of being removed from St. Louis
by Hobart, Vica insists that she is entitled to her freedom. She therefore prays that she be
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permitted to sue as a poor person to establish her freedom and that Hobart be compelled to
bring her into court.
0539 (Accession # 21184211). St. Louis County, Missouri. Chelsey Evans, the next friend of
three-year-old Musa Ben Abel Gazen, asserts that Felix Walker took Musa and his mother Vica
to Illinois in 1841, where they lived approximately seven months. Benjamin Dill, Walker’s son-inlaw,
then brought Vica and her children to St. Louis and placed them with John Sparr. Sparr,
“pretending to hold and to be entitled” to them, sold them to Lyman Shaw, who sold them to
George Charles and Samuel Hobart. George Melody now has custody of Musa. Evans charges
that Charles has tried to take possession of the child, “to separate him from his mother” and to
remove him from the court’s jurisdiction. Evans believes that the child “is free and entitled to his
freedom.” He therefore requests that the infant petitioner be permitted “to sue for his freedom as
a poor person.” The petition reveals that “the said Vica, is the daughter of a mulatto woman by
an Indian man, and that the father of your petitioner is a white man—so that the proportion of
African blood in your petitioner is about one eighth.”
0551 (Accession # 21184212). St. Louis County, Missouri. Thadeus Alonzo, a ten-month-old
boy, petitions by his next friend, Chelsey Evans, who informs the court that the petitioner’s
mother Vica resided with her master, Felix Walker, in Illinois for several months before and after
Thadeus’s birth. He cites that Walker’s son-in-law, Benjamin Dill, later brought them to St. Louis
and left them with John Sparr. Evans recounts that Sparr, pretending to own Vica and Thadeus,
sold them to Lyman B. Shaw, who in turn sold them to Samuel Hobart and George Charles.
Noting that George Mellody now holds Thadeus, Evans contends that these multiple
transactions are fraudulent and that the said infant is entitled to his freedom. He therefore prays
that Thadeus Alonzo be permitted to sue as a poor person to establish his right to freedom.
0563 (Accession # 21184214). Boone County, Missouri. Elizabeth Monroe represents that her
father, Daniel Monroe, died intestate “previous to the month of February Eighteen hundred &
thirty four.” She states that John Copeland was appointed her guardian and that George Monroe
was appointed to administer her late father’s estate and to divide the said estate among the nine
heirs. The petitioner charges that $1,831.50 “from the sale of certain slaves of said intestates
estate” came into the hands of her guardian and that said sum was “to be divided share & alike
... between the said Wards of said Copeland” and other distributees. Noting that she has yet to
receive her share, the petitioner therefore prays that “said Copeland may be decreed to pay
over to your said Oratrix ... whatever of principle and interest may be found in said Copelands
hands.”
0579 (Accession # 21184215). Boone County, Missouri. William Monroe represents that his
father, Daniel Monroe, died intestate “previous to the month of February Eighteen hundred &
thirty four.” He states that John Copeland was appointed his guardian and that George Monroe
was appointed to administer his late father’s estate and to divide the said estate among the nine
heirs. The petitioner charges that $1,831.50 “from the sale of certain slaves of said intestates
estate” came into the hands of his guardian and that said sum was “to be divided share and
share alike ... between the said Wards of said Copeland” and other distributees. Noting that he
has yet to receive his share, the petitioner therefore prays that “said Copeland may be ordered
& decreed to pay over to your said Orator ... whatever of principle and interest may be found in
said Copeland’s hands.”
0604 (Accession # 21184216). Boone County, Missouri. Robert Chiles seeks a divorce from his
wife Celia. He submits that the said Celia has been “guilty of the crime of Adultery with certain &
divers persons whose names to your orator are unknown.” He further cites that “she has very
frequently offered such indignities to his person as to render his Condition intolerable so much
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so that he was compelled to absent himself from his own home.” Revealing that “she has been
guilty of Adultery since his separation from her and was impregnated by a negro man,” the
petitioner prays that the court will “render a decree dissolving the bonds of matrimony between
him & Celia and restore to him all the rights & priviledges of a single man.”
0621 (Accession # 21184218). Marion County, Missouri. Martha Wood owned property,
including six slaves, prior to her marriage to Virgil Pratt on 25 August 1835. William Wright
received letters of administration on Martha’s estate after her death. Wright claims that Pratt has
refused to let him distribute the portion of the estate that Martha owned separately from her
husband. He further charges that Pratt sold or otherwise gave possession of slaves in the estate
to John Shackleford. Wright and the heirs seek a court order seizing the property in question so
that it cannot be removed from the court’s jurisdiction while the matter is pending.
0647 (Accession # 21184219). St. Louis County, Missouri. Thomas Jefferson, “a man of color,”
was born a slave in Virginia. He reports that his owner, Charles Drexter, transported him to St.
Louis, where he resided for four years. Jefferson further represents that Dr. Samuel Prosser
purchased him in 1839 and that “immediately after becoming the owner of your Petitioner” the
said Prosser conveyed him to Illinois and “there held him to labor and service on his said
Prosser’s farm ... for a period of about Eight months.” The petitioner cites that Prosser
transported him back to Missouri, “fearing the interposition of the Authorities” in Illinois, and
“there hired him out and now does and ever since has received the rewards of Petitioners
labor.” Now in the possession of Milton Hopkins, “who holds Petitioner in Slavery as a hireling
from said Prosser,” Jefferson “believes that he is entitled to his freedom and prays your Honor
for leave to sue as a poor person ... in order to establish his right to freedom.”
1843
0670 (Accession # 21184301). St. Louis County, Missouri. James W. Kingsbury claims that
Hardage Lane “wrongfully detained” two of Kingsbury’s slaves on 22 September 1843. He
seeks a writ of replevin to recover twenty-two-year-old Mary and twenty-four-year-old Julia,
“both slaves for life and mulattoes of great value,” and he requests damages in the amount of
$2,000. The court originally ruled in Lane’s favor but changed its verdict after Kingsbury moved
for a new trial. By 1853, both original parties were dead, and the case was carried to the
supreme court in the names of the respective estate executors.
0697 (Accession # 21184302). St. Louis County, Missouri. Mary Charlotte, a woman of color,
petitions on behalf of herself and her four children, Antoine, Augusta, Victorine, and Euphrasia.
She asserts that she is “entitled to freedom by being born of a Negresse named Rose, who
herself was born at Montreal in Canada.” She further avers that John Stork, an “Indian Trader,”
took Rose to Prairie du Chien in the Northwest Territory about 1791; two years later upon
Stork’s death, a trader named Andrew [Andre] Todd brought Rose to St. Louis and sold her to a
priest named Didier. The petitioner submits that Didier later sold Rose to Auguste Chouteau,
who has since died, and that Therese Chouteau, widow and executrix of Auguste Chouteau,
held Rose and Rose’s four children until her death a few months ago. Gabriel S. Chouteau,
administrator of Therese Chouteau’s estate, now claims them as slaves. Mary Charlotte asks to
sue as a poor person for her and her children’s freedom. She also asks the court to pass an
order that she “have reasonable liberty to attend her Counsel and the Court and that she shall
not be subjected to any severity on account of her application for freedom, nor be removed out
of the jurisdiction of the Court.” When the jury found for the defendant, Mary Charlotte’s
attorneys filed a motion for a new trial. The court overruled the motion, so Mary Charlotte
appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court. In 1848, the supreme court reversed the verdict and
remanded the case for further proceedings. [A set of documents covering the proceedings in the
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second phase of the case (1853–1855) is attached to this petition. The circuit court transcript
includes copies of this original 1843 petition, the judge’s order, the subpoena for Gabriel
Chouteau, sheriff’s returns, and Chouteau’s plea. The rest of the transcript documents the
circuit court proceedings through the 1855 judgment of nonsuit. Mary Charlotte appealed the
judgment, and the case went to the Missouri Supreme Court for the second time.]
0794 (Accession # 21184303). Lewis County, Missouri. Six of fifteen slaves liberated in 1835 by
the will of Jacob Myers ask the court to intervene in order to ensure the proper execution of
Myers’s will. In addition to bestowing their freedom, a codicil in the said will directed that close to
464 acres of land in Missouri be held in trust for their use and benefit. Myers expressed that if
one of the slaves, Jack, should wish to sell the land and relocate the group to another area, then
Robert M. Easton and William Duncan should oblige him. However, the trustees, “with such
extraordinary negligence as was wholly incompatible with the duty of trustees,” conveyed the
land in question for a “pitiful sum” to Thomas Gray, who then reconveyed the land to Easton a
week later for “a speculation of 700 dollars.” The petitioners allege that the trustees imposed
upon “the imbecility and worthlessness of Jack” in order to secure his signature assenting to the
transaction. They seek an order from the court that “the said lands be declared still clothed with
the trust created by the will of Jacob Myers.” Two of the fifteen slaves have died, and the
remaining seven, five of whom are minors, are named by the petitioners as party defendants.
0831 (Accession # 21184305). Monroe County, Missouri. Mary Ann Murray seeks the return of
three slaves, whom she claims were “by force and against her consent taken out of her
possession” by Samuel M. Pool and Jefferson Wilcoxsan. In 1837, Mary Ann’s brother, William
A. Burns, set up a trust estate in three slaves “for the purpose of aiding and assisting your
Oratrix in the raising and Educating of her children.” Shortly thereafter, Mary Ann Murray and
her husband, Samuel, moved their family from Tennessee to Missouri, bringing the three slaves
with them. On 16 April 1840, Pool and Wilcoxsan “under colors of legal process against Samuel
Murray” seized property belonging to Samuel Murray, including the three slaves in Mary Ann’s
trust estate. Pool, in his capacity as acting constable, then sold the slaves at public auction and
distributed the proceeds among Murray’s creditors. The slaves, originally purchased for $600 by
John E. Shropshire and James C. Fox, quickly made their way into the possession of James
McMurtry, another of Murray’s creditors, where they now remain. Mary Ann Murray seeks the
return of the slaves and compensation for their services since their seizure.
0886 (Accession # 21184306). Boone County, Missouri. On 21 December 1842, Samuel Wall
mortgaged his “negro man named John of black complexion aged about twenty seven years” to
Robert S. Barr, “surviving partner of Parker and Barr,” in exchange for a loan of $433. Four
months later, Barr claims that Wall has failed to repay the debt. Barr asks the court to award him
“Judgement for his debt and damages for detention,” as well as to order a foreclosure on the
mortgage in order that John may be “sold to satisfy the said Judgement.”
0894 (Accession # 21184307). Madison County, Missouri. Samuel Britten, elected constable of
Madison County in August of 1842, petitions the court to stay proceedings on a bill pending that
would require him to post an additional bond as security for his position. Nathan Montgomery,
trustee for Dr. Charles Hutchings, the owner of property levied on by Britten as constable,
claims that Britten’s bond is insufficient to cover the value of Hutchings’s property. Britten
argues that an additional bond is “an infringement upon my rights,” and he beseeches the court
to “dismiss the Said Rule.” The court transcript reveals the confiscated property to be a slave
named Lizzie and her six children, who are estimated to be worth $3,000.
0924 (Accession # 21184308). Madison County, Missouri. On 18 October 1841, William Ronald
mortgaged a tract of land to Robert Isom, a free man of color, to secure a loan of $122.
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Eighteen months later, Isom claims that Ronald has failed to repay the loan. The petitioner
prays that “judgment may be rendered against” the defendant and asks the court to seize and
sell the mortgaged land to satisfy his demand.
0936 (Accession # 21184310). St. Louis County, Missouri. Louis Chouteau, a man of color,
represents that his mother Rose was born in Montreal, Canada. About 1791, “a certain John
Storke, an Indian Trader,” took Rose to his trading post at Prairie du Chien in the Northwest
Territory. Following Storke’s death in 1793 or 1794, Andrew Todd brought Rose to St. Louis and
sold her to Mr. Didier, a priest and curate of St. Louis. Didier eventually sold Rose to Auguste
Chouteau. After Chouteau’s death, his personal estate was sold, and Gabriel S. Chouteau
bought Louis, whom he continues to hold as a slave. Louis Chouteau therefore prays “that he
may be permitted to Sue as a poor person for the obtaining of his freedom, and that Your Honor
will make an order that he have reasonable liberty to attend his Counsel and the Court, and that
he not be subjected to any Severity on account of his application” or be removed from the
court’s jurisdiction before the case is tried.
Reel 7
Missouri cont.
1844
0002 (Accession # 21184401). St. Louis County, Missouri. George W. Coons, the administrator
of the estate of the late Milton Duty, petitioned the court in 1841, asking to sell the estate slaves
to pay debts. Duty’s twenty-seven slaves responded by filing a suit to stay the sale because
Duty’s will had freed them. In this petition, Nat, one of the said slaves, states that Milton Duty
purchased him and held him as a slave during Duty’s residence in Mississippi. He avers that
Duty’s will freed his slaves, directing that they “be manumitted and set free and sent to the State
of Missouri, if the laws of said last mentioned State would permit the same.” Nat reports that
Duty moved his slaves to Missouri in 1837 and remained there until his death in 1838. The
petitioner cites that the said will was admitted to probate in Warren County, Mississippi, and was
recorded on 26 November 1838. On 22 June 1839, the will was recorded in St. Louis County,
and George W. Coons took out letters of administration on the estate. Proclaiming that Coons
“wrongfully and unjustly holds him in Slavery,” the petitioner prays that he “be permitted to
prosecute this his suit for freedom as a poor person” and that counsel be appointed for him.
0059 (Accession # 21184403). Howard County, Missouri. Maria, “a woman of colour,”
represents that “she is now held in slavery by Edward Atteberry administrator of Thomas
Atteberry late deceased.” She claims that Thomas Atteberry, her former master, emancipated
her by deed in Kentucky. She further notes that she had previously been permitted to sue as a
poor person for her freedom but that she was unable to secure the proper documentation.
Fearful of being sold at auction as a slave out of the jurisdiction of the court “before she can
have a trial on the merits of her case,” Maria requests that the sheriff “take possession of your
petitioner whenever she may be found, and bring her before your Hon. body, and to summon
the person in whose possession she may be found, to be and appear before your Hon. body.”
0102 (Accession # 21184404). St. Louis County, Missouri. Hannah, “a mulatto woman aged abt
nineteen years,” charges that she is held in slavery by John Pitcher, although “she verily
believes that she is entitled to freedom.” The petitioner cites that Daniel Page previously owned
her and that the said Page took her to Boston where she remained for about six months. She
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further notes that “slavery is not allowed to exist in the state of Massachusetts, and was not
permitted when she was so taken there & kept as aforesaid and that such a holding her in
slavery there by the laws of said state entitled petitioner to freedom.”
0111 (Accession # 21184406). St. Louis County, Missouri. Hannah, a woman of color, reminds
the court that she sought permission to sue as a poor person to establish her right to freedom
ten days ago. She reveals that the court granted her prayer but dismissed her said suit “on
account of some informality in the proceedings.” The petitioner informs the court that since that
time John Pitcher has treated her “with great cruelty severity and oppression.” Believing that
Pitcher will continue with the “same severe and oppressive treatment on account of this
application,” she again asks “that she may be brought up by hon court under the seal of said
Court and dealt with as directed by statute.”
0142 (Accession # 21184408). St. Louis County, Missouri. Amy Moore reports that she was
hired out for two years in 1830, against her will and consent, to Mr. Marbly in Springfield, Illinois.
Charging that Robert N. Moore now claims her as his slave, the petitioner maintains that her
residency in Illinois entitles her to receive her freedom under the laws of that state. She
therefore prays that she may be permitted to “sue as a poor Person to Establish her right to
Freedom.”
0154 (Accession # 21184410). St. Louis County, Missouri. Cloe Ann Smith claims that she is
held in slavery by Dr. Franklin Knox. In 1842, the wife of Knox, “with his knowledge and
consent,” took Smith to Ohio for four months. Smith claims that holding her in slavery in Ohio,
“by operation of the Ordinance of Congress of the year seventeen hundred and eighty-seven for
the government of the territories North West of the Ohio River, and also by force of the
constitution and laws of the State of Ohio, emancipated petitioner from a state of slavery.” Smith
asks to sue as a poor person in order to establish her freedom. She also requests a warrant
preventing Knox from selling her beyond the jurisdiction of the court.
0164 (Accession # 21184411). St. Louis County, Missouri. Jenny Brown represents that she
“has good and firm grounds on which she claims her right to freedom.” She informs the court
that she “is at the present time held in slavery ... by F. Steigers.” Brown reveals that she was
brought into Virginia in 1813 “for the purpose of sale” and that afterwards she was sent to
Missouri “and there hired out as a slave contrary to the laws.” Claiming that “in fact and in truth
from the violation of the laws of the state of Virginia” she has been free the past twenty-two
years, Brown “prays your Honor to allow her to sue as a poor person to establish her freedom
so wrongfully taken from her.”
0177 (Accession # 21184412). St. Louis County, Missouri. Mary Ann Speaks, a twenty-threeyear-old
woman of color, asks for a writ of habeas corpus and for the recognition and granting of
her freedom. Speaks reports that she was born in “Alexandria in the District of Columbia” and
was apprenticed to Susan Blunt “to learn the art & mistery of a housewife.” She later moved with
Blunt to Missouri with the understanding that two years would be deducted from her ten-year
contract. Speaks alleges that she is currently being held by James Quissenbury, the
administrator of the estate of the late Susan Blunt, and John M. Jameson, the “keeper of the
prison.” The petitioner charges that the said men admit “that she was born free of free parents
and is of right free,” yet they maintain that she has not completed her term of indenture. The
petitioner represents that “she is entitled to her own earnings because of the terms of her
coming to this state with said Blunt ... and having served out full the term of eight years, she has
performed her part of said contract.”
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0184 (Accession # 21184414). St. Louis County, Missouri. Celestine, a woman of color,
represents “that she is now held in slavery ... by Madame Julia Dumont.” The petitioner recounts
that her mother Sally was born in Kaskaskia, Illinois, “subsequent to the passage of the
Ordinance of Congress for the government of the territories North West of the Ohio river” in
1787. She thus claims “that her said mother being thus entitled to freedom that her children,
your petitioner being one, were also by law free.” Citing that she was born in St. Louis, Celestine
recounts that one Madame Deroine took her, at the age of nine, to Cohokia, Illinois, where the
said Deroine held her as a slave. The petitioner reveals that she was later purchased by Julia
Beason, who married Charles Dumont. Believing “that she is justly entitled to freedom,” the
petitioner “prays the said Court, to allow her to sue as a poor person ... in order to establish her
right to freedom.”
0195 (Accession # 21184415). St. Louis County, Missouri. Andrean Paschall, a man of color,
petitions for his freedom from Richard Ulrici. The petitioner claims that Gabriel Paul, his former
owner, took him to Illinois, six or seven years ago. Paschall argues that the laws of the United
States and of the state of Illinois entitle him to his freedom. Now held in slavery in St. Louis by
Ulrici, the petitioner prays the court “to grant him leave to sue as a poor person in order to
establish his right to freedom and to assign him counsell for his assistance in that behalf.”
0212 (Accession # 21184416). St. Louis County, Missouri. Martha Ann, “a free woman of
colour,” informs the court that “she was born a slave the property of the late Dr John Young,”
formerly of St. Louis, Missouri. She recounts that the said Young took her with him when he
moved to Galena, Illinois, where he stayed for six months. She further explains that Young then
moved back to Missouri and later to Alabama, where he died. Martha Ann represents that she
then became the property of Sarah Young, Dr. Young’s widow, who moved back to Missouri,
where she died. Citing that the administrator of Sarah Young’s estate now illegally holds her in
slavery, the petitioner prays “that she may be permitted to sue the said Hiram Cordell for the
recovery of her freedom by judgement of law, and may prosecute such suit as a poor person
and have counsel assigned her by the Court.”
0224 (Accession # 21184417). St. Louis County, Missouri. Mary, “a Negro woman aged about
32 years,” claims that James Clemens Sr. illegally holds her in slavery. She maintains that she
was born in Maryland and “that she was owned & held as a slave by one Mrs Gardner.” She
asserts that Gardner’s will conveyed her to Sarah Lurch “to have & to hold as a servant until she
arrived at the age of twenty one years or thereabout at which time she was to be free by virtue
of said will.” The petitioner points out that Sarah Lurch took her to Kentucky when the said Lurch
married a certain Mr. Graves. She relates that the said Graves mortgaged her to James
Clemens Jr., who “got possession of” her in 1839 or 1840. Mary therefore prays “that your honor
allow her to sue as a poor person to establish her right to freedom according to the Law in such
case made & provided.”
0232 (Accession # 21184418). St. Louis County, Missouri. James, the son of Martha Ann,
represents that he was held in slavery illegally by Sarah Young. Insisting that his mother was
free at the time of his birth, the petitioner asserts that Hiram Cordell, the administrator of Sarah
Young’s estate, currently enslaves him. James therefore “humbly prays that he may be
permitted to sue said Cordell for the recovery of his freedom by judgement of law, and may
prosecute such suit as a poor person and have counsel assigned him by the Court.”
0245 (Accession # 21184420). St. Louis County, Missouri. While living in Mississippi, Milton
Duty bought a slave named Jesse. Duty’s will, dated 6 October 1836, directed that Jesse and
other slaves be manumitted upon his death. The petitioner reports that Duty moved to Missouri
in March 1837 and died there in August 1838, “having made no other will.” Charging that
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George W. Coons, the administrator of Duty’s estate, “wrongfully and unjustly, holds your
petitioner in slavery,” Jesse prays “your Honor that he may be allowed to prosecute this his suit
for freedom as a poor person, that counsel be assigned him; and that the usual orders in such
cases be made in his behalf.”
0250 (Accession # 21184422). St. Louis County, Missouri. Jenny Brown, the mother of fourteenyear-old
Jim Brown, avers that she “was brought into the state of Virginia for the purpose of sale
by her master by reason of which she was then and is now a free person.” She represents that
she was later “brought to the state of Missouri and in said state of Missouri she has been held in
slavery for more than twenty years against her will during which time the said Jim was born.”
Noting that the court ruled in her favor, she now asserts that her son is also entitled to his
freedom. She, as his next friend, therefore “prays your Honor to permit and allow him to sue as
a free person to establish his right to freedom.”
0259 (Accession # 21184424). St. Louis County, Missouri. Squire Brown informs the court that
Henry Brown “had formerly owned your petitioner for some six or eight years ... & during the
time he so owned your petitioner hired out your petitioner to work in the County of St Clair State
of Illinois at various times between the years 1839 & 1841.” The petitioner notes that Charles R.
Anderson purchased him in May 1841 and now claims him as his slave. Squire Brown therefore
“prays that he may have leave to sue as a poor person in order to establish his right to
freedom.”
0275 (Accession # 21184425). St. Louis County, Missouri. Mary Ann Speaks, a twenty-threeyear-old
woman of color, is “unjustly and illegally detained” in the county jail in St. Louis by John
Jameson under the orders of James Quissenburry, administrator of the estate of the late Susan
Blunt. Speaks, who was “born of free parents” in Alexandria, Virginia, and bound to Blunt as an
apprentice while living there, agreed to accompany Blunt to St. Louis, Missouri, in exchange for
a release of two years from her term her service. Claiming that her term expired before Blunt’s
death, the petitioner asserts that Quissenburry has required her to turn over her earnings to him
in “compensation for said unexpired term of apprenticeship.” Speaks complains that she is
being detained without warrant, that she was illegally removed from Virginia in the first place,
and that she should be liberated from the indenture by Blunt’s death. She seeks a writ of
habeas corpus in order to present her arguments.
0283 (Accession # 21184426). St. Louis County, Missouri. Twenty-four-year-old Mary Ann
Speaks was indentured by her free mother to Susan Blunt for ten years to learn “the art and
mystery of a good house wife.” Eight years into said apprenticeship, Blunt died intestate, and
her administrator, James Quissenburry, claimed Speaks as a slave in Blunt’s estate. Speaks
alleges that Quissenburry “without the order or authority of the St. Louis Probate Court ... has
advertised your petitioner as the property of his said intestate, and intends to sell her to the
highest bidder for cash at the Court House in said County on Monday the twenty first day of
October instant.” Currently “held in close confinement in the Common Prison of the County
aforesaid,” Speaks believes that she “will be in danger of loosing forever her freedom.” She
therefore prays “that your honor will allow her to sue as a poor person for her freedom.”
0308 (Accession # 21184427). St. Louis County, Missouri. Martha Drusilla was born free in
Alabama. She represents that she is “so near white, that she has not got one fourth of negro
blood in her veins.” When Martha was one year old, her mother indentured her to John Cotton.
Martha lived with Cotton until his death, at which time they were both living in Arkansas with
Cotton’s son-in-law, Thomas Isbel. Martha lived with the Isbels until September 1844, when
Thomas’s brother William took her up the Missouri River and tried to sell her in Lexington.
Martha claims that Isbel “would not dare to attempt to sell her in Alabama or Arkansas, where
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the facts of her being born free is well known.” William Isbel then brought Martha to St. Louis
and placed her in the possession of Richmond J. Curle. The petitioner charges that Curle
“intends sending your Petitioner out of the state of Missouri, and down the Mississippi river and
sell her as a slave, tomorrow.” She therefore prays “that a warrant may issue as is provided by
... an act to enable persons held in slavery to sue for their freedom.”
0350 (Accession # 21184429). St. Louis County, Missouri. Preston, a man of color, represents
that George W. Coons illegally detains him as a slave belonging to the estate of Milton Duty. He
informs the court that he was one of the slaves owned by Milton Duty of Mississippi, but he
asserts that Duty’s will directed in 1836 that Preston and his other slaves be manumitted upon
his death. Preston further points out that Duty moved to Missouri with his slaves and died there
in August 1838. Now held by Coons, the administrator of Duty’s estate, the petitioner prays that
he be permitted to sue as a poor person to establish his right to freedom. [Part of the petition is
missing.]
0356 (Accession # 21184432). St. Louis County, Missouri. Mary Robinson, “a woman of
Colour,” asserts that she is “intitled to her Freedom.” She informs the court that she “was taken
from the city of St Louis” to the state of Illinois by Amos L. Corson, “her then master and owner
and kept in slavery contrary to her your petitioners will ... for the space of time at least six
months.” She further recalls that she was later returned to St. Louis, where she “was kept in
slavery by one Ringrose D. Watson.” Robinson declares that she “has good reason to believe
and does believe she will be taken Beyond the Jurisdiction of this Court and kept in slavery
unless the said Watson and Corson are restrained by this court.” The petitioner therefore “prays
to be permitted to sue as a free person and to be placed under the protection of this Court.”
1845
0374 (Accession # 21184501). Madison County, Missouri. William M. McMurtrey, executor of
the last will and testament of the late William McMurtrey, seeks a court order to move an
“extremely ill” estate slave from the county jail to a private residence in order to “restore her to
health.” Vicy [Vicey], “charged before said Justice with killing her infant child, wilfully and
knowingly,” is greatly endangered “in consequence of the extreme heat, and small dimensions
of said jail.” McMurtrey cites that “the opinion of at least two of our physicians” confirms that
Vicy requires the kind of “indispensable care” that she cannot receive in a jail setting and avows
himself that her “sufferings” deserve “the necessary care which in humanity should be given
her.” He beseeches the court to allow her a transfer to the jailer’s place of residence until her
recovery “may warrant her re-commitment to said Jail.” The jailer, Felix Gregory, assents to take
charge of Vicy. In related documents, Catharine McMurtrey deposes that Vicy smothered her
six-month-old son Stephen because “the devil had told her to put it away.”
0410 (Accession # 21184502). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. Simon English informs the
court that on 19 February 1845 William Ewing was “justly indebted to your petitioner” in the
amount of $871, “which said debt is secured by a mortgage” on several horses and a fifty-sixyear-old
slave named Timothy. English claims that Ewing has failed to repay the debt, “although
often requested so to do.” The petitioner prays the court to foreclose on the mortgaged property
and “that said property above described may be sold to satisfy the said debt damages and
costs, that may be found due, or so much thereof as may be necessary.”
0421 (Accession # 21184505). Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri. Five-year-old Allen Augustus
Holliman seeks “to prove and establish” the will of the late Elizabeth Holmes, which has been
rejected by the court. As “the devissee (with some small exceptions) of all and singular the real
and personal Estate of the said Testator,” he asks that Robert T. Edmonson be appointed as his
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next friend so that he may institute a suit to the court. A supplemental petition reveals that the
said Holmes was Holliman’s aunt and that she died in 1845. It also details that Elizabeth’s
brother, Thomas Holmes, challenged the will, claiming that his sister was “of unsound mind and
memory” when she executed the document. The probate judge sided with Holmes. The
petitioner, by his next friend Edmonson, asks the court to summon the parties interested in
Holmes’s estate in order to determine the will’s validity. According to the disputed document,
Elizabeth Holmes bequeathed three slaves to her nephew, the petitioner.
0440 (Accession # 21184506). St. Louis County, Missouri. On 15 April 1837, Jane McCray, a
mulatto woman, purchased her freedom for $600 from William H. Hopkins, paying $500 at that
time. On 1 January 1838, she paid the balance, and Hopkins wrote a note authorizing her “to go
and reside in any county in the State of Illinois, & there to do and act for herself.” In the summer
of 1838, Hopkins died intestate without executing a formal deed of emancipation. With the heirs’
advice and consent, McCray went to Galena, Illinois, and lived as a free woman for a month in
1844. Admitting that said heirs have never “disturbed” her, the petitioner notes that they have
not given her “the papers necessary to fully emancipate her under the laws of this State.” Since
she has acquired property in Missouri, McCray wishes to establish her right to freedom
“according to law, beyond Controversy.” She asks that she may be permitted to sue as a poor
person to establish her right to freedom and that counsel be assigned to her.
0454 (Accession # 21184507). St. Louis County, Missouri. Sarah, a slave born in Virginia and
originally owned by John Prosser, seeks permission to sue as a poor person to establish her
right to freedom. Sarah explains that after Prosser’s death she was sold at administrative sale
and eventually ended up in the possession of Prosser’s widow, Margaret. When Margaret and
her children moved to Illinois, they brought Sarah with them and hired out her services.
Eventually one of Margaret’s children, Mary Martin, took Sarah to the state of Kentucky, where
she remained for a while before being returned to Margaret in Illinois. By 1841, the family
relocated to St. Louis, and Margaret was hired out again to one William Waddingham. On 20
July 1845, a “person to your petitioner unknown” came to St. Louis with “an order in writing for
the body of your petitioner stating that it was his intention to take [her] ... away from this city.”
Sarah claims that “by depositions from the State of Illinois,” she can establish the “material
facts” entitling her to her freedom.
0492 (Accession # 21184508). St. Louis County, Missouri. Malinda, a woman of color, asserts
that George W. Coons illegally holds her in slavery. She explains that she was the slave of
Milton Duty, formerly of Mississippi. She further insists that Duty executed his will in 1836, in
which he directed that Malinda and other slaves be emancipated at his death. Malinda
maintains that Duty moved to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1837, and took her and his other slaves
with him; Duty died there in 1838. The petitioner charges that Duty’s administrator, George W.
Coons, now holds her in slavery and “has caused her to be commited and confined in close
custody in the Jail of said County without any reasonable cause therefor.” Contending that she
is entitled to her freedom, Malinda prays to be permitted to “prosecute her suit for her freedom
against the said Coons as administrator, as a poor person.” She also asks the court to appoint
counsel for her and to order her “discharged from her present unjust illegal imprisonment.”
0506 (Accession # 21184509). St. Louis County, Missouri. Elsa Hicks, “a Mulatto Girl aged
about twenty one years,” claims that James Mitchell and S. Burrell illegally detain her in slavery.
Hicks was born in Virginia and owned by Mitchell, “who acquired her by marriage.” In 1834,
Mitchell took Hicks to the territory of Wisconsin, where he held her as a slave for six years,
contrary to a U.S. ordinance of 1787. Mitchell next brought her to St. Louis and promptly hired
her out to Edward Gay. Mitchell’s brother-in-law, S. Burrell, now holds Hicks in his possession
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and threatens to move her outside the jurisdiction of the court. She asks permission to sue for
her freedom as a poor person.
0515 (Accession # 21184510). St. Louis County, Missouri. Rachel Steel, “a coloured woman,”
seeks permission to sue as a poor person for her freedom. She explains that the late Samuel
Gilbert held her in slavery in 1831 in Missouri. The said Gilbert hired her out to Russell
Farnham, who was living in Keokuck, north of Missouri and “North of the line of 36 30’ north
latitude.” Rachel lived there for nine months until Farnham’s death. She asserts that “by such
hiring and employment your petitioner became free as she is advised.” After Farnham’s death,
Thomas Taylor, husband of one of Gilbert’s granddaughters, claimed Rachel in right of his wife
and now holds her as a slave.
0524 (Accession # 21184511). St. Louis County, Missouri. Elsa Hicks, a slave who currently has
a freedom suit pending against S. Burrell and James Mitchell, seeks protective custody from the
sheriff of St. Louis County. She alleges that “Burrell attempted to take your petitioner out of the
State of Missouri on Thursday last but that the Captain of the boat learning that your petitioner
was entitled to her freedom refused to take her on board of his boat.” She also complains that
S. Burrell is “secreting himself for the purpose of avoiding service by the sheriff.” She fears that
Burrell has agents who will attempt to take her out of the state “some time to day.” She asks to
be “brought before your honor.”
0529 (Accession # 21184512). St. Louis County, Missouri. In 1841, the slaves of the late Milton
Duty sued to obtain the freedom their former owner had bestowed upon them in his 1836 will.
George W. Coons, the administrator of Duty’s estate, refused to emancipate them. The cases
continued through 1849 as the slaves tried to obtain their liberty. One of the slaves was Jesse.
On 26 March 1845, the court ruled that he “be libirated and set free from servitude and slavery.”
Coons, however, refused to abide by the court’s decision and had Jesse arrested and “illegally
restrained of his liberty.” In this petition, Jesse asks the court to issue a writ of habeas corpus in
his behalf, to determine “the cause of his imprisonment,” and to release him from the jail.
0539 (Accession # 21184513). Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri. Elizabeth Kenner Hunt seeks
a divorce from Noah Hunt after four years of marriage, citing that her husband “willfully deserted
and absented himself” from their home. She claims that he left her “in a delicate condition,
confined to a sick bead,” and during a two-year span “never furnished or offered her any support
or assistance.” She reminds the court that she is the “innocent and injured party,” and asks for a
decree “touching alimony and maintenance.” In his answer, the defendant mentions a prenuptial
agreement wherein he agreed to relocate to his future wife’s residence, along with his
“moveable property,” including slaves, who would be kept and employed “in common with hers.”
He counters that he left his wife’s home with her consent when his health demanded that he be
near a doctor for a period of months. He claims that when he returned to their home, Elizabeth
refused to allow him “to reside and consort with her as her lawful husband.”
0560 (Accession # 21184517). St. Louis County, Missouri. Thomas Jefferson, a thirty-two-yearold
“man of color,” claims that he is unjustly held as a slave by George Co[u]lton and Jonathan
Moulton. Jefferson, born a slave in Virginia, claims that his original master brought him to
Missouri where he resided until the spring of 1839. There, he was purchased by James Prosser
and transported to the state of Illinois, where Prosser “compelled him to labour as such on a
farm.” At the expiration of eight months, Prosser carried him back to Missouri and sold him to
the defendants. Jefferson seeks the court’s permission to sue for his freedom as a poor person.
In his plea of trespass, Jefferson assesses the damages he has sustained at $500.
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0576 (Accession # 21184519). St. Louis County, Missouri. Caroline Bascom, “a mulatto woman
of the age of twenty one years,” claims that she is entitled to her freedom but is illegally
detained in slavery by John H. Ferguson, the administrator of the estate of Hiram Bascom.
Caroline is the daughter of a woman named Charity, who was born in Delaware but taken to
Maryland as a slave sometime between 1820 and 1822. Caroline “is informed and believes” that
Maryland “liberates all slaves imported therein for sale or to reside.” In addition, Caroline was
born during Charity’s residence in Maryland while Charity “was serving out her term of service
after which to be free.” Caroline, petitioning while “in actual confinement in the County jail,” asks
permission to sue for her freedom as a poor person.
1846
0584 (Accession # 21184601). St. Louis County, Missouri. Sarah Duncan informs the court that
she married William Duncan in 1838 in Missouri. She confesses that the said William drove her
from his bed in March 1846, “threatning at the same time to wash his hands in her hearts
blood.” She further confides that he “called your Complainant an old bitch and an old whore and
threatning to kill your Complainant and Send her to hell.” Sarah reveals that she was “the legal
owner of Six negro Slaves” at the time of her intermarriage. She now “expressly charges that
the Said Defendant has been endeavoring to Sell and dispose of Said negro Slaves and to
appropriate the proceeds to his own use.” Fearing that he will remove from the area and leave
her without means of support, the petitioner prays that an injunction be issued preventing the
sale of her slaves. Sarah also seeks a divorce and such other relief as is proper.
0615 (Accession # 21184602). St. Louis County, Missouri. Dred Scott, a man of color,
represents that he is “claimed as a slave by one Irene Emerson,” widow of Dr. John Emerson.
Dr. Emerson bought Scott and took him to Rock Island, Illinois, where he worked for the doctor,
a surgeon in the U.S. Army. Dr. Emerson left Rock Island and went to Fort Snelling on the St.
Peter’s River in the Iowa Territory, taking Scott with him. After five years, when Dr. Emerson
was sent to Florida, he hired Scott out to Captain Bainbridge. Dr. Emerson has died and now his
widow, Irene Emerson, claims Scott as her slave. Claiming “that he is entitled to his freedom,”
Dred Scott “prays your honor to allow him to sue said Irene Emerson in said Court, in order to
establish his right to freedom.”
0717 (Accession # 21184605). St. Louis County, Missouri. Harriet, “a woman of color,”
represents that a certain Major Talliaferro took her from Virginia to Fort Snelling in the Iowa
Territory. She recounts that said Talliaferro sold her to Dr. John Emerson, a surgeon in the U.S.
Army. Harriet relates that Dr. Emerson took her with him when he was transferred to Fort Jesup
in Louisiana and later brought her back to Fort Snelling when he returned to the Iowa Territory.
When Dr. Emerson went to St. Louis, Harriet affirms that she was left in the charge of his wife,
Irene Emerson. Noting that Dr. Emerson has since died, the petitioner points out that “his widow
the said Irene claims property in her as a slave.” Of the belief “that she is entitled to freedom,”
the petitioner “prays your honor to allow her to sue in said Court the said Irene Emerson in order
to establish her right to freedom.”
0758 (Accession # 21184606). St. Louis County, Missouri. Cloe Ann Smith currently has a “suit
in Trespass in false imprisonment” pending against Franklin Knox. Smith believes that she will
not get a fair trial because “the judge of the said court is prejudiced against the said plaintiffs
right to recover [her freedom].” She therefore prays for a change of venue.
0762 (Accession # 21184607). Boone County, Missouri. Twenty-two heirs of the late Isaac
Jacob ask the court to authorize the sale of four slaves in Jacob’s estate. Representing that they
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hold the slaves collectively, the petitioners ask that the proceeds from the sale be divided
among them according to their interest.
1847
0778 (Accession # 21184701). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. John Wilson died in 1839
leaving a “large estate of inheritance,” which included land and slaves. Some of the land
belonging to the estate has been sold, but the estate still contains three slaves. The heirs to the
estate ask that a commissioner be appointed “to make partition of said real and personal estate
among the heirs of said deceased, according to their respective rights, and that if the same
cannot be divided in kind that then it be ordered to be sold for the benefit of the heirs of said
Estate.”
0787 (Accession # 21184702). Boone County, Missouri. Presly Allen died in 1826 in Culpepper
County, Virginia, leaving an estate that included slaves. Nancy Allen, the widow, received a life
estate in two of the slaves in her late husband’s estate as part of her dower. Nancy later moved
these slaves and their increase out of Virginia to Missouri. The petitioners cite that Virginia law
forbids “any person owning only a Life estate in any slave or slaves” from removing said slaves
out of the state “without the consent of those in reversion, that such persons owning said Life
estate shall forfeit every such slave so removed.” They further report that Nancy has since
remarried and that she and her husband “continue to hold possession of the said slaves.”
Claiming that they are the rightful owners of the slaves, the petitioners assert that they should
be compensated for their value. They therefore ask that the court order a partition of the said
slaves among all interested parties.
0801 (Accession # 21184703). Jefferson County, Missouri. P. H. Bunn, executor of the will of
Mathew McPeake, seeks permission to sell certain several lots in the town of Hillsboro, which
belong to the estate. McPeake’s estate also included slaves.
0805 (Accession # 21184704). St. Louis County, Missouri. Dred Scott, a man of color,
represents that he “was purchased as a slave by one John Emerson,” a surgeon for the U.S.
Army, in 1835. He further reports that Emerson took him from Missouri to Fort Snelling in the
Iowa Territory, “holding your petitioner in slavery at said Fort Snelling all that time; in violation of
the Act of Congress of March 6th 1820.” Noting that Emerson has died, the petitioner cites that
Emerson’s widow, Irene Emerson, now claims him as his slave. Dred Scott “prays your
Honorable Court to grant him leave to Sue as a poor person, in order to establish his right to
freedom & that the necessary orders may be made in the premises.”
0818 (Accession # 21184706). St. Louis County, Missouri. Harriet, “a Woman of Color,” informs
the court that Dr. John Emerson purchased her in 1835 and took her to Fort Snelling in the Iowa
Territory, at a point “north of 36 degrees & 30 minutes north latitude.” She asserts that she was
held in slavery while at Fort Snelling, “in violation of the act of Congress of March 6th 1820.”
Noting that Dr. Emerson has died, Harriet represents that she is in the possession of Irene
Emerson, his widow, and Alexander Sandford, administrator of his estate. Harriet Scot
“therefore prays your Honorable Court to grant her leave to Sue as a poor person, in order to
establish her right to freedom & that the necessary orders may be made in the premises.”
0831 (Accession # 21184708). St. Louis County, Missouri. Elsa Hicks, a twenty-three-year-old
mulatto woman born into slavery in Virginia, seeks permission to sue for her freedom as a poor
person. Hicks explains that James Mitchell acquired her “by marriage with one Miss Burrell,”
and, around 1834, transported her to Wisconsin, “contrary to the Ordinance of [1787] passed by
the Congress of the United States.” Mitchell held her in Wisconsin until about 1841, when he
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brought her to St. Louis where he hired out her services to Patrick McSherry, who now detains
her illegally in slavery. Hicks instituted a similar case against James Mitchell and S. Burrell in
1845. Lewis Burrell’s motion to dismiss the case, filed in 1848 on behalf of the minor Mitchell
children, “who claim to be the owners” of Elsa, alleges collusion between Hicks and McSherry.
Burrell characterizes McSherry as a “sham defendant,” who is attempting to enable Elsa to
procure her freedom “without any serious resistance.” He claims that McSherry “has entertained
and harbored her, has encouraged her in remaining as a fugitive.” He complains that it would be
a “mockery” to continue the suit “when the Defendant and Plaintiff are both eager and anxious
that the same judgment may be rendered.”
0845 (Accession # 21184709). St. Louis County, Missouri. Nancy, “a dark Mullato,” maintains
that she was born of a free woman “in the Territory of Florida that her maternal Grandmother
was an Indian woman.” Nancy reports that she was “obtained” by Captain John Page, who kept
her as a free person until his death. Following “the decease of said Page,” the petitioner points
out that she was taken into the possession of Aeneus McKay and then Enoch Steen, who “now
holds & detains her as a slave.” The petitioner therefore “prays for leave to sue as a poor
person in order to Establish her right to freedom.” Bridget Padget alleges in her deposition that
Nancy “belonged to the Creek Nation of Indians” and that she became “attached to Captain
Page” while she lived in Alabama around Fort Mitchell.
0861 (Accession # 21184711). Boone County, Missouri. James Kelly claims that “Samuel C.
Grubb borrowed of your orator the sum of Three hundred dollars” in 1842 and that Grubb
secured his payment on said debt by mortgaging a slave named Abe, whom he “was possessed
of and owned or pretended to be possessed of and to own.” Grubb has since sold the slave to
Samuel Young, who refuses to acknowledge the debt to Kelly. Maintaining that Grubb has yet to
pay back any portion of his debt, Kelly asks that the said slave “may be decreed to be sold and
the proceeds thereof applied to the payment and discharge of the aforesaid sum.”
1848
0883 (Accession # 21184801). Monroe County, Missouri. In February 1846, James McGee
made and published his last will and testament, directing that three slaves, Hannah Porter and
her children, Fuller and Josephine, should become the property of his wife, Polly McGee, after
his death. The will also instructed that Hannah was “immediately to have her freedom” upon
Polly’s death and that Hannah’s children were “to be free at the same time & under the same
regulations.” The will, however, was rejected by the probate court in June 1846, rendering
McGee intestate. Josephine claims that the will is a “Lawful true and genuine” document and
asks that it be recognized as such by the court. Considerable testimony in depositions debates
McGee’s attitude towards the emancipation of slaves, with the general consensus being that he
only favored their manumission if some provision were made to transport them to Africa.
0937 (Accession # 21184802). Linn County, Missouri. John M. Davis and Thomas Allin submit
that they jointly own a fourteen-fifteenths interest in two slaves, Charlotte and Price. They claim
that Margaret Foster, who owns the remaining interest in the slaves, refuses to make partition of
the slaves or “to suffer them to have any use or control of said slaves whatever.” They ask the
court to authorize a partition of the slaves, and “if said slaves are not susceptible of partition and
division,” they ask that one or both of them be sold with the proceeds divided among the three
owners according to their respective rights. In her answer, Margaret Foster alleges that
Charlotte and Price are the children of a slave named Dice, who was given to her by her father,
John Adams, as a wedding present. She explains that Dice’s children were born while in her
possession and that the slaves are now a part of the estate of her late husband, James S.
Foster, who died twenty-two years ago. Several years ago, upon the advice of her father-in-law,
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she sold Dice to one Benjamin Holliday. Depositions reveal that Dice had at least seven
children, whose ownership depends on the outcome of this case.
0975 (Accession # 21184803). Jefferson County, Missouri. Susan McPeak, widow of Mathew
McPeak, asks the court to appoint commissioners for the division and distribution of her late
husband’s estate. Noting that her husband died in April 1847, the petitioner asserts that she
would like to claim her dower in both Mathew’s real and personal estate. She informs the court
that she has chosen not to accept the provisions of Mathew’s will, electing instead to “take a life
estate in [five] slaves instead of a child’s part so that at her death her dower in the slaves may
go according to the provisions of the will.”
0984 (Accession # 21184804). Jefferson County, Missouri. Francis and Sophia McBride ask the
court to appoint commissioners to divide and distribute the property of Benjamin O’Fallon, U.S.
Indian agent and principal partner in the Missouri Fur Company, who died in 1842 leaving his
widow, Sophia, six children, and “some twelve or nine slaves.” O’Fallon’s brother, Colonel John
O’Fallon, has been appointed guardian of the minor children and administrator of O’Fallon’s
estate. The petitioners report that “all parties are desrious to have the dower in the slaves and
other personal estate set apart and assigned.” Both O’Fallon brothers are mentioned as
slaveholders in the Narrative of William Wells Brown, A Fugitive Slave.
1006 (Accession # 21184805). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. Lydia Crump and Alfred
Crump married in July of 1828 in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. Lydia claims that Alfred is a
man “of confirmed dissipated habits, of a violent and tyranical temper” and that he has “ill
treated her in various ways and on different occasions.” She tells the court that she has been
compelled to flee their home and seek refuge with friends when Alfred has “drawn a Gun in an
angry and threatening manner on your Petitioner.” She submits that she brought “property of
considerable value” to the marriage, including a male slave named Aaron, whom she fears
Alfred will try to sell “and make away with.” The petitioner seeks a divorce, an injunction against
her husband, settlement of the property, and control of their five children.
1018 (Accession # 21184806). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. On 1 December 1847,
Matthew English mortgaged certain property, including two male slaves, to John P. English to
secure a debt of $1,200. Two months later, Matthew died intestate and letters of administration
on his estate were granted to John P. English. The petitioner claims that the estate still owes
him the full balance of the debt. He prays the court to order the foreclosure of the mortgaged
property so that his debt may be satisfied. He also requests that Matthew English’s minor heirs
be made party defendants in the suit and that a guardian be appointed to prosecute their
interests.
1028 (Accession # 21184807). St. Louis County, Missouri. Jane Cotton seeks permission to sue
for the recovery of her freedom, citing that James A. Little currently holds her in bondage.
Cotton represents that she was born free in the territory of Illinois and that she was “brought
forcibly” into Missouri where slavery was permitted by law, two years after Illinois was admitted
to the union as a free state. The petitioner explains that she “was in infancy and without
knowledge of her rights” and had no one to protect her. Cotton further charges that she has
been held wrongfully as a slave ever since and has been “carried to Alabama thence to
Arkansas” and brought back to Missouri.
1059 (Accession # 21184808). St. Louis County, Missouri. Thomas Scott, a man of color, seeks
permission to sue as a poor person to establish his right to freedom. Scott claims that his owner,
James Harrison, hired out his services in 1847 to St. Vrain, a trader in New Mexico, who carried
Scott to New Mexico and “held him there in bondage for a period of at least five months.” He
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avers that slavery “was not allowable by the laws of New Mexico at that time” and that he is
therefore entitled to his freedom.
1067 (Accession # 21184809). St. Louis County, Missouri. Elsa Hicks, a mulatto woman, has a
freedom suit pending against Patrick McSherry. She now contends that Lewis Burrell “assisted
by other persons ... actually seized upon her at the place she was employed and gagged her
and hurried her and her child off.” She claims that her abductors then placed her and her child
on the steamboat Algoma “for the purpose of carrying them off to the Southern Country.” She
and her child were, however, able to escape “by the interposition of a friend.” Hicks asks the
court to bring her before them and to compel Burrell to give security ensuring that he will not
remove her from the court’s jurisdiction. In his defense, Lewis Burrell laments “the universal Hue
& cry of abolitionists,” alleging that Hicks and McSherry have conspired to cheat his sister’s
children out of their property. He also traces the transfer of Elsa’s ownership within the
Burrell/Mitchell families. An undated court order authorizes that Elsa and her child be received
“into the establishment known as the ‘County farm,’ until the determination of the suit,” where
Elsa’s labor, in the meantime, shall be applied towards her support.
1086 (Accession # 21184810). St. Louis County, Missouri. Sheriff Samuel Conway reports that
he took custody of Elsa Hicks, a mulatto woman suing to recover her freedom, and put her in jail
in February 1848. He further cites that the court requires him to hire her out “from time to time”
during the suit, but despite his diligent efforts, he has been unable to do so. Conway claims that
the health of Hicks and her child has “become impaired” by their imprisonment. He asserts that
if she remains in jail until the case is tried, “the consequence will probably [be] very serious to
her health & to that of the child & may be fatal to one or both of them.” He also reports that he
talked with Hicks and that she denied that McSherry ever claimed her as his slave or that she
ever filed a suit against him. On the contrary, she “had intended to sue a Mr. Mitchell.” Conway
asks that “the court will cause some security to be given for my costs & expenses & trouble” or
that he may have permission to release her if Elsa wishes to discontinue her suit. The attorney
for the minor children, who claim Elsa is their property, urges the court to retain her in jail as he
believes she “may again be taken & harbored & secreted by persons tinctured with
abolitionism,” naming a certain Joseph Tabour, whom he believes has attempted to retain a
carriage driver to “convey her” to his home.
1094 (Accession # 21184812). St. Louis County, Missouri. Peggy Perryman, a woman of color,
represents that, “while visiting friends in Arkansas in the enjoyment of her freedom and civil
rights,” she was “suddenly seized ... gaged and transported and finally sold into servitude” by
persons to her “before unknown.” She avers that her father is a free person of color in Arkansas
and her mother is an “Indian of the Black foot Tribe,” whose people are “not only free since the
memory of man but are distinguished among this Tribe.” Perryman, currently restrained by
Joseph Philibert, asks for permission to sue as a poor person in order to establish her right to
freedom.
1105 (Accession # 21184813). Boone County, Missouri. Reuben Hatten died intestate in 1843,
survived by a widow, who died shortly thereafter, and by at least thirteen children and seven
grandchildren. The late Hatten owned a thirty-one-year-old mulatto slave named Silvey, and the
petitioners, Hatten’s heirs at law, attest that they are “the owners of and are interested in said
slave as tenants in common.” They seek a judgment of partition between them “according to
their respective rights.” They submit that if “partition thereof in kind cannot be made without
great prejudice to the owners thereof that the Court order said slave to be sold ... and that the
proceeds arising from said sale be divided between the parties interested therein according to
their respective rights.”
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Reel 8
Missouri cont.
1849
0002 (Accession # 21184901). St. Louis County, Missouri. Fleming Calvert claims that the
captain of the steamboat Timoleon transported Calvert’s mulatto slave Carter from St. Louis to
“a Town in the State of Illinois” on 30 September 1849 without Calvert’s consent. Carter, who
was worth $1,000, “hath been wholly lost and [is] of no value to said Plaintiff.” The petitioner
asks for compensation for Carter’s value. Representatives for the steamboat company argued
that Carter was “permitted and suffered to go at large upon the hiring of his own time or to act
and deal as a free person.” Testimony in the court record furthers this line of inquiry, alleging
that Carter was born free because his mother’s former owner transported her from South
Carolina to Illinois where she lived from 1812 to 1818.
0027 (Accession # 21184902). McDonald County, Missouri. Silvia, a woman of color, maintains
that she is a free woman “held in slavery against her will” by Joel Kirby and William B. Holmes.
She claims that she was “taken unlawfully” by Kirby in 1834 to “the territory ceded by France ...
under the name of Louisiana.” She attests that she was neither guilty nor convicted of any crime
before or during the year he detained her. Through violation of an act of Congress, she claims
that “she became free & now is a free woman & entitled to Judgement of liberation.” Silvia asks
for permission to sue for her freedom as a poor person.
0045 (Accession # 21184903). Jefferson County, Missouri. Martha S. Huskey seeks a divorce
from Silas Huskey, her husband of fifteen years. She complains that Silas sold most of his
property, including two tracts of land and a slave girl, in April 1848 and “went to parts unknown
in company with Elizabeth Nash,” his paramour. Before his departure, he “was very harsh and
tyrannical towards complainant”; he returned the following summer, only to recommence his
abusive behavior. He convinced her to relinquish her dower, lied to her about his intentions to
reconcile with her, and openly cohabited with Nash. He finally deserted her permanently,
leaving her on a piece of worthless land with only $3.75 and a slave named Thomas with which
to support herself and five children. Noting that Thomas has since “run off,” the petitioner seeks
a divorce and asks that the court order the sheriff to take charge of Thomas “and apply the hire
thereof to the support of complainant & family during the pendency of this Suit.” In addition, the
petitioner requests an injunction to prevent Silas from selling Thomas and “the few articles of
personal property” she has left.
0054 (Accession # 21184904). Jefferson County, Missouri. Amanda C. Cooly, administratrix of
the estate of the late Lawson Cooley, asks the court to approve the hire of a slave in the estate.
She reports that she hired out Loyd in October 1849 for a two-month period “at and for the price
and sum of Twelve Dollars.” She explains that she “thought it proper to pursue this course”
because the court would not convene in time to condone her plan by order.
0063 (Accession # 21184905). St. Louis County, Missouri. Nelly Duty, a slave emancipated by
the will of the late Milton Duty, represents that John F. Darby, administrator of said estate,
illegally holds her in slavery. Citing that she is “a poor person wholly without property,” Nelly
asks permission to bring her suit for freedom as a poor person. She also asks for reasonable
liberty to attend court and her counsel and “that she be not removed out of the jurisdiction of the
court nor subjected to any severity on account of her application for her freedom.”
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0074 (Accession # 21184906). St. Louis County, Missouri. Ellen Duty, a slave emancipated by
the will of the late Milton Duty, represents that John F. Darby, administrator of said estate,
illegally holds her in slavery. Citing that she is “a poor person wholly without property,” Ellen
“prays for leave to sue as a poor person for her freedom.” She also asks that “she may have
reasonable liberty to attend her counsel and the court” and “that she be not removed out of the
jurisdiction of the Court on account of this her application for her freedom.”
0085 (Accession # 21184907). St. Louis County, Missouri. Preston Duty, a slave emancipated
by the will of the late Milton Duty, represents that John F. Darby, administrator of said estate,
illegally holds him in slavery. Citing that he is “wholly without property,” Preston prays for “leave
to sue as a poor person, for his freedom.” He also asks that “he may have reasonable liberty to
attend his counsel and the court” and “that he be not removed out of the jurisdiction of the court
nor subjected to any severity on account of this application for his freedom.”
0096 (Accession # 21184908). St. Louis County, Missouri. Mary Duty, a slave emancipated by
the will of the late Milton Duty, represents that John F. Darby, administrator of said estate,
illegally holds her in slavery. Citing that she is “a poor person, wholly without property,” Mary
prays for “leave to sue as a poor person for her freedom.” She also asks that “she may have
reasonable liberty to attend her counsel and the court” and “that she be not removed out of the
jurisdiction of the court, nor subjected to any severity on account her application for freedom.”
0108 (Accession # 21184909). St. Louis County, Missouri. Lucina Duty, a slave emancipated by
the will of the late Milton Duty, represents that John F. Darby, administrator of said estate,
illegally holds her in slavery. Citing that she is “a poor person, wholly without property,” Lucina
prays for “leave to sue as a poor person, for her freedom.” She also asks that “she may have
reasonable liberty to attend her counsel and the court” and “that she be not removed out of the
jurisdiction of the court nor subjected to any severity on account of this her application for her
freedom.”
0115 (Accession # 21184910). St. Louis County, Missouri. Caroline Duty, a slave emancipated
by the will of the late Milton Duty, represents that John F. Darby, administrator of said estate,
illegally holds her in slavery. Caroline prays for “leave to sue as a poor person for her freedom.”
She also asks that “she may have reasonable liberty to attend her counsel and the court” and
“that she be not removed out of the jurisdiction of the Court nor subject to any severity on
account of this her application for her freedom.”
0127 (Accession # 21184911). St. Louis County, Missouri. Harry Duty, a slave emancipated by
the will of the late Milton Duty, represents that John F. Darby, administrator of said estate,
illegally holds him in slavery. Citing that he is “a poor person wholly without property,” Harry
prays “for leave to sue as a poor person for his freedom.” He also asks that “he may have
reasonable liberty to attend his counsel and the court” and “that he be not removed out of the
jurisdiction of the court nor subjected to any severity on account of this application for his
freedom.”
0139 (Accession # 21184912). St. Louis County, Missouri. Jordan Duty, a slave emancipated by
the will of the late Milton Duty, represents that John F. Darby, administrator of said estate,
illegally holds him in slavery. Citing that he is “a poor person, wholly without property,” Jordan
prays “leave to sue as a poor person, for his freedom.” He also asks that “he may have
reasonable liberty to attend his counsel and the court” and “that he be not removed out of the
jurisdiction of the court, nor subjected to any severity on account of his application for freedom.”
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0152 (Accession # 21184913). Boone County, Missouri. John Stemmons mortgaged three
slaves to Philips Crow on 29 November 1847 to secure the payment of a debt “in the sum of
four hundred dollars with interest thereon.” Stemmons had previously mortgaged the slaves to
W. Woodson “to secure payment to him of six hundred and fifty one dollars.” Crow now claims
that Stemmons has not paid any part of the debt. He asks the court to foreclose on the
mortgage and to order that the slaves be sold to satisfy the debt.
1850
0166 (Accession # 21185001). Washington County, Missouri. Thomas C. and Noah George
Dugan claim, by their brother and guardian, Jeremiah Dugan, that Thomas Livingston
“wrongfully detains” their ten-year-old slave, Toney, alias Jeremiah. They seek the “immediate
possession” of the slave. In a related case, Livingston sued Jeremiah Dugan the following year
to recover medical expenses incurred by Toney, who contracted rheumatism while the suit was
pending and Toney was in Livingston’s custody “under a claim of right then in contoversy.” The
circuit court found in Dugan’s favor; Livingston appealed to the supreme court, which reversed
the decision and remanded the case.
0190 (Accession # 21185002). Montgomery County, Missouri. Moses Hughes complains that
Josiah Whiteside “took and received into his possession” four slaves that belong to him. Hughes
claims that he has sustained damages to “the full value of the slaves,” which he estimates at
$1,300, as well as their hire. He asks the court to order Whiteside to “restore said negroes to
him,” or be compelled to compensate him for their full value plus hire. The transcript of the court
record reveals that Moses Hughes had died before the suit was commenced and that his
administrator, John M. Townley, tried to “continue” the suit in his own name. Whiteside claims
that the slaves in controversy were possessed by Hughes’s son, John F. P. Hughes, for several
years prior to the suit. He further contends that he purchased the said slaves legally on 1 April
1850 at a sheriff’s sale, after they were seized to satisfy a judgment against the younger
Hughes.
0219 (Accession # 21185003). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. Fourteen petitioners join in a
suit as creditors of the estate of the late William Mahon; these include physicians, county
officials, and various merchants, who have “respectively obtained allowances against the
Estate,” amounting to an aggregate of $379.55. Mahon’s estate, which includes a tract of land
and three slaves, is insufficiently solvent to discharge its debts. Claiming that Mahon
manumitted the three slaves before his death and that the debts were “contracted before and
were in existence before” the slaves’ manumission, the petitioners allege that the slaves are
“liable to be sold to pay the debts notwithstanding said deed of manumission.” They ask the
court to order Jefferson W. Limbaugh, public administrator for the county, to sell the slaves in
order that the proceeds may be applied to the payment of the debts.
0240 (Accession # 21185004). Jefferson County, Missouri. Samuel Ray, “a coloured free man,”
claims that Francis Smith “wrongfully” seized thirteen of his slaves on 1 May 1850. Ray
determines the value of his loss to be $3,500, “for which he asks judgment.” Smith’s answer
reveals that Ray became indebted to Colonel John Smith in his efforts to purchase his wife and
children from Smith, who held them in slavery. Ray agreed to give Smith $1,400, but was only
able to pay $500 at the time of purchase. Captain James M. White replaced Ray’s original
security, and, in order to assist him, furnished Ray with goods “from time to time to sell as a
merchant.” As Ray’s debt “swelled to twenty large odd hundred dollars,” White’s executors, “in a
spirit of great liberality,” discounted Ray’s debt and Ray mortgaged several slaves to them in
order to secure the remainder. Three years passed, and still owing the balance, Ray “voluntarily
came forward” and delivered up the slaves. White’s executor, “not being willing to hold the
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negroes in perpetual bondage,” applied to the defendant to “take the negroes for the shortest
possible time,” after which Smith “covenanted” to manumit them.
0250 (Accession # 21185005). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. David H. Davis, administrator
of the estate of the late Lewis Painter, seeks to protect the intestate’s interest in the estate of
Wilson Painter, Lewis’s brother. Wilson Painter, who died in 1845 without a will, wife, or
children, was “partners in trade” with two other brothers, John and Mason, “doing an extensive
business in Cape Girardeau.” Davis contends that, at the time of his death, Wilson was entitled
to a share in “Town Lots Houses Slaves a Warf Boat Tan yard, Goods Wares and Merchandise
Claims in action money and other property.” Davis alleges that this partnership has “expired”
and that John and Mason now control the entirety of the property. He asks that the court compel
the surviving brothers to account for this property, as well as the firm’s profits, and to order a
partition of the real estate.
0258 (Accession # 21185006). Jefferson County, Missouri. “M Frissell respectfully sheweth that
he is the lawful owner of and entitled to the services of a negro slave named Henry about twenty
three years old, about five feet ten inches high of a color a shade lighter than black slow of
speech and of a rather soft voice with a scar from a recent sore upon one of his knees not
recollected which and petitioner states that said slave has escaped from service in this state as
he verily believes. That said slave escaped from service about the 29th day of October last.”
[Transcription]
0262 (Accession # 21185007). St. Louis County, Missouri. Joseph Garneau seeks damages in
the amount of $400 from Nicholas Herthel, a German cigar shop proprietor, who “unlawfully
enticed” his slave Plato away from his service. Garneau further argues that Herthel then took
Plato and “induced, used & employed” him to “descend into the vault of a privy ... for the
purpose of cleaning the same.” Plato was “overpowered by said noxious gases & forthwith died
from the effects thereof.” Depositions reveal that three “negroes” were killed in the “accident”
and that two white men were rescued using ropes and poles, but later died. One of the
“negroes,” Reuben, was expressly employed by Robert White, the owner of the building and
proprietor of a tavern therein, to complete the job and is described by White as “like the
common run of niggers.” It is unclear whether he was a slave. Plato was a “baker by trade” and
often drove Garneau’s bread cart. One eyewitness described the scene: “I could look down by
the candles stuck in the sides of the vault & see the black faces.” Another recounted: “We didn’t
try then to get the negroes out—we couldn’t see them—about daylight they were taken out.”
0298 (Accession # 21185009). St. Louis County, Missouri. Margaret Davis, a free person of
color, claims that Granville Blakey and Alfred B. McAffee, partners in the firm of Blakey &
McAffee, wrongfully detain her twelve-year-old slave named Patsy. She asks the court to order
the defendants to return Patsy and to pay her damages in the amount of $50. “In case that may
not be had,” she asks for $500, the value of the slave, plus damages. Related documents reveal
that Patsy is Margaret’s daughter and that Margaret attempts to claim Patsy under “the general
principle that five years adverse possession of chattels will confer a title.” Margaret, who was
manumitted by Oliver Bennett along with her young son Gilead in 1842, has had possession of
her daughter since birth, although an 1835 bill of sale shows that Augustus Evans is Patsy’s
actual owner. According to depositions, Evans, who asks to be named a party defendant in the
suit, did not assert his right to title until 1850. The supreme court opinion, written by William
Scott, contains the statement: “[A] negro under our laws cannot hold slaves: It is against their
policy and in its tendency is subversive of all the police laws for the government of slaves.” Two
other justices dissented from this statement.
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0326 (Accession # 21185010). Jefferson County, Missouri. Philip Pipkin, public administrator for
Jefferson County, reminds the court that a previous order required him to hire out four slaves
belonging to the estate of Dr. Lawson Cooley. He reports that he has fulfilled this duty “for the
price and sum in the aggregate” of $95.75. However, Cooley’s brother-in-law, A. L. Jarrett,
claims three of the slaves as his property in trust for his nieces. Jarrett referred Pipkin to the
trust deed, which Pipkin accepts as “clear and indisputable.” Now satisfied that the Cooley
estate has no claim to three of the slaves, Pipkin avers that “it would be improper in me to retain
the proceeds of their hire.” He asks the court to discharge him from the management “of said
negroes as the property of said estate” and to release him from “accountability to said estate for
their hire.” He also asks the court to make an order for the hire of the fourth slave, Loyd, “up to
the 1st of Jany 1851.”
0332 (Accession # 21185012). St. Louis County, Missouri. Mary asserts that she and her two
young sons, Samuel and Edward, are free people of color, who are unlawfully held as slaves by
Louncelot Calvert. She explains that James Bond [Bonde] brought her from Kentucky to the free
state of Ohio when she was still a child and where she lived for more than a year as a slave in
his family. She returned to Kentucky with Bond, who then allowed Bryson Stilwell to bring her to
Missouri. Once in Missouri, she was transferred to and from five different men, “all negro and
slave traders and dealers.” She reveals that during her time in Missouri, where her sons were
born, these men have subjected her to cruel treatment such as “confinement in their negro
yards or Jails and while in said yards or jails refusing to let her see her husband.” Mary asks for
permission to prosecute her suit for freedom as a poor person. Depositions from Bond’s
neighbors in Ohio include references to another slave living with the family in Ohio between
1840 and 1842, as well as testimony from men who either identify themselves as abolitionists or
admit to voting for “abolitionist candidates.”
0367 (Accession # 21185014). Boone County, Missouri. Joel Hayden, John and Nancy Harris,
and the Harrises’ eleven children request a division of twenty-four slaves they hold together as
tenants in common. Hayden owns “four undivided fifths of the slaves,” while the Harrises are
entitled to the “remaining undivided fifth part of the slaves during their natural lives.” The Harris
children are “each entitled absolutely in remainder to said fifth of said slaves.” They ask the
court to authorize a division of the slaves, “if the same can be made in kind,” or that the slaves
be sold and the proceeds divided according to the interest of the parties. The sheriff’s report
notes that one of the infant slaves died before the sale took place and two infants were born,
and deems it “an act of cruelty to sell the mothers without their Infants.” In a supplemental
petition, John and Nancy Harris ask that a trustee be appointed “to take charge of their said
interest” in $9,294, the proceeds arising from the sale of twenty-six slaves, who were sold at
public auction on 7 November 1850. As petitioners in a previous suit that sought a partition of
the slave property, they report, however, “that they never anticipated such a proceeding as
would change the character of said interest but expected partition to be made in kind of said
slaves, which was not done, but converted to money.” Noting that they are “old and infirm,” the
petitioners ask that the appointed trustee take their share of the money and “purchase them
slaves to be holden for them during their natural lives, and for their said children in remainder.”
0406 (Accession # 21185015). St. Louis County, Missouri. Edward Milligan claims that he
purchased a slave named Harriett for $365 from John Dunn in 1849. Dunn gave Milligan’s wife,
Maria Milligan, a bill of sale for this purchase, which also acted as a warranty on the slave.
Reporting that Dunn “represented Said Slave as being entirely Sound Except the two middle
fingers on the left hand,” Edward argues that Harriett’s hands and feet were both unsound.
Edward sold the slave after discovering her “deformity,” but “the slave did not fetch more than
three hundred dollars solely in Consequence of the unsoundness or deformity that existed in her
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feet.” He asks the court for damages in the amount of $65, which is the difference in cost
between the purchase and sale price of Harriett.
1851
0428 (Accession # 21185101). Marion County, Missouri. The heirs of Isaac B. Gibbons maintain
that he owned eighteen slaves in 1829. They further attest that these slaves were to be divided
equally among his said heirs upon his death. The petitioners charge that Moses Gentry came
into possession of Nancy and Patrick, two of Gibbons’s said slaves, in 1831. They allege that
this sale was illegal because of a trust executed by Gibbons in 1829. Noting that Gibbons died
in 1848, the heirs complain that Gentry now refuses to relinquish Nancy or her children to them.
The heirs ask the court to order Gentry to return the slaves to them. In addition, they seek
compensation for the value of the slaves’ hires over the past three years.
0508 (Accession # 21185102). St. Francois County, Missouri. Martha A. Barksdale became the
owner of a male slave named Jefferson upon the division of her mother’s estate. She claims
that John P. Appleberry “got possession of said Slave since which time he refuses to return” him
to Barksdale. She asks the court to order Appleberry either to return the slave or to pay her
$800 for the value of the slave.
0536 (Accession # 21185103). Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri. Elvy Le Compte purchased a
thirty-five-year-old slave named Lewis from William Varnier for $608 during the summer of 1850.
On 31 December 1850, Le Compte authorized Toussaint Lahay to sell Lewis at “a Southern
Market.” Henry Crane purchased Lewis for $375 in New Orleans on 18 January 1851. Although
Lahay guaranteed that Lewis was “sound in body and mind,” Crane found Lewis to have a
“vicious” character and a “diseased” body. Moreover, Crane alleges that Lewis was “addicted to
the habit of running away.” Lewis’s poor health led to his death on 15 April 1851. Crane argues
that he has incurred $240 in medical, travel, and burial expenses on account of Lewis. The
petitioner prays that Le Compte and Lahay be ordered to pay him $615 in compensation.
0594 (Accession # 21185104). Saline County, Missouri. John Brown, administrator of the estate
of the late James Brown, seeks $1,200 in damages for the illegal detention of three slaves
belonging to James Brown’s estate. The petitioner alleges that Rufus W. Finley took possession
of the said slaves on or about 3 November 1851, “without leave, wrongfully, unlawfully and
clandestinely & in violation of the legal rights of plaintiff.” In his answer, Rufus Finley, son-in-law
of the late Brown, claims that the twenty-five-year-old enslaved woman and her two young sons
were a gift to his wife from her father.
0617 (Accession # 21185105). St. Louis County, Missouri. Fleming Calvert, trustee for Mary
Ann Calvert, contends that “he the plaintiff is injured and has sustained damages in the sum of
One thousand dollars for which he prays judgment against” Samuel Rider and John H. Allen. In
an amended petition, Calvert alleges that the said Allen, owner of the steamboat Timoleon, and
the said Rider, the boat’s “master and commander,” illegally transported a slave belonging to
Mary Ann out of the state of Missouri. Carter, a twenty-three-year-old “dark chocolate mulatto,”
is now “wholly lost to the plaintiff.” The Calverts seek damages in the amount of $1,000, Carter’s
alleged value. The court transcript reveals that at the 1849 November Term of the circuit court,
the Calverts successfully recovered judgment for $1,000 from the steamboat company. They
recover $800 here. Allen and Rider appealed the decision, and the supreme court’s opinion
hinged on whether a slave owner “can maintain an action at common law against those who
were concerned in removing the slave from the State.” The defendants’ answers and several
depositions concern whether Carter was “allowed by plaintiff to go at large on the hiring of his
own time.”
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0660 (Accession # 21185106). Boone County, Missouri. Elijah Winn died intestate in 1848,
leaving a widow Sarah and various heirs at law. At the time of his death, Winn owned several
slaves. Noting that the numerous heirs “own and hold said several slaves, as tenants in
Common,” the petitioners request a “Judgment of Partition, and that the said named slaves,
may be divided between the parties interested in the same, according to their respective rights.”
Winn’s heirs urge “if it shall appear, that Partition thereof cannot be made, without great
prejudice to the owners, that then the same may be sold, and the proceeds divided between the
parties interested therein according to their respective rights.”
0704 (Accession # 21185108). St. Louis County, Missouri. Gabriel, “a free person of color,”
asserts that he “was the slave of a man named Michael Wiles in the state of Missouri” in the
spring of 1850. Gabriel informs the court that Wiles transported him to “the Territory of
California,” where the said Wiles resided for “three months or more.” The petitioner further
declares that Wiles “kept your petitioner with him and in his employ as his slave.” Citing that the
territory of California is a “free territory and by its law forbidding slavery therein,” Gabriel asserts
that he “became free by his residence there, and is in consequence a free person and as such
entitled to his freedom.” The petitioner therefore “prays the Court for leave to sue for his
freedom as a poor person” against the said Michael Wiles.
0711 (Accession # 21185109). Jefferson County, Missouri. Philip Pipkin, administrator of the
estate of Lawson Cooley, informs the court that “the hire of Loyd a negro man belonging to
estate of deceased expired on the 1st of January last.” He further reports that “he did during the
vacation of your court hire from said date to the 20th March 1851 the said negro boy at and for
the price & sum of Thirty dollars.” Pipkin prays “the court to approve his administration in this
behalf.”
0720 (Accession # 21185115). Boone County, Missouri. William C. Robnett and others claim
that they have rights to the estate of the late John J. Cotton. They inform the court that Cotton
owned at least five slaves at the time of his death. They ask the court to partition the slaves in
Cotton’s estate according to their various interests. If a fair partition is not possible, the heirs
request that the slaves be sold and the proceeds be divided among them.
0778 (Accession # 21185116). Marion County, Missouri. Mary H. Borren made her will in 1824,
whereby she “devised to her two sons (the plaintiffs) in trust for her daughter, Celia W. Stone,
two negro Slaves, Hampton and Nancy, during her natural life, with their increase, and then to
the heirs of her body forever.” After Borren’s death, Nancy gave birth to a child named Jim;
Celia gave Jim to Charles H. Borrer, who died in 1850. Stone’s trustees and brothers, Samuel
A. Borren and William R. Borren, claim that Borrer’s administrators have yet to return Jim to
them. They ask the court to order said administrators to deliver Jim to them and “in case the
said negro is not returned or delivered to them, they ask judgment, for the value of said negro
boy Jim being seven hundred dollars.” The petitioners also seek “judgment for the sum of four
hundred dollars for the hire of said negro boy Jim.”
1852
0814 (Accession # 21185201). Schuyler County, Missouri. Titus and Ellen Shropshire join their
children, Randolph, Mary Jane, Wilson, and Josephine, in claiming that they are free persons of
color, manumitted on 25 June 1846 by their former owner, Elizabeth Shropshire. Elizabeth died
in 1849, and the Shropshires allege that the administrator of her estate, Richard Caywood,
along with the estate’s heirs, “claim to hold and do hold your petitioners in Slavery.” They ask
the court for permission to sue as poor persons in order to establish their right to freedom. After
receiving permission, the petitioners filed an amended bill asking “for a Judgment declaring said
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instrument by which they were set free to be good and effectual for that purpose.” Depositions
reveal that the petitioner Ellen came into Elizabeth Shropshire’s possession as a bequest from
her father, Charles M. Hall, upon his death in 1840. Titus was purchased by Shropshire from the
proceeds of the sale of a slave named Jacob, also a bequest from Hall. The circuit court ruled
that Titus was indeed a free man, but upheld that his wife and children should remain in
servitude. The petitioners appealed and the supreme court reversed and remanded the case.
0868 (Accession # 21185202). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. Heirs of Louis [Lewis],
Wilson, Hiram, and Mason Painter claim that John Painter, prior to 1830, entered into
partnership with his four brothers, now deceased. The Painter brothers specialized “in Tanning
in Saddling in Merchandising, in Commission and Grocery business on Board of Warf Boat, in
the purchase of Land and city Lots, and the erecting of Houses thereon, and in buying Selling
and Trading in general.” Over time, the partnership acquired real and personal property,
including slaves, and changed its company name several times. By 1852, John Painter is the
only surviving partner in the business. Harrison H. M. Williams joins the petitioners as public
administrator of the county, asserting that he has “taken charge of” the estates of the deceased
partners. The plaintiffs together seek a judgment for partition of the firm’s shared property and
distribution of the property among the entitled heirs.
0884 (Accession # 21185203). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. The heirs of John B. Young
and the heirs of Mary A. Shaner claim that they jointly own a slave family, consisting of Clair and
her two children. The heirs ask the court to authorize the sale of the slaves in order “to make
partition of the proceeds among said parties according to their respective rights.” Henry Shaner
also seeks compensation “for raising said slaves, for clothing, keeping paying taxes, &c., from
the time said slaves were born till the present.” John Byrd originally owned Clair; in 1818 he
conveyed her to his widowed daughter, Sarah Byrd Young. Sarah Young later married Henry
Shaner, and upon her death, she willed Clair and her increase to her two sons, Robert M. and
John B. Young. Robert died in 1828, leaving his interest in the slaves to his half-sisters, Mary A.
and Catharine Shaner. Around 1847, Mary A. Shaner died.
0897 (Accession # 21185204). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. Caroline Minor claims that
Edgar Mason is indebted to her in the sum of $1,466.01 “for the price of negroes sold by said
plaintiff, in the State of Tennessee, and for negro hire there.” Minor claims that Mason has
“refused and neglected” to pay her. She therefore prays “judgment for the said sum of fourteen
hundred & Sixty Six Dollars and One cent, being the balance due her, and accruing interest.”
0908 (Accession # 21185205). Jefferson County, Missouri. Benjamin and Mary Boucher married
in 1823 and lived together “in peace and quietness for many years.” Recently, however, Mary
abandoned Benjamin and has remained away from their home “for the space of two years.”
Following unsuccessful attempts to reconcile, the petitioner reveals that the couple agreed to a
division of their common property, roughly worth about $1,500. In said division, Mary received a
“negro woman & girl valued at $600.” The docket page cites that a divorce was granted on 3
December 1853.
0915 (Accession # 21185206). Jefferson County, Missouri. Elizabeth Burns reports that her
brother, Daniel Eastwood, died possessed of an estate that consisted of land and eight slaves.
She attests that “all of said slaves are hers and her brother Leonards in equal shares as the
sole heirs of their brother Daniel.” The petitioner asserts that the administrator of her late
brother’s estate, Benjamin Johnston, is currently in possession of the slaves and that her
brother Leonard is not a resident of Missouri. She asks the court to partition the land and slaves
“according to the rights above set forth” and for permission to sell the slaves if an equitable
partition cannot be made.
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0925 (Accession # 21185207). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. The heirs of George Camster
[Campster] claim that his estate consists of five slaves and 232 arpens of land west of the town
of Cape Girardeau. They ask the court to appoint commissioners to make a partition of the
estate between his children and his widow, Martha, who is now married to Woodson Parrott and
who is now entitled to one-third of the estate absolutely.
0936 (Accession # 21185208). Platte County, Missouri. John W. Freeland seeks a divorce from
his wife, Rebecca Eldridge Freeland, whom he married in 1845. John claims that he and
Rebecca lived together for five years, during which time Rebecca treated him with “great
indignity and inhumanity.” She then abandoned their home “without any cause whatever on his
part.” John now believes that she is residing outside of the state of Missouri. He seeks an order
of publication and a decree to dissolve their matrimonial bonds. In her bill of exceptions,
Rebecca presented a copy of the couple’s 1850 separation agreement, wherein she and John
divided their property, including a seventeen-year-old slave named Mary and Mary’s elevenmonth-old
daughter, Samantha.
0950 (Accession # 21185209). St. Louis County, Missouri. Henry Lohre represents that “he is a
mulatto, that he was born a slave being the property of Benjamin Horine.” He further charges
that he is being illegally held as a slave by Gaius Duty of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Lohre asserts
that Horine legally manumitted him when he turned twenty-one. He is now twenty-nine and “has
not been claimed as a slave or as the property of said Horine” since he turned twenty-one.
Lohre believes that Duty or his agents and attorneys “by force and violence” will remove him out
of the state “to prevent his suing for his freedom.” Lohre asks the court for permission to sue for
his freedom as a poor person. In his answer, Gaius Duty claims that Lohre, also known as
Harry, is a slave who has “eluded the search of defendant.” Now that he has possession of
“Harry,” Duty “intends to have him sent home to his owner.” Duty adds that “Harry” is worth
$700.
0964 (Accession # 21185210). St. Louis County, Missouri. George Johnson insists that he is a
free man born of “free colored parents in the free city of Brownsville, in the free state of
Pennsylvania.” Now held as a slave by Reuben Bartlett, Johnson asserts that he has lived until
now “never having owed service or belonged to any person whatever.” He asks for permission
to sue as a poor person for his freedom, with free access to counsel, and the court’s protection
from being removed outside the court’s jurisdiction. In his answer, Reuben Bartlett claims that
he purchased George Johnson from one A. B. McAfee on 7 September 1852.
0973 (Accession # 21185213). Boone County, Missouri. When Joseph Schooling died in 1831,
his widow, Susana, took possession of three slaves as her dower. The petitioners, children of
Schooling with a reversionary interest in the slaves, “have good reason to believe” that Susana
and her new husband, William Taylor, will dispose of the slaves, or convey them away to
unnamed parties. They seek an injunction against the defendants in order to protect their own
interest in the slaves. In his answer, James Booth contends that he purchased one of the
children of Eda, a slave whose title is currently in controversy, for $195, believing the girl to be
Taylor’s “absolute property.”
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Reel 9
Missouri cont.
1853
0002 (Accession # 21185302). Platte County, Missouri. William L. Layson, by his guardian Mary
Layson, seeks the return of a slave named James Washington, who is “wrongfully and illegally
detained” by William Rogers, Layson’s uncle by marriage. Layson explains that he purchased
Washington from his grandmother, Hannah Layson, for the price of $1 in January 1848. The bill
of sale, which contained “one reservation only,” stipulated that his grandmother would retain the
“use and benefit” of Washington’s services during her lifetime. Hannah Layson died on 5
October 1852. The petitioner reports that although he has made a “special demand” for
Washington’s return, Rogers has not complied. Layson seeks a judgment “for said slave
Washington specifically” and damages for his detention “equal to the value of the annual labor
of said slave from the 5th day of October 1852 till the rendition of Judgment in this cause at the
rate of seventy five dollars a year.”
0033 (Accession # 21185303). St. Louis County, Missouri. John L. Blaine informs the court that
Thomas O’Flaherty, a representative of a firm “in liquidation” called Connolly, Hogan & Co., sold
him a fourteen-year-old slave named Aaron in 1844. Blaine later sold the slave to William C.
Taylor. In 1851, Thomas J. and Margaret Thompson brought suit against Taylor for the recovery
and possession of Aaron. The court ruled in favor of the Thompsons, and Blaine, without suit,
compensated Taylor in the amount of $600 “in discharge of his liability to said Taylor.” Now,
Blaine claims that “at the time of the conveyance aforesaid there was a title to said slave
paramount to the title of said defendant ... and adverse to his or their title & so defendant’s
covenant therein was broken.” He seeks compensation from O’Flaherty in the amount of $350.
0052 (Accession # 21185305). St. Louis County, Missouri. Oliver H. Jones, administrator of the
estate of the late Nathan Jones, seeks delivery of a slave named Lewis, who is currently being
held illegally by Nathaniel Covington. Jones explains that John Howdeshell [Howdeschell] sold
two slaves to Nathan Jones on 10 September 1838, “in partial payment of” a debt he owed to
Sarah Jones, his adopted daughter and the petitioner’s wife. The slaves did not change physical
possession, however, because Howdeshell owned their mother, Caroline, and did not want to
separate the family. Howdeshell has died, and Lewis is now in the possession of the defendant.
Jones asks the court to order Covington to return Lewis, or, in default thereof, to compensate
him in the sum of $900, Lewis’s alleged value. In his answer, Covington contends that he legally
hired Lewis from the estate of John Howdeshell, but that Lewis “was decoyed away or eloped
from the defendant.” Covington alleges that Lewis is actually in the petitioner’s possession and
has been since the commencement of the suit.
0080 (Accession # 21185307). St. Louis County, Missouri. James H. Johnston contracted with
the steamboat Arabia to transport him and his twelve slaves from Paducah, Kentucky, to St.
Louis for the sum of $14. Johnston claims that the second mate of the steamboat, without leave
or his consent, ordered Johnston’s mulatto slave Napoleon to “help take wood on said Steam
boat & work in piling & securing the same board.” While so engaged, Napoleon “became & was
lost to the Plaintiff by drow[n]ing in the Mississippi River, & was never delivered at St. Louis.”
Johnston contends that, “owing to the carelessness & wrongful conduct of Defendant,” he has
suffered damages in the amount of Napoleon’s value. He therefore asks the court for a
judgment of $1,000.
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0137 (Accession # 21185308). Warren County, Missouri. Philo Gillett, widower of Mary Ann
Debo Gillett, seeks a partition of the slaves in his late wife’s estate. He explains that Mary Ann,
at the time of their marriage, was entitled to a slave named Matilda, who belonged to the estate
of her first husband, Valentine Debo, who died in 1836. Mary Ann paid the debts of the estate
and kept Matilda in her possession without administration. By the time of Mary Ann’s death in
1847, Matilda had borne seven children, six of whom survived. Administration on Valentine’s
estate did not occur until 1850, when James Green obtained letters and recovered and took
possession of the slaves. Gillett avers that he is now entitled to an “undivided half of said negro
woman Matilda” and a “moiety of the slaves now undisposed of by the Administrator.” Naming
his stepdaughter Elvira and her husband, Beverly Camp, as defendants, he asks the court to
distribute the slaves “according to the rights of the parties as heretofore mentioned.”
0154 (Accession # 21185310). Franklin County, Missouri. The children of Ann and John A.
Roberts ask the court to secure their interest in twenty-one slaves belonging to their late father’s
estate. They complain that their mother’s second husband, Isaac Stoner, has misappropriated
Ann’s dower, which originally included seven slaves allotted to her by court order. Six slaves
have been born since the allotment, increasing the value of Ann’s inheritance to $4,000. The
petitioners allege that Stoner “is acting as if he possessed a full title in the aforesaid dower,”
instead of a life interest. He has sold eight of the slaves, four of them to the firm of McAffee and
Blakey, “negro traders” in St. Louis; has taken two of them out of the state; and may “sell and
dispose of the remaining slaves.” They ask the court to protect their “remainder and reversion in
the same” by sequestering the slaves, compelling Stoner to give security for their forthcoming,
and enjoining the defendants from removing them outside the jurisdiction of the court. In a
related document, William A. Patton asks to be named a party defendant, producing a bill of
sale that vests in him the title to seven of the slaves in controversy.
0168 (Accession # 21185311). St. Louis County, Missouri. Thornton Kinney seeks a writ of
habeas corpus and the opportunity to reestablish his freedom, a state “prized beyond life itself.”
Kinney, whose father was a slave, explains that his mother, Amy Kinney, was a free woman of
color “of Indian descent.” After completing an apprenticeship, he obtained freedom papers,
which he took to “the Colony of Liberia on the continent of Africa.” When they became “worn
and mutilated,” he threw them away. Kinney returned to his native land and has worked on
“divers Steam Boats running on the Ohio & Mississippi” since 1837. While aboard the steamer
Caddo, the captain “declared that he intended to hold him as a slave,” whereupon he was
confined to the jail of a Negro trader and “placed” up for sale. Narrowly escaping, he
“commenced his old occupation going up and down the Mississippi.” Kinney married a former
slave, who was able to purchase her freedom, and together they bought her youngest child and
are “labouring” to buy others. Rearrested “as a runaway slave” belonging to John F. Hatcher,
Kinney assures the court that he can produce “incontrovertible evidence” from his Virginia
acquaintances that establishes his right to freedom. He asks the court to protect him from the
“chains of slavery, fastened by strangers, who feel not for him, but only desire to ‘put money in
their purses.’”
0183 (Accession # 21185312). Perry County, Missouri. John Logan, husband of Rosannah W.
Searcey Logan, took control of his wife’s property in 1844, as the result of their marriage
contract. This property included six slaves. Robert L. Phillips and Henry L. Caldwell,
administrators of the estate of John Logan, maintain that the slaves rightfully belonged to John
Logan after Rosannah’s death. They further claim that Henry S. Caldwell and Robert C. Waters,
executors of Rosannah’s estate, refuse to deliver the slaves to them. They therefore ask
“Judgement for the possession of said slaves and also for the value of their Services or wages
as damages.”
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1854
0196 (Accession # 21185401). Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri. Twenty-three-year-old Julie, “a
mulattress,” claims that “she is illegally and wrongfully held in slavery ... by one Melanie
Calliott.” Julie maintains that she was born of free parents in Illinois, “and by the constitution and
laws of which said State she was declared free.” She therefore prays “leave to sue as a poor
person in order to establish her right to freedom.”
0213 (Accession # 21185402). St. Charles County, Missouri. John M. Luckett claims that
Rodham F. Kenner “without leave and wrongfully” took a slave family from his possession on 15
January 1854. Luckett seeks damages in the amount of $600 for fifty-year-old Melissa [Malissy]
and her two children, eleven-year-old Aron [Aaron] and ten-year-old Eli [Ely]. Depositions reveal
that Melissa originally belonged to John Luckett’s mother and is currently claimed by Nathaniel
Triplett, John’s stepfather. Triplett alleges that John sold him Melissa around 1820 for $300. Her
two children have been born since that time. The defendant presented an 1853 deed of trust
from Triplett, which conveyed the slave family to him “ for and in consideration of the natural
love and affection which he hath for his stepson ... & his wife Alsay Luckett.” The said deed
stipulated that the said slaves should be held “for the sole separate and exclusive use and
benefit of Alsay Luckett ... during her said husbands life and at his or her death to revert to said
Triplett.”
0241 (Accession # 21185406). Lafayette County, Missouri. Marquis W. Withers claims that the
steamboat El Paso illegally and without his permission carried his slave Ann from Lexington,
Missouri, to St. Louis, Missouri, on 8 November 1853. Ann is now “lost to plaintiff,” and Withers
asserts that the steamboat El Paso is liable. He seeks compensation in the amount of $900, the
value of the slave. Depositions reveal that Ann, also known as Adeline, Angeline, and
sometimes by the surname Tilford, ran away from Withers’s home and boarded the boat for St.
Louis. When she was apprehended in St. Louis, she told authorities that her name was Adeline
Tilford and that she belonged to a man named Tilford, who lived in Kentucky. The ship’s
captain, Henry Thornburg[h], offers the following opinion on the inherent difficulty in discovering
stowaway fugitive slaves: “Where there is a negro crew on board a boat, I think it possible that a
negro might be concealed without the knowledge of the officers, but it is not probable.” The
captain assures the court that he took pains to track down Withers once Ann was lodged in jail,
where she delivered a child, who died shortly thereafter.
0318 (Accession # 21185407). St. Louis County, Missouri. Louisa, “a woman of colour,” reports
that she was once “owned and possessed as a slave by Mount St. Mary’s College” in Maryland.
She further relates that the college was at that time indebted to one Francis B. Jamison, “the
former President thereof.” Louisa asserts that Jamison and the college agreed that she would
serve him for five years and then be given her freedom. She informs the court that said
agreement “was entered in writing upon the books of the said College”; however, she cites that
“she was further informed by the Sisters of Charity that the said books had been burned and
destroyed or so defaced that no record of that date could be found.” The petitioner represents
that, despite having moved to Missouri, the said Jamison “has continued to claim and hold her,
and now claims her as a slave.” Louisa therefore “prays for leave to sue as a poor person in
order to establish her right to freedom.”
0326 (Accession # 21185408). Boone County, Missouri. Nancy Hubard, a minor, petitions by
her next friend, Eusebus Hubard, against Edward Young. Hubard asserts that the said Young
“was the owner and master of a certain slave named Hiram, of the value of Twelve hundred
dollars.” She further alleges that the said Hiram, “with force and arms,” did on 13 August 1853
“then and there make an assault” on her with the intent “felloniously to abuse, ravish, and
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carnally know” her. Contending that “she is damaged to the amount of Twelve hundred dollars,”
the petitioner prays for judgment. Prior to this petition, Hubbard successfully petitioned for
Eusebus to be “appointed her next Friend to Conduct and prosecute said action on behalf of
your petitioner.”
0347 (Accession # 21185413). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. Rebecca and Jacob Blunt
seek the return of a female slave named Ruth Ann from Hiram L. Sloan. The Blunts claim that
Ruth Ann was a gift to Rebecca from her father and intended as her “separate property.” They
assert that Rebecca is worth $1,000 and not “liable to be taken.” They therefore ask “that said
negro woman be Returned and damage for there detention according to law or ... the value of
said negro woman not Returned.” Sloan’s answer reveals that the sheriff of Cape Girardeau
County “levied on Said negro woman a Slave to Satisfy the debt and Cost in Said Suit by
attachment and that he Still holds Said Slave by virtue of Said ... levy.”
1855
0362 (Accession # 21185501). St. Louis County, Missouri. Lucy B. Russell delivered a mulatto
slave named Aaron to Bernard W. Lynch “to be by him safely and securely kept for reasonable
reward to be paid by said plaintiff to defendant.” Russell claims that Lynch “conducted himself
so negligently carelessly and improperly in relation to said care” that Aaron escaped and is “now
wholly lost” to her. She seeks damages in the amount of $1,000, the value of the slave. The
court transcript reveals that Lynch operated a “negro yard,” where slave owners, who were
fearful that their slaves might run away, could confine them for “safe keeping” at a rate of 25¢
per day. In his testimony, the petitioner’s son gives a detailed physical description of the yard
and blames Aaron’s escape on the fact that Lynch entrusted another slave in the yard with the
key, allowing the two slaves to escape together. Other deponents, including a slave trader,
describe the yard’s “rules,” giving an eyewitness account of how a “dispository & yard for the
reception of slaves” operated. The supreme court’s decision hinged on the inadequacy of a
slave being the gatekeeper to such a yard.
0383 (Accession # 21185502). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. Jacob H. Neely claims that
John R. Clark “offered and published a reward in writing” for the apprehension and delivery of
six slaves to him. The reward was set at $50 for each slave. Having returned the runaways to
Clark, Neely has “often requested” the reward but has been rebuffed. He asks for a judgment of
$300, plus costs.
0388 (Accession # 21185504). Boone County, Missouri. Lemuel Northcut, administrator of the
estate of George Northcut [Northcutt], petitions for the return of five slaves belonging to
George’s estate. In 1840, George Northcut mortgaged five slaves to William Northcut to secure
the payment of two separate debts owed by him to William and Eli Northcut. In 1841, he
attempted to repay the money, but William Northcut refused to accept payment or to return the
five slaves. A year later George died. The petitioner also seeks compensation for the services of
the five slaves, which he estimates as “worth annually the sum of six hundred dollars,” during
the fifteen years they have been in the possession of either William, Joseph, or Eli Northcut.
0405 (Accession # 21185505). Boone County, Missouri. Lewis Hume and thirteen other joint
tenants of a tract of land and seven slaves seek an order of partition of the property. “If not
susceptible of division,” the petitioners ask that the property be sold and the proceeds divided
among them “according to their respective rights in the same.”
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1856
0421 (Accession # 21185601). St. Louis County, Missouri. Giles Prince, a free man of color,
claims that Henry Cole and David W. Thomas, executors of the estate of the late Presley W.
Ross, owe him $608, plus interest. Prince explains that he boarded Richard, a slave belonging
to Ross’s estate, from May 1849 until September 1855 at the rate of $8 per month, arguing that
he “did board, lodge, wash, and clothe” Richard during this period, but has not been
compensated as “promised.” He seeks “judgment against defendants for said sum of six
hundred & eight dollars.” Documents in the court record reveal that Richard is Prince’s son and
that Prince purchased his own freedom, as well as the freedom of his wife and daughter, from
Alexander C. Baker, who purchased the family from Ross’s executors in 1849. A deposition
from Ross’s son-in-law, Thomas J. Gosti, describes negotiations for Prince’s purchase of
another son, Harry, in which Gosti claims Prince argued that Gosti “ought to let me have Harry
cheap because I have raised Richard without his costing you anything, or the estate anything.”
0449 (Accession # 21185602). St. Louis County, Missouri. Stephen Ridgley seeks judgment for
$1,000, the value of his twenty-four-year-old mulatto slave named Celeste. Ridgley alleges that
the steamboat Reindeer did “transport and carry” Celeste from St. Louis to Illinois “without the
consent or permission of said plaintiff,” whereby said steamboat “became liable to pay”
Celeste’s value to him. Documents in the court record suggest that Celeste, “a handsome
looking girl,” might have been sold for $1,500–2,000 as a “mistress” on the New Orleans
market. Steamboat officials contend that Ridgley allowed Celeste to live with her mother, a free
woman of color, and to “direct and control her own movements” while working “as a
chambermaid on steamboats running to and touching at various points in the State of Illinois.”
0477 (Accession # 21185603). Newton County, Missouri. Nathaniel W. Coffee died in 1833,
leaving an only son, Granville [Grandville] Coffee, who inherited his father’s slave named Letty
and a “considerable amount of other personal property.” Martha Coffee, administratrix of
Coffee’s estate with Benjamin Gabbert, converted the bonds and accounts owed to the estate
into purchase money for two additional slaves, Jorden and Maria. On 12 October 1850, Milner
F. Crouch, administrator of the estate of Martha’s second husband, the late George Barker,
brought suit against her for the value of the above mentioned slaves, plus Letty’s newborn son,
Irvin. The suit was successful, and the court ordered Martha Coffee Barker to pay her husband’s
estate $2,850.16. In August 1853, Granville Coffee died, while still a minor, and Barker obtained
letters of administration on his estate. She now asks the court to order Crouch to pay her, as
administratrix, the amount that she paid to Crouch in the previous suit.
1857
0502 (Accession # 21185701). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. Minerva Miller and her
husband John seek a partition of eleven slaves jointly owned by themselves and Minerva’s
brother, Stephen Campbell. Upon the death of her husband, John Campbell, the widow brought
her children, the said Minerva and Stephen, and the slaves in question from Arkansas to
Missouri. Shortly after their arrival in Missouri, their mother died. Minerva is newly married and
Stephen is “yet a minor under the age of twenty one years.” The Millers claim that they are
entitled to an “equal half of said slaves” and ask the court to appoint commissioners to divide
the slaves between them “according to their respective rights.”
0515 (Accession # 21185702). Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. In an 1855 suit, Pressley
Phillips obtained a judgment against William W. Hunter for “a certain negro boy named Frank
slave for life.” The court ordered “that said Defendant deliver up the possession of said boy
Frank to Plaintiff.” In the intervening two years, Phillips complains that Hunter has “utterly
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refused” to return Frank and “vexatiously held and kept possession of him the said boy Frank.”
Phillips seeks damages in the amount of $1,000. The court transcript reveals that the case
originated in New Madrid County, but was moved to Cape Girardeau County because Phillips
thought that the “Inhabitants of New Madrid County [were] prejudiced against him.”
0528 (Accession # 21185703). Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri. Three sons of Valentine
Underwood represent that their father died intestate in 1855, leaving a widow and seven
children as his heirs. The petitioners seek a partition of the slaves in their late father’s estate,
“subject to the widow’s dower.” They explain that their mother, Sarah Underwood, owned a
slave named Mat at the time of her marriage, who is now part of Valentine’s estate. They ask
the court to require Sarah to “elect if she will retain said slave as her separate property.” They
also report that Valentine’s slave, Ann, has given birth to a boy, who is also “the property of the
said children.” Finally, since their four siblings are minors, they ask that a guardian be appointed
to represent their interests in the partition. In her answer, Sarah Underwood explains that Mat
belonged to her first husband, Shepherd Eades, and therefore should now descend to Eades’s
children.
0543 (Accession # 21185704). Marion County, Missouri. John H. Sallee and his wife Elizabeth
Sallee claim that, in January 1821, Elizabeth’s aunt, Sarah Garnett, conveyed two slaves to
Elizabeth’s father, Henry Chandler, in trust for “the use and benefit of said Elizabeth.” Henry
Chandler and Sarah Garnett are both dead and the slaves, now including three children since
born, are in the possession of Taylor Chandler, who claims them as his property. “If it be
necessary to the protection and adjudication of the rights of Pltff,” the Sallees seek either the
appointment of a new trustee or execution of the trust. They also “pray judgment for possession
of said Slaves.” The court record reveals that Henry Chandler was “violently opposed” to his
daughter’s marriage with John Sallee, because he believed that Sallee was only interested in
Elizabeth as a means of gaining possession of Sarah Garnett’s slaves. The slave title dispute
centers around an 1831 document in which the Sallees allegedly relinquished all right and claim
to four of Garnett’s slaves in consideration of absolute title to a slave named Mariah (who died
by 1835). Taylor claims ownership of the slaves by virtue of a bequest in the late Garnett’s will.
0593 (Accession # 21185705). Boone County, Missouri. Bolivar S. Head and Albert G. Newman
agreed to trade horses through an unnamed “negro man,” who was employed by Newman.
Head executed his note to Newman for $57.55 for the difference in the value of the horses
traded. The petitioner claims that Newman “fraudulently represented” his horse as healthy,
when in fact it was “unsound and diseased with bad and unsound eyes.” He asserts that he has
been damaged in the amount of $150 “for which he asks Judgment.”
0599 (Accession # 21185707). Scott County, Missouri. Joseph, Truelove, Eliza, Martha,
Emeline, and Isabella, slaves of Harriet [Harriett] Williams, claim that Williams’s will
emancipated them on the condition that they remain and serve her elderly mother until her
death. Noting that Williams died in 1851, the petitioners recount that the will has unfortunately
been “fraudulently concealed or destroyed so that the same has not been admitted to probate.”
Alexander Waugh, the administrator of Williams’s estate, has “hired out and controlled your
petitioners as slaves belonging to the estate of the said Harriet.” In response to the heirs’
application for an order of partition, Waugh has advertised the petitioners for public sale on 6
July 1857. Fearing that “irreparable injury and wrong will be done to each of” them, the
petitioners ask the court for permission to sue individually for their freedom and for an order
prohibiting either their sale or their removal from the court’s jurisdiction.
0655 (Accession # 21185708). Scott County, Missouri. By a previous court order, Joseph and
five other slaves in the estate of Harriett [Harriet] Williams received permission to sue
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individually for their freedom. Joseph now petitions that Alexander Waugh, the administrator of
Williams’s estate, currently “holds and keeps plaintiff in bondage as a slave.” Joseph asks the
court to discharge him “from further bondage.”
0657 (Accession # 21185709). Scott County, Missouri. By a previous court order, Truelove and
five other slaves in the estate of Harriett [Harriet] Williams received permission to sue
individually for their freedom. Truelove now petitions that Alexander Waugh, the administrator of
Williams’s estate, currently “holds and keeps plaintiff in bondage as a slave.” Truelove asks
“Judgement of liberation and also for her costs in this behalf.”
0660 (Accession # 21185710). Scott County, Missouri. Lidda, a woman of color, “makes known”
that she is held as a slave by Alexander Waugh, the administrator of the estate of Harriett
[Harriet] Williams. She explains that Williams’s will manumitted her slaves, including Lidda’s
mother, Trulove, but that the will has been “fraudulently concealed or destroyed.” Lidda, born
since Williams’s death in 1852, is now advertised for sale as a slave in the estate. She asks the
court for permission to sue for her freedom and for “the necessary orders” to prevent her from
being removed from the court’s jurisdiction. A previous court order granted her mother, Trulove,
and five other slaves in the estate of Harriett Williams similar permission to sue individually for
their freedom.
0663 (Accession # 21185711). Scott County, Missouri. By a previous court order, Eliza and five
other slaves in the estate of Harriett [Harriet] Williams received permission to sue individually for
their freedom. Minor Eliza now “maketh known that she is desirous to institute suit” and asks
permission to sue by her next friend, Matthew H. Moore.
0667 (Accession # 21185712). Scott County, Missouri. By a previous court order, Eliza and five
other slaves in the estate of Harriett [Harriet] Williams received permission to sue individually for
their freedom. Eliza now claims that Alexander Waugh, the administrator of Williams’s estate,
“wrongfully holds and detains plaintiff as a slave of said Harriett deceased.” She asks for
“Judgment of liberation, and for her costs in this behalf.”
1858
0670 (Accession # 21185801). St. Louis County, Missouri. Samuel Hambleton claims that
Bernard M. Lynch “wrongfully and unlawfully” took his fifty-year-old slave named Henry on 12
May 1858. He claims that Lynch “does now wrongfully, and unlawfully detain the same,” and he
asks the court to compel Lynch to return Henry, whom he estimates as worth $900. He also
seeks damages in the amount of $500. In his answer, Bernard Lynch claims that Henry is a
slave levied upon by the St. Louis sheriff and confined to Lynch’s “negro yard” for safekeeping
by the city constable, William Watson. Lynch counters that he has been “wrongfully and illegally
sued by writ of replevin from this Court.” The supreme court upheld the lower court’s verdict
against the plaintiff, characterizing Lynch as an “innocent third party,” and instructed that
Hambleton “should have brought [suit] against the proper party,” Constable Watson.
0683 (Accession # 21185804). Scott County, Missouri. Matthew H. Moore asks the court to
appoint him next friend of Martha, Emeline, Isabella, and Lidda, minor persons of color held as
slaves by Alexander Waugh, administrator of the estate of Harriett Williams.
0687 (Accession # 21185805). Scott County, Missouri. Minors Martha, Emeline, Isabella, and
Lidda, free persons of color, assert that they are entitled to “full and absolute freedom,” but that
Alexander Waugh, administrator of Harriett [Harriet] Williams’s estate, “restrains them of their
liberty and holds them (plaintiffs) as personal assets or property in his hands and control
belonging to said estate.” They seek “judgment of liberation and for their costs.” The petitioners
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amend their bill by explaining that their freedom depends on the “lost or destroyed” will of the
said Williams. They ask “to prove contents of same” by depositions from the will’s subscribing
witnesses.
1859
0692 (Accession # 21185902). St. Louis County, Missouri. Louisa Lewis seeks permission to
sue as a poor person to establish “the right of herself, and of her minor son George to freedom.”
Louisa claims that seventeen years ago her mother Lizzie, alias Elizabeth Dickson, a free
person of color, purchased Louisa “for the purpose, and on the condition that she should be
free.” Louisa argues that, inasmuch as it is illegal for free persons of color to own slaves in
Missouri, the “purchase of petitioner by her mother operated as a deed of manumission.”
Fourteen-year-old George was born three years after “the emancipation of your petitioner” and
has lived as a free person his entire life. Henry W. Hart, the administrator of Elizabeth Dickson’s
estate, now holds Louisa and George as slaves. Louisa asks the court to recognize her status
as a free woman. Depositions in the court record reveal that George, whose color is “nearly
white,” attended “common school with white children.” Before her mother’s death, Louisa spent
time in Chicago with her husband, a former slave manumitted by St. Louis Mayor John How. A
deposition from Martha Brown intimates that Louisa passed for white while in Chicago.
0730 (Accession # 21185903). Boone County, Missouri. James King Jr. and his eight siblings,
the children of James King Sr., petition for a distribution of the estate, which includes six slaves.
The petitioners report that King’s widow, Nancy, has elected to “take a childs share in said
slaves.” Since the slaves are “not susceptible of division in kind,” they ask the court to order that
the slaves be sold and the proceeds be divided equally among the heirs.
1860
0752 (Accession # 21186002). Boone County, Missouri. On 2 October 1858, John R. Feagans
mortgaged thirteen slaves to John S. Clarkson in order to secure a debt of $3,000. A year has
elapsed and Feagans still owes Clarkson a considerable portion of the money. Clarkson “prays
that judgment may be rendered for the debt & interest due” and that the slaves may be sold to
satisfy the debt plus interest.
0774 (Accession # 21186003). Pike County, Missouri. Joshua, a man of color, claims that he is
entitled to his freedom “by virtue of the provisions of the will of William Kerr deceased.” He
complains that he is “unlawfully restrained of his liberty” by William Purse and R. M. Penn. He
asks permission to sue as a poor person to establish his right to freedom and affirms that he is
willing to comply with the terms of the will, which require him to leave the state of Missouri “and
go to some free state of the Union.”
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Undated
Tennessee
0002 (Accession # 21400001). Washington County, Tennessee. Josiah Conley is the executor
of the estate of his late mother, Nancy Conley. He declares that the last will and testament of his
mother “liberated & set free” a slave woman named Harriet. Conley attests that Harriet, having
been “raised by the deceased,” is “of good moral character” but physically “is afflicted to some
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extent and not of robust health.” It is Conley’s hope that “the humane provision of the law,
allowing persons who are aged or diseased so that they could not with safety go to Liberia, to
remain in the state be extended to her.” Noting that “Harriet has a husband in this county who is
a slave,” Conley believes that Harriet “would be very reluctant to leave this state, and encounter
the perils of a voyage to and residence in Liberia.” He “therefore prays that the sd Harriet may
be permitted to remain in the State” and that her emancipation will be certified.
0007 (Accession # 21400002). Washington County, Tennessee. George Jackson, executor of
the estate of William Jackson, requests that a slave and her son be emancipated in accordance
with his late father’s wishes. Jackson cites that his father’s will “ordered the Emancipation of his
slaves ... as soon as they severally arrived at the age of thirty years.” The petitioner points out
that Cass, “one of the negroes in said will mentioned,” has “arrived at said Age.” Noting that
“said negro woman Cass has been a Good slave & of as Good moral Character as slaves
Generally are and he thinks a little better,” Jackson desires “to carry into effect the will and
desire of his deceased ancestor” and urges the court to free Cass and her son Lewis.
0011 (Accession # 21400003). Williamson County, Tennessee. Sanders Scott, “a free person of
colour” and the “owner of a slave named Julia his wife,” asks the court “to liberate the said
woman.” He states that Julia “is of good moral character and industrious habits and well
qualified to earn a liveing honestly by her labour.”
1791
0016 (Accession # 21479101). Washington County, Tennessee. Robert Kerr Jr. seeks
reimbursement from Alexander Meek, from whom he purchased a ten-year-old “mullatto or dark
coloured boy” named William Sutton in 1785. Since Meek purported to have “the right to sell”
Sutton, the petitioner admits that he agreed to pay Meek £40 Virginia currency “for the Service
of the Said boy until he Should come and arrive to the age of twenty one years.” Kerr reveals,
however, that the Green County Court in Virginia ruled that Sutton “was a freeborn orphan Child
and not a slave subject or liable to be sold, by the said Alexander Meek.” He further declares
that said court ordered Sutton to “be bound by that Court” and “indulged the Said Sutton to
choose his master who made choice of your Orator.” Conceiving that “he held the Said Sutton
as an orphan child bound to him and not in right of any purchase from the said Alexander
Meek,” the petitioner asserts that Meek recovered a “fraudulent” judgment against him for the
£40 purchase price. Kerr therefore prays that Meek be compelled to “repay” the cash tendered
for Sutton and that an injunction be issued “to injoin all further proceedings at law.” The
petitioner also complains that seventeen-year-old “William Sutton claimed a right to inlist into the
publick service and did actually inlist and march ... against the Northern Indians ... whereby your
Orator hath been deprived of the most valueable part of the service of his said apprentice.”
1795
0041 (Accession # 21479501). Knox County, Tennessee. John Smith Baisden asks the court to
issue writs of supersedeas and certiorari in order to protect his property against executions “by
the Sheriff of Jefferson County to satisfy Some Judgments obtained” against one Ignatius
Furman. Baisden informs the court that he recently bought a tract of land and “one Negro man
named Arch” from the said Furman and that he “hath procured the said Deed and bill of sale to
be recorded.” He reveals, however, that the sheriff has “nevertheless proceeded to sell the said
tract of Land as the property of said Furman and yet retains the said Negro and declares his
design to sell him.” Baisden contends that the judgments “were obtained in the name of
Alexander Outlaw on two notes due from said Furman to said Outlaw and by him Sold to the
said John Mcfarland.” Asserting that “his said Land and Negro are not liable to be sold to pay
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the debts of the said Furman,” the petitioner prays the court to certify the two suits brought in
the name of Alexander Outlaw and to command that “all further proceedings ... be stayed that
have been had on said Judgments.”
0063 (Accession # 21479502). Washington County, Tennessee. Margaret Lee requests that a
writ of habeas corpus “may immediately issue, directed to Samuel Gammon of Sullivan County,
commanding him to appear before your Honors ... with the Bodies of Margaret Lee & her two
children Maria & Abraham.” Born in Boston of free parents, Lee laments that she was “suddenly
seized” at sunset while on a wharf and then “bound with Cords, and hurried on Board of a
Vessel” that later landed in Maryland. The petitioner decries that she was “doomed to Servitude”
and that “Labour, oppression & their attendant Grief, hovered around her.” Lee reveals that “she
communicated her situation to some benevolent Men, with a view of obtaining relief”; however,
her owner, fearing the “truth might appear from Investigation, sold her.” Noting that she, “for the
period of twenty years, has suffered a Life of Servitude, in a Country, where she had inherited
from her Parents Liberty,” the petitioner and her two “tender little Infants” pray that the court may
issue “the most gracious Writ of Liberty ... a Habeas Corpus” and that “your Honors may take
such Steps, as will give to your petitioner an opportunity of shewing that freedom was her
Birthright.”
1796
0069 (Accession # 21479601). Washington County, Tennessee. Michael Harrison declares that
defendants William Murphy and Isaac Thomas combined “together to defraud & greatly injure”
him when they induced and persuaded “your orator to become Security” in a transaction
involving the sale “of a free negro.” Harrison contends that Thomas “well knew that the said
Negro man was & ought of right to be a freeman,” not a slave. When the “Negroe man proved
himself to be a free man and recovered his freedom,” Murphy filed suit against Harrison “for the
value of said Negroe,” and the court issued “Judgment against your orator, at a time when he
was absent in the public Service.” Harrison prays that subpoenas may issue to both defendants
and that said judgment against him may “be decreed to be perpetualy injoined.”
1806
0076 (Accession # 21480601). Washington County, Tennessee. The minor heirs of John
Keywood ask the court to set aside the sale of five estate slaves, who were fraudulently sold for
$1,000 by their mother, Agatha. The petitioners declare that their father died in 1803 and that
his will directed that all the residue of his estate should be the property of his wife during her
lifetime and that “after the death of the said Agatha ... the whole of his property real & personal
should be equally divided amongst your Orators his children.” The Keywood children charge
that their mother and others have colluded “to cheat and defraud your orators” out of their
remainder interest in said slaves by procuring a pretended bill of sale, executed by the said
Agatha to one William Blevins. They also charge that the defendants knew “no consideration
was paid for said negroes, and that by the will of said John Keywood your Orators had a
reversion in the same.” Believing that “there is great probability” that the defendants “will run the
said negroes beyond the reach of your Orators & this honourable court,” they pray that said bill
of sale “may be decreed to be given up & cancelled,” that the defendants be kept from removing
said slaves from the county, and that the slaves be put in the sheriff’s custody and hired out.
1807
0097 (Accession # 21480701). Knox County, Tennessee. George Hynds seeks to stay an
execution recovered by the administrators of the late Francis Lea. Hynds relates that “he
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purchased a negroe man of Elizabeth Lea widow and relict of Francis Lea deceased, by the
name of Sam which said negroe was then run away from the said Widow Elizabeth,” for the sum
of $400. He charges that Elizabeth agreed to credit him $70 “for a Horse sold by your petitioner”
to her late husband and that he “was to be allowed, for his trouble and Expences in geting the
said negroe.” Asserting that “he ought to be allowed one hundred & nineteen dollars” for his
“travelling Expences the Labour of his Horse & self,” the petitioner estimates that only $11
remained due to Elizabeth and her current husband. He represents, however, that the
administrators of Francis Lea “recovered a judgment against your Petitioner for upwards of two
hundred dollars which said judgment was & is unjust.” Hynds further avers that “the said
Elizabeth at the time of said sale had no manner or Colour of title to said negroe.” Noting that
“an Execution has issued” and his property is liable “to be levied for said Judgment,” the
petitioner prays that the court “may direct the officers who have said Execution in their hands ...
to stay all further proceedings ... & that your Petitioner may have a new trial.”
1810
0130 (Accession # 21481001). Rhea County, Tennessee. Hannah Morris seeks a divorce from
John Morris, her husband of twenty-two years. She states that John abandoned her when she
was sick, “declaring he would not return but to destroy what property she and her children
should collect by their industry.” John made good on his promise “by pulling up the herbs in the
garden, and turning the cattle in the cornfield.” In addition, Hannah reports that “to insult my
feelings, and violate our marriage contract he carried on illicit commerce with a black woman.”
She concludes by stating that her husband also “debases himself by intoxication and when
drunk uses your petitioner with savage cruelty. This statement is made not in levity, but in
sincerity and truth.” Hannah Morris asks that her marriage to John “be dissolved and forever set
aside.”
1814
0136 (Accession # 21481401). Smith County, Tennessee. Benjamin Seawell Jr., the executor of
the late Nancy Cherry, asks that “the personal estate bequeathed to the Said Nancy may be
declared exempt from the payment of Debts.” The petitioner cites that Willie Cherry, the
deceased husband of Nancy and a slaveholder, “left at the time of his Death real estate of the
value of Twenty Thousand Dollars, & a small personal Estate consisting of propperty acquired
by his intermarriage.” Seawell notes that Willie Cherry’s will gave “express directions ... that the
property bequeathed therein to the sd. Nancy shoud. not be liable to but shoud. be clearly
exempted from the payment of all Debts.” The petitioner prays that the other devisees and
legatees of the said Willie Cherry “be injoined from suffering any Debts or demands recovered
or to be recovered against the estate of the said Willie from being levied of the estate
Bequeathed to the said nancy by said will untill after the said real estates devised to them shall
be exhausted.”
1815
0145 (Accession # 21481501). Washington County, Tennessee. Dr. John Newnan asks the
court to grant writs of certiorari and supersedeas and to review an action instituted against him
by Montgomery Stewart wherein his ownership of a slave woman and her child is disputed.
Newnan asserts that he “was the true & rightfull owner thereof, all which he can prove, upon a
fair trial being had in which the title to said negroes can be investigated.” He further cites that he
did not attend the county court proceedings and “therefore the Judgment rendered against yr
petitioner was not appealed from.” He requests that writs be issued “by which the cause aforesd
may be removed to the Circuit Court of Washington County for trial and all proceedings be
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stayed untill such trial can be had.” Newnan’s bill of exceptions reveals that he had agreed to
sell a slave woman named Rachel and her daughter Patt to James Stewart for $400 in 1808,
even though said slaves had run away to North Carolina. It states that Newnan recovered the
slaves, delivered them to Stewart, but received only “some salt and iron” as payment. It details
that Newnan went to Stewart’s plantation one evening and “next morning before sunrise
returned with said Negro in his possession & took her on to Nashville.” It notes Montgomery
Stewart’s claim that Rachel was a gift from his father and the jury award to said Montgomery for
$544 in damages, to which verdict Newnan “excepts in Law and tenders this bill of exceptions.”
1816
0161 (Accession # 21481601). Davidson County, Tennessee. John C. Hicks seeks to stay a
judgment recovered by Nancy Parham, from whom he hired two slaves on 8 March 1815. Hicks
avows that he and his brother James, as security, “executed a certain writing obligatory” for
$183 to the said Parham and “that the said obligation was given for the hire of two negro men
slaves, named Stephen & Dick” for the remainder of the year. He further declares that he hired
Stephen “shortly thereafter” to David McGavock of Nashville and that on “the 3d of April 1815
the said slave Stephen was accidently killed by the sd David McGavock.” Noting that he “did not
have & enjoy the labour & profits of the services of said slave Stephen for even one month,” the
petitioner cites that he applied to Parham “for an abatement of & deduction from the sum
specified” in his note. He informs the court that Parham, in response, sued him and James and
recovered a judgment, for which an execution has issued. Fearful that the sheriff will levy his
“chattels land & tenements,” the petitioner prays that Parham be perpetually enjoined from
collecting $83, which sum “was to have been paid for the service of Stephen.”
0168 (Accession # 21481602). Davidson County, Tennessee. Twenty-one-year-old Robert
McCrary seeks his “distributive share” from the estate of his father, the late Robert McCrary.
The petitioner informs the court that “some time in the year 1794 his Father Robert McCrary
was killed by the Indians” and that his uncle, Thomas McCrary, became the administrator of
said estate. Robert charges that the said Thomas took possession of his father’s “Negro boy
Slave” and “without any Necessity or Authority therefor sold and disposed of” said slave and
“Applied the Amount of the Sales ... to his own private use and has derived great benefit &
Emolument therefor.” Declaring that said administrator “Refuses to Account with your
Petitioner,” Robert prays that “by a Decree of this Worshipfull Court the said Thomas Admr
aforesaid may be Compelled to pay your Petitioner his Distributive Share Aforesaid of said
Estate with the Interest thereon.”
1817
0185 (Accession # 21481701). Davidson County, Tennessee. Archibald Harris asks that an
injunction be directed to Joseph Cook, commanding him and “his Confederates to desist from
the execution” of a judgment recovered by said Cook. He contends that Cook owned a slave
named Harry and that he “proposed to hire the said negro for one year to your Orator,”
representing “that Said negro man was a good serviceable hand, and not runaway.” The
petitioner states that he agreed to hire Harry and that he executed a note to Cook for $85.
Harris reveals “that on the evening of the Same day said negro Harry runaway from your Orator
and almost as soon as he could get him out of one Jail where he was taken of and Confined he
would again escape, during the whole of said term.” The petitioner charges that Cook knew at
the time of hiring that Harry was “a notorious worthless and runaway Slave” and that Cook,
when told of Harry’s escapes, “agreed to Surrender Said note.” Citing that Cook has recovered
a judgment against him for the $85 owed, the petitioner prays that “he may have a decree for a
perpetual injunction and that Said note be Surrendered and Cancelled.”
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0191 (Accession # 21481702). Jackson County, Tennessee. The five youngest children of the
late William Pharis charge that their mother and her consort, Enoch Carter, have “wickedly
fraudulently and [Clandestinely] practised various schemes and devices to defraud” them of
their share of his estate, “reasonably worth four thousand dollars.” Stating that their father died
in 1805 and that their mother Catharine qualified as executrix, they claim that said Carter
“appropriated the profits both of the real and personal estate to his own use.” The petitioners
further contend that said Carter purchased two estate slaves but that he has yet “to account with
your Orators and oratrixes for the amount of said sale.” They allege that “Enoch Carter is
become rich and opplent, being in the enjoyment of a considerable real and personal estate all
of which ... the said Enoch obtained by fraudulent practices with the executrix.” They therefore
pray that the defendants “may Surrender up the property of the testator yet remaining in their
hands in which your Orators & oratrixes have an equitable interest, and deliver the same into
the hands of your Orators and Oratrixes ... and that they may account and full satisfaction make
for the manifold wrongs and injuries Committed by them ... in the management of said property.”
1819
0210 (Accession # 21481901). Green County, Kentucky. This case originates with a petition to
the Green County Circuit Court in Kentucky and ends thirteen years later with a ruling from the
Tennessee State Supreme Court. The original petition to a Tennessee chancery court is not
among the case records. In 1819, John Jones asks the Kentucky circuit court for “a partition and
division of the slaves” in the estate of his father-in-law, the late James Munford, who died in
1808. He cites that “besides the devise to the widow, the said decedent left to his two daughters
... all the rest of his estate.” Jones states that said estate “consisted of a large number of
slaves,” now numbering about twenty-eight. He charges that neither the widow nor her current
husband, William Woodfolk, “have ever returned an inventory and appraisement of said estate”
and that they “have failed to pay over the money and property and deliver over the slaves to
which your orator is entitled” as husband of Jane W. Munford. He prays that the Woodfolks “be
compelled to pay your orator his portion of the money and other property to which he may be
entitled.” The Tennessee Supreme Court awards the Joneses $4,589 and John Wright and
Alethia Munford Wright $5,331 in 1832. The related documents include hiring records of the
estate slaves from 1808 to 1820; medical data on certain slaves; details on mining saltpeter in
Mammoth Cave; and expense records for educating and clothing two white females, “in order to
enhance them, having in view their future prosperity in life.”
1820
0364 (Accession # 21482001). Montgomery County, Tennessee. George Nixon informs the
court that George West “executed a mortgage to secure the payment” of $4,922 owed him, in
which West conveyed certain slaves “to your Orator for the purpose of securing the payment of
the aforesaid sum of money.” Nixon, “a citizen of the state of Georgia,” represents that “divers
creditors have obtained judgments & executions against the said West to a verry large amount”
and that the sheriff “has levied the said Executions on the aforesaid negroes or a part of them
and the same are now advertised for sale.” The petitioner fears that if said slaves are sold “that
probably great delay, great expence & great trouble will be produced to your Orator in the
recovery of the said negroes & in the forecloseure of the said mortgage.” He therefore prays
that an injunction be granted “prohibiting the said Sheriff of Montgomery from exposing the
aforesaid negroes to sale in satisfaction of the aforesaid Judgments & executions ... that the
said mortgage may be foreclosed and that a decree may be made for sale of the said negroes
to satisfy the said mortgage debt.”
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0371 (Accession # 21482002). Washington County, Tennessee. Clark Ellis represents that his
brother Elija has sold “very much of the Joint property of himself & your orator.” Clark reports
that they acquired “considerable property both real & personal (by descent from their father)”
and that they agreed “to unite their stock of property & to hold in common all that each of them
should put into the fund.” The petitioner points out that they “did unite their property consisting of
negroes horses cattle & divers other descriptions of articles,” thereby forming a partnership.
Clark charges that the said Elija “sold & appropriated to his own use large sums of money for
which he never accounted with your orator.” He further recounts that “he only received back the
negroes, originally put in by him, and they have been ... sold, for to pay debts contracted by
your Orator on the partnership account.” Citing that “he cannot pretend to state the whole of the
property & funds embezzled by said Elija,” the petitioner prays “that the said Elija be decreed to
pay unto your orator the one half amount of all the money & property sold & applied to his use
which originally belonged to him & your orator Jointly.”
0382 (Accession # 21482003). Williamson County, Tennessee. William Perkins seeks to
recover an enslaved female named Jinny, whom he purchased for $800 from John Bond.
Perkins purports that “previous to the said purchase by your Orator the said John had hired out
the said negro slave to one John Laymaster” for a year. He further relates that he “being about
to take some hands out of the state was desirous to get the said slave into his possession” and
that he hired William Floyd “to procure the delivery of the said slave,” giving the said Floyd a bill
of sale. Perkins argues that “when the bill of sale was made it was not expected or intended to
pass the property out of your Orator, or to give the said Floyd any right of property in or to the
said slave.” He charges that the said Laymaster and Floyd “in order to oppress and injure your
Orator absolutely deny your Orators right to the said slave and refuse to deliver the girl, give up
the bill of sale, or execute a reconveyance.” He therefore prays that the defendants “be
compelled by a decree of this Honorable Court to deliver and reconvey to your Orator the said
slave ... and account for the profits of the said slave” and that they be restrained from
“conveying the said negro slave out of the State.” Floyd counters in his answer that Perkins
owes him money for services rendered in finding a mulatto female slave named Isabel, who had
been “stolen away” and to whom Perkins “was much attached.”
1821
0401 (Accession # 21482101). Williamson County, Tennessee. Henry Swisher, the security of
Jacob Harder, seeks to stay a judgment recovered by William Harder. Swisher states that
William Harder, the executor of the late John N. Harder, possessed himself of his father’s
property and “sold and disposed of ... negro woman Lucy and mare Bess at and for a large sum
of money, that is to say ... five hundred dollars.” He further avers that said Jacob bought goods
at an estate sale, for which security was required. Swisher submits that he agreed to be Jacob’s
security, when “it was mutually agreed by and between the said Henry and Jacob that all the
right, title, share and proportion of the said estate of the said Testator to which the said Jacob
was in any way entitled should be assigned and set over to the said Henry” to indemnify the
said debt. He charges that the two Harders have combined “to oppress and injure your orator”
and that “William does absolutely refuse to settle with your orator ... short of the actual payment
of the whole amount of said note” and has sued for the same. He therefore prays that said
William “be compelled ... to account and settle with your orator for the said share of the said
Jacob, and that he may be perpetually enjoined from proceeding at law upon said Judgment.”
0412 (Accession # 21482102). Williamson County, Tennessee. Keziah Berryman seeks a
divorce and alimony from Anderson Berryman, her husband of twenty-three years. She
represents that during her said marriage she “performed the part of a good dutiful and true wife
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to the said Anderson.” The petitioner confesses, however, that her husband “without any Just or
reasonable cause has maliciously beaten, abused, and maltreated your Oratrix, in a cruel and
barbarous manner.” She further reveals that he “has repeatedly threatened her life and
continues to declare he will kill her,” noting that she found “a knife of very dangerous
appearance” concealed in his clothes. Citing that he “is at present possessed of Nine likely and
valuable negro slaves besides much valuable property,” the petitioner “greatly fears” that he “will
endeavour by some artful contrivance to convey his property beyond the reach of this court.”
She therefore asks that said Anderson may be commanded “to keep and preserve as much of
the aforesaid property as to your Honor shall seem meet.” Keziah also prays “that she may be
divorced by decree of your Honor from the bed and board of the said Anderson—And that your
Honor would allow your Oratrix such Alimony as her said husbands circumstances will allow.”
0424 (Accession # 21482103). Maury County, Tennessee. Jane Dever “asserts her right” to an
enslaved female purchased by her father in 1786. She states that her father, the late William
Dever, was “desirous to purchase a negro girl named Biddy the property of James Montgomery”
and directed his son James to buy her for him. She reports, however, that the bill of sale “was
drawn to said James which fact the said William was entirely ignorant of during his whole life.”
She avows that Biddy “was delivered over to Said William as his property and remained in his
possession unclaimed by said James ... untill the death of said William ... about nine or ten
years ago.” Dever declares that her brother died in 1808, leaving a son, William, a daughter,
Mary, and a son-in-law, John Walker, who now “pretend that said negro woman Biddy & her
increase of right belong to them.” She submits that, as “daughter and devisee of said William,”
she is entitled to Biddy and her family. She notes that her witnesses, by whom she can prove
“that said negro was purchased for the benefit of said William,” are now “old & infirm and cannot
from the course of nature live many years.” Dever prays that “by a decree may the testimony
respecting yr Oratrix’s title be perpetuated & may the Bill of sale given by Montgomery to James
Dever be delivered up to yr Oratrix.”
1822
0435 (Accession # 21482201). Williamson County, Tennessee. John and Susan Brewer petition
the court for one-third of Peter Hardeman’s estate and slaves. They report that Peter Hardeman
was the former husband of the petitioner Susan and “at the time of his death besides
considerable estate in Stock & farming utensils & all sorts of goods common for a farmer to
have,” he possessed four slaves. Upon his death in 1820, the entire estate descended to
Susan, his widow, and to Franklin Hardeman, an heir. When the court appointed Thomas
Hardeman as administrator of the estate, he “entered on the administration of said estate &
possessed himself of the whole personal estate of said Peter,” thereby wrongfully holding the
petitioners’ share of the lands and property. The Brewers pray that the court appoint “a jury of
twelve freeholders” to allot and set apart one-third of said estate “in which third shall be included
the house or mansion in which said Peter most generally dwelt and ... one third part of said
negro slaves.”
0441 (Accession # 21482202). Williamson County, Tennessee. Elizabeth Cartwright by her
“next friend” George Wharton seeks the settlement of a debt owed to her by her former husband
and her former brother-in-law. She states that she and her husband, Robert Cartwright,
separated in 1808 after six years of marriage. She took their two children to Virginia after Robert
“finally agreed to let her have a waggon & team of three horses, in which she might remove
herself & children, & a negro man.” Elizabeth sold the slave to Thomas Cartwright, the brother
of Robert, for $500 to secure funds for her trip home. Thomas immediately paid her $325 and
issued her a note for the difference, which he promised to pay a month later. Having never paid
her the remaining $175, Elizabeth demanded of Thomas “the amount due” when she returned to
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Tennessee years later. She states that he claims to have paid the difference to his brother
Robert or to his creditors, even though “he knew of all the circumstances aforesaid.” Elizabeth
prays that the defendants be summoned to answer her charges and that Thomas “be compelled
to pay your Oratrix the amount of said note of hand.”
1823
0450 (Accession # 21482302). Sumner County, Tennessee. Jacob Parks and William
Armstrong ask that a judgment recovered by James McMurry for $446 be enjoined. They
represent that “they were purchasing Negroes for the Southern Market” in late 1817 or early
1818 when they learned that said McMurry “had a Negro Boy which he wished to dispose of.”
The traders charge that McMurry assured them that “said Negro Boy was sound and healthy”
and that he could “perform any kind of work that was necessary to be done upon a Plantation, &
that there was nothing the matter with the Negro except laziness.” They discovered, however,
that “said Negro was almost an Idiot” and “incapable of doing the most ordinary labour, unless
some one was continually with him to control and direct him.” Of the opinion that “said Negro
Boy was not worth any thing” and that said McMurry had “concealed the same from the
knowledge of your Orators,” the petitioners state that McMurry brought suit against them and
obtained a judgment for the amount owed him. They ask that said judgment “may be
Perpetually enjoined” and that the money paid by them toward the slave’s purchase “may be
refunded to your orators.” McMurry asserts in his answer that he informed the traders of the
slave’s “want of sense” and that “they replied, they were not purchasing negroes to send to the
legislature but to send to market.”
0457 (Accession # 21482303). Smith County, Tennessee. Isaac Clendennen seeks to recover
the child of a female slave named Jane. He informs the court that he purchased “a certain
Negro woman slave named Jane” in 1795 and that in 1811 or 1812 said Jane “produced or had
a child named Lewis, a Mulatto which then was and still is the right and property of your Orator.”
He further avers that “a certain Alice Berry ... by device procured possession of ... Lewis,”
promising “to return him when called upon.” Clendennen notes that he briefly regained
possession of Lewis but that Berry “persuaded your Orator to let him stay with her ... she being
old and a relation—setting up no claim whatever.” He now argues that said Berry and one
George Hamilton “in 1822 most positively refused to redeliver” Lewis to him and that said
Hamilton “run off” the slave and “Clandestinely attempted to Convey him to parts unknown,”
making it “as far as Buncombe County, N. Carolina,” before returning. Citing that “the
Defendants are wholly Insolvent,” Clendennen claims that Lewis “is now Concealed” and that
the defendants intend to take him to New Orleans, declaring “your Orator never shall have his
property again.” The petitioner prays that process may issue “to take possession of said Mulatto
Boy Lewis.”
0465 (Accession # 21482304). Maury County, Tennessee. Joseph and Thomas Cook seek to
recover the slave Edy and her two children. They claim they purchased the three slaves from
Denson A. Moore, who in turn “claimed said negroes by virtue of a bill of sale or deed of gift
from his father Aaron Moore.” The Cooks cite that the slaves “are worth about 800 dollars” and
that they had “retained possession” of said slaves until Aaron Moore seized them and “put them
into confinement.” The petitioners fear that Moore intends to “convey said slaves out of the
jurisdiction of your honorable court and without the limits of this state.” They ask the court to
issue a writ of injunction against Aaron Moore, restraining him “from removing said slaves out of
Said county of Maury” until the resolution of ownership is resolved.
0471 (Accession # 21482305). Maury County, Tennessee. Edward Ward, the executor of the
late Richard Jones, asks that John H. Camp, the executor of the late John Camp, account for
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and pay him the hire of certain slaves, who were in his testator’s possession. He states that his
testator’s will authorized him to provide “for the comfort & convenience of my wife ... & the
education of my two sons Thomas and John.” Noting that Jones died in 1805, Ward cites that
the widow Martha married John Camp in 1808, whereby he “had the entire use possession and
profit” of up to fifteen slaves from 1808 to 1814. He avows that John Camp “contracted to pay to
your Orator as Executor for the use of said John & Thomas ... the hire of said negroes to be
applied to their education & support ... no part of which did he ever pay in his lifetime nor has
the same been paid by” John H. Camp, his executor. Ward represents that John H. Camp has
“admitted that he was liable to your Orator,” but Camp “has declined under various pretences to
come to any account with your Orator.” He prays that the said John H. Camp be decreed to
“account with your Orator as Executor of said Richard and that he be decreed to pay to your
Orator ... the value of the hire of said negroes for all the time aforesaid, together with the
interest thereon from the end of each year.”
0479 (Accession # 21482306). Maury County, Tennessee. Jane Campbell, administratrix of the
late Andrew Campbell, seeks an injunction against the defendants, commanding them “not to
remove the said twenty six slaves beyond the limits of this State.” Campbell recounts that two of
the defendants, Charles Boyles and Brice Garner, owe the estate “the principal sum of six
thousand and sixty five Dollars besides damages.” The court has issued execution judgments
against Boyles, and some of his property has been levied and “sold at auction for about the sum
of fourteen hundred and sixty Dollars.” Campbell points out that the same execution was “also
levied on sixteen of the negroes named in a mortgage deed” from Boyles to three other men.
Since Garner was “wholly without property,” Campbell believes that the debt can only be
satisfied by “the right and interest which the said Charles Boyles has in and to the said twenty
six negro slaves.” Campbell is “apprehensive that said ten negro slaves as also the sixteen so
levied on” will be “carried beyond the process of this Court” as a means of depriving her “of a
satisfaction of the demands due to her.” In addition to the requested injunction, she prays that
“the negroes may be sold by a decree of this Court.”
0490 (Accession # 21482307). Maury County, Tennessee. John W. P. McGimsey states that he
purchased three slaves from John Strayhorn on 6 November 1822. He further states that he “on
the same day entered into a covenant” with Strayhorn to reconvey said slaves to Strayhorn in
three months if he would “pay unto your orator one thousand dollars Current money of the State
of Tennessee or eight hundred dollars in specie or united States Bank notes.” The petitioner
points out “that the principle inducement with your orator for purchasing said slaves was to
secure a debt” owed to him by Strayhorn. The parties also agreed that McGimsey would hire out
the slaves to Strayhorn in the interim; after three months, Strayhorn would either return the
slaves to McGimsey or pay him the money owed. Fearing that Strayhorn is “about to remove
said slaves out of the jurisdiction of your honorable court and secretly convey them to parts
unknown,” McGimsey asks that Strayhorn be summoned and be ordered to pay his debt and,
upon failure to do so, “that your honor will anull and set aside all claim or pretense of said
defendant to any right to redress said slaves.”
0497 (Accession # 21482308). Williamson County, Tennessee. Claiborne Hooper seeks his
distributive share of the estates of his late parents, Ennis and Anne Hooper. He informs the
court that Daniel Young assumed the administration of his mother’s estate, upon her death in
1807, and, “by virtue thereof, the said Daniel Young in his lifetime, possessed himself of the
personal estate and effects of the intestate, which included also the estate left by your orator’s
deceased father.” Hooper further represents that said Young “had from 1808 to 1818, in his
possession ... working for him, four negroes, a woman named Milly, and three children,
belonging to the estate.” The petitioner states that Daniel Young died in 1820 and that he has
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applied to Hardy Bryan, the administrator of said Young, “to come to a full and true account of
the personal estate & effects” of his parents and “of your orator possessed by the said Daniel
Young ... in his lifetime.” Noting that Bryan has “refused to do so,” the petitioner prays that an
account of his parents’ estates may be taken, that “the clear residue thereof may be
ascertained,” and that he “may be paid his distributive share of such clear residue.”
0504 (Accession # 21482309). Rutherford County, Tennessee. Robert McCombs and Gideon
Thompson ask for a “writ of Injunction to stop the execution” of a judgment that orders them to
pay the defendant, James Allen, $500 for a slave named Jane. They report that on 2 November
1820 they gave Allen two notes, each for $250, “in consideration of the purchase of a negro
woman slave, named Jane.” Revealing that Allen represented “that said woman slave had
runaway from her master who was about to move out of the state,” they further note that “there
never was any delivery of said slave, nor was any bill of sale given.” They argue that “on the day
previous to the purchase of said slave, she was drowned in a mill-pond” and that Allen “artfully
concealed from said Complainants such facts and circumstances within his knowledge.” The
petitioners believe that the day before the sale Allen “made the search, he found not far from the
pond the horse tied, which said negro slave had ridden away, and also that he saw distinct
impressions or tracts of the said slaves feet on the bank of the pond, going in towards the
same.” Accusing Allen of “various tricks, devices, falsehoods and subterfuges,” they ask that he
be summoned to answer their charges.
1824
0534 (Accession # 21482401). Maury County, Tennessee. Cuffy Woodson, a free man of color,
seeks to emancipate his wife, Fanny, and her child, Patsy. Woodson informs the court that “by
great diligence & economy & attention to business he has been enabled to purchas his wife a
Yellow wom[an] ... who was the Slave of Micajah Moorman.” He confides “that his purchase of
sd. slaves has not been with a vain or ambitious desire to acquire wealth or property, but has
been an humble exercise of those feelings of ... affection which the laws of the country ... will
tolerate in him.” Citing that “Fanny & her child are faithful affectionate & meritorious in their
services,” he prays “with the leave of your worshipful court to emancipate and make free
persons as if they had been originally so born.” Court documents reveal that the grand jury
indicted Woodson in 1836 for “unlawfully and wickedly” keeping “a certain grocery and tipling
house for the purpose of vending spirituous liquors,” contrary to law and “against the peace and
dignity of the State.” Woodson died a short time after the indictment, but the state continued its
case, charging that his widow “did sell and vend spirituous liquors to wit one pint of whiskey to a
negro Slave named Harry ... without a permit in writing from the master or mistress.”
0553 (Accession # 21482402). Maury County, Tennessee. James Walker seeks to enjoin the
sale of a town lot and tavern in Columbia. Walker represents that “he purchased of Peter
Cheatham ... a negroe slave named Silas, gave six hundred dollars for him & received a bill of
sale” in November 1822. The petitioner points out that “in order to guarentee your Orator
against any loss in the event the said slave should be recovered or taken from him by any
person having a better right to him, said Cheatham conveyed in trust to your Orator” the abovementioned
property. Walker reports that said Silas was seized and sold, whereupon he
requested that the town lot and tavern be sold to compensate his loss. He further declares that
he bought said lot but that his purchase was not free from “incumbrance by foreclosure.” Walker
also argues that Sheriff Nimrod Porter altered the dates on other judgments in an effort
“fraudulently to defeat your Orators honest purchase under said deed of Trust.” He therefore
prays that the court “grant unto your orator a perpetual injunction” on selling the lot and tavern
and that said Cheatham be decreed “to come to a just & fair account with your orator for the
principal, interest & cost now due & owing ... and may pay the same to your orator.”
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0573 (Accession # 21482403). Williamson County, Tennessee. William Simmonds seeks an
account of business transactions conducted with his father-in-law, James Sneed. He states that
he “entered into partnership for the purpose of purchasing slaves to be sent to a distant market
for sale” with Sneed in 1816, whereupon he bought out the interest of Sneed’s partner, Philip G.
Mallory. He claims that Sneed had purchased eight slaves and was “about to proceed with them
to Georgia, for sale.” Sending the slaves ahead under the superintendence of his son, Constant,
Sneed stated “that he knew of two more slaves in the neighborhood that might be purchased,”
and he told Simmonds that “he would go and purchase them for himself and your orator, and
join them in the same adventure with the others.” Simmonds avers that “the nett proceeds of
said adventure were seven hundred dollars,” and this amount was turned over to Sneed. When
Simmonds attempted to collect his share of the money, Sneed “denied that your orator had any
interest in the two negroes last purchased, and refused to make him any allowance for them.”
Simmonds asks “that an account of said partnership transactions may be decreed, and that yr
orator’s proportion may be decreed to him.”
0580 (Accession # 21482404). White County, Tennessee. James Tilford seeks to recover two
slave women named Fably and Eliza, along with “their considerable increase.” Tilford
represents that he obtained judgments from one Gabriel L. Walker, the owner of said slaves,
and that Walker sold the enslaved women to his brother-in-law, Green Woods, “with a view to
defeat the recovery of his just debts & to hinder, delay, & defraud his other creditors.” The
petitioner further charges that said Woods, “himself in embarrassed circumstances,” then “run
said negros to East Tennessee,” where he conveyed them to Henderson Clark, another brotherin-law.
Tilford declares that “he caused an Execution to be levied upon said negros” and that he
purchased them at a sheriff’s sale. He now argues that said Clark “rescued the negros, or took
them before your Orator could get possession & refuses to surrender them up.” The petitioner
therefore prays that the defendants “be compelled to deliver to your Orator the said negros with
their increase & that they account for and pay over to your Orator the hire of said slaves from
the date of his purchase or to compell said deffts to surrender up said negros to be sold in
satisfaction of his said judgts debts.”
1825
0599 (Accession # 21482502). Williamson County, Tennessee. Samuel B. and Jane Childress
Marshall ask that John Catron, the administrator of the estate of the late John Childress, be
required to account for the “personal property including many slaves” left “in the hands of said
administrator to be distributed amongst the personal representatives of said John.” They further
aver that the decedent owned 337 acres of land “on which he had erected a splendid mansion
house” and that he “was also seized of one of the best cotton farms” in Lauderdale County,
Alabama; they argue that said Catron is now in possession of both tracts of land. The Marshalls
also charge that said administrator has received rents from county acreage as well as town lots
in Nashville. The petitioners therefore pray that said Catron “may be compelled to pay to your
orator and oratrix, and the other heirs of said John, their respective proportions of said rents and
profits of said lands with interest thereon.” They also ask “that partition be had of all said real
estate amongst such of said heirs.”
0615 (Accession # 21482503). Sumner County, Tennessee. Twenty-two-year-old George Y.
Duty petitions the court for his rightful inheritance from his father’s estate. He explains that “a
certain Josephus H. Conn” assumed guardianship duties upon the death of his first guardian,
which occurred shortly after his father’s death. By virtue of said position, Conn “came into the
full possession of all monies slaves and other property of your petitioner,” valued at $2,000.
Duty reports that Conn has “departed this life” and that John Brown, his administrator, has
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“received the whole of” Conn’s estate. Duty states “that the said Conn at the time of his death
owed your petitioner as guardian as aforesaid at least two thousand dollars.” The petitioner
prays the court to compel John Brown to make an account of Conn’s estate so as to determine
“how much the estate of the said Josephus H. Conn owes to your petitioner.”
0620 (Accession # 21482504). Williamson County, Tennessee. The heirs and relatives of John
Roulett request the court to appoint commissioners to divide the estate of their deceased
ancestor among them, “share and share alike.” They state that Roulett died intestate,
possessed of thirteen slaves and “other kind of personal property.” They ask that the
commissioners so appointed “may divide and set apart to your Petitioners the aforsaid estate of
the said John.”
0626 (Accession # 21482505). Stewart County, Tennessee. Patsey Gibson, by her next friend
and grandfather Thomas French, seeks to enjoin the sale of “a negro Girl named Charity.” The
petitioner submits that John P. and William Rushing “recovered a Judgment against Henry
Gibson, the father of your orator” and that they have “caused an Execution to be issued” and
have “caused the same to be levied on” Charity, “the property of your oratrix.” Asserting “that
the said negro Girl Charity was the Gift of her grandfather,” Gibson apprehends “that should a
Sale of Said property take place, the said Girl Charity might be removed to parts by the
purchaser and in that court your oratrix would be deprived altogether of the Said Girl which is
esteemed and considered the more valuable as being a Gift to her from her Grandfather.” The
petitioner therefore prays that “your honor may decree a perpetual Injunction against the Sale of
Said Girl Charity on the Execution aforesaid.”
0650 (Accession # 21482506). Williamson County, Tennessee. Peggy S. Mallory, through her
next friend, Charles A. Dabney, seeks a divorce from her husband, Thomas G. Mallory. Citing
numerous examples “of unprovoked abuse on his part and silent resignation on the part of your
Petitioner,” Peggy claims that Thomas has threatened her life on several occasions. She relates
to the court an instance where Thomas “pulled her out of bed with much violence, struck her
many violent blows stripped her of every article of dress and threw part of them in the fire, and
then swore with most diabolical malignancy he would throw her on the fire and burn her up.” On
another occasion, Thomas “commanded your Petitioner to whip a daughter of her’s by a former
husband about ten years old which she declined,” whereupon Peggy withdrew “from the bed
and board of said Thomas Mallory.” Peggy adds that Thomas “is in possession of” fourteen
slaves, plus 130 acres of land that she inherited from her father’s estate. Peggy asks that she
be granted a divorce and alimony and that Thomas be restrained “from removing said property
beyond the power of your Honour.”
0655 (Accession # 21482507). Smith County, Tennessee. Martin London asks that a “tract of
land and negro woman” be sold and that the proceeds from said sales be used to discharge a
judgment recovered against him by one Wyatt Bailey, the defendant. London represents that he
conveyed 220 acres of land, a female slave named Beck, and sundry notes to said Bailey “in
trust,” directing him “to sell the land & negroe, and collect the notes and with the proceeds
discharge and pay off” said judgment of $700. He charges that said Bailey “pretended to
dispose of said tract of land and negro woman at public sale, but intending to defraud your
orator, so managed and conducted said pretended sale as to deter & prevent persons from
bidding for said property and had the same knocked off to himself as purchaser for a sum far
below its real value.” London claims that the land was worth $1,000 and that Bailey purchased it
for $300; Beck was worth $200 and Bailey purchased her for $61. Noting that the sale proceeds
were insufficient to satisfy the debt, the petitioner prays that the clerk and master may direct the
sale of “said tract of land and negro woman and apply the proceeds to the satisfaction of said
judgment.”
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1826
0695 (Accession # 21482601). Maury County, Tennessee. Jeremiah Hobson, minor son of the
late Jeremiah Hobson, accuses James Sandford, the administrator of his late father’s estate, of
refusing “to give to & pay over into the hands of your petitioners guardian for his use the legal
distributive share of your petitioner of said slaves & money.” Hobson represents that more than
two years have elapsed since Sandford commenced administration of the estate and that
Sandford has offered only “sham excuses” regarding the delay in the estate’s distribution.
Hobson claims that he is entitled to two-thirds of the estate and that his mother, Nancy, who is
now married to Robert M. Smith, is entitled to the remaining third. He asks the court to appoint
commissioners to “divide & allot said slaves in that proportion.” In his answer, Sandford reports
that he “never inventoried” two of the ten slaves in question because they were conveyed to
Nancy Hobson Smith after Hobson’s death by her father, William Yancy.
0701 (Accession # 21482603). Williamson County, Tennessee. Daniel Craig declares that “it is
my wish that Said Negro Boy George be freed or Emancipated” upon his and his wife’s death.
He describes George as “about fifty five years of age and about five feet nine inches high of a
yellowish Completion with a Scar on his right Cheek.” Craig states that “he has for twenty years
and more past ben the Legal and undisputed owner” of the slave and that “Said Negro george
has ever behaved himself in the most industris and honest maner towards me my famly and to
the public in genral.” Further, George can be trusted with his “property in any amount with a
dependance that he would do for the best for me more like a Child for his parrent than a Servant
for his master.”
0705 (Accession # 21482604). Williamson County, Tennessee. The petitioners declare that they
are “the only next of kin of said Charles Nash and are entitled to said seven slaves” in his
estate. They report that Nash died “sometime in the month of June last” and that he bequeathed
seven slaves to his wife Rebecca in his will. However, they state that Rebecca “departed this life
in the lifetime of the said Charles Nash, by reason whereof they are informed that the said
Legacy of seven negroes has become a lapsed Legacy and is to be distributed to and amongst
the next of kin of said Charles.” They pray that the court “appoint Commissioners to divide and
allot said negro slaves to and amongst your Petitioners in the proportions herein before
specified.”
0714 (Accession # 21482605). Rutherford County, Tennessee. Frank and Lavenia Murfree
Burton seek a “re-examination of the administration accounts of said William H. Murfree and
David Dickinson,” the administrators of the late Hardy Murfree. The Burtons inform the court that
Lavenia’s late father died in 1809, “leaving at his death a considerable estate in Lands ...
negroes, money, stock &c to descend to and be distributed amongst his children.” They report
that said Hardy advanced land and/or slaves to three of his children and that legally “those
children advanced in the lifetime of Hardy Murfree, were not entitled after his death to any share
or portion of the personal estate left at his death, except by accounting for the property
advanced.” Charging that “they have been injured many thousand dollars as they believe, in the
distribution of the personal estate of their Ancestor,” they cite that “they have not been paid their
portion of hire of negroes, nor their portion of monies on hands, nor any interest on the sums of
money in the hands of the administrators.” The petitioners therefore pray that the defendants be
compelled to answer their charges and that “they may recover from them such a sum or sums
as will make their portion equal to the portion of the other children.”
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1827
0732 (Accession # 21482702). Williamson County, Tennessee. Calvin and Jane Love Smith
seek “a full account” from Charles I. Love, the administrator of the estate of Henry I. Love. They
represent that Henry died in 1824, two weeks after marrying fifteen-year-old Jane. They further
note that Henry did “give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved wife Jane” ten slaves and the
proceeds from a land sale. The Smiths reveal that they have “lately received” seven of the
slaves, but they claim that Charles “never took any measures” to recover the slave Clarissa,
who eloped “when she heard of the death of the said Henry I. Love” and who “is entirely lost”
due to his negligence; that Charles sold the slave Polly and her young child without Jane’s
permission; and that he “beset” Jane “to give said negro boy Moses to his daughter Elizabeth.”
Charging that “the whole of the property bequeathed & devised by the said Henry I. Love, was
equally liable with that bequeathed to your oratrix, to the payment of that portion of the debts,”
the petitioners pray that Charles Love be decreed to pay them “the balance coming to them,
after settling the estate in this way.” They also pray that the “conveyance of Negro boy Moses to
the said Elizabeth Love, may be set aside.”
0749 (Accession # 21482703). Maury County, Tennessee. William Gray, “old and infirm,”
charges his son with fraud. He represents that he was about to move to Tennessee from South
Carolina in 1824 and that he owned a female slave and her child, valued at $550, who was
“unwilling to come with him.” Citing that he disliked “to compel her,” Gray traded the two slaves
for another enslaved family, composed of thirty-five-year-old Chainey and her two children,
Willis and Westley, ages four and one, respectively. Gray admits that his affliction, “commonly
called the Gravel,” caused him to leave during the actual trade, but he maintains that he was
confident that his son Andrew “would do nor suffer any injustice to be done him in his absence.”
He confesses, however, that his son, “designing to cheat, wrong & defraud your Orator of ... the
said negroes,” caused the title to said slaves to be placed in his own name. The petitioner avers
that “said Bill of sale now held by said Andrew was obtained by him, by the grossest fraud—by
an abuse of confidence scarcely parallelled in the annals of filial ingratitude.” Gray prays that his
son may be summoned and that “your Honour would decree that the Title in, to & over said
negroes should be devested out of said Andrew & vested in your Orator.”
0762 (Accession # 21482704). Maury County, Tennessee. Esther Bridges seeks to enjoin the
sale of three enslaved children, who have been levied upon to satisfy the debts of Jessee
Bridges. Stating that she enlisted said Jessee “in the purchase of negros for her” in 1820,
Esther avows that he used her money to buy “a negro man and his wife named Luke and
Matilda,” but he titled said slaves in his name. The petitioner notes that she discovered the
fraud, but, fearing his creditors would seize the couple and their three children, she forgave
Jessee’s debts in return for a “valid” bill of sale. She now reports that said children, who were
not named in the new bill of sale, have been seized and are to be sold soon “unless prevented
by your honor.” Esther reveals that “she being a widow and having raised sd negro Children
with her own they are endeared to her affections and the cruelty of selling them away from their
parents would distress her feelings much and in all probability render through grief and
distraction their father and mother of little value to your Oratrix.” She asks that the parties be
restrained “from proceeding any farther in the sale of sd negros,” that the children “be delivered
up again into the possession of your Oratrix,” and that the title to said slaves be “divested out of
sd Jessee and Vested in your Oratrix.”
0775 (Accession # 21482705). Hickman County, Tennessee. Frederick Mayberry charges that
“Justice had not been done” in the trial of a slave named Anos, who was accused of assault and
battery and who belongs to Henry Mayberry. The petitioner represents that Anos came to his
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home and “then and there did commit an assualt and batery on the body” of his six-year-old
daughter Agness. He further charges that said Anos “made an other assualt, & battery on the
body of Elizabeth Mayberry she being the wife of your petitioner with an intent to kill her.” He
cites that the court tried Anos “for afsd offence that said Justices discharged said negro” on 21
July 1827 and that he was “taxed with the cost.” Mayberry “therefore prays Your honour as the
only & last remedy to remove sd cause to Your honours court ... so as a fare tryal on the cause
may be had.” Related documents reveal that the court found Anos “guilty of committing the
assault only by abusive language with him the distance of fifty or sixty Yards of the prosecuting
house ... and not Guilty of the other offenses as charged.” It ruled that Anos should “receive
eight lashes on his bare back and then be discharged.” Henry Mayberry appealed the case to
the state supreme court.
0789 (Accession # 21482706). Wilson County, Tennessee. James Johnson seeks the recovery
of a female slave named Mariah, whom he purchased at a sheriff’s sale. He asserts that Mariah
“was sold as the property of Richard Drake under several executions in favour of several
persons against Said Richard Drake.” Reporting that William B. Drake “set up a claim to her and
brought an action of Detinue, against your orator,” the petitioner notes that said suit is “yet
pending.” He avers “that said slave Mariah has been in his possession ever since he purchased
her untill within a few weeks back,” noting that Mariah has disappeared. The petitioner “has
strong reasons to believe, her disappearance, has been caused by said Wm. B.” and that he or
another defendant “has clandestinely removed or caused to be removed said slave Mariah from
the possession of your orator.” Johnson therefore prays that the defendants be summoned to
answer his charges and that “they may be compelled by a decree of your honor to redeliver said
slave Mariah into the possession of your Orator, there to abide until the final termination of said
suit in Detinue.”
0801 (Accession # 21482707). Sumner County, Tennessee. Twenty-nine-year-old Elizabeth
Gregory, an indentured servant, urges the court to cancel her indenture and to prevent her
master, Thomas Gregory, from selling her as a slave. Elizabeth avows that “she was born free”
in North Carolina and that she is the daughter “of Lucindy Perrigin a white woman with red hair.”
Stating that there “she had a husband ... by the name of Adam owned by William Whitemoor,”
she charges that said Whitemoor intended to take her and Adam’s daughter with him to
Tennessee, “which induced her to follow the said Whitemoor.” She reports that he “delivered her
over to one Harvey Robertson & told him not to sell her as she was a free woman.” Elizabeth
contends that said Robertson “prevailed upon” her “to sign away her liberty for forty years,” as “it
would be better for her if she would sign the indenture & if she did not something bad might
befall.” She declares that Robertson “about six years since delivered her over to one Thomas
Gregory ... who has had her under his controul ever since.” Noting that said Gregory “has but
lately threaten to sell your oratrix,” Elizabeth prays that “said deed or indenture be ordered to be
delivered up and cancelled and your oratrix be taken out of the power of the sd. Deft. and put at
Liberty.”
0815 (Accession # 21482708). Williamson County, Tennessee. Henry Hill asks that the court
“emancipate & set free from slavery” a five-year-old mulatto slave named Pleasent Homer
Lesley, who “has performed many meritorious services” and “is possessed of real talent.” Hill “is
much opposed to slavery,” and he desires that Lesley “be emancipated from the shackles of
slavery in his early youth that his genius & future usefulness may not be cramped by any
feelings of abasement which his situation would necessarily produce should he remain a slave.”
The petitioner “proposes to remove said boy to the state of Ohio for the purpose of education
should his petition be granted.”
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0820 (Accession # 21482709). Smith County, Tennessee. The grandchildren of William Lucas
state that they have a reversionary interest in several slaves “loaned” to their aunt and currently
in her possession and in the possession of relatives of her husband. They recount that Lucas
“called up the negroes Hannah, Harry & Major, and lent them to her [Rachel Lucas Martin] untill
he should choose to recall them, calling on witnesses present to take notice that it was a loan.”
Pointing out that Lucas died before “recalling” them, the petitioners allege that his will stipulated
that “after her [Rachel’s] decease I give unto all the children of Sarah Martin decd. the negroes
above stated, to be equally divided amongst them.” They charge that Rachel has given some of
Hannah’s children to the children and grandchildren of her late husband. Fearing “that they are
in great danger of losing the bounty and bequest of their grandfather under this management of
the life estate,” they ask that the defendants be summoned to “set forth & discover the names,
ages, discriptions and value of the said negroes—& also their pedigree”; that the defendants be
enjoined from disposing of said slave property; and that the court “ascertain and declare their
rights in remainder under said will.”
1828
0829 (Accession # 21482801). Williamson County, Tennessee. The widow and heirs of the late
Sion Hunt seek a partition of his estate. They submit that said Hunt died in 1826 “intestate
possessed of a considerable real and personal estate.” They represent that Polly Hunt, the
widow, “is entitled to one third part of said land during her natural life as and for her dower” and
that Hunt’s children are each entitled “to an equal half of said land quality & quantity
considered.” The petitioners therefore pray that commissioners be appointed “to lay off and allot
to said Polly Hunt her Dower in said land” and to partition the children’s portions as well and that
they also “divide said negro slaves according to valuation equally amongst said widow and
children.” Sion Hunt died possessed of twenty-two slaves, ten of whom were children under ten
years old.
0847 (Accession # 21482802). Smith County, Tennessee. Civil Kornegay and her children seek
“to ascertain & settle their respective rights & interest” in certain slaves. They inform the court
that George Kornegay, the father and grandfather of the petitioners, directed in his will in 1808
that his slaves be loaned to his daughter and her husband, John Kornegay, “during my life, then
my will & desire is that said negroes be under the care of my son Daniel, & the profits arising
from them to be applied to the support of sd. Sivill during her life, & after her decease the whole
of said negroes to be equally divided amongst her children.” Civil states that she and John
moved to Tennessee about 1809, where her “wastefull & dissipated” husband sold five of the
enslaved female’s children between 1811 and 1816. They note that the family later moved to
Bibb County, Alabama, where John Kornegay died in 1823. Asserting that said John had no
legal right to sell the slaves, the petitioners pray that “said negroes may be delivered up ... to
some suitable & proper person to hold the same & apply the annual profits ariseing from them to
the support of sd. Siville during her life, & then to be delivered to her said children.”
0860 (Accession # 21482803). Williamson County, Tennessee. The next of kin of the late
James Boyd seek a division of his estate. They inform the court that said Boyd died in 1821
“having made his last Will and Testament in and by which he devised his estate to be equally
divided amongst your Petitioners at the death of Nancy Boyd his widow.” Reporting that several
of the distributees have already received land and slaves, the petitioners point out that 400
acres of land, thirteen slaves, and sundry furniture, stock, and tools still need to be distributed.
Noting that the widow died on 24 May 1828, the Boyd children and their spouses “pray your
worships to appoint five Commissioners to lay off and divide said estate amongst your
Petitioners.”
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0873 (Accession # 21482804). Williamson County, Tennessee. Marshal Jameson seeks the
emancipation of a forty-four-year-old slave named Jacob, who “belonged to and was raised by
your Petitioners father and has always lived in the family.” Jameson describes Jacob as being
“dutiful and faithful in his services” and explains that Jacob “attended to and managed his
[father’s] whole business without any overseer” when the elder Jameson became too old “to
superintend his business personally.” Citing Jacob’s “long course of faithful and meritorious
services,” the petitioner prays that the court will grant his father’s wish “entertained and
expressed on his death bed that said slave should be emancipated.”
0878 (Accession # 21482806). Maury County, Tennessee. Thomas and Nancy Tomlinson
Kennedy seek to receive “the distributive shares” due them from the estate of Hugh Tomlinson,
the late father of Nancy Kennedy. Tomlinson’s estate included slaves and “amounted to or
exceeded two thousand dollars” in value. The petitioners state that the court appointed
Alexander McCorcle administrator “of all and Singular the goods chattles rights And credits
Which Were of the intestate” and that he and the guardian James Caruthers “have kept used &
employed said negroes themselves or hired them out and received the proceeds of their hire.”
The petitioners cite that Nancy’s intermarriage to Thomas entitles them to jointly sue for a
portion of the estate and that the said defendants have refused their requests for such
settlement. The Kennedys “therefore pray the honorable Court” to command the defendants to
make an accounting of the estate and to ascertain the distributive share due them and that said
share be so delivered.
0888 (Accession # 21482807). Smith County, Tennessee. The granddaughters of the late John
Owen Sr. request that the slaves bequeathed to their mother, the late Mary Owen Oliver, “be
decreed to remain in the possession of their guardian the said Francis H. Oliver,” their father.
They inform the court that their grandfather died in 1824 and that his will directed that seven
slaves “be so secured & appropriated as that it may conduce to the greatest comfort and
advantage of my daughter and the heirs of her body.” Noting that their mother died in 1826, the
minor petitioners aver that they are also “entitled to the hire of the negroes,” which was due their
mother. They therefore pray that the court determine “the balance due to your oratrixes ... and
by a decree paid over to their said guardian.”
0898 (Accession # 21482808). Montgomery County, Tennessee. Lucy Smith Brantley seeks a
“separate maintenance” from her husband, Abraham Brantley, and a determination of “the right
and title” to four slaves. She avers that she divorced one Samuel Smith in 1820 and that “in lieu
of alimony she accepted ... a settlement by which he conveyed to her a good deal of property.”
Lucy further explains that among said property conveyed were slaves, who were “limited to your
Oratrix for her sole use and benefit during her natural life, to be disposed of by her last will and
testament.” She reports that she married Abraham Brantley in 1824, but his cruel treatment
induced her to “live entirely apart from him.” She confesses that, “influenced by his solicitations
and promises of better treatment,” she returned to Abraham, and that, “whilst she was under his
control,” she “conveyed away the whole of her property and left your Oratrix in a state of total
dependence.” Lucy cites that Abraham currently has three slaves and that he sued for the fourth
slave, whom her trustee tried to retain as her property. She therefore prays that Abraham “be
injoined from proceeding in his said suit,” that the court “decide whether the right and title to the
said four negroes be in her or in the said Abraham Brantley,” and that “said Abram Brantley
make an adequate provision for her seperate maintainance during the pendency of this suit.”
0933 (Accession # 21482809). Williamson County, Tennessee. Robert Ridley seeks an
injunction against Thomas Hardeman, who “threatens to take out execution against the property
of your orator for the whole amount of said Judgment,” which Hardeman obtained in the amount
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of $550. Ridley avers that he “is justly entitled to the one ninth part” of the estate of John
Jameson, having purchased the interest from one of Jameson’s said heirs, and that said interest
amounted to $316. He further relates that he purchased $550 worth of property at the Jameson
estate sale and that “he gave his note with Security payable to the said Thomas Hardeman.”
Ridley argues that his one-ninth interest should be deducted from the amount of his note, and
he contends “that he has been always ready and willing to pay said amount of said purchase
except the amount of the share which he has purchased.” The petitioner therefore prays that
said Hardeman be summoned and be prevented from collecting the $316. Related documents
reveal that “property” purchased by the petitioner at the estate sale was Dicy and her daughter
Polly.
0947 (Accession # 21482810). Giles County, Tennessee. George Brown and Charlottee Buford
Hicks Brown seek to recover three enslaved children, who were seized by Spencer and Charles
Buford, the trustees and brothers of Charlottee. The Browns represent that Charlottee’s late
husband, John Hicks, executed an indenture to the said Bufords in 1821. They report that the
property in said indenture, which included a slave family, secured a loan and that, upon
payment of said debt, the remaining property was to be held in trust “for the use and benefit of
Charlottee Hicks.” The petitioners point out that Charlottee retained possession of the slaves
and the property until 1826, when it, “excepting ... the negroes,” was sold to satisfy the said
debt. The Browns charge that the Bufords seized the three orphaned slave children and that
they have “withheld from your Orators ... the possession of said negro children and the
enjoyment of their services.” The petitioners therefore pray that the defendants “be decreed to
deliver the possession of all the remaining part of said property.” Related documents reveal that
the trustees sold all three children for $468.75 on 28 September 1828 at the Giles County
courthouse.
Reel 11
Tennessee cont.
1829
0002 (Accession # 21482901). Williamson County, Tennessee. The grandchildren and relatives
of Joseph Lea ask that commissioners be appointed “to divide and set apart” slaves belonging
to the estate of Rachel Thompson, their late mother. They cite Lea’s will as evidence to their
claim wherein he wrote, “I lend to my daughter Rachel Thompson during her life two negroes
Fender and Hannah and at her death the said negroes with their increase are to be equally
divided amongst the children of Rachel and their lawful heirs forever.” Thompson died in 1828,
leaving a total of twelve slaves in her estate. Stating that they are heirs “of said Rachel,” the
petitioners declare that they are “each entitled to an equal sixth part in value of said negroes.”
0013 (Accession # 21482902). Williamson County, Tennessee. The ten children and relatives of
Ann Pope seek a division of the slaves belonging to the life estate of their mother. They state
that the late William Lucas bequeathed and conveyed several slaves and their increase “in trust
for the use and benefit of the said Ann Pope during her natural life remainder to the children of
her body legally begotten.” They further represent that, since the death of her husband John,
Pope “has released & conveyed to your Petitioners in common all of said Negroes which remain
to be divided.” They ask that the court appoint commissioners to divide the twenty slaves “in
equal parts and proportions” among the petitioners.
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0020 (Accession # 21482903). Williamson County, Tennessee. Newton Cannon states “that by
the last will and testament of said Minos Cannon Dcd. there are Two thousand five hundred
dollars in cash devised by several bequests to several legatees.” As administrator of his father’s
estate, Cannon reports that “there was no money left by the said Minos at the time of his death
wherewith to pay said legacies.” The petitioner states that there “are six negroes not specifically
devised by said will belonging to the estate,” and he “prays your worships to make an order
authorising him to sell said negroes for the purpose of enabling him to pay said several
legacies.”
0027 (Accession # 21482904). Williamson County, Tennessee. Henry Babcock and Charles
Gardiner, “merchants & partners in trade,” seek a writ of sequestration for two slaves. They
inform the court that Samuel Hamner executed a deed of trust to Joseph Catton with the intent
of securing “payment of two notes ... held by complainants.” The petitioners assert that the deed
of trust directed Samuel to repay the debts by 1 May 1828 “& in case he should fail therein, the
said defendant Joseph was ... to expose for sale the property in said deed mentioned.” Noting
that the property included “a negro woman named Lucy & her child called Harriett,” they charge
that said Hamner has possession of the slaves and “has been running them about from place to
place to prevent their being sold under the aforesaid deed.” Fearful that the slave family will be
carried “to parts beyond the Courts of this State, so as to defeat your orators of their just remedy
under said deed,” the petitioners pray that the defendants be restrained “from departing & going
beyond the limits of the state with said negroes” and that the sheriff “take said negroes Lucy &
Harriet into his possession.”
0034 (Accession # 21482905). Maury County, Tennessee. Jane McKee seeks a divorce and
alimony from William McKee, whose “treatment was so cruel & violent as to compel her to fly for
safety.” Jane laments that her husband caught her “by the throat, & gave her several violent
blows,” and that he “swore he would kill her & while attempting to get his gun she escaped, &
has since kept away from him.” The petitioner charges that William “is given to intoxication,
possesses great personal strength, is very violent in his passions, & sanguinary in his
disposition.” She confides that her husband’s “treatment is so unnatural, barbarous, & cruel that
it is impossible for her to live with him.” The petitioner, “desirous to be divorced from him,” prays
the “Court may decree her such alimony and maintainance as in Equity & good conscience she
would be entitled.” She also prays that “he be enjoined by the Honorable Court from forceably,
violently or against her will, taking the custody or control or management of her person under
penalties sufficient to restrain him.” Jane informs the court that William owns “about fourteen
negros,” two of whom, “at the intermarriage, she brought into the family.”
0042 (Accession # 21482906). Smith County, Tennessee. Seventy-six-year-old Joshua Hadly
seeks to rescind a deed of trust that conveyed his 195-acre plantation to Edward L. Douglass.
Hadly charges that Douglass “swept from him his home at which he had lived for 40 years and
to which he was much attached.” He confides that Douglass befriended him after a bitter dispute
with his family, which resulted in alienation from and renunciation of his wife and children.
Declaring that he conveyed “not only his home place but all of his property” to said Douglass,
Hadly asserts that the defendant, “under a promise from him that he should be made sole heir,”
agreed to care for him until he died; he also promised “that the Negroes of your Orator should
also live on the plantation to take care of him as long as he lived” and “that he would allow said
Negroes 10 acres of said land to cultivate during their stay with your Orator.” The petitioner
laments that, “instead of finding the affection and tenderness which this child of adoption had
promised,” he “found in the short space of a month an enemy.” He therefore prays that said
Douglass “may be compelled to surrender said deed to be cancelled” and that he may be
compelled “to account for and pay your Orator for the use and occupation of said premises.”
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0050 (Accession # 21482907). Williamson County, Tennessee. James Armstrong requests that
two slaves belonging to the estate of Thomas Lapsley, his uncle, be sold and that the proceeds
be divided among the distributees, his siblings. He states that he and his brothers “were
desirous of liberating the said slaves Jerry and Sally” and “locating them in the State of Ohio or
some other nonslaveholding State” but that his sister was not so inclined. Armstrong points out
that “he has endeavoured in vain to obtain the consent of” his sister to emancipate the said
slaves; however, having “no other alternative left him,” he “obtained letters of administration
upon the estate of said Thomas Lapsley.” Citing that there “are at least five joint owners of said
slaves Jerry & Sally and distribution cannot otherwise be made,” he asks that an order for the
sale of the slaves be decreed.
0058 (Accession # 21482908). Sullivan County, Tennessee. In 1823, former slave and free
black man Adam Waterford of Sullivan County, Tennessee, executed two deeds of trust, or
mortgages. One trust was to protect Isaac and John Baker of Washington County, Virginia, from
any liability they might incur by posting bond for Waterford in a civil suit as well as any liability
they might incur by buying a slave Waterford had sold them; the other trust was “to secure to
said Isaac Baker the payment of $704.85.” Waterford complains that the actual amount due is
$625, because he received “Nashville money ... at a time when Nashville money was upwards
of thirty per cent under par.” In spring 1825, Waterford drove “forty head of cattle,” worth $350,
to Virginia to pay part of the deed, but Baker “sacrificed” them, and they “only sold for fifteen
dollars.” In order to secure the deeds, Waterford put into trust his 206-acre homestead in
Sullivan County. He charges that Isaac Baker obtained a fraudulent title to his land from the
trustees and sued Waterford for the property. He lost but is threatening to sue again. Waterford
says he “is willing & ready to come to a fair and honest settlement” with Baker, but he wants the
amount adjusted to include the full value of the cattle and the depreciated value of the Nashville
money. Waterford asks the court to enjoin Baker from suing again, to adjust the amount due, to
compel Baker to receive “the sum that is really due to him in Equity,” and to void the deed of
trust and the fraudulent conveyances.
0203 (Accession # 21482910). Williamson County, Tennessee. William H. Hill, administrator of
the estate of the late Nancy Creecy, seeks permission to sell the slaves in the estate. He reports
that proceeds from the sale of all the estate’s personal property, “excepting slaves,” amounted
to $243 but that the estate currently owes $365 and there are other outstanding debts “not
ascertained.” He states that the estate slaves “consist of Zilpah a crippled negro woman about
twenty five years old who has three children.” Believing “that said negro woman is so much a
cripple as to be entirely worthless to hire and the estate must every year sink deeper and
deeper in debt until said negros or some of them be sold,” he asks that “the interest of the
estate” and its two minor distributees be served by requiring “a sale to be made.”
1830
0209 (Accession # 21483002). Smith County, Tennessee. Samuel Overton asks that Dr. Luther
Bigelow be summoned to answer his charges of usury and that a slave family be sold to satisfy
a debt owed to said Bigelow. He admits that he was “much embarrassed in his circumstances,
and greatly in want of money to pay his debts” in 1825 and that he “called on” said Bigelow,
seeking a loan to cover his debts. He further reports that Bigelow, purportedly “a man of honesty
and fair dealing,” agreed to an indenture for $500, which was to be paid off in three months, at
an interest rate of 25 percent, “provided also that your Orator would execute a deed of Trust for
five negroes.” He reveals that he did not pay the note on time and that Bigelow “called on your
Orator to renew said note for three months longer, adding 25 per cent interest more on the
original sum.” Stating he was forced to renew the note a third time, Overton charges that “said
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Defendant had by fraud, covin and usury, converted his five hundred dollar debt into a claim on
your Orator for the sum of nine hundred and fifty dollars.” He claims that Bigelow said he would
sell the mortgaged slaves in order to “purchase them at a less price,” which forced him to
convey said slaves. Overton prays that Bigelow account to the court and that “he receive what
may be justly due him after said account.”
0253 (Accession # 21483003). Williamson County, Tennessee. Mary Dabney, widow of the late
Charles A. Dabney, states that she is entitled to “one seventh part of his personal estate.” She
reports that the estate consists of twenty-five slaves “amongst other things,” but she states that
the administrator of the estate believes “the demands against said estate can be settled up
without interfering with the negro slaves belonging to said estate.” Dabney “therefore prays your
worships to direct and decree that one seventh part in value of said negro slaves be set apart to
her as her share of the slaves of said estate.” She also requests that a guardian be appointed
for her six minor children, who are also heirs to the estate of their father.
0260 (Accession # 21483004). Williamson County, Tennessee. Miriam Porter, the widow of
John Porter, joins her eight children and their spouses in asking the court for their fair portion of
the deceased’s estate. The petitioners declare that they “are each entitled to one ninth part of
the personal estate” and its eighteen slaves. They “therefore pray your Worships that said negro
slaves may be divided amongst the said widow and children respectively as aforesaid.”
0269 (Accession # 21483005). Williamson County, Tennessee. The children of Stephen and
Jane Norton, both deceased, as well as the legal representatives of deceased Norton children,
state that they “are entitled to” twelve slaves. They point out that the will of Stephen Norton
directed “certain negro slaves and their increase” to be “bequeathed to his wife Jane during her
life and at her death to said Testator’s children.” The petitioners report that “the widow of said
Testator departed this life” sometime in the month of October last. They “therefore pray that
your Worships would direct said slave[s] to be sold ... and the proceeds divided amongst them.”
Thomas Bradley in his commissioner’s report references slave title disputes and resultant suits
that involved slaves mentioned in the petition. He also cites that several slaves were in the
possession of persons not named in the petition.
0277 (Accession # 21483006). Williamson County, Tennessee. John L. McEwen, administrator
of the estate of the late Nancy Barfield, states “that she had besides the usual personal property
two negro slaves.” He explains that “Nancy left her children and next of kin ... seven in all, who
are equally entitled to said Nancy’s personal estate.” Since “said slaves cannot be divided
amongst those entitled without sale,” McEwen “believes it is for the interest of those entitled to
distribution, that said slaves should be sold.” He “prays your worships to grant an order that said
negro slaves shall be sold.”
0283 (Accession # 21483007). Smith County, Tennessee. The heirs of the late Joshua Hadley
ask that George Latimer, an in-law, be ordered “to produce all the deeds bonds or other
instruments which he may have obtained from Capt. Hadley” so that they may be cancelled.
Citing their estrangement from the decedent, they argue that Latimer acted as “a true sycophant
adapting all his passions, and inflaming his hatred against his family.” They further contend that
Latimer induced the said Hadley, who was “old feeble and childish, and worn down with
sickness,” to sign a will “by which the whole estate was devised to him.” Noting that Hadley died
in 1830, the petitioners state that Latimer “pretends to claim a large amount of the property”
through his use of “various subterfuges.” In particular, they aver that Latimer tried to carry
certain slaves to Illinois and “attempted to set them free,” but the prevailing laws rendered said
“attempt to emancipate the negroes ... a futile & void act.” The Hadleys reveal that the decedent
“first resolved to set all the negroes free, altho ... he never entertained any conscientious
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scruples upon the subject of slavery,” in order to deprive his family of any inheritance. They pray
that Latimer be made “liable for all the property real or personal, or money which he may have
recd. or fraudulently disbursed.” The court opinion cites that Hadley “was averse to slavery and
often expressed himself so,” and the deposition of William Douglass strongly supports that
argument.
0326 (Accession # 21483008). Smith County, Tennessee. Cornelius Dollahite and Margarett
Sanders Johnson charge Elizabeth Sanders Blackwell and her son Sanders with appropriating
much of the estate of the late Jane Sanders Greenwood. The petitioners represent that Edward
Sanders, the father of Margarett and Elizabeth, left a life estate in sundry slaves and other
property to his widow Jane and “at her death to his & her three Daughters.” They report that
Jane and her daughters moved to North Carolina with the slaves, where they all married and
lived for a number of years. They state that Jane and Elizabeth later moved to Tennessee with
three slaves, leaving seven slaves in the hands of a court-appointed receiver “to be hired out for
the use and benefit of” said Jane; they “suppose” that “the hire of sd. Negroes who were very
valuable amounted ... to upwards of $3,000.” Noting that Jane died in 1830, the petitioners
argue that the defendants “exercised an astonishing influence over her, and so managed ... to
get into their hands and convert to their own use the whole of the money arising from the hire of
the negroes both in North Carolina and in this state.” The petitioners ask the court’s aid in
compelling an account from the defendants. [The petition is missing pages.]
0332 (Accession # 21483009). Maury County, Tennessee. John D. Love seeks “a decree of
foreclosure” on a debt secured by an eighteen-year-old slave named Hercules. Love represents
that John L. Petillo, “being indebted to your Orator in the sum of $361,” did “by a deed of
Mortgage convey to your Orator a negro boy named Hercules” in 1829. The petitioner points out
that Petillo “left this state going ... to some part of the Lower Countries,” having only repaid $131
of said debt. Love explains “that tho he shall at the end of the year take sd negro into
possession yet his Title being once a Mortgage will always remain a Mortgage and that he will
always be liable to the Equity of Redemption.” The petitioner therefore asks that the mortgage
be foreclosed and that the defendant be compelled to repay $230 by a certain date. If said debt
remains unpaid, the petitioner prays “that sd negro be sold by the Clerk and Master of your
Honorable Court at public Sale and that out of the proceeds thereof he pay to your Orator [said]
debt with Interest.”
0346 (Accession # 21483012). Sumner County, Tennessee. Jameson Bandy, of Hickman
County, requests that the “bill of sale” issued to Hubbard Sanders for his slave Anna be
cancelled. He states that in 1828, “being much oppressed and embarrassed in his pecuniary
matters,” he borrowed the sum of $96 at “thirty three and third per cent interest on the money
loaned,” and offered Sanders “a Bill of sale for a negro girl called Anna as security.” Bandy
reports that Sanders died in 1829 and that the executor and executrix of his estate, “for the
purpose of oppressing harrassing and defrauding” him, “refuses to receive the money borrowed,
or to deliver up to your orator said girl.” Bandy therefore prays “that the title to said Girl be
divested out of the Legal Representatives of said Saunders and vested in your orator” and that
he “be exempted from the payment of said interest as illegally charged.”
1831
0354 (Accession # 21483101). Smith County, Tennessee. William and Polly Armstrong
Wilbourn revive an 1820 bill that sought “to set aside a sale of a large estate belonging to
James Armstrong deceased.” They cite that the court “decreed that complainants bill be
dismissed” and that “they had no agency, or participation in said original bill.” They represent,
however, “that on examination of said original bill they discover that it is there stated, they
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suppose by mistake, that Tiney is the property of said James Armstrong.” The Wilbourns
contend that said James gave six-year-old Tiney to Polly “in the year 1816, or 1817 shortly after
the intermarriage of the said Complainants.” They further declare that “they retained undisturbed
& peaceable possession of said negro girl” until the death of James in 1819. They now avow
that, in 1829, the defendant “on the final hearing of said [original] cause obtained a decree for
Hannah, & her increase, of which the said girl Tiney is one.” Fearing an “attachment on Tiney
and her daughter Angelina,” the petitioners argue that she “was not intended by the said James
to be included with the rest of the children of Hannah under the gift of Hannah & her increase to
Patrick Armstrong.” They therefore pray that “the title of said Tiney & her child be divested out of
said Patrick & vested in” them.
0365 (Accession # 21483102). Williamson County, Tennessee. Thomas Merritt and Rebecca
Newsom Merritt, administrator and administratrix of the estate of the late Nathaniel Newsom,
submit that “after they apply the balance of said assets to the payment of said debts there will
remain a balance of said debts unpaid of four hundred and five dollars.” It is their opinion that “it
is necessary to sell or dispose of a slave belonging to said estate for the purpose of paying said
debts.” Since the slave Lewis is presently hired until 25 December 1831, they “pray your
worships to order said slave to be sold at such time and place” deemed proper by the court.
Rebecca’s current husband, Henry J. Merritt, joins in the bill as a petitioner. In an effort to settle
the estate, the Merritts, along with Benjamin and Rebecca Newsom, who are the infant children
of the deceased, file a supplemental petition requesting the court to appoint commissioners to
“make distribution of” fourteen slaves that belong to the estate to the petitioners, “each being
entitled to one third thereof.”
0380 (Accession # 21483103). Sumner County, Tennessee. Tandy and Susan Perkins Duncan
represent that they are entitled to a share of the increase of three female slaves bequeathed by
Benjamin Moore to his daughter, Elizabeth Moore Perkins. The Duncans cite that Susan’s
grandfather devised “unto my daughter Elizabeth Perkins ... three negroes viz. Suck Luce &
Hannah & their increase to her and the heirs of her body.” The petitioners charge “that they
have never received any of the negroes aforesaid or any part of their value and the only
advancement which they received ... was a negro girl named winney upon their marriage.”
Noting that some relatives now hold as many as thirty slaves, they ask that said relatives be
summoned and that they “be compelled to Surrender to your orator and oratrix one Seventh part
of the aforesaid negroes, to wit Suck Luce & Hannah & their increase & that they be compelled
to pay your orator & oratrix’s portion of the value of the services of said negroes since the death
of said Elizabeth Perkins.”
1832
0401 (Accession # 21483204). Williamson County, Tennessee. Thomas Merritt and Rebecca
Newsom Merritt, the administrators of the estate of the late Nathaniel Newsom, and Henry J.
Merritt seek to restrain creditors of the estate from selling two levied estate slaves. They state
that they have “returned an Inventory and account of sales and negro hiring of said estate” as
well as an accounting of the estate’s debts. They point out that the defendants, “formerly
partners trading under the name of Wallace & Hobbs” have brought “two claims against your
Orator’s intestate,” which the petitioners have been unable to settle “on account of the
impossibility of collecting the proceeds of said sale & hiring before they fell due they having no
money on hand.” The Merritts state that “not withstanding your Orators’ great diligence and
endeavors to settle and collect said debts due to the estate, and to pay the debts due from the
estate,” the defendants have “had executions issued on said judgments” and that the constable
has levied “two negroes Sam and Cherry belonging to the said intestate’s estate” and now
threatens to sell them on 6 February 1832. The petitioners ask for the “timely interposition of
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your Honor” to enjoin the defendants from selling said slaves. The petitioners point out an
incorrect reference to one of the defendants in an amended petition.
0412 (Accession # 21483205). Maury County, Tennessee. The four minor grandchildren of
Sarah Wade seek to enjoin the sale of an enslaved girl named Mourning, who was given to
them by the said Sarah. They represent that their grandmother executed the deed of gift for the
ten- or twelve-year-old slave in August 1829, while they still lived in Virginia. The petitioners
declare that they and their father moved to Tennessee “some short time after the gift made,”
confessing that he “has squandered all his property and is now probably totally insolvent.” Citing
that their father suffers from “habits of intemperance,” the Wades reveal that various creditors
have obtained judgments against him and that the county constable “has already levied them
upon their negro girl Mourning ... and threatens to sell her in satisfaction thereof.” They confide
“that said girl has now become very valuable to them, and her value at this time is enhanced
from the fact that she is in a pregnant condition.” Noting that a “negro trader” is in the
neighborhood, who is “determined to buy her, and take her out of the country immediately,” the
Wades pray that the creditors be perpetually enjoined “from proceeding to sell the said negro
girl.”
0425 (Accession # 21483206). Giles County, Tennessee. Richard Scoggin asks that Thomas
Martin and George W. Martin be restrained from selling a thirteen-year-old enslaved girl named
Hannah. The petitioner purports that “he is the Owner” of said slave and that “he purchased said
negro girl of his wife’s father for a valuable consideration.” He insists, however, that said
Hannah “has become so far a favourite servant of him & his family that a reasonable price for
her in money would not be a satisfactory or sufficient compensation for the loss of said Girl.”
Scoggin avers that the defendants obtained a judgment against his father-in-law, Thomas
Harwood, and that the sheriff “has levied ... on the said negro Girl for the purpose of satisfying
said execution.” Stating that Hannah has been seized and is slated to be sold, the petitioner
decries “that he is in no way liable for any part of the debt” and that “it is unjust ... for the
property of your Orator to be sold to satisfy the debt of another person and to deprive your
Orator of a favourite servant.” He therefore prays that the defendants “be enjoyned from selling
said negro Girl by virtue of said execution and that your honor decree to your Orator the
possession of the said negro Girl.”
0431 (Accession # 21483207). Smith County, Tennessee. David Stroud asks that a bill of sale
for three slaves be cancelled. He informs the court that he moved from North Carolina to
Tennessee in 1831 with a twenty-one-year-old female slave and two enslaved children, “which
negroes constituted nearly all the property of which your orator was possessed.” Explaining that
he “was desirous to convert the value of said negroes into Land & stock,” Stroud states that he
was unsuccessful in his attempts “to exchange a part of said negroes for the land.” The
petitioner submits that he succeeded in selling the said slaves [now four in number] to Robert
Garret for $800, whereby he accepted a $675 note, $23 in cash, and some livestock. Stroud
reports that said Garret later “wished to cancel” the contract for three of the slaves, avowing that
he could only afford to keep one of the children. The petitioner, however, charges that “the said
defendants have confederated to cheat & defraud him out of the title to said negroes, and also
their Value.” Noting his “good cause” to believe that Robert Garret “will remove said Negroes
beyond the reach of the process of your honorable court,” the petitioner prays that the contract
be set aside and that the court ensure “that the Negroes may be forth coming upon the final
hearing of this Bill.”
0442 (Accession # 21483208). Williamson County, Tennessee. John Rusworm asks that the
sheriff and others be restrained from selling certain slaves, who are currently levied upon for the
payment of Martin Clark’s debts. Rusworm relates that he “became bound as security for the
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said Martin Clark” in the amount of several thousand dollars. He further asserts that Clark, “in
part consideration of his afsd liability as security ... and to indemnify him,” conveyed five slaves
to him in trust, “which negroes he alleges are not worth more than nine hundred dollars.”
Rusworm now avers that the defendants obtained a judgment against said Clark, that an
execution issued, and that the sheriff “levied upon all of sd negroes so conveyed in trust to your
orator.” Arguing that “one of said negroes is a family negro & therefore more highly
appreciated,” the petitioner prays that the slaves “under said execution” not be sold “until further
direction of your honor.”
0448 (Accession # 21483210). Williamson County, Tennessee. Jacob Everly and his wife,
Louisa Word Everly, seek a division of property that was conveyed to Louisa and her sister
America by “deed of gift” from their father, Thomas H. Word. The petitioners claim that the
sisters are “entitled to three negroes and some money.” They “pray your worships to appoint
commissioners to make a division of said property.”
1833
0457 (Accession # 21483301). Maury County, Tennessee. John T. Brown, guardian of eightyear-old
Mary Elizabeth Robertson, believes “himself as guardian entitled to the negroes of sd
Mary Elizabeth & whatever moneys are due her.” He cites that Benjamin F. Robertson, his
ward’s father, died in 1824, “possessed of a large personal estate ... the chief part of it,
consisted of slaves.” In 1825 the court appointed Peter R. Booker and Edward B. Littlefield, the
defendants, administrators of Robertson’s estate. According to Brown, said administrators “have
hired out the slaves of the sd estate and received hire therefore” along with “other large sums of
money.” Brown explains that Martha E. Robertson, his ward’s mother, is now married to General
William Arnold and that they have sold away “all lands or real property she had owned” in this
county. Brown states that the court appointed him the guardian of Mary Elizabeth in 1831. He
reports that in that year he, as guardian, and Arnold, in right of his wife, and the administrators
of Robertson’s estate “got an order ... for commissioners to divide sd negroes in the hands of
the sd Administrators between sd Arnold & sd Mary Elizabeth.” Brown notes that there were
“two setts of negroes, one inherited or devised to sd Arnold’s wife by her father Jas M. Goodloe
& the other having been given by deed to her by James Jones dec.” Brown reports that the
commissioners have set aside a portion of slaves from both groups to his ward, but the
administrators “dispute the validity of his appointment or authority as guardian” and refuse to
relinquish possession of the slaves. Brown asks that the defendants answer “all the foregoing
matters” and that the court decree them “to deliver over to your orator the sd negroes allotted as
aforesaid to sd Mary Elizabeth.”
0467 (Accession # 21483303). Williamson County, Tennessee. Eighteen-year-old Polly
McLemore Perkins and her husband, William O. Perkins, seek a partition of the slaves
remaining in the estate of her late father, Robert McLemore. They inform the court that
McLemore’s will directed that his slaves be divided among his widow and his children, three of
whom are still minors. The Perkinses cite that the slaves were “to be divided when your
petitioner Polly M should arrive at the age of eighteen years and should marry.” They also note
that the widow’s “interest in all of said slaves” has been set aside and that Polly is of age and
married. Of the belief that they “are entitled under said will to five seventeenths of the value of
said slaves,” the petitioners pray the court to “order a division of said slaves ... to be made &
appoint commissioners to divide the same & set apart to your petitioners five seventeenths of
the value thereof.”
0480 (Accession # 21483304). Williamson County, Tennessee. James S. Williams asks the
court to indemnify him against “any mistaken fraudulent or unlawful disposition or
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mismanagement of the residuary property belonging to the distributees of said estate” of the late
James Williams. The petitioner cites that said Williams died in 1832, having made his will in
1825. He reports that he and one James Williams, “commonly called bald James Williams,”
qualified as executors. He charges that his co-executor has “appropriated to his own use a large
portion of the perishable property ... which were acquired by the deceased after the making of
his said will and before his death” and that “he refuses to give your Orator any control of any of
the said assets or to direct how they shall be used or appropriated for the advantage of the
distributees.” Arguing that “bald Jim” has “now committed” a devastavit, Williams “considers
himself in great danger of being injured if not totaly ruined by the course the said James
Williams is pursuing and likely to pursue in the administration of the assets of said testator.” He
prays that “the assets be decreed to be so disposed as to provide for the certainty that all
distributees be honestly, fairly and punctualy paid” and “that he shall not be injured by the
devastavit of said James Williams.”
0490 (Accession # 21483305). Williamson County, Tennessee. Meredith Gentry, the
administrator of the estate of the late Thomas G. Gentry, asks to sell a twenty-five-year-old
slave named Harry “or such other of said slaves as may be sufficient to pay & satisfy the whole
of said Claims against said estate.” Gentry declares “that there will be a deficit in the assets of
said estate (exclusive of the negro slaves) to pay the claims against the same.” Asserting that
“in his opinion all things considered, it would be most advantageous to all concerned, to sell
Harry,” the petitioner prays that “he or some other person acting under the athority of this
Worshipful Court, be ... directed to sell said Harry.” Meredith Gentry cites “that there are
belonging to said estate” a thirty-year-old female slave with six children under the age of
sixteen.
0498 (Accession # 21483306). Williamson County, Tennessee. Donald McGilvray, Catharine
Forbes, and her husband Alexander are the devisees of the late William McGilvray. They allege
that James Park and Edward Clouston, the executors of McGilvray’s estate, have refused “to
come to a settlement with your petitioners and to pay them what is due them.” The petitioners
state that McGilvray died possessed of “Lands, Town Lots, houses, slaves, household and
kitchen furniture, debts, &c.” They point out that the “debts of said testator were few and small
and that the expenses of settling said estate ... have been but trifling.” They state that the
executors have sold the deceased’s real property “for large sums of money” and that they have
“received other sums of money for rent of lands ... hire of slaves and also collected debts,”
which has resulted in there being “a large ballance in the hands of the said executors coming to
your petitioners.” Having “on various occasions applied to the said executors for a settlement of
their just claims” with no results, the petitioners now ask that the executors be summoned to
court to answer their charges and by “a Decree of this court to account with your petitioners and
pay over to them all such sum or sums of money” to which they are entitled.
0507 (Accession # 21483307). Williamson County, Tennessee. The children of David and
Elizabeth McCord, both deceased, request that the slaves belonging to the life estate of their
mother be distributed “among your petitioners.” The petitioners state that their father died in
1819, giving his wife Elizabeth “during her natural life a negro woman named Lynn, and at her
death, he gave the said slave to your petitioners.” The heirs state that their mother “some time
in the present year ... departed this life intestate.” The McCord children cite that there are four
slaves and that each petitioner is entitled to “one fifth value of said slaves.” Since an equitable
division of the slaves “cannot be made among the said legatees and distributees (namely your
petitioners) according to their respective interests,” the petitioners request that the “court order
and direct” a sale of said slaves.
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0515 (Accession # 21483308). Sumner County, Tennessee. John T. Dismukes, administrator of
the late Austin M. Coats, seeks to redeem four slaves, who were mortgaged to Washington J.
Dewitt by the decedent. Dismukes avers that said Coats moved to Missouri, and later to Texas,
to avoid being held “responsible” in selling a slave to whom he had no title. The petitioner
asserts that his intestate conveyed four slaves to said Dewitt, which the parties “distinctly
understood to be a mortgage.” Dismukes argues that he had hoped that Dewitt “would do him
Justice & allow this property to go in Satisfaction of Coats debts.” He reveals, however, that he
believes that Dewitt will “Run off the negroes beyond the jurisdiction of the court in order to
defeat & defraud your orator of his debt.” The petitioner therefore prays that he may be
permitted to redeem the slaves in question by refunding the money due to the defendants.
1834
0533 (Accession # 21483401). Maury County, Tennessee. Daniel Dansbee asks that John
Pollan be summoned to answer his charges concerning the purchase of a twelve-year-old slave
girl named Vine. Dansbee claims that “some ten or twelve years ago” he paid Gilliam Harp $330
for the slave child, noting that Harp “resided in the same neighbourhood with complainant and
had had said girl in possession for many years and complaint believed had a good title to her.”
The petitioner reports that the title dispute over Vine arose when Harp’s son-in-law, John Pollan,
declared that Vine actually belonged to Harp’s wife, arguing that the slave had been sold
illegally. The petitioner states that Pollan filed suit against “said Gilliam, your orator” and another
person, “who had bought some of the same negroes,” and the parties reached a compromise
whereby money was exchanged and Pollan promised “to procure a bill of sale” from the eight
other claimants. Dansbee states that Vine now has a child and that he “is still subject to be sued
for these negroes by any and everyone of all these claimants” since he has not received a bill of
sale. The petitioner therefore requests that Pollan “be enjoined from enforcing Said judgment or
collecting any part of it till he procures a bill of sale.”
0543 (Accession # 21483402). Maury County, Tennessee. Elisha Buckner requests that Nathan
Turnbo and his wife Elizabeth be restrained “from selling, transferring or in any manner putting
any of said property beyond the jurisdiction of this honourable Court” that was bequeathed to
the minor children of Elizabeth and her late husband, William Buckner. Buckner charges that
“Turnbo has disappeared from the neighborhood” along with a thirteen-year-old estate slave,
causing him to surmise that Turnbo “has run said negro off, and that his object is to sell the
negro.” He fears that Turnbo “will run off the other two negroes and leave the children destitute
and your orator liable for the value,” as he is the security for both Elizabeth and the children’s
guardian, Alfred Buckner. The petitioner “therefore prays” that the court direct the sheriff “to
seize & take into his possession the negroes ... and them safely keep” until a new administrator
is appointed, “who will be responsible for the safe keeping of the property,” and that the court
will “direct a division & distribution of the property of the said William among the several parties.”
0555 (Accession # 21483403). Williamson County, Tennessee. Augustine Weedon, the sole
heir of the late George Weedon, seeks to recover slave property from the estates of his late
brothers, George T. and John Weedon. The petitioner informs the court that George T. “was an
idiot” and that he received six slaves as his distributive share of his father’s estate. Weedon
charges that John, during his lifetime, failed to take care of George T. and that Mrs. Woods, the
woman with whom John lived “in a state of adultery,” claimed John’s property at his death and
“took possession of sd. Geo T.’s property as well.” He submits that he hired his son-in-law,
Harrison Shackleford, to go to Kentucky and retrieve the slaves from Mrs. Woods, whereupon
Shackleford “surrendered them up to Richard H Wallace.” The petitioner charges that the
defendants “entered into a fraudulent combination to get hold of the property of the sd idiot &
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they were to divide it among them.” Averring that “sd Geo. T. was the owner of all the negroes”
and that he is “the only distributee of the sd George T Weedon,” the petitioner prays that the
defendants be summoned to answer his charges, that they be required to have the slaves
“forthcoming,” and that “upon the hearing thereof the court will decree that sd negroes be
delivered up to your orator.”
0571 (Accession # 21483404). Williamson County, Tennessee. Benjamin Bedford asks that
property be sold to satisfy a judgment of $1,075 that was recovered against William Ament in
April 1833. Bedford informs the court that an “execution issued which has been returned by the
sheriff of Davidson County no property found in his county.” The petitioner concedes that “he
knows of no property belonging to the said William P. Ament” that can be levied upon, “as all of
his property is conveyed by mortgages and deeds of trust to secure a much less sum of
money.” He further states that Ament mortgaged a total of twelve slaves and that ten of them
have been sold to satisfy debts other than his own. Citing that two town lots and three slaves
still remain, the petitioner prays that “said property may be sold or such part thereof as is
necessary to pay the debt.”
0575 (Accession # 21483405). Knox County, Tennessee. James Trundle requests that the
“Marshal of the District of East Tennessee” be enjoined from levying a judgment on a slave
woman named Harriet and her four children, whom he purchased in 1832 from James Berry.
Trundle states that he bought “said negroes on account of his being the owner of the husband
of Harriet, and for the purpose of keeping them as an entire family, for domestic purposes,
which he has hitherto done.” He believes, however, “that his possession and use of said
negroes is about to be disturbed” by the local marshal. Trundle states that the Bank of the
United States of America has secured judgments against Berry and three of his associates for
outstanding debts. He declares, however, that the marshal has received no authority from the
bank to seize the five slaves. Alleging “that his title to said negros is not in any way disputed, so
far as he knows or believes,” Trundle asks that his “property may be entirely relieved and
disembarrassed from the pretended incumbrance.”
0585 (Accession # 21483406). Williamson County, Tennessee. The grandchildren and
representatives of the late Hugh Barry seek the recovery of the “children and grand children
many in number” of a slave named Judah. They inform the court that the said Barry died in
1781, bequeathing a life estate in his property to his widow Margaret, “with remainder to the
children of Sd. testator.” They charge that the administrators of Barry’s estate “from the
proceeds of the stock and other personal estate of said testator, purchased a negro slave
named Judah.” They further report that said Margaret “lived and Co habited with one Claiborne
Hankins,” resulting in the birth of the defendant Nancy. The petitioners contend that, “since the
death of said Margaret,” Nancy and her husband William have set up “some pretence of title” to
the issue of Judah and have “refused to deliver the possession of them or any of them to your
orators.” They therefore pray “that the title of said slave Jude and her said progeny be decreed
to Your orators and that said Defendants Blackburn and wife be decreed to surrender the
possession of the same to Your orators.”
0592 (Accession # 21483407). Maury County, Tennessee. William and John Davis Farney,
through their next friend and grandmother, Jemiah Sanderson, appear in court “for the sole
purpose of securing their own rights” to a slave woman Betsy and her four children. The
petitioners argue that their father, John Farney, conveyed the said slaves to them in 1825 in a
deed of gift. They state that the deed stipulated that “John Farney shall retain the possession of
said negroes & their increase untill his children your orators arrive at age.” They confide that
their father has “become excessively dissipated & otherwise irregular & immoral in his habits”
and “has sold every article of property he possessed & now has none or very little visible
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property if any at all.” The petitioners believe that their father intends to move to Mississippi with
the slaves, and “they fear he will dispose of said negroes to their prejudice or they will be sold to
pay his debts and by either means they will be entirely lost to them before they can enforce their
rights.” They explain that John, another slave cited in the deed, has already run away. They ask
that the sheriff “take said negroes into his possession to await the further order & decree of this
Court” and that their father be made a defendant to their bill.
0606 (Accession # 21483408). Williamson County, Tennessee. Sarah Tillett and Hannah
Tarkington state that they are entitled to “one share” from the “balance of the price of the sales
of Peter and Merris,” two slaves that belonged to their late father, William Tarkington. The
petitioners point out that the two slaves sold for $875, of which $795 remains “in the hands at
this time” of the defendant, James Park. Tillett and Tarkington aver that they are each entitled to
one-seventh “of the purchase money of said two slaves with interest thereon,” which amounts to
$113.57. They cite that they have “demanded their said legacies from the said James Park” and
that he has “utterly refused to pay to them the same or any part thereof.” The petitioners pray
the court “to decree that the said James Park pay each of your petitioners” the money due them
from the sale.
0614 (Accession # 21483409). Giles County, Tennessee. Elizabeth Briggs seeks her share of
sixteen slaves, who are currently in the possession of the defendants. Briggs informs the court
that her father, William Read, died in 1794, seized of a female slave named Phillis. She further
represents that the widow “made an absolute sale of the said Phillis” and that the enslaved
female “had no opportunity to, and in fact never did make any choice of any one of the children
of said Read to whom she Phillis would go after the decease of the said Widow Susan Read.”
She asserts that “the children issue and increase of the said Phillis” are held by her sisters and
brothers-in-law and that “said defendants aside from said negros are in very moderate
circumstances as to property.” Briggs believes “that the said defendants unless restrained by
your honor will remove said negros beyond the jurisdiction of said court to parts unknown” and
that “a decree in favour of your oratrix would be wholly useless & nugatory & of no profit to your
Oratrix.” She therefore prays that “your honor decree to your oratrix her portion of said property
as one of the heirs & distributees of the sd William Read deceased” and that “the said
defendants be restrained by your honor in the mean time from removing the said negros beyond
the jurisdiction of said court.”
0623 (Accession # 21483410). Franklin County, Tennessee. James Copeland, William Park,
and James Park ask that a female slave and her eight-month-old child be attached by the sheriff
“so as to have them forthcoming to abide the future order or decree of this court.” The South
Carolina petitioners represent that Andrew Park mortgaged an enslaved female named Phillis to
secure a debt of $300 in 1828. They further assert that said Park had possession of the slave
until “about one year ago” when John Bennett “got sd. negro in his possession claiming said
negro ... under some lean, mortgage or contract, real or pretended.” Copeland and the Parks
purport that “the lein of your orators is superior to that of any other claim,” and they point out
that “the whole of sd debt & interest is still due.” Noting that Andrew Park is insolvent, the
petitioners “are more disposed to apprehend danger” of the slaves being removed “beyond the
jurisdiction of the court.” They therefore pray that the defendants be enjoined from removing
said slaves, that “upon the final hearing of this cause that sd defts be forever foreclosed from all
equity of redemption to sd. negroes,” and that Phillis and her baby “be sold & the debt & interest
& costs be paid out of the proceeds of the sale.”
0638 (Accession # 21483411). Rutherford County, Tennessee. Anson Estes asks that William
Parish be restrained “from proceeding to collect” on a judgment. He also requests that the clerk
and master examine the business dealings made by his partner, Thomas Hamilton. Estes
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represents that he owed $205 to said Hamilton, “for which he executed his note to him.” He
further relates that he and Hamilton “by verbal agreement became equal partners in profit and
loss in trading to the south on horses and negroes.” The petitioner argues that Hamilton owes
him for business disbursements as well as his share of the profits, a “total of $744.29 which your
Orator upon a fair and final statement, is entitled to receive from said Thomas Hamilton.”
Arguing that he offered to satisfy his said note, Estes submits that Hamilton refused and instead
assigned said note to William Parish, who “brought suit against him for the same.” The petitioner
charges that the defendants confederated and combined “for the purpose of cheating and
defrauding your Orator.” He therefore prays that the court will “direct an account to be taken” of
the partnership transactions and that he may receive “any balance as may be found in favour of
your orator,” after deducting the amount of said judgment.
0650 (Accession # 21483412). Williamson County, Tennessee. Dr. Thomas Hunt charges his
brother-in-law with “cheating and defrauding” him and Thomas A. Graves “by defeating their lien
on sixteen slaves.” Hunt and Graves state that David Graves “was endebted to the complainant
Doctor Thomas Hunt ... in the sum of about twenty two hundred dollars.” Upon discovering that
said Graves was “wasting his property with great profusion,” Hunt “took from said David Graves
a mortgage upon sixteen negroes.” Hunt avers that he intended that the slaves be held by
Graves as a means of support for his sister and her eight children. Submitting that Graves and
his agent, Ralph Graves, have sold eleven of the sixteen slaves, the petitioners feared that said
David and Ralph “would very shortly spend and sacrifice all the property ... unless it was taken
from his possession; and that the complainant Thomas Hunt would lose his debt and that his
motives of benevolence to his sister and her children would be defeated.” They therefore
conveyed the remaining five slaves to John Butler “for the benefit of Thomas Hunt.” The
petitioners now pray that the defendants account for the slaves sold by them and that the
remaining slaves “be sold to pay the debt of said Thomas Hunt.” [There appears to be a
discrepancy in the petition’s file date and the related documents.]
0660 (Accession # 21483413). Smith County, Tennessee. John Tilford seeks “a redemption of
the land & negroes” that he mortgaged to Col. John Muirhead. He informs the court that “he
became embarrassed in his circumstances in 1827” and that he was forced to mortgage ninetyseven
acres of land to the said Muirhead, along with “two negroes, William about 60 years old,
strong healthy & active, & patience about 40 who was also a smart & active woman.” Tilford
further represents that “the deft. took the negroes Wm & Patience into his possession on 21
April 1829 & has held them ever since.” Maintaining that the debt was satisfied in the fall of
1833, the petitioner contends that the “Deft refuses to pay hire for the negroes, or rent for the
land.” Tilford therefore prays that the court “may order & decree a redemption of the land &
negroes & that they be delivered up to your Orator & that an account may be taken of the
annual hire & rent of the property from the time it came into the hands of deft.” Muirhead alleges
in his answer that he agreed to buy the said slaves “at the price of $300, & took a regular
absolute bill of sale.”
0704 (Accession # 21483414). Williamson County, Tennessee. Mary Petway joins her two
minor children, William and John, and their guardian, Henry Stevens, in asking that the court
order a division of fourteen slaves belonging to the estate of her late husband, John Petway.
She explains that Curtis Stevens, administrator of the decedent’s personal estate, has settled
the estate’s debts and “consents that a division take place as is herein prayed for.” To “effect
such division,” she asks that the court appoint three commissioners, “whose duty it shall be to
value said slaves & allot to each of your petitioners the one third part thereof in value.”
0709 (Accession # 21483415). Maury County, Tennessee. Mary Love, “widow & relict of David
Love deceased,” asks that her son-in-law, John Whitaker, compensate her for the sale of her
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dower right. She represents that her husband died in 1827, possessed of eight or ten slaves
and a tract of land. Love further declares that she had “her right of Dower in and of said tract of
land laid off and allotted to her embracing the mansion house.” She submits that her family
prevailed upon her in 1830 to sell said land and that she agreed “upon their paying her the one
forth part (one childs part) of the same,” which amounted to $1,000. Love states that the land
was sold, but she charges that her son-in-law only gave her “two hundred and fifty dollars in a
small negro Girl named Prucilla.” With her “mansion house” sold, she avers that she lived alone
with Prucilla, noting that “in the fall seasons she made her little Negro girl pick out cotton to pay
for the cotton she herself used in cloathing herself and little Negro and during a part of the time
she got a poor white girl to stay with her for company.” Citing that “she is driven by absolute
necessity to take this course,” Love prays that “your Honor will Decree an account to be taken”
between herself and the defendant and that she may receive “whatever sum may be
ascertained to be due her.”
0726 (Accession # 21483416). Williamson County, Tennessee. Lemuel Farmer, executor of the
will of the late Wright Stanley, seeks permission to sell an estate slave named Basil, who “is in
the habit of running away.” Basil was bequeathed to Stanley’s widow, Mary C. Stanley, but she
has “dissented to said will.” Farmer assumes Basil “will be of little value” to the estate and asks
the court to direct the sale.
1835
0731 (Accession # 21483501). Rutherford County, Tennessee. James Vaughan seeks to
suspend a debt claimed against him. In September 1834, Vaughan purchased two slaves from
Alfred Martin for $675, part of which value he paid with a note for $250. At the time of the
purchase, Valentine M. Sublett held a lien on the slaves in consideration of a debt Martin owed
him. Martin assured the petitioner that he would “lift and satisfy” the lien; when he did not do so,
Sublett sued and won judgment against Vaughan for the debt. Vaughan states that
“notwithstanding said judgment against your orator, the said Alfred still holds in his hands the
said note.” He further asserts that he has given Martin many “goods” on credit from his firm,
Bolles & Vaughan, thereby bringing the balance of the note to “about 56 dollars.” Vaughan now
fears that Martin will sell the note to a third party, who will then bring suit for payment. In
consequence, Vaughan prays that Martin be enjoined from selling the note “or bringing suit
upon it to the prejudice and damage of your orator.” In his amended bill, Vaughan states that
Martin has sold the note to Isaac W. Breshear, who has since won judgment against the
petitioner. Vaughan prays that Breshear’s suit be perpetually enjoined and that Martin be
ordered to “refund to your orator all the monies he may heretofore have paid upon said note and
for the negroes.”
0745 (Accession # 21483502). Williamson County, Tennessee. Williamson Jordan asks John
Jordan Jr., the executor of the late Johnson Wood, to “come to an account with your orator for
the monies due him” as partner of said Wood. The petitioner represents that he and the
decedent “entered into a partnership ... in the purchase & sale of slaves & other things” in 1832.
Jordan recounts that he and said Wood purchased a parcel of slaves in Tennessee in 1832 and
then sold the same in 1833 in Mississippi, for which the firm received commissions. He charges
that “there is a large sum of money in the hands of said Wood or his executor,” most of which
stems from “the proceeds of said commissions sale of slaves & land” and, he avers, “to one half
of which sum your orator is justly entitled.” Jordan asserts that he has “requested said Wood in
his lifetime & said executor since his death to account with him for the same” and “they have
hitherto wholly refused & failed to do so.” The petitioner therefore prays that the defendant
account for said funds and that “he be decreed to pay to your orator such sums of money as
upon such accounting may be found to be owing to him.”
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0751 (Accession # 21483503). Williamson County, Tennessee. The heirs of the late Benjamin
Brown “are willing that distribution be immediately made of the slaves belonging to said estate
between your petitioners” and the defendants. Representing that “there are now belonging to
said estate eighteen slaves,” they declare that it would be advantageous for all parties “to have
a division of said slaves made immediately among them.” The petitioners pray “your worships to
appoint suitable commissioners to divide and allot to each of your petitioners and of said
defendants his and her share of said slaves according to law and justice.”
0763 (Accession # 21483506). Williamson County, Tennessee. David Cartwright asks that
property be sold to satisfy his judgment against William Ament. Cartwright informs the court that
an “execution issued thereon and was placed in the hands of the sheriff of Davidson County,
and by him returned ‘no property found.’” The petitioner submits that said Ament had previously
“executed a deed of trust to Orville Ewing to secure the payment of a note,” thereby mortgaging
two town lots and ten slaves. Cartwright charges that said Ewing has sold “a portion of the
property,” including the slaves, and that he has used said proceeds to discharge debts other
than his own. The petitioner insists that his debt “is the only one unsatisfied among the afd.
debts, embraced in said deeds of trust.” Of the opinion that “personal property is left in said
Aments possession,” the petitioner prays that “by your Honors decree said trust property
remaining may be sold or so much of it as will pay and satisfy your orators demands.”
0768 (Accession # 21483507). Knox County, Tennessee. John Wright Jr. asks that he be
awarded “an Injunction against the Judgment” recovered by Leonard Coker. Wright relates that
he purchased a twenty-four-year-old male slave named Isham from Coker in 1834 and that
Coker made “to your Orator a Bill of sale for the negro, warranting the said negro Isham to be
sound and healthy.” He declares that he went “to West Tennessee, where the negro was,” and
that he found Isham “had been severely burnt on the hand and foot, and very much injured in
consequence but your Orator at that time discovered no other unsoundness about him.” Wright
reveals that he then sold Isham to other parties, “and on the strength of the Warranty from
Coker, Warranted the negro to be sound and healthy.” He avers that the new owners found “in a
short time that the negro had other defects ... and was worth little or nothing in consequence of
diseases by which he was afflicted,” whereby they sued and obtained a judgment. Citing that
Coker has also obtained a judgment, Wright alleges that “Coker is completely and entirely
insolvent, and if he could extort this Judgment from your Orator, it would soon be squandered,”
availing him no opportunity to make Coker “answer for the fraud practised.” He prays that
Coker’s judgment be stayed and that “the damages sustained by your Orator be .... applied in
discharge of said Coker’s Judgment.”
0777 (Accession # 21483508). Williamson County, Tennessee. William Porter seeks to recover
two slaves “held in trust for your Orator” by the late Richard Napier. Porter explains that in 1828
he and Napier came to an agreement whereby Porter would vest the title of his two slaves in
Napier and Napier would “pay your Orator the yearly hire of said slaves” as well as compensate
Porter for his labor. Noting that he was “getting advanced in years,” Porter relates that he
believed “his property would be Kept more to his own advantage and more secure from being
squandered by his own occasional imbecility and folley.” Porter concludes that the arrangement
was successful during Napier’s lifetime; however, the executors of his estate are “unwilling to
settle with your Orator without the intervention and decree of this Honorable Court.” Porter
therefore prays that the defendants be summoned to answer his charges and “that they account
with your Orator for the hire of said slaves as well as his own Labour, and pay the balance
which may be found to be due and that the said slaves may be delivered to your Orator.”
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0782 (Accession # 21483509). Williamson County, Tennessee. Twenty-year-old Pamela
Johnson Farley seeks an annulment of her marriage and the restoration of her property. She
confides that she married Atkinson Farley in 1827, “she being at that time under twelve years of
age.” Farley further avers that “at the time of her marriage she owned in her own right a
considerable real & personal estate,” which included a slave girl named Sarah. The petitioner,
now a widow, recounts that her husband mortgaged Sarah and her child Tennessee to secure a
debt of $500 owed to Martha Page; he later borrowed an additional $80, for which “he executed
to her a mortgage of the same date.” Farley now charges “that only $400 was actually
borrowed” and “that the $180 or excess above the $400 is usury.” Citing that “Mrs Page has
advertized said Negroes which are worth $800 to be sold under said mortgage,” the petitioner
avows that they “are family negroes and your orator prefers them to their value.” She therefore
prays that Page be enjoined from “selling or disposing of said negroes Sarah & Tennessee
under the mortgages aforesaid or any other manner.” She also asks that if her marriage cannot
“be declared null and void,” then she be allowed to pay “the amount actually due deft to redeem
said negroes.”
0793 (Accession # 21483510). Williamson County, Tennessee. Robert Beard asks that Atkins
McLemore “surrender up” a twenty-four-year-old male slave named Sam and a mortgage, which
Beard executed to McLemore “to secure the payment of twenty six dollars ... and the further
sum of thirty five dollars,” as well as “all such other sums of money as the said defendant should
thereafter lend or become bound for on account of your orator.” Beard believes “that the hire of
said negro will more than pay and satisfy the said McLemore for all liabilities and advances for
and on account of your orator he having had said boy in possession nearly eight years.” Noting
that McLemore is “withholding s’d mortgage & negro & refusing to settle,” the petitioner prays
that the defendant “be decreed to surrender up said boy Sam and the said mortgage to your
orator” and that McLemore “be compelled by a decree of this court to sell said negro” if
accounts prove that he “should be due any thing.”
0806 (Accession # 21483511). Williamson County, Tennessee. Nancy Menefee asks that
several deeds of conveyance be cancelled and that she “have an adequate support and
maintenance decreed her suitable to her condition in life.” Menefee, the elderly widow of James
Menefee, purports that she conveyed a tract of land and four slaves to her son-in-law and
daughter, James and Mary Green, with the understanding that they were to render her suitable
support. However, she declares that “she had repeatedly before the execution of said deed
expressed her intention not to convey away any of her negroes.” The petitioner further admits
that “she put her cross mark” on two other deeds, which gave said James sundry livestock and
household furniture. She charges that the said James “by contrivances ... got the possession of
the most valuable part of your oratrix’s property” and that he now “refuses either to give up said
property or to pay your oratrix any thing for her support.” She therefore prays that the said
deeds of conveyance be cancelled; that she receive quarterly support from the defendant; and
that “an account be taken of all the property of Compl. which deft has taken & converted to his
own use as well as the hire of all the negroes of your oratrix & that your oratrix have a decree
for the value thereof.”
0812 (Accession # 21483512). Williamson County, Tennessee. Twice-widowed Susanna
Thompson seeks an account from Enoch Ensley, the administrator of Jason Thompson. The
petitioner, a former Louisiana citizen, charges that her late husband Jason appropriated several
slaves, sundry notes, and ten bales of cotton “to his use” during his lifetime “without her
authority or consent.” She argues that Jason and his son sold slaves, who were given to her by
her father or who were part of her inheritance, and that “she never received any portion of the
price” for which they were sold. She further contends that Jason went to Louisiana and received
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$6,676 in notes and ten bales of cotton, “constituting her share of her mothers estate,” and that
he or his son either sold or “collected the same ... and appropriated to his own use.” Thompson
maintains that all of the above-mentioned property was her sole and separate property, “what is
considered by the laws of Louisiana paraphernal property,” and that Louisiana law entitles her
“upon the dissolution of her marriage with the said Jason Thompson by death to a restoration of
all of said negroes that may be alive, or ... to their value” and “to payment of the price for which
ten bales of cotton sold” and “to the amount of said notes received.” She therefore prays that
her charges be answered and that the defendants “be compelled to pay and account to your
oratrix.”
0829 (Accession # 21483513). Giles County, Tennessee. Abram Appleton requests that Robert
Newton, administrator of the late James Appleton, account to him “for his share of said estate.”
Appleton represents that his father died in 1832, “possessed at his death of a large amount of
personal estate, & greatly more than sufficient to pay his debts.” As the son of the intestate, the
petitioner purports to be “entitled as such to one tenth part” of the estate. Asserting that said
Newton “has collected or ought to have collected all the debts due said estate,” Abram charges
that Newton “has been trading & speculating with the funds & proceeds of said estate, &
converting the same & has made large profits thereon & now has a large balance in his hands,
for which he fails & refuses to come to any account.” The petitioner therefore prays that Newton
be summoned to answer his allegations and that he be “decreed to come to a true & perfect
account with your Orator, of his share of said estate.” The late James Appleton’s estate
consisted of “negroes, money, stock of all sorts, debts due & owing ... & various other choses in
action & various other sorts of personal property.”
0836 (Accession # 21483514). Giles County, Tennessee. John Hamric seeks to recover a
“negroe woman and her increase” from the possession of his late wife’s next of kin. Hamric
asserts that Martin Laird, acting as the agent of Sarah Tuttle Laird, “purchased with a part of the
funds of said Sarah a negroe woman named Saluda.” He further reports that said agent
“delivered the said negroe woman into the possession of the said Sarah” and that she “enjoyed
the possession and use of said negroe woman” until her death in 1833. The petitioner now
argues “that after the death of said Sarah the said Defendant took possession of said negroe
woman and her said increase and still holds the same; setting up a claim thereto.” Hamric
therefore prays that said defendants answer his charges and that “your Honor Decree to your
Orator the said negroe and all her increase since the said purchase by the said Martin Laird.”
He also asks that he receive “a reasonable price for the service of said negroe woman during
the time she has been in possession of Defendants.”
0857 (Accession # 21483516). Rutherford County, Tennessee. The sons of Robert Mclin seek
to redeem or repurchase two slave girls, whom Robert had mortgaged in 1833. The petitioners
avow that their father owned “two likely negro Girls, slaves for life, named Clarissa & Minerva,
the first at that time, aged about thirteen Years & the other about Eleven Years.” They further
reveal that he mortgaged said slaves to James Bone by executing “a bill of sale, absolute on its
face, for said negroes,” which “was understood & intended by both parties to be a mortgage.”
Noting that “it was a favorite Object with their father & his family not to part with said negroes by
an absolute transfer or sale,” the Mclins claim that they have offered Bone various amounts of
money “for the purpose of redeeming or repurchasing said negroes.” They insist “that their
object in filing this bill is not to get the value of said negroes after paying the ballance due for
their redemption or repurchase but to get the negroes themselves.” The Mclins therefore pray
that they “may be at liberty to redeem or to repurchase said negroes” upon the repayment of
amounts due the defendant and that he “be compelled to reconvey & give up said negroes to
Your Orators.”
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0875 (Accession # 21483517). Maury County, Tennessee. Solomon Davis, the widower of Lucy
Richardson Davis, seeks a share of the $1,820 garnered from the sale of seven slaves, who
belonged to the estate of his father-in-law, the late Thomas Richardson. Davis declares that the
said Richardson “died possessed of a large personal estate,” in which his widow “was to enjoy a
life estate.” The petitioner reveals that the said widow did, “at the solicitation of some of her
children, surrender & release her interest in certain of the Negroes then in her possession to be
divided among the children.” Davis relates that he “was willing & ready, to assent to the sale of
said Negroes, for the purpose of a division among all the Legatees of the said Thomas
Richardson ... yet the said Defendants refused to give to your orator any of the proceeds of said
Sale, alledging that by the death of his said Wife he was not entitled to any portion of her
father’s Estate.” Considering “himself injured in the premises,” the petitioner prays that he be
decreed a “1/9 part of said Sale, being the amount due your orator on behalf of his said Wife.”
0891 (Accession # 21483518). Williamson County, Tennessee. Elizabeth Pearce seeks a
division of the slaves that remain in the estate of her late father, Michael Gleaves. She reports
that her father died in 1811, possessed of three slaves named Bob, Phillis, and Luce. The
petitioner “verily believes that said Michael Gleaves died intestate as to a final disposition of
said negroes Bob, Luce & Phillis, and that upon the death of Rachel Gleaves, the mother of
your Oratrix they have to be divided and distributed among the children.” Asserting that her
father “had made little or no advancement to her of any value,” Pearce contends “that the large
provision he made for most of the other children ... will give to her a large portion of said slaves.”
She argues, however, that the executors of said estate “intends to make sale of said slaves and
talks of dividing the proceeds among the children & the representatives of the children.” The
petitioner, in strong opposition to said sale, believes that her rights are in jeopardy and that it is
not safe for the slaves “to remain in the hands of an insolvent executor.” She therefore prays
that the executors be enjoined from selling any of said slaves and that “your Oratrixes just
portion of said slaves be decreed to her by your Honor & a fair & legal division of said slaves be
made.”
0917 (Accession # 21483519). Giles County, Tennessee. The children of the late James Jones
ask that their mother, Martha Jones Mitchell, and her husband Isaac be restrained from
removing twenty-three slaves, who are currently in their possession. They report that their father
bequeathed five slaves to his widow Martha “to have the use and benefit of said negroes for and
during the time of her natural life after which they with their increase are to be divided equally
among your orators and oratrixes.” They inform the court that the three female slaves so
bequeathed have had a total of eighteen children and that the twenty-three slaves “are worth
$7000 or more.” The heirs charge that Isaac Mitchell “has spent the greater part of his own
property” since marrying their mother. They also believe that he “is about to remove himself and
a part of said negroes from the county of Giles to some place in the Western District of this
state.” They therefore pray that said slaves be taken into the custody of the sheriff to have them
“forthcomeing to abide such order or decree as may be made” and that Isaac Mitchell “be
forever enjoined from removeing said negroes or any of them from the county of Giles.” The
petitioners fear that it will “become dificult if not impossible for your complainants to identify and
obtain possession of” the slaves if they are removed.
0932 (Accession # 21483520). Davidson County, Tennessee. Winnefrid Richmond seeks a
divorce from her husband, Braddock Richmond, on the grounds that said Braddock has “been
living for the last two years in open Adultery with one of his, or rather, your Petitioners female
slaves named Polly.” She informs the court that she married Braddock in 1821 after the death of
her previous husband, Thomas Garrett. The petitioner asserts that she and Richmond “have in
their possession seven slaves ... all of those slaves were derived from her father” and that they
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have resided on a tract of land, which “was assigned to your Petitioner for her Dower.” Confiding
that “within the last few years she has almost been entirely deserted by her said Husband,”
Winnefrid charges that “he has in fact, literally made the House occupied by said Polly his
house; he has eat there and slept there, and has in numerous instances violated the
matrimonial vow, not only with said Slave polly but in all probability, with other females,
unknown to your petitioner.” She therefore prays that she be granted a divorce; that her
husband “be enjoined from taking possession of, or intermeddling with said Slaves”; and that an
equitable part of said land and slaves “be vested in her during life with remainder to her
Children.” The answer disputes certain slave data.
Reel 12
Tennessee cont.
1836
0002 (Accession # 21483601). Bedford County, Tennessee. Henry Conway asks that Robert
Cannon honor an agreement made between them as to the ownership of an enslaved family.
He maintains that he “claimed and held in his own right” thirty-five-year-old Patience, eight-yearold
Mary, and five-year-old Abram in the spring of 1832, at which time “said negroes were sold
to satisfy several executions in favour of different creditors.” He avows that he wished “to
preserve said family and have a chance to redeem them at a future day,” so he “requested the
then Sherriff to have them all knocked off together.” He avers that he induced said Cannon “to
purchase these negroes for your Orator and give him your Orator a chance to redeem them.”
He reports that Cannon obliged and purchased the slave family for $381, a price far below their
value of $950. Conway charges that he “tendered to the said Robert the money he had paid for
said negroes” on 12 February 1836 “and in reply to it the said Robert said that he would not take
it as he was under no obligation to do so.” Citing that “between the years 1832 & 1836 negroes
had taken a remarkable rise in their value,” Conway believes that Cannon has abandoned “the
terms of his contract.” He prays the court to “decree that said Robert shall specifically perform
by said agreement.”
0019 (Accession # 21483602). Williamson County, Tennessee. Thomas and Elizabeth Neely
submit that Elizabeth has never received dower in the land or slaves owned by her deceased
husband, James Neely. They state that “sometime in the year 1832 James Neely departed this
life intestate,” possessed of 260 acres of land and eight slaves and leaving Elizabeth his widow
and two minor children as his surviving heirs. The petitioners point out that the slaves “belong to
your petitioners and said George & Greene equally” and that they are currently “in the hands of
said administrator,” who “has funds of said estate besides said slaves sufficient to pay all the
debts” incurred by its administration. The petitioners therefore pray “that said dower be allotted
to your petitioner Elizabeth & that said slaves be divided.” Account ledgers for the estate of
James Neely reveal that the slaves in the estate hired out in 1835 for $341.
0028 (Accession # 21483603). Williamson County, Tennessee. The grandchildren of the late
Samuel Dukes seek to preserve their rights to an enslaved family that was bequeathed to their
mother Elizabeth and that was “devised in the possession of the testators Widow the defendant
Winny Dukes during her natural life.” The petitioners represent that their mother died ten years
ago, “whereby the right of their said mother to the negro Gils & her increase legally vested in
complainants.” They further charge that the female slave and her two children “were secretly
removed” from Winny’s possession, “with or without the consent of the defendant Winny they
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know not.” Having “luckily discovered” the slaves in the possession of defendants Vance and
Page, the petitioners contend that the widow “forfeited her life estate & said negros are now the
absolute property of complainants” if she “suffered said negro to be removed.” The Dukes
grandchildren therefore pray “your honor to protect against the present & all future frauds upon
them until by the death of the defendant Winny their right to Gils & her increase becomes
absolute.” They therefore request that the sheriff “take into his care & custody ... sd. negros ... &
there safely keep to abide your honors decree.”
0035 (Accession # 21483604). Williamson County, Tennessee. Enoch Ensley, the administrator
of the late Jason Thompson, asks that John McNairy Thompson be restrained “from removing ...
slaves Out of the Jurisdiction of this Court.” Ensley represents that his testator died possessed
of six slaves and that the defendant is “pretending some claim” to them. He informs the court
that he hired four of the slaves to said Thompson. He charges “that sd. defendant instead of
returning said slaves at the end of the year has Kept them and ... intends to retain them and
refuses to give them up upon pretence ... that he is entitled to them as his distributive share of
said Jasons estate,” whereby he “commenced an action of Detinue ... against the said John Mc
Thompson.” The petitioner admits that “he has strong fears that the said John M Thompson will
not have said negroes forthcoming.” He therefore prays that the defendant either “deliver up
said negroes to Your Orator or to the sheriff ... or to give his bond with good and sufficient
securities that he will have said negroes forthcoming to abide the event of said actions of
detinue.”
0042 (Accession # 21483605). Sumner County, Tennessee. Samuel McGee, Jane McGee
Phelps, and William L. Phelps fear that their remainder interest in six slaves belonging to the life
estate of their father, Hugh McGee, is at risk. They state that in 1828 Hugh “made a deed of gift
to your Orator Samuel & your Oratrix Jane of certain negroes (with their increase) reserving a
life estate to himself in the same.” They believe that Hugh “having married again since the date
of said instrument” is at present “endeavouring ... to defeat this conveyance so made.” They
recount that on two occasions Hugh has attempted to sell one of the slaves mentioned in the
deed, and “they are fearful that he will succeed at last on selling said negroes & removing them
beyond the jurisdiction of this honourable court & their interests in remainder jeopardized.”
Charging it to be “the settled determination of said Hugh to defeat if possible the conveyance
thus made to your Orator & Oratrix,” they pray the court to direct the sheriff “to take said
negroes into his possession, & hire them out” until the next court session unless the said Hugh
can give “security for the safe keeping & the forthcoming of said negroes at the termination of
the life estate.”
0048 (Accession # 21483606). Williamson County, Tennessee. Judith Word seeks a divorce
from Thomas H. Word, her husband of thirty-three years. She claims “in the progress of time the
said Thomas became addicted to habits of intemperance ... and grew familiar with intoxication
and other accompanying vices [and] his treatment to your Petitioner became harsh unfeeling
and abusive.” Word points out that, “as a consequence of those bad habits,” her husband
“destroyed and spent his property and thereby brought poverty & misery upon your petitioner
and her children.” By 1833, she claims that he was “continually intoxicated” and on occasion
“drove her from home in the dark hours of the night as well as by day.” That same year, she
asserts, he “threatened to take her life and then put an end to his own” and ultimately “deserted
and absented himself from your petitioner and removed to parts unknown.” Judith Word, “for the
above causes,” prays the court “to grant your petitioner a divorce from the bonds of matrimony
from the said Thomas H. Word.” A related petition reveals that Thomas H. Word deeded two
slaves to his two daughters, Louisa and America.
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0056 (Accession # 21483607). Knox County, Tennessee. George Peery urges the court to
cancel a bill of sale for a slave family of nine that he executed to two “Negro-traders” while
under the influence of “spiritous liquor.” He states that Calloway Hodge and Bright Hodge paid
him a visit “for the purpose of purchasing his stud-horse,” and he proceeded “to repeat drams
with them, until he became intoxicated as not to recollect distinctly any thing that subsequently
occurred.” When the Hodges first “proposed buying a family of negroes,” Peery argues that he
declined “first because he was opposed to selling to Negro-traders and secondly, because he
would not part from them against their inclination.” Finally, due to intoxication, the positive
assurances from Hodges that the slaves would not be resold, and the fact that one of the slaves
“on whom he reposed great confidence” said that the slaves themselves wanted to be sold,
Peery executed a bill of sale for the family. He now claims that his drunken state barred him
from knowing “what he was doing.” He charges that Hodges bribed the slave to make false
testimony about wishing to be sold. He asks that the Hodges be summoned to answer his
charges and that “the said Bill of sale may be cancelled and the said Hodges be enjoined” from
taking possession of the slaves.
0061 (Accession # 21483608). Williamson County, Tennessee. Nancy Anderson Hughes seeks
a divorce and alimony from her husband, Samuel Hughes, who has “struck her with a cow hide
whip and also repeatedly with his fist.” Hughes charges that “said Samuel also frequently cursed
and abused her in the grossest language and falsely charged her with want of chastity before
marriage.” She further confides that her husband “has repeatedly told her since their marriage
that he has had sexual intercourse with the women both slaves and others of ill fame.” Hughes
believes that Samuel’s “cruel & inhuman treatment ... towards her renders it unsafe & improper
for her to cohabit with him.” The petitioner confesses that she is fearful that her husband will
remove or waste his personal property, thereby depriving “her of her just claim for a support &
maintainance of her self & children unless prevented by the timely interposition of your Honor.”
Hughes therefore prays that said Samuel “be enjoined from selling or in any way disposing of”
his land and slaves, that “the bonds of matrimony between said Samuel and your oratrix may be
disolved or that they be seperated from Bed and board forever and that said Samuel may be
decreed to make suitable support & maintaince for your Oratrix and her said Children.”
0075 (Accession # 21483609). Williamson County, Tennessee. John Page and his wife
Margarett accuse Martha Wilson, Margarett’s court-appointed guardian, of withholding “large
sums of money” as well as the annual hires from slaves and annual rents from land that belong
to her ward. The Pages point out that Margarett’s father, Samuel Wilson, died in 1821 or 1822,
resulting in Martha Wilson’s appointment as guardian. They state that “shortly thereafter” Martha
“took into her possession the lands of your oratrix ... and the slaves of your oratrix,” and the said
Margarett has received neither the rents nor the hires due her from said property. The
petitioners also believe that Martha “never collected or rendered into her possession” large
sums of money in the hands of the estate administrators and, because Martha “is not
prosecuting a suit against” them, “said sums of money are probably lost to your Oratrix on
account of the great neglect of said deft as guardian.” The Pages ask that Martha Wilson be
summoned to answer their charges, that she make an account of the estate, and that “she be
decreed to pay to them what shall be found coming to them in such accounting.” An incomplete
petition, attached to this petition, identifies Martha Wilson as the widow of Samuel Wilson and
therefore the mother of Margarett Page.
0080 (Accession # 21483610). Williamson County, Tennessee. George Graham, son of the late
John Graham, seeks his share of an enslaved family, which was purchased by his father in
1835. Graham represents that he and his father “were partners in trade” and that “the said John
Graham purchased with the partnership funds ... five negroes” and that his father
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“acknowledged after said purchase that s’d Slaves belonged to said firm.” The petitioner reports,
however, that his father “took the Bill of Sale for said slaves ... to himself alone and not to said
firm and thereby vested the legal title to said slaves in him.” He further argues that the
administrator of his father’s estate “has taken possession of the personal property of said
intestates estate,” which includes Chany and her four children, and “refuses to deliver the same
or any part thereof to your Orator.” Maintaining that the “said slaves when purchased equally
belonged to your Orator and the said John,” the petitioner prays that said administrator be
summoned and that the court may “decree to your Orator one half of said slaves in value & their
hire and that they be set apart to him or that your orator be decreed one half of the value of said
slaves & of their hire.”
0087 (Accession # 21483611). Williamson County, Tennessee. The heirs of the late Christopher
Brooks request that the slaves belonging to his estate be sold. Citing the large number of
“claimants,” the petitioners insist “that to do justice among the claimants ... said negros should
be sold and the proceeds of sale divided equally between your Petitioners.”
0096 (Accession # 21483612). Rutherford County, Tennessee. Robert L. Weakly asks that
slaves belonging to the estate of the late James Linum be sold to satisfy a debt owed to him by
the decedent’s son James. Weakly submits that he recovered “an attachment against said
James” for $465.92, which was levied “on the interest of said James on six negro slaves for life,”
but that “he was restrained by process of ne exeat from selling said slaves until the termination
of said suit at Law.” The petitioner contends that “no person has administered on said estate”
and that James has a larger stake in said property “than his share as one of the children of said
Linum deceased.” He charges that the widow Ellinor “claims all the interest of said James in
said slaves by Virtue of a pretended conveyance from said James” and that “said deed was
made by the said James & Ellinor fraudulently & with the intent to delay, hinder & defraud the
creditors of said James.” Fearful that Linum and his mother will “manage & contrive to remove &
smuggle said property beyond the jurisdiction & process of this court,” the petitioner prays that
“all the interest claim or title of said James may be sold to satisfy your Orators debt.”
0104 (Accession # 21483613). Williamson County, Tennessee. Allen McCord, the administrator
of the estate of the late Harvey B. McCord, reports that he “is anxious to close the business at
as early a day as possible.” He states that four slaves belong to the estate and that he is
reluctant to hire them out “as they will hire for little or nothing.” He submits that “a division of the
value of said slaves among the distributees cannot be made without a sale of the slaves there
being ... twelve, or fourteen distributees ... and only 4 slaves.” McCord states “it is [in] the
interest of said distributees” to sell the slaves, and he is of the opinion that “they will bring a fair
price if sold.” He asks “that he be ordered and directed to sell said slaves.”
0110 (Accession # 21483614). Giles County, Tennessee. Thirty-eight-year-old Lavina
represents that she and her eleven-year-old son Jackson are entitled to their freedom “by the
provisions of” John Duffield’s will. Lavina informs the court that “on the 6th day of March 1807 &
thence up to the 25th day of June 1812 She your Oratrix was a Slave & the property of one
John Duffield.” She explains that said Duffield “made his last Will & Testement in writing,” in
which he stipulated that all his property was to “be at [my] loving wife Elizabeth Duffield’s
disposel & command during her lifetime.” Lavina further avers that Duffield directed that “all the
negroes of mine to be emancipated” after his wife’s death. Citing that Elizabeth Duffield died
“some time in the year 1832,” the petitioners charge that the “Executors of said Will have
hitherto failed & refused to emancipate them or take any steps or use any means for that
purpose ... & that they are now held in Servitude & Slavery by John Goff.” Lavina and Jackson
pray that the defendants be summoned to answer their charges and that “your Honor grant to
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your Orator & oratrix their freedom & decree to them all such other & further relief as in law
Equity & Justice they may be entitled.”
0138 (Accession # 21483615). Giles County, Tennessee. William T. Ross, the administrator of
the late William D. Thompson, seeks to prevent the removal of some thirty slaves, who once
belonged to the late Samuel Faine. He avers that said Faine died seized “of a large personal
estate,” which came into the possession of Susan Faine, the widow, and the two minor Faine
children. He further reports that his intestate married Susan Faine in 1834 and lived with her
until his death in 1835. Ross charges that said Thompson “till his death held said negroes in his
own right as tenant in common with said two children, undivided, ... and being the absolute
owner of his wife’s share in said negroes and holding the same ... in his own right.” He further
argues that the defendants “refuse to let your Orator have the share of said William D
Thompson ... which is one third & to which he is entitled as such administrator.” He asserts that
Susan agreed to have commissioners appointed “to divide said negroes amongst her, & her two
children” and that they intend to remove to Louisiana, taking the slave property with them on a
specially built boat. Fearful “that he will lose said negroes” and their $14,000 value, Ross prays
that “said slaves may be attached by the sheriff, and kept in his custody” and that the court may
“decree to your orator such share & portion of said negroes, as he as such administrator is
entitled to.”
0156 (Accession # 21483616). Smith County, Tennessee. Hopkins Richardson seeks to protect
his interest in five slaves that belong to the life estate of Hannah Dobbins. He states that
Hannah is the widow of James Dobbins, who died in late 1830 or early 1831, and that James
“gave to his wife (amongst other property) sundry negroes ... to hold during her natural life or
widowhood”; at her death or marriage, certain individuals were to receive title to the said slaves.
Richardson reports that he has purchased the interests to the slaves from some of these said
individuals “for which he paid a full and fair consideration.” He asserts that “Hannah is advanced
in years and that she manages the estate in her possession so badly that ... she is largely
indebted,” and he fears that the slaves may have to be sold to satisfy her creditors. In addition,
he claims that “divers evil disposed persons ... are endeavoring to purchase the interest of said
Hannah for life so as to get possession of said negroes.” Richardson asks that Hannah be
required to “give good and sufficient bond & security to have said negroes forthcoming at such
time as your honor may direct” or that the sheriff “immediately seize said negroes and so
dispose of them as to have them before your honor at the next term of this court.” In 1837
Richardson reiterates his request that his remainder interest be protected and prays “that an
injunction in the nature of a writ of ne exeat issue.”
0164 (Accession # 21483619). Sumner County, Tennessee. The children of the late Thomas
White seek to protect their interest in a female slave named Franky and Franky’s two daughters.
The petitioners purport that their father devised said Franky to his daughter, Ally Sears, “for her
natural life” and that “the Remainder in sd slave belongs to your Orator Kenelm.” They further
cite that he willed one-half of Franky’s “increase” to his daughter, Mary White Brinkly. The
petitioners charge that their brother-in-law, Anderson Sears, “has made repeated threats that he
will sell & run off sd slaves ... & your Orators & Oratrix are apprehensive he will carry sd threats
into execution.” Noting the enslaved family to be worth $800, the petitioners pray that Anderson
Sears be compelled “to give security that sd slaves shall not be sold nor convey beyond the
Jurisdiction of the Court.”
1837
0176 (Accession # 21483701). Washington County, Tennessee. Benjamin Crump asks that
Abraham B. Lipton settle his guardianship accounts and hand over six slaves, who have been in
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his possession since 1835. Crump, who is both illiterate and intemperate, states that he moved
from North Carolina to Tennessee when he was eighteen and “was of wild and reckless
dispositions.” He also avers that, “owing in part to his natural imbecility,” he is “an easy prey to
those who were disposed to take advantage of his unfortunate and friendless condition.” He
admits that said habits caused him to choose Lipton as his guardian in Tennessee “for the
purpose of protecting his interests and property.” Crump charges that said Lipton retrieved nine
slaves and “a large sum of money” from his former guardian in North Carolina. However, he
argues that said Lipton sold three of the slaves “without the pretence either of necessity or
authority ... to a negro trader.” The petitioner declares that said Lipton has “utterly refused to
make settlement or to give up the money & property in his hands unless he were allowed the
amount of divers pretended bonds ... which he pretends to hold on your Orator.” He therefore
prays that Lipton “may account with and pay to your Orator all such sums of money as are
rightfully due to your Orator, including the prices of negroes & other property sold & also the hire
of negroes.”
0193 (Accession # 21483702). Williamson County, Tennessee. Louisianna Reid seeks a
divorce from Thomas McDaniel Reid and asks “the court to preserve her property for the use of
herself and her children.” She states that her first husband, James M. Banks, died in 1835,
leaving her a sizeable estate, which included 512 acres of land and “one undivided seventh part
of forty one slaves of various sizes and description of great value.” She charges that her current
husband, a convicted forger, “formed the wicked design of cheating and defrauding her out of”
her bequest by falsely representing himself to be “a man of great wealth,” taking the identity of
his cousin, and thereby “induced her to agree to marry him.” She avers, however, that she
insisted he “enter into a marriage agreement” and that he “at length wrote and executed a
marriage contract between him and your Oratrix.” Reid reveals that she gave the contract to her
husband “to have proven & registered,” but he “suppressed the same with the intention of
wickedly destroying it.” Citing that Reid’s “principle object in marrying her was, to procure her
fortune to spend,” Reid prays that she be granted a divorce and that David Campbell, as
administrator of Banks’s estate, “be perpetually enjoined from paying over to said Thomas any
part of her said property.”
0218 (Accession # 21483703). Williamson County, Tennessee. Sixteen-year-old Jane E. Owen
seeks a divorce from her sixty-two-year-old husband, Sterling Owen. The petitioner laments that
said Sterling has “rendered her condition intolerable.” She reveals that he “became and was
without cause strongly affected with jealousy towards your oratrix” and that he “falsely charged
your oratrix with the crime of adultery with two of his own negro fellows.” Jane confides that on
the night of 3 June 1837 her husband fired a pistol into her right shoulder and that “her clothes
were set on fire by the pistol, that she was badly burned by its fire, and that the ball of said pistol
has lodged in her shoulder her Physicians not having been able to extract it.” The petitioner
reports that her husband is the owner of two tracts of land, fifteen valuable slaves, and sundry
other personal property. Fearful that said Sterling “will sell and dispose of his property for the
purpose of defrauding her of her alimony,” the petitioner prays that an injunction be issued to
“restrain said defendant from selling or disposing of any of his real or personal property until out
of the same a suitable maintenance be allowed and secured to your oratrix.” She also requests
that the court “decree to your oratrix a divorce or separation from bed and board from said
defendant forever.”
0244 (Accession # 21483704). Sumner County, Tennessee. Jessee Gambling asks the court to
stop the sale of “an infant slave the property of your Orator.” Gambling informs the court that he
sold twenty-two-year-old Hannah, the mother of five-month-old Marcus, to one John Read for
$1,200 and that Read “in part payment for said woman Hnah let your Orator have a negro
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woman of the name of Dilcy & her child Henry at the price of $800.” He reports that said Hannah
“made a great deal of complaint about being seperated from her child” so Read offered to buy
the baby for $150. Gambling insists that he agreed because it “was distinctly understood
between the said John and your orator, not to be an absolute sale of the child but a conditional
one merely—if the sd John paid your orator $150 at Christmas the child was to be the property
of the said John if he did not the child was still to Remain the property of your Orator.” Revealing
that “not one dollar” of the $150 has been paid, the petitioner avers that Read has executed a
deed of trust, in which he included “the negro child of the sd Hannah ... to secure a debt” and
that said deed of trust “authorizes a sale” of said child. Gambling therefore prays that the
defendants “be enjoined from selling sd. infant child ... that said child be delivered up to your
orator and Retained by him untill said $150 shall be paid.” He also asks that the child be
prevented from being removed.
0257 (Accession # 21483705). Warren County, Tennessee. Samuel Richardson asks that the
agreement made between him and the late Thomas Hopkins be honored by James Thompson,
the administrator of Hopkins’s estate. The petitioner represents that he wished “to rid himself of
the perplexity incident to the government & controll of” his slaves and that he felt a strong
“inclination to emancipate his slaves” but “his duty to provide for his family” precluded him from
doing so. He avers that he agreed to convey seven slaves to Thomas Hopkins, “a man of
excellent character, of a gentle disposition, humane & Kind to his slaves,” on the condition that
Hopkins would “keep them for his life not sell them ... that he should during his life if he saw
proper emancipate said slaves but that if he should fail to emancipate said slaves in his life time,
then they were at his death to be returned to your orator.” Richardson notes that Hopkins died
“without having emancipated any of said slaves” and that there are now more than twenty
slaves in Thompson’s “possession & control.” Citing that the defendant “is unwilling to surrender
to your orator the possession of said slaves without the decree of this Hon Court,” the petitioner
prays that said contract “may be specifically executed.”
0287 (Accession # 21483706). Giles County, Tennessee. Patrick Braden asks that the
administrators of the late Benton R. White “render a just, true & full account and history of the
affairs” of a partnership formed by him and the decedent. Braden relates that he and said White
“entered into partnership” in 1824, whereby said copartners agreed “equally and alike to bestow
and give his personalty, services, labour, skill and attention to the management of the concerns
of the said trade.” The petitioner notes that said agreement was “not in writing or under seal but
was by word of mouth” and that the firm fared well until December 1826. He further argues that
White was in charge of the accounts and “took possession of the Books.” Citing that White died
in 1835, Braden charges that the partnership profits were “large & valuable after paying all
demands & charges against the firm, for all which the said White has failed to render any
account to your Orator or to pay him his share of the same” and that said White “converted your
Orators share of said gain & capital to his own use.” The petitioner therefore prays that the
defendants settle the firm’s affairs and that he be decreed “his share of the profits” arising from
the “cotton, negroes, or other property sold or disposed of by said White, which was the
property of the firm.”
0296 (Accession # 21483707). Williamson County, Tennessee. John McLemore seeks
satisfaction of his debt through the sale of mortgaged slaves. He submits that William Arnold
and his wife, Martha E. Robertson Arnold, executed a deed of mortgage in 1831 to secure a
debt of $5,588.31. He cites that Arnold admitted that “these negroes had belonged to his wife
before their marriage and he was particularly anxious if possible to get clear of his
embarrassments and support his family in the mean time without disposing of the Negroes”; he
states, however, that Arnold died in 1833, with “the whole of the principal and the balance of the
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interest ... due and unpaid.” Charging that the mortgage “fully authorized” him “to take
possession of said negroes for the purpose of selling so many of them as should be found
necessary to pay and satisfy his said demand,” the petitioner avers that he has “frequently in a
friendly manner applied” to the defendants “for payment and satisfaction of said mortgage debt
due,” but they have “refused to pay your orator any part of said debt.” Noting that said slaves
have “largely increased in number by birth,” McLemore prays that the court decree “that said
negroes be sold and the proceeds thereof applied to the payment of” his debt.
0312 (Accession # 21483709). Dickson County, Tennessee. Fanny Gray, a free woman of
color, asks that she and her children “be placed in the hands of a receiver” so as to prevent the
defendants from “selling them in slavery.” Fanny recounts that her late husband Simon
purchased her for $400 in 1825 and that he successfully “presented a petition to the County
Court ... praying the emancipation of your Complainants” in 1836. Representing that Simon died
soon thereafter, Fanny charges that several of the defendants “took your complainants and with
force and arms carried them on board of a steam boat and carried them to ... Kentucky with a
view of selling them in slavery.” She reveals that their efforts failed in Kentucky, but she cites
that the defendants were successful in procuring executions on Simon’s estate, which resulted
in her daughter Cassandra being levied upon and sold for $325. Of the belief that “they are in
eminent danger of being carried out of the said state ... and sold in slavery,” the petitioners “pray
that they be immediately in the hands of the sheriff.” They further request that they be hired out
to defray their court costs, that the defendants be enjoined from recovering them or any debts
due the estate, and that the sale of Cassandra “be declared null and void.”
0337 (Accession # 21483710). Davidson County, Tennessee. Nathaniel Norment seeks to
recover a male slave, whom he loaned to his son-in-law, John Elgin, in 1827. Norment declares
that he loaned said Elgin “a negro boy of the name of Robin then about 17 years of age” and
that “it was distinctly ... understood that your Orator would not give any negro to Mr. Elgin.” The
petitioner submits that said Robin “was seised by the Sheriff of Rutherford under some
pretended execution against the said Elgin & sold to the highest bidder.” He avows that Robin
“was a faithful family servant of a most excellent family of negroes” and that “he had raised him
& was attached to him & was not willing to part with him even at greatly more than his value.”
Norment represents that Robin was in General Samuel Smith’s possession from 1828 until
Smith’s death in 1835, and he notes that Smith’s executor “has had him in possession ever
since receiving his hire or services.” He therefore prays that said executor be compelled to
answer his charges, that Robin be returned “without delay into the State,” and that “your Honor
to decree the said boy to be delivered up to your Orator & direct an account of his annual hire.”
0347 (Accession # 21483711). Smith County, Tennessee. William Person asks that the
defendants be restrained “from proceeding farther on” a judgment of $556 recovered in the April
1837 term. He asserts that, in 1830, he paid $400 for a male slave named Isham, who had been
levied on for the satisfaction of the debts of Lee Sulivan Sr. He states that he has now learned
that said Sulivan conveyed Isham by deed of gift to his seventeen-year-old son Joshua in 1816.
Citing that Joshua had died by 1818, the petitioner reveals that “said Lee Sulivan never parted
with the possession of the said negro boy Isham before the death of his son ... and after his
death he retained possession of him claiming the negro as his own property until he was sold to
your orator.” Person cites that John Hadly, the administrator of Joshua Sulivan’s estate, filed
suit in 1836 to recover the value of Isham and that Hadly obtained a judgment in 1837 for $556,
“being the amount of the purchase money given for said negro Isham with the accruing interest
thereon.” He therefore prays that Hadly and Sulivan be enjoined “from proceeding farther on
said Judgment or from collecting any part of the same.”
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0355 (Accession # 21483714). Smith County, Tennessee. Swan Thompson seeks a perpetual
injunction against Lee Sullivan Sr. and John L. Hadley, the administrator of the estate of the late
Joshua H. Sullivan. He informs the court that he purchased a nineteen-year-old enslaved
female named Hetty and her ten-month-old son Jeremiah from the said Sullivan in 1830, “at the
price of $375 which has been paid, & took a bill of sale with warranty, from said Lee.” Thompson
insists that he considered said slaves “to be the property of said Lee,” but he recounts that he
later learned that Sullivan had conveyed certain slave property that included Hetty to his son
Joshua “by deed of gift” in 1816. Asserting that said Hadley has “recovered judgment against
your orator for the said Sum of $375 & interest,” the petitioner believes that an “execution will
shortly be issued & the said judgt collected from your orator unless the same be enjoined by
your honor.” Thompson therefore prays that the execution for said judgment be “perpetually
enjoined” and that the defendants be compelled to pay his court costs “as well as the amount he
has been necessarily compelled to pay his attorney in said suit at law.”
0361 (Accession # 21483715). Washington County, Tennessee. Walter Waterford, by his next
friend, Lewis Garner, sues his deceased brother’s estate for his freedom. Waterford states that
some time before 1826, his free brother, Adam Waterford, “prompted by love and natural
affection,” bought him from William P. Thompson. Adam agreed with Walter and their father,
David Waterford, also free, that as soon as Walter repaid the purchase money of $450, Adam
“was to emancipate your Orator.” Adam, however, “in some way became responsible” to Isaac
Baker in Washington County, Virginia, and placed Walter in Baker’s possession, where he
remained many years. A few years ago, Adam moved Walter to Tennessee and placed him with
George Rutledge. Walter states that his services are worth “ten to twelve Dollars per month”
and that his labor over the years is worth “between one and two thousand Dollars.” He argues
that he long ago “paid and greatly overpaid” Adam and “ought long ago to have been
emancipated.” Walter asks the court to enjoin any attempts to move him before the case is
heard and to compel Adam’s administrator to emancipate him. In his answer, David Waterford
confides that his father Adam “had the kindest feelings for Compt. and felt a deep interest in his
freedom, and in every thing that concerned his interests, and in endeavouring to secure his
liberty, and save him from the hands of those who would have doomed him to endless
servitude, suffered great trouble, loss of time, and incurred heavy expense in counsels fees,
travelling expenses and otherwise.”
0436 (Accession # 21483716). Rutherford County, Tennessee. The executors of the last will
and testament of the late James Elliott seek permission to sell three estate slaves. They inform
the court that “amongst the other negroes which came” to their hands “to be hired out” were an
“old man” named Edmund, his wife, Katy, and their three- or four-year-old child. Edmund, who is
“infirm & diseased and has been in that situation for some considerable time,” was “particularly
a favorite with the testator and they believe that [Elliott] in his life time would be very averse to
having him hired out in the ordinary way that the slaves of deceased persons are disposed of.”
They point out that Edmund “cannot be hired for any thing and his constitution would not endure
the hardships imposed upon said slaves.” They therefore maintain that it would be “far better for
the interest of the heirs that said slaves be sold.” They ask permission to hold a private sale “at
their discretion” because they are unwilling to risk separating the husband “from his wife and
child from its parents.” They purport that such a division “would be extremely against the
inclinations of all who are interested and against the wishes of testator whose kindness for said
Edmund was such as to induce him to offer him his freedom which was refused in the lifetime of
testator.”
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1838
0446 (Accession # 21483802). Washington County, Tennessee. William Slaughter, a man “far
advanced in years,” asks the court to annul an agreement made between him and Richard
Stuart, a former slave with an exemplary reputation for “honesty, sobriety, and industry.”
Slaughter represents that he and his wife were no longer able to manage their farm in such a
manner as to provide them “a comfortable subsistence” thereon, so he entered into a contract
with Stuart in 1831. He declares that said agreement gave land and tools to Stuart on the
condition that Stuart would supply the couple with necessaries and “other things that is common
for folks of their age.” Slaughter charges that Stuart “soon became indiferent to the wishes or
comfort of your Orator; and gradually insolent, neglectful, and almost utterly regardless of all the
obligations imposed on him by said agreement.” He further attests “that the character & conduct
of said Stuart were undergoing a total change—that he put off the bearing of a slave and put on
that of a master.” The petitioner therefore prays that Stuart be compelled “to supply your Orator
with such support as was contemplated by said agreement” or that a “cancelment of said Deed
of Conveyance & agreement may be decreed.”
0462 (Accession # 21483803). Washington County, Tennessee. Sixty-five-year-old Nancy
Rowe seeks a divorce and alimony from Thomas Rowe, her husband of four months. She
contends that said Thomas “drove your Oratrix from his residence and compelled her to seek a
home, and the means of subsistence from the charity of her friends.” Nancy represents that
soon after said separation her husband petitioned for a divorce on the sole “ground of natural
imbecility—a charge which was well known ... to be a most wicked, wanton untruth.” Declaring
that he “was seized & possessed of considerable property real and personal,” the petitioner
insists that “her said husband, in fraud of her rights, and to shield said property from being made
liable to her support” conveyed away said property to his children from a previous marriage.
Nancy therefore prays that she be granted a divorce and that she be allowed “out of his Estate,
such support and maintainance, as your Honor shall deem just & Equitable under all the
circumstances.” She also requests that the defendants be “injoined from selling said lands &
negroes or disposing of the same in any way.”
0470 (Accession # 21483804). Maury County, Tennessee. Emily Webster, the minor heir of the
late John G. Webster, seeks a new guardian. She states that the court appointed her stepfather,
Lemuel H. Duncan, as her guardian in 1828 and that he “took possession of your oratrix and the
portion of her fathers estate which fell to her upon division and has kept possession thereof up
to this time.” She charges that Duncan’s reports “are wanting in the specific description of the
property” and that they are “stated in such general terms, that they afford no certain account of
the manner in which the trust has been performed.” Citing that the reports “do not show the
exact amount of money nor how many negroes, their ages, names or sex,” she particularly
inquires about the circumstances surrounding the death of “two valuable negro fellows.” She
avers that she petitioned “for the removal of the said Duncan from the trust” when her mother
died in 1838 and that “the court sustained her motion and removed” him; however, “to the
surprise of your oratrix the said Duncan prayed an appeal,” which is still pending. Webster
therefore reiterates her prayer that “said Duncan may be removed from the guardianship ... and
that an account be taken, and the amount found to be due may be decreed to be paid over to
such other guardian.”
0488 (Accession # 21483805). Bedford County, Tennessee. Peggy Steward, the widow of
William Steward, asks that the executors of her late husband’s estate hand over a twenty-twoyear-old
slave named Jehu. The petitioner reports that the said William devised to her “a
specific legacy of two negroes” in his will. She declares that the executors have “Settled up with
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the greater part of distributees & Legatees yet your petitioner has never yet been put in
possession of but one of the negroes bequeathed to her.” Steward charges that the executors
have “sold or otherwise disposed of said boy and have failed in this respect to discharge this
part of their trust.” Noting that Jehu “is well worth 1000 dollars,” the petitioner prays that the
defendants “be decreed to deliver said negro or pay his value to petitioner and also his hire from
November 1834 up to this time.”
0495 (Accession # 21483806). Bedford County, Tennessee. Seventy-year-old Freeman Burrow
asks that his son William and two other parties account for the purchase money received from
the sale of two slave children. Burrow avers that his son and Robert F. Arnold devised a “wicked
design” to kidnap eleven-year-old Betsy and seven-year-old Jackson. He argues that William
and Robert came to his house and “asked for a dram,” whereupon he sent the said children “to
a neighboring still house.” Asserting that said William and Robert then left his house, the
petitioner avows that “they immediately overtook the negroes and seized them and carried them
to Huntsville Ala and there sold them, as their own property.” He insists that he “then learned
that there was a pretended deed of gift from your orator to said William Burrow conveying to
said William all your orators equitable interest in said two negroes, and to two other negroes.”
The petitioner “denies that said deed contains his will or intentions, that his mind never assented
to its execution, and that it is wholly void and fraudulent.” He therefore prays that the defendants
be enjoined from “interfering with your Orators quiet possession” and that the “pretended deed
of gift be ... cancelled.”
0508 (Accession # 21483807). Bedford County, Tennessee. The heirs of the late Bryant Nowlin
seek to protect their remainder interest in sundry slaves, who are currently in the life estate of
Elizabeth Devin. They represent that the said Nowlin died in 1810 and that he devised to his
daughter, Elizabeth Devin, “a negro girl named Hannah and her increase during her natural life
and at her death my will and desire is that said negro & increase be equally divided by lot or
sale ... among the children of my daughter Elizabeth Devin.” The petitioners charge that said
Elizabeth has “set up a title and claimed to be the exclusive owner” of said slaves and that she
has threatened to “sell and so dispose of the said Hannah and her increase as to defeat the
object and design of the testator ... and defraud your orators out of their just legal rights.” They
declare that “the increase of the said Hannah at this time amounts to fourteen slaves ... the
whole of whom are worth the sum of five thousand seven hundred dollars.” Noting that the
defendant has already sold one of said slaves, the petitioners pray that Hannah and her family
be placed “into the possession” of the sheriff and that the said slaves “be hired out and the hire
thereof be appropriated to the use and benefit of your orators until it amount to the value of said
slave so sold.”
0524 (Accession # 21483808). Williamson County, Tennessee. Louisiana Banks Reid seeks the
allotment of her dower and the recovery of sundry slaves. She asserts that her husband, James
Banks, died in 1835, seized of a sizeable estate. In addition, Reid reveals that her father had
conveyed eleven slaves to her in 1822 and that “it was the intention of her father to convey said
negroes to her seperate use, free from the control of her husband ... to the only proper use of
her and her issue.” She charges that David Campbell, her late husband’s executor, “has taken
possession of the whole estate,” including the “negroes of your oratrix.” She further argues her
late husband’s will “is partial and unjust towards her and gives her less by far than she would be
entitled to by law (if it is intended by said will to exclude her from her dower in her said
husbands estate).” She notes that her current husband, Thomas Reid, “has deserted her and
removed out of the United states,” but “it was agreed in writing between them that she should
have and hold her estate both real and personal ... to her own seperate use.” Reid prays that
the court may “assign and set apart her dower in her husband’s real estate,” that she may
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receive “a childs part of the personalty of her deceased husbands estate,” and that she may
have “all the negroes given to her by her father ... with their increase.”
0536 (Accession # 21483809). Williamson County, Tennessee. Parilee Adcock desires to end
her ten-month-long marriage to Beverly Adcock. The petitioner submits that, “on last Christmas
night,” her husband “beat and abused the person of Your Oratrix with such wantonness and
cruelty as greatly to endanger her life.” She further confides that she “was then far gone in
pregnacy” and that “he beat her head with his fist so as to greatly injure her mind and reason.”
Parilee laments that “she was delivered of her child about two months after and said child was
still born with its head greatly apparently beat and marked.” Recalling that her husband left her
“about three months ago and has lately gone to the state of Mississippi,” she states that he sold
a “negro woman and child” and some livestock before he abandoned her, leaving behind a mare
and two enslaved children, four-year-old Calvin and two-year-old Abram. Fearful that he will try
“to defeat her of her alimony,” Parilee prays that “he be enjoined and restrained from removing
Sd. negro boys or selling or disposing of them & said mare.” She also asks “that by Your Honors
decree a divorce from bed and board be granted to her against said defendant.”
0541 (Accession # 21483810). Williamson County, Tennessee. John and Mary Collins ask the
court to restrain Nancy Garrett from moving two slaves to Texas. The slaves were bequeathed
by Mary’s father, Thomas Garrett, to the defendant “during her life or widowhood,” and “should
belong to his heirs” after Nancy’s death. The petitioners assert that Garrett “avows her
determination to leave the United States and become a citizen of Texas, and that she intends to
take said slaves with her.” Fearing that their “contingent interest” in the slaves “would be lost,”
they ask the court to require Garrett to give “ample security for their forthcoming.”
0548 (Accession # 21483811). Warren County, Tennessee. William North joins his sister, Polly
North Samples, and her husband, Alexander, in asking the court to enjoin John Allen,
administrator of the estate of their “ancestor,” Gilbert North, from “paying out any of said estate
to any person” until the court can rule on the validity of North’s will. The petitioners charge
Pleasant North, Pleasant Rutherford, and Pleasant’s wife, Minerva, with destroying Gilbert’s will
“in order to defeat and defraud [them] out of the provisions therein made.” They allege that the
trio kept “the old man Continually drunk and deranged” in the period prior to his death “for the
express purpose of controlling” him. During this time, Gilbert conveyed the majority of his “negro
property,” fairly worth $8,000, to various people, leaving the slaves “incumbered with fraudulent
claims hanging over them” at his death. They ask the court to cancel these bills of sale and to
put the slaves “in the hands of a receiver” until the court’s final decree.
1839
0564 (Accession # 21483901). Bedford County, Tennessee. George W. Ruth, the jailer of
Bedford County, asks the judge to require Boyd M. Grace of Alabama and Samuel Williams of
North Carolina to appear before the court to “interplead and litigate” their respective claims to a
runaway slave, Drew, alias Jerry, who is currently in his custody. Ruth explains that both men
have applied for the slave, and he is reluctant to release Jerry “until directed by a decree of your
Honorable Court least he be sued & put to great expense, loss and trouble by the other
claimants.” Samuel Williams, in whose favor the decree was ultimately rendered, asserts in his
answer that Drew “was aided in making his escape if not carried away from this State, by one
Craven Davis ... under the delusive promise of getting him (the said slave) or putting him in a
way to get to see his wife,” who had been taken to Tennessee “by one Mr. Littlejohn.”
0580 (Accession # 21483902). Giles County, Tennessee. Eliza H. Harris and Alfred F. Harris,
minor heirs of Alfred M. Harris, ask the court to compel their surviving guardian, Alfred Flournoy,
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to account with them for “whatever may be due” them. Flournoy jointly “received and had the
entire controul and management of the lands, slaves, monies, & other effects” belonging to the
children with William C. Flournoy, who has recently died. Through their next friend, Charles C.
Abernathy, the Harrises maintain that a settlement and account “is indispensably necessary.”
They name William Flournoy’s executrix, Martha Flournoy, as a defendant, and they ask that
she be held responsible for the execution of Harris’s will. They also ask the court to dismiss
Alfred Flournoy as their guardian and to appoint a new guardian to manage their affairs.
0591 (Accession # 21483903). Giles County, Tennessee. Archibald C. Esselman, the guardian
of Robin Butcher, an “insane” free man of color, asks the court to enjoin Susan P. Wall “from
further molesting him in the peaceable possession of said Robin.” Esselman alleges that Wall
“aided by Godred Webb and John Thorpe has attempted by force to take said Robin out of the
possession of your Orator, with the purpose and intent, as your Orator is informed and believes,
to run the said Robin off, and sell him as a slave.” Esselman “apprehends great danger” that
Wall and her agents will be successful, and he seeks the court’s intervention.
0598 (Accession # 21483904). Williamson County, Tennessee. Joseph Royster, administrator
of the estate of the late Kitturah Royster, seeks the court’s permission to sell two slaves in his
sister’s estate “as may be most advantageous to the heirs and distributees of sd Kitturah.”
Kitturah, who died “intestate unmarried and without issue,” is survived by seven siblings.
Royster represents that, “from the number of the distributees and the small amount of property”
belonging to the estate, it is “impossible to make an equal and fair division of said estate among
them.”
0602 (Accession # 21483905). Sumner County, Tennessee. Dr. Nathaniel and Harriett Sanders
seek to correct errors in an account and to receive their proper share of an estate. They inform
the court that Harriett’s father, James Sanders, died intestate in 1836, leaving a large estate and
numerous heirs. When commissioners gathered to divide the slaves among the heirs, they
determined that each would receive a share worth $7,782.40, including any advances received
during Mr. Sanders’s life. Dr. Sanders claims that he was mistakenly charged twice for three
slaves. As a result, his account of advancements totaled $7,570, almost $1,800 too much. Part
of the confusion resulted from his father-in-law’s repeated efforts to help Nathaniel settle
financial and legal problems, particularly the matter of a slave named Jim, purchased in North
Carolina in 1819 before Dr. Sanders and his wife moved to Tennessee. Nathaniel Sanders asks
that the court correct the account and order the administrators to pay the money he and his wife
should have received.
0643 (Accession # 21483906). Davidson County, Tennessee. John D. Young asks the court to
divest titles to certain land and slaves “out of” his sons Napolean, Ferdinand, and William, and
to restore the titles to him. He also asks that his sons compensate him for the slaves’ hire. He
explains that, during the years 1825–1827, he “was unfortunately addicted to constant habits of
intoxication in so much that his mind was much impaired & his capacity for business so far
destroyed that his friends & children became apprehensive he would squander and loose all his
property.” He claims that he “has but little or no remembrance” of transactions his children &
friends “persuaded and procured him to make,” including a conveyance of “all his negroes and
other property to his children in the form of a deed of gift.” Although he has “altered his habits
and returned to his mind,” his sons still hold “adverse possession” of his slaves, leaving him “in
his infirmities and declining years upon the cold charities of a world of strangers.”
0650 (Accession # 21483907). Williamson County, Tennessee. The heirs of the late Nicholas
Wilburn ask the court to compel the administrator of Wilburn’s estate, Robert Davis, to “come to
an account for what estate of Your Orators & Oratrixes he has or ought to have in his hands,”
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and to “pay over the same” to them. Although Davis gave bond for “the faithful discharge of the
trust reposed in him,” the petitioners assert that he has not been forthcoming regarding his
management of the estate. They seek a discovery of the lands, slaves, and rents and hires
belonging to the estate, and they question specifically his “Keeping of the accounts of the hiring
of said slaves,” which they deem “troublesome.” Claiming that “they are able to manage said
negroes without the intervention of any other persons,” they ask the court to grant them
permission either to sell the slaves or to have a “division of them made among Your Orators and
Oratrixes in such proportion as they may be entitled thereto.”
0662 (Accession # 21483908). Stewart County, Tennessee. Frances Brinson, widow of Drury
Brinson, asks the court to cancel a trust deed that she executed with Wright Outlaw, her son-inlaw.
Outlaw assumed a debt that Brinson owed to Nathan Thomas and began managing
Brinson’s affairs “at all times promising to protect and secure her interest to the best advantage
for her.” The petitioner and her children own nine slaves, whom they inherited when Drury died
in 1835. Outlaw obtained an order from the county court for the division of the property, in which
Brinson was allotted three slaves. Outlaw then put all of the slaves up for sale “at one time and
bid them all in for about one thousand dollars.” She now fears that he is “about to run them off
out of the Jurisdiction of the Court and out of the State.” Asserting that her son-in-law “designed
defrauding her out of her property,” she asks the court to enjoin him from transporting the slaves
and to attach the property, as she is now “stripped of every thing and [has] not the slightest
means left her for her maintenance and support.”
0672 (Accession # 21483909). Sumner County, Tennessee. Robert Joyner, the guardian of
Samuel Draper’s five minor children, joins Nancy Draper, Samuel’s daughter, who is of legal
age, in asking the court for permission to sell the slave Annis. They explain that “Division
Cannot be made of Said negro without she is sold & Petitioner Nancy could not get her Portion
of said Slave without a Sale.” They ask that “the money arising from said Sale” be divided
among Nancy and the “Said Minors.”
0678 (Accession # 21483910). Williamson County, Tennessee. The “heirs & distributees of the
said Charles Perkins deceased” seek a division of the eleven slaves that belong to his estate.
They request that commissioners be appointed “to set apart & allot to the said Hariet H. Perkins
one third part of said slaves & to the said Charlesanna Perkins one third part & to the said
Thomas M. Jones & Marietta his wife one third part according to fair valuation absolutely.”
0688 (Accession # 21483911). Williamson County, Tennessee. The heirs of the late Thomas
Figures ask the court to compel Thomas A. Pankey to account with them “for all the property he
has received belonging to” their father, “& after allowing him all just credits,” they seek a decree
for “the surplus.” Thomas Figures conveyed “177 acres of land ... 17 negroes, all his household
furniture stock &c. Crop of corn, fodder, oats, cotton &c” to Pankey in 1831 “for the purpose of
paying the debts of the Said Figures.” The deed stipulated that “it was the duty of the Said
Pankey,” after the deaths of Figures and his wife, “to convey the property, not consumed in the
payment of Said debts to the children of the said Thomas share & share alike.” The petitioners
claim that Pankey has appropriated the surplus “to his own use,” including $1,500 that he
allegedly received for a “trust negro” named Jacob, who was sold in Louisiana by Pankey’s
“agent” and co-defendant, Henry Smith.
0696 (Accession # 21483912). Knox County, Tennessee. Charles and Nancy Lumpkin Curd
seek an injunction to prevent their son-in-law, James Weaver, from removing a female slave
named Mariah and her six children outside the jurisdiction of the court. The Curds explain that
they loaned Mariah to their daughter under the “contract and understanding” that “either party
[had] at any time the right either to send the negroes home, or the other to have them at
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pleasure when required.” Their daughter has died, however, and Weaver “has set up a claim” to
Mariah and her “increase” and refuses to return them. Mariah was a bequest to Nancy Curd
from her mother, Ann Lumpkin, and the Curds assert that Weaver’s “arrangements to move to a
foreign state” will prevent them “from carrying into effect the intentions of the said Ann Lumpkin.”
They allege that Weaver “will not even permit Your Orators to converse with him on the subject
but when your Orators attempt to demand and require the said negroes to be delivered to them
conceals himself.”
0705 (Accession # 21483913). Bedford County, Tennessee. John Fitts, a resident of
Mississippi, petitions the court for the return of “two negro boys ... both of yellow complection,”
who are currently in the custody of Hiram Edy. Fitts explains that “some weeks ago, he
determined to settle a farm in the Republic of Texas” and left Mississippi “in company with” his
brother, Oliver, and the “said two negro boys and thirty five other slaves.” The petitioner was
detained on business, and he “sent his brother on with the negroes.” When he arrived in Texas,
“he learned that his brother whilst in a fit of intoxication was induced by Deft Hiram Edy to sell
him Said two boys” for $1,100 in Texas currency, “which is at least 50 per cent below par.” Fitts
avers that his brother “had no authority whatever to make said sale”; in fact, he declares, “he
owns the mother of the said two negro boys, and there brothers and sisters that they are a
family of negroes which he has owned for some years, and he would rather have them in
Specie than to have a much larger sum of money than there real value.” He asks the court to
enjoin Edy, who is a “trancient character” now living in Tennessee, from “removing or selling
said negroes.”
0711 (Accession # 21483914). Knox County, Tennessee. The children of Nelly Yancy seek to
set up their claim to several slaves currently in the possession of Willie Young. The petitioners
assert that the slaves in controversy are the children and grandchildren of Chloe, a slave their
mother received by a “proper and legal division” of the estate of her late father, Richard Bayne,
who died in 1797. Chloe was sold with her daughter, Harriett, at sheriff’s sale to satisfy the
debts of Nelly’s husband, James Yancy. The petitioners claim that at the time of the sale, their
mother “remonstrated against” it and that Young, who obtained possession of the slaves after a
series of “hurriedly made” ownership transfers, was “fully aware of” Nelly’s title. They
characterize Young as a “partaker in the fraud” and conjecture that he has “kept his residence
concealed” in Anderson County, “an obscure part of the world,” in order “to prevent a discovery
of the negroes in his possession.” They also allege that he has sold Chloe and her daughter,
Mary, to a Mr. Woods. They ask the court to compel Young to surrender Chloe’s descendants
and to account for their hire, which he has “appropriated,” and for the value of the slaves he
sold.
0723 (Accession # 21483915). Dickson County, Tennessee. Joel and Polly Bayless ask the
court to restrain James Dickson, Samuel Stacker, and William Dick from prosecuting their writ of
error in response to an earlier suit involving the recovery and hire of Claiborne, a slave
originating in the estate of Polly’s late father, Isaac Shelby. The Baylesses explain that Polly’s
eldest siblings “took possession of and sold and converted to their own use” valuable estate
slaves, including Claiborne, whom they sold to one Joseph Dickson. Dickson then controlled
him for nine or ten years before selling him to Stacker. The Baylesses later became
administrators of Shelby’s estate and successfully brought suit against Dickson and Stacker.
The parties thereafter reached a compromise concerning compensation for Claiborne’s hire,
which the court valued at $900 for the nine-year period. The defendants, however, failed to
uphold their end of the bargain and are now threatening to pursue their writ of error to the
supreme court “and wholly defeat the action of your orator and oratrix.” Joseph Dickson has
since died so the petitioners sue his executor, James Dickson, in his stead.
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0749 (Accession # 21483916). Williamson County, Tennessee. John E. and Drury Dance,
administrators of the estate of their brother Russell Dance, seek the court’s assistance in
settling the insolvent estate. Russell Dance died intestate on 3 October 1838. He was a partner
in a mercantile business and in a slave-trading company. His estate includes furniture, a cotton
gin, several horses, seven slaves, numerous debts owed to it, and two lots of land near
Murfreesboro. With his brothers he jointly owned twenty-four other slaves and 320 acres of land.
The petitioners declare that Dance’s personal estate is worth “not more than Seven or eight
thousand dollars,” but the claims against it amount to “probably twelve or fifteen thousand
dollars.” Noting that the administrators have already sold most of the personal property, the
Dances aver that “without the interposition of your honor it is probable that numerous Suits will
be commenced against your orators so soon as the law will allow, & much cost accrue.” They
ask that the estate be settled “according to the provisions of the Act of Assembly of 26 Jany
1838 in regard to insolvent estates;” that the decedent’s creditors be enjoined from suing; that
their share of the land and slaves jointly owned be set aside; and that they be permitted to sell
all of Dance’s property, including land. Finally, they ask the court to guide them in paying the
various creditors with the money raised.
0761 (Accession # 21483917). Dickson County, Tennessee. George Tatum, the guardian of
George Clark, a “lunatic,” asks the court to compel Benjamin Clark to account with him for
property in his hands belonging to his ward. Tatum alleges that, in 1835 or 1836, Benjamin
Clark “by misrepresentation & falsehood” appropriated a $750 judgment owed to George by
William Cox, as well as $700 of George’s pension money. A few years later Benjamin convinced
George to convey his interest in a slave named Simon to Benjamin and two minor children,
even though George was “without a sound and disposing mind and totally unable to manage his
own business.” Tatum maintains that Simon, a mechanic, is worth between $800 and $830 and
“hires for from 15 to 20 dollars per month.” Tatum asks the court to invalidate Simon’s bill of
sale. He also asks the court to attach Simon so that his “safety” is kept subject to the “further
order” of the court and to enjoin Clark, whom Tatum fears will “run said Boy and sell him beyond
the jurisdiction of your Honorable Court.”
0767 (Accession # 21483918). Maury County, Tennessee. Taswell Alderson and James
Mitchell, executors of the estate of the late Hezekiah Ward, seek an accounting of Thomas E.
Ridley’s business venture with the deceased Ward. They explain that Ward and Ridley “entered
into partnership in the negro trade, by written articles of partnership.” They contend that Ward
advanced $22,000 to Ridley “to purchase negroes,” and they submit the defendant “went to
Virginia & Maryland to purchase negroes, & your orators charge did purchase negroes in the
spring & summer of 1836 in said states for the firm of Ward & Ridley.” The petitioners maintain
that Ridley “took the negroes purchased by him to the South, State of Mississippi & Louisiana
for sale, and there sold them.” Being ignorant of how many slaves were bought and later sold
and not knowing any monetary details of Ridley’s transactions, Alderson and Mitchell “pray that
the said Thomas E. Ridley be compelled to account for the funds advanced to him by the said
Hezekiah, and of the profits made upon the purchase & sales of said negroes” and that the
terms of the “written articles of partnership” be enforced.
0775 (Accession # 21483919). Maury County, Tennessee. The children and grandchildren of
the late Nelly Yancey ask the court to divest “all title” to a slave named John out of “William
Polks distributees or assignees” and to order Sarah Polk and the Columbia Central Turnpike
Company to account with them for the slave’s hire. The Yanceys explain that eleven slaves,
who were part of their mother’s inheritance, were “removed” and sold “in places unknown” by
their indebted father, James Yancey, when the petitioners were “of tender years.” After their
mother’s death in 1834, they took “all reasonable and proper exertions to ascertain” the slaves’
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whereabouts, and, though none remained in Virginia, they found Osburn and John in
Tennessee “in possession of George Polk and John of the Columbia Central Turnpike
company.” Their father had sold the slaves to William Polk of North Carolina over thirty years
ago, and Polk had moved them to Tennessee before his death, to “carry on under his agents &
overseers an extensive planting establishment.” The slaves remained in Polk’s widow’s
possession until she hired out John to the Turnpike Company. Sarah Polk is a stockholder in the
company.
0791 (Accession # 21483920). Williamson County, Tennessee. William H. Hanna seeks the
payment of debts due from the estate of Russell Dance. On 3 October 1838, Russell Dance
died of “consumption.” Administrators John E. and Drury Dance declared the estate insolvent
and filed a bill against Dance’s creditors to present their claims immediately or be barred from
collecting anything thereafter. They also sued Hanna, claiming that he owed $3,950.72 to the
estate, but Hanna contends that “Russell Dance died largely indebted to him.” Hanna and
Dance became partners in 1835 in a mercantile business and a slave trading business. Hanna
recounts in detail the operations of the businesses, charging that Dance took money from their
businesses for his own personal use and never repaid it. Arbitrators determined that Dance’s
estate owed $1,852.74 to Hanna. Hanna believed that the actual debt was greater, but he was
willing to accept the ruling; Drury Dance, though, refused to abide by the decision. Arguing that
the administrators are using their lawsuits to avoid paying him, Hanna asks that their suits be
stopped until his case is decided, that a determination of what Russell Dance’s estate owes him
be made, and that payments to Dance’s other creditors be stopped until his claims are
established and added to theirs.
0818 (Accession # 21483921). Jackson County, Tennessee. Peter Sweeper, a man of color,
returns to court March Term 1839 to enter a plea of trespass against William Woodfolk.
Sweeper charges that Woodfolk did “imprison the plaintiff and deprive him of his liberty and did
then and there reduce him to the condition of the most abject Slave.” The petitioner avers that
the defendant compelled him “to work for and serve him” for seven years and that Woodfolk
appropriated “the whole of the proceeds of the labour and services of the plaintiff.” Sweeper
represents that “he has sustained damage to the amount of two thousand dollars and therefore
he brings suit.” The related documents give valuable insight into the history of the case.
Depositions reveal that Sweeper “was charged with conveying away runaway slaves” and that
“he was convicted of the charge alledged against him and sold out of the State of Maryland for
six years” in 1826. Sweeper’s attorney cites that “the suit for freedom between these parties
was twice tried in the circuit court of Jackson County and resulted in favour of the plaintiff both
times.” He further states that Woodfolk appealed each verdict to the supreme court. He notes
that the first time it reversed the lower court’s decision but that “the last time Judgment of the
circuit Court was affirmed by the Supreme Court establishing the plaintiffs right to freedom.”
1840
0887 (Accession # 21484001). Washington County, Tennessee. Enos McFall, the administrator
of John Houston’s estate, joins with Houston’s children and grandchildren in asking the court to
compel John’s son, William Houston, to surrender the slaves of his deceased father. They claim
that William “received a much more Liberal portion of his Father’s estate,” and charge him with
misappropriating this share by concealing an agreement he made with his father intended to
invalidate an 1826 deed of conveyance. He currently has in his possession seven slaves, whom
the petitioners believe they “have a right to have ... impounded” until the court decides the case.
They seek an eventual distribution of the slaves “according to their respective rights.”
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0898 (Accession # 21484002). Washington County, Tennessee. Mary Houston, the widow of
John Houston, asks the court to assign her “dower allowance and distributive share” of her late
husband’s estate. She accuses her stepson, William Houston, of setting up “pretended claims”
to certain lands and slaves before John’s death in order to “embarrass or destroy the rights of
your Oratrix.” She cites William’s “long standing hostility” towards her, contending that her
separation from John, which occurred before his death, was “produced by the untiring exertions
of his children,” who endeavored to “poison” John’s mind against her. She asserts that the
fraudulent deeds set up by her stepson were made “in fraud of her marital rights, that, as the
widow of the said John Houston she stands upon the same footing as creditors.” She also
names the administrator of John’s estate and the estate’s other heirs as defendants, asking the
court to suspend their suit against William Houston, filed in February 1840, “until the rights of
your Oratrix can be ascertained.”
0919 (Accession # 21484003). Maury County, Tennessee. Ephraim R. Osburn asks the
supreme court to “release” him from a circuit court judgment that holds him liable for the illegal
emigration from Kentucky into Tennessee of his laborer, Jack Claibourne, a free man of color.
Osburn came to Tennessee in 1833 “for the purpose of carrying on the manufacture of hemp.”
Finding it “almost impossible to procure in Tennessee laborers who understood the business,”
he employed “hands” from Kentucky, who had the “necessary skill and knowledge.” The
petitioner claims that neither he nor Claibourne were aware that a law prohibited “such persons
from coming into the state.” Claibourne, indicted and convicted of the violation three times
between 1837 and May 1838, was finally sentenced to “twelve months confinement in the
Penitentiary.” He appealed the conviction, the petitioner “again became his bail,” and Claibourne
returned to Kentucky, where he “became alarmed,” and failed to appear for his appeal. Osburn
testifies that Jack is “a useful, industrious and honest man—a sober and attentive laborer and
without any great fault known to petitioner except a black skin.” The jury concurred with this
assessment and “petitioned the Governor for a pardon” of Claibourne. Osburn asserts that there
was “never any intention to commit a crime [,] no injury has been done to any person by the
negro in the State.”
0937 (Accession # 21484004). Maury County, Tennessee. Richard Hazelwood and Levi Wade,
executors of the will of the late Samuel Bowman, seek the court’s direction in executing
Bowman’s will. The petitioners characterize the will as “originally ambiguous in its terms, and of
doubtful construction.” Several of the devises—including a bequest of slaves to Bowman’s
daughter, Elmira Tucker, and a bequest of $50 to “the colonization society”—are “so uncertain
that they are advised they are void.” They allude to “circumstances,” which have made it
“extremely hazardous” for them to attempt to execute the will without “the interposition of your
honorable Court.” They ask the court to rule on the validity of such clauses.
0951 (Accession # 21484005). Bedford County, Tennessee. Martha Cunningham, through her
next friend, Jane H. Cunningham, seeks to establish her title to a slave named Malinda, whom
her son-in-law purchased at her behest. Cunningham explains that she inherited from her
father, John Bayley, a slave named Lemuel, whom she later sold for $1,200. She gave $400 of
the proceeds to her son-in-law, Giles Bowers, to purchase Malinda. Bowers, however, “took the
bill of sale in his own name, and has never conveyed the said negro girl to your Oratrix.” The
petitioner now complains that Malinda has been seized by the constable of Bedford County and
is advertised to be sold in satisfaction of a judgment against Bowers obtained by the firm of
Eakin & Moffat. She avers that Malinda has been in her possession since the purchase. She
asks the court to issue an injunction to stop the sale and to “divest the title to said negro girl out
of said Giles R. and vest it in your Oratrix.”
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0968 (Accession # 21484006). Dickson County, Tennessee. William B. Young asks the court to
invalidate “sales pretended to have been made” by William Turner to Willis Morgan and Thomas
Watson and to restore the property “to the same situation it was in with respect to titles before”
the sales. Young conveyed land and four slaves to M. A. Martin in 1834 in trust for Lewis Hyer.
Young owed Hyer $1,290, which he agreed to pay before January 1836, or the property would
be sold. Young chose Martin as his trustee because he “confidently believed” that Martin would
not sell the property “under any circumstances which would prevent its commanding a
reasonable price.” He now charges William Turner with selling the property at a reduced price
without “right or title to the said property” and without “authority to make a sale thereof or to
convey the same.” The property sold was subject to a life estate of Charlotte Dunlap, “an old
woman of feeble health and constitution.” Young fears that these sales “will form a cloud on his
title calculated at some future day to embarrass him in the recovery of his rights to his property.”
0980 (Accession # 21484007). Williamson County, Tennessee. John Southall, administrator of
the estates of Bishop and Elizabeth Oldham, seeks the court’s permission to sell ten slaves
belonging to the estates. Noting that “he cannot state the precise interest” that each of the many
claimants may have in the slave property, Southall affirms “that it would be manifestly and
greatly to the interest and advantage of said Claimants that said slaves be sold.”
0990 (Accession # 21484008). Williamson County, Tennessee. Richard Beal, the administrator
of the estate of Lewis T. S. Jennings, seeks permission to sell Eli, one of the eighteen slaves
belonging to the estate. Beal complains that Eli is “of notoriously bad character that he has
within the last two or three years as he is informed & believes broken & entered 12 or 15 houses
& stolen property therefrom.” Eli “has been often found guilty of stealing and whipped therefor
within the last 2 or 3 years and has as he is informed recd. several thousand lashes.” Beal
informs the court that Eli is currently held in the Franklin jail “for breaking the house & stealing
from a widow woman 5 or 6 miles below Franklin”; her neighbors now “threaten him with instant
death on first sight.” Beal also alleges that Eli has often “threatened to burn houses.” He asserts
that his only interest in this “matter” is “as trustee for the owners of the property and having a
desire to preserve said slave or his value for said owners.”
0997 (Accession # 21484009). Williamson County, Tennessee. James H. Green, the executor
of Sherwood Green’s estate, and five of Green’s sons ask the court to appoint commissioners to
divide the slaves in Green’s estate among his heirs. They report that the testator “bequeathed to
his widow Mary O. Green negro girl Nancy and four negroes of her own choosing and
bequeathed the balance of his negroes to be valued and divided by drawing amongst” the
petitioners.
1005 (Accession # 21484011). Williamson County, Tennessee. Moses E. Farmer, the executor
of the estate of the late Frances Echols, seeks permission to sell slaves belonging to the estate.
He reports that Echols died possessed of five slaves. Farmer further notes “that in sd will the
said slaves with the remainder of the property which is very inconsiderable is given &
bequeathed to four legatees.” He asserts that “from the age and value of said slaves your
Orator ... is unable to distribute them under the will,” without a sale, which he deems “necessary
and proper.” Farmer therefore “prays an order of court directing him as Executor aforesaid to
sell said slaves & pay over the proceeds.”
1009 (Accession # 21484012). Smith County, Tennessee. Robert Adams sues the executor of
his father’s estate and two relatives for possession of twenty-two slaves. Adams maintains that
he bought four slave women—Nance [Nancy], Lucy, Hannah, and Jenny [Jinny]—from his
father, Allen Adams, in 1806 or 1816, but he “unintentionally lost or mislaid” the bill of sale. In
1836 Allen Adams gave Robert another bill of sale for the women and their offspring. In his
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1837 will, however, “under some influence or other,” Allen Adams bequeathed the slaves to
various relatives. Allen Adams also sold Jenny and her children to his grandsons Bennet and
Nathaniel Wright. Robert Adams charges that his bill of sale supersedes the will. He requests
“an attachment in the nature of a ne exeat requiring the Sheriff of Smith County to take all said
negroes into his possession” until the end of the suit. He demands that the Wrights prove their
title to Jenny and her children. Finally, Adams asks the court to award the slaves to him and to
allow “a reasonable hire for them” since the death of his father.
1018 (Accession # 21484013). Smith County, Tennessee. Ann Filts Sullivan, the widow of
William Sullivan, asks the court to confirm her title to a large number of slaves, whom she
claims through her father’s will under remainder by survivorship. When Ann’s father, Boling Filts,
died in 1812, he left a life estate in a slave named Lucy and her children to his widow, Mary.
Upon Mary’s death, however, the slaves were claimed by Samuel Caplinger “under a contract of
purchase from William Sullivan.” Ann reminds the court that her late husband died before Mary
Filts, and “consequently at his death the life estate was not terminated.” She asserts that
Caplinger intends to “defraud her of her rights & deprive her of the bounty intended for her by
her parents.” She asks the court to order Caplinger to disclose “the names of the negroes now
in his hands,” which Ann estimates would “exceed fifty in number,” and the value “of each
seperately & all collectively.” She also seeks a writ commanding the sheriff to “take the said
negroes into his hands & keep them safely subject to the order” of the court.
1026 (Accession # 21484014). Smith County, Tennessee. James Rowland, on behalf of his six
minor children and his two married daughters, Elizabeth Denton and Martha Roe, files suit
against his late wife’s brothers, John and Joseph Payne, who are executors of their late father’s
estate. The children’s maternal grandfather, William Payne, left their mother, Patsey Payne
Rowland, a one-fourth interest in a tract of land, which was in his will directed to be sold and
equally divided among his children after his widow’s death. The Paynes have not executed this
clause of the will, although they previously “elected to receive under it the legacies designated
for them, to wit,” four slaves. Rowland insists “that by the law they cannot receive any benefit
under the will without complying with all its provisions.” They ask the court to order the Paynes
to sell the land “to the highest bidder & that one fourth of the proceeds be paid over to them
according to the said will.”
1034 (Accession # 21484015). Bradley County, Tennessee. Sanders W. Lea and Marcus North,
residents of Georgia, seek “to recover the possession of” Daniel and Easter, two slaves
currently in the possession of John Jester, the defendant. They allege that Jester “has no legal
title whatever to said Negroes” and that “the undisputed legal title to said slaves is in your
Orators.” They charge that Jester knew “these facts but in order to cheat and defraud your
orators and to deprive them of their property removed and run said Slaves from the State of
Georgia” to Tennessee. Fearing that Jester “will run said slaves beyond the limits of the State of
Tennessee” in order to defeat their claim to said slaves, Lea and North request a writ of ne
exeat be issued “so as to prevent said slaves Daniel and Easter from being removed.”
1040 (Accession # 21484016). Marshall County, Tennessee. Stephen W. Rainey seeks a writ of
attachment against Thomas B. Favour, who detains two “free boys of colour,” who are bound to
Rainey by indentures. Rainey explains that he hired out the two boys, five-year-old Governor
Houston and three-year-old Genl. Brady [?], to Favour in 1838. He has recently learned that
Favour “is about to remove to the State of Alabama” and refuses to give up “said boys or to give
a bound for their forth coming at the age of twenty one when sd boys will be free.” Rainey fears
that Favor “will trade or make way with said boys so that your Orator would be put to much
trouble to get possession of said boys & comply with his obligation to the county court of
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Williamson County.” He asks the court to enjoin Favour from removing the boys beyond the
jurisdiction of the court.
1049 (Accession # 21484017). Knox County, Tennessee. David Campbell, administrator of the
estate of the late William K. Trigg, seeks permission to sell a seven-year-old slave named John
Frank. Campbell reports that “he has paid up a considerable amount of debts due from said
estate which has exhausted all the personal property of said estate.” In order “to satisfy other
claims against said estate,” Campbell contends it “will be necessary for him to sell” the child. He
asserts, however, that “he can make as advantageous a sale of said negro boy by private
contract as at public auction.” Noting that “the heirs of said William K. Trigg are desirous that
said boy should not be separated from his mother and family,” Campbell prays “an order of your
Honorable Court authorizing him to sell said boy by private contract.”
1052 (Accession # 21484018). Montgomery County, Tennessee. Lucy Brantly asks the court to
confirm her title to a slave named George, in whom she claims a “limited estate.” Brantly
explains that, when she separated from her former husband, Samuel Smith, she received a
group of slaves as a separate estate; at her death, the slaves were to be divided among her
children with Smith. She “devised and distributed” these slaves to her children as the children
“married off,” but she allowed her minor son, Sydney Smith, to have possession of a slave
named George “to hire him out and dispose of the proceeds as to him might seem right &
proper.” Recently, however, she has learned from “speeches Given out by one Thomas Cherry,”
that Sydney sold George to Cherry, even though, as a minor, he is “not capable of contracting
unless for Necessaries.” Cherry’s creditor, Benjamin King, “caused his execution to issue
against” Cherry’s property, and the sheriff seized George. Sydney then successfully obtained an
injunction to prevent the sale and hired out George to Dr. Benjamin Harrison for the present
year. Brantly asks the court to perpetually enjoin Cherry, King, and her son from “disposing of
the boy in any way so as to increase the chances of defeating” her claim.
1077 (Accession # 21484019). Dickson County, Tennessee. Writy Hassell seeks a maintenance
out of the estate of her late husband, Zebulon Hassell, and asks that an account of his property
“be taken.” She claims that in 1833 Zebulon conveyed “a large amount” of his property,
including eight slaves, to his children from a previous marriage “without making any provision for
your oratrix” after his death. She argues that the “said Zebulon was at the time of making said
Deed old and infirm and that he was persuaded by his children to make said deed to the
exclusion and prejudice of your Oratrix.” She characterizes the deed as a “fraud upon” her rights
and names Zebulon’s six children as defendants to the bill. Two of the defendants allege in their
answer that Writy and Zebulon executed a contract before their marriage whereby they agreed
that the property each brought to the marriage “was to belong at their death to their respective
children & grandchildren by their former marriage and that the same was not to pass out of the
respective families to which it belonged.”
Reel 13
1841
Tennessee cont.
0002 (Accession # 21484101). Sumner County, Tennessee. Josiah Baldridge asks the court to
enjoin Elizabeth Kirkham from collecting a judgment against him until she transfers to him the
titles to two female slaves from her son-in-law, who claims the slaves through his late wife,
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Dorinda Parker. Baldridge exchanged his slave Cloe plus $400 for Kirkham’s two slaves, Reny
and her daughter Mary, in the spring of 1836. Kirkham “promised your Orator, that she would
get the said Perkins to assign to your Orator whatever interest or claim he had in the negroes.”
Not only did Kirkham fail to do this, she threatened to sue him “as the Guardian & in the name of
her children alleging that the title of said negroes is in them, [and] that she has no title.” Later
she did file suit against Baldridge “upon his warranty” for Cloe. She received a judgment for
$400, “which was 50$ more than the estimated value of the negro in the trade.” The debt is now
in the sheriff’s hands for collection, and Baldridge submits that he “ought not to be compelled to
pay said judgment until he shall be quieted and made safe in his title to said slaves.”
0008 (Accession # 21484103). Sumner County, Tennessee. Fountain L. McDaniel and
Alexander Williams sue with their wives, two daughters of the late John Belote, to compel
Martha and Henry A. Belote to account for their handling of inherited property. The petitioners
have filed their suit as a cross bill to an earlier suit filed by Elizabeth C. Goodall, another
daughter of John Belote, and her husband, John D. Goodall. The case concerns the estates of
John Belote, father of the women, who died in 1826, and their grandfather, Henry Belote, who
died six months later. Both estates contained slave property. John Belote’s will allowed his
widow, Martha, to keep his slaves “for the purpose of schooling clothing boarding and raising
her children” until the youngest turned twenty-one years old. Martha Belote and her son, Henry
A. Belote, became guardians to the younger children and operated the plantation for more than
a decade. The petitioners allege that Martha and Henry Belote took advantage of the situation,
using property for their personal benefit and failing to account properly for expenses and
income. In 1837, the plaintiffs bought the Goodalls’ share of the estates; later, they sold their
own shares of John Belote’s estate. Martha Belote agreed to abide by the terms of these sales
and surrender the slaves involved, including a skilled slave named Sober, when the youngest
child came of age in 1839; however, she has since refused to relinquish the slaves. The
petitioners ask the court to compel Martha and Henry A. Belote to correct their guardianship
accounts, to deliver the daughters’ inheritances, and to surrender the slaves to their rightful
owners.
0034 (Accession # 21484104). Davidson County, Tennessee. William Gilliam, “a wholesale
dealer in China, Glass & Queensware,” asks the court to order Mary Bransford to reimburse him
for “articles stolen by” Mary’s slave, Jordan, while he was hired by Gilliam. He maintains that
when he hired Jordan in March 1829 through Mary’s son and agent, L. M. Bransford, he
specified that “it was of the utmost importance to him to have a perfectly honest servant.”
Jordan, however, “was detected in stealing from the store, for which offence Your Orator had
him put in Jail.” Gilliam claims that Jordan stole “upwards of” twenty china sets and that “he had
accomplices selling for him all the time he was with Your Orator.” The petitioner accuses
Bransford of concealing Jordan’s reputation as “a noted thief,” who stole from a previous
employer and who “had been turned out of the church for his conduct.” Bransford has won a
judgment to recover Jordan’s hire, which Gilliam refuses to pay as “his losses are of greater
amount than the hire of the negro.” He asks that the defendant be enjoined from collecting the
judgment and that she pay him “the value of the goods stolen by her aforesaid dishonest slave.”
0043 (Accession # 21484105). Williamson County, Tennessee. William L. Webb, through his
guardian Brice M. Hughes, requests that the slaves belonging to the estate of his late father,
William Webb, be divided between him and his mother. Webb reports that his father “died the
owner” of thirteen slaves and he, as the only child, is entitled to a two-thirds share of the estate.
Noting that the estate administrator, John Hughes, “is willing to deliver sd slaves to sd
distributees,” Webb prays “that sd Slaves be divided & that two thirds of the value thereof be set
apart & allotted to Your orator.”
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0047 (Accession # 21484107). Bedford County, Tennessee. Lemuel Bowers seeks an account
of the administration of his late father’s estate from his brothers, Benjamin F. and William
Bowers, who are the executors of their father’s will. John Bowers’s will directed that his
executors sell four slaves in the estate and divide the proceeds of the sale “equally amongst his
children of whom there were eleven.” Lemuel complains that his brothers have sold the slaves,
but that he does not know “for what sums they sold or what disposition if any said executors
have made of the proceedes.” He claims that he “has repeatedly Called upon said Executors for
a Settlement but they have always refused to make Settlement with him.” He asks the court to
intervene and to order them “to pay your Orator such sum of money as he may be entitled to as
a Legatee or distributee of said John Bowers deceased.”
0057 (Accession # 21484108). Lincoln County, Tennessee. Cullen E. Sugg joins his wards,
Mary, Elvya, John, Ellinor, and Phebe Reece, in asking the court’s permission to sell a slave
named Allen. The children’s father, Solomon Reece, bequeathed the slave to “the seven
children of [his] first wife.” The eldest son, William W. Reece, has recently turned twenty-one
years of age and a sister, Elizabeth, is dead. Before her death, however, Elizabeth sold her
interest in Allen for $1,000 to Drury Perkins. The petitioners ask the court to determine the
validity of Perkins’s claim to the slave and to decree that the slave be sold so that Sugg can
“divide and distribute” the shares to each sibling.
0061 (Accession # 21484109). Maury County, Tennessee. Samuel Lusk Jr. and James Lusk Jr.,
as guardians of the minor children of Elias Lusk, seek permission to sell a thirty-six-year-old
slave named Caesar. The “principal part” of the property left to the children by their father
consists of slaves. Caesar, they claim, is a slave of such “general bad character” that they
cannot manage him. They report that he has “lately been guilty of divers thefts & misdemeanors
in the neighbourhood where he is hired for the present year which have so exasperated &
enraged the citizens of the neighborhood, that your petitioners have been compelled to take the
said boy home and Keep him in close confinement.” Believing that they cannot “feel safe in
permitting him to go at large,” the Lusks ask that the slave be sold and that his purchaser be
required to take Caesar “out of the country.”
0073 (Accession # 21484110). Maury County, Tennessee. James Kannon, guardian of the
minor heirs of James Leetch, asks the court to compel the children’s former guardian, Robert
Hill, to account with them for the money in his hands “from the rent of Lands, Town lots hire of
slaves and otherwise” belonging to them. The Leetch children charge Hill with “negligence and
fraud” and blame him for their “want of information” regarding their property. Having successfully
petitioned at a prior term of court to have him removed as their guardian, the petitioners now
seek a final accounting of his activities.
0085 (Accession # 21484111). Dickson County, Tennessee. John Kingins seeks an injunction to
stop the sale of three slaves, who have been levied on in order to satisfy a judgment in favor of
Garrett Knewkirk against William C. Jones. The petitioner maintains that the slaves are subject
to a deed of trust “for the benefit of certain creditors of William Jones.” He notes that the
“valuable servants” were left in Jones’s possession, but were “subject to this complainants
controll.” Kingins asserts that “great Injury will result to the creditors for whose benefit the
property was conveyed” if the court does not intervene. He reasons that he can “perhaps pay
and satisfy the said debts” if he is permitted to sell the slaves himself “with the other property
included in said deed.” Knewkirk, a citizen of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has obtained a
judgment against the firm of Jones Manning & Co.
0089 (Accession # 21484112). Lincoln County, Tennessee. Boone Wilson, administrator of the
estate of the late William H. Childress, seeks permission to sell certain estate slaves in order to
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pay the estate’s debts. Wilson recommends that “Tom, Horace, his wife Silvia & young child,
Jim, Allen, & Washington” be sold, as “they will not increase much in value, the rest being
younger and of course becoming more valuable.”
0093 (Accession # 21484113). Washington County, Tennessee. J. H. Rodes and J. P.
Thompson ask the court to declare the purchase of three slaves by James King and Samuel
Goodson “a nullity.” The petitioners charge that the sale and purchase of the slaves “was in
pursuance of a concerted arrangement between ... [John and James O’Brien] ... & King &
Goodson” and that such arrangement was “illegal ... and a fraud on their rights.” Rodes
originally sold the slaves to the O’Briens in October 1838, but “was induced to retain” their title
until the O’Briens, who were “much embarrassed in their circumstances,” paid the full amount of
the purchase money, which amounted to close to $2,200. The following year, the sheriff levied
an execution on the slaves and sold them at public sale to King and Goodson. Rodes and
Thompson allege that the purchasers had the “notorious” knowledge that “said O Briens had no
legal title” to the slaves. Thompson, who has obtained a judgment against the O’Briens, also
claims “a right in equity to have the equitable title of said OBriens to said negroes, if any they
have, made subject to the satisfaction of said judgments.” The petitioners ask the court to
require the defendants to have the “negroes forthcoming” so that they may be sold and the
proceeds applied to the satisfaction of the judgments.
0104 (Accession # 21484114). Lincoln County, Tennessee. William H. Moores mortgaged a
slave named Isaac to Joseph Hinkle on 7 October 1840 to secure a debt of $500. Hinkle has not
repaid the debt, and Moores now asks the court to compel Hinkle to pay the $500 plus interest,
or to order that Isaac be sold in satisfaction of the debt.
0110 (Accession # 21484115). Knox County, Tennessee. John and James McMillan, the
administrators of the estate of their late brother, Andrew McMillan, seek permission to sell a
family of slaves in the estate in order to discharge the estate’s debts. The petitioners request
that they be allowed to sell Annis and her two young children at a private sale “in the event an
advantageous offer were made.”
0117 (Accession # 21484116). Marshall County, Tennessee. William B. Holden asks the court
to compel Aaron W. Graves to issue him a bill of sale for a slave named Grant, whom Holden
purchased from Graves for $300 in June 1840. Holden concedes that it was not “convenient” to
execute the bill of sale at the time of purchase, but complains that since then, he has “two or
three times called on said Graves for said bill of sale,” and Graves has “uniformly put off
executing the same under various plausible excuses.” Graves, who “ultimately left Marshall
county,” has sued Holden “upon” the two outstanding notes, and there are now executions
against him “in the hands” of the sheriff for collection. Holden also seeks an injunction to prevent
collection of the judgments until Graves issues the title or the court rescinds his contract with
Graves and orders Graves to refund his first payment of $100.
0122 (Accession # 21484117). Marshall County, Tennessee. Charles Hardison asks the court to
invalidate the bill of sale for a slave named Emily, whom he purchased for $500 in November
1839 from John Bills through Bills’s agent, John Appleby. The petitioner declares that Bills and
Appleby “fraudulently represented” Emily as “sound,” and have combined to “cheat & defraud”
him. Hardison declares that Emily “was & is nearsighted—deficient in eye sight so much so that
she cannot work in the field or within the house to any sort of profit.” He contends that “she is so
deficient in the eyes as to be of no value as a house Servant or field hand & is entirely useless
to your Orator or the Sd Thomas Hardison.” The petitioner’s brother, Thomas, for whom he
contracted the sale, refuses to take Emily because of her unsoundness. Moreover, Bills and
Appleby also refuse to take her back. The petitioner now laments that “in a trade in which he
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had no interest[,] he will have to pay” a judgment Bills has won for the balance of the slave’s
purchase price. Hardison also asks the court to “perpetually enjoin” the judgment.
0133 (Accession # 21484118). Montgomery County, Tennessee. Samuel R. Moody,
administrator of the estate of the late Marcellus Jordan, asks the court to order Henry Fry and
Sarah Shaw to “deliver up” sixteen slaves, whom he claims belong to Jordan’s estate. Moody
asserts that, before his death, Jordan “pretended” to sell the slaves to Fry “for the purpose of
avoiding the payment of some debts for which he was bound as security.” Fry executed his
notes to Jordan “in his lifetime for about the sum of Six Thousand Dollars,” and the slaves were
carried to Sarah Shaw’s farm shortly thereafter, where they remained “untill a few days since
when they were secreted or hid by Fry” to avoid the levy of an execution. Moody accuses Fry of
being “willing to embarass the creditors” and of taking advantage of Jordan while he was “lying
on his sick bed.” Moody asks the court to enjoin Fry and Shaw from “disposing” of the slaves
while the suit is pending and asks that Fry be held “responsible for the full value of all the
negroes.”
0146 (Accession # 21484119). Smith County, Tennessee. James Goodner, a tanner “engaged
in the Mercantile business,” asks the court to order his brother-in-law, Benjamin F. Brownin, to
come to a final settlement with him regarding “various dealings and tradings between them.”
Goodner tendered three notes to Brownin in an 1830 purchase of three slaves, but allowed two
of the slaves to remain in Brownin’s possession. Goodner later sold one of the slaves to a third
party and agreed that Brownin “was to keep the negro woman Sarah, and the increase which
she had.” Over the next eight years, Goodner extensively traded with Brownin, an innkeeper
and grocer. The pair agreed that Brownin would keep Sarah and her four children in exchange
for a refund of the notes Goodner gave him in the original purchase and that whoever “should
be indebted to the other upon settlement final, was to pay the same, whatever such
indebtedness might be.” Goodner now complains that Brownin has only refunded one note and
estimates that Brownin owes him “something like eleven or twelve hundred dollars.” He also
asks the court to enjoin Brownin from “disposing” of the notes “until a final hearing of the cause.”
0154 (Accession # 21484120). Sumner County, Tennessee. Richard Franklin, administrator of
the estate of the late William Franklin, seeks permission to sell a slave named Mary for the
“purpose of enabling him to make a division” of Franklin’s estate between his two heirs. He
deems it “impracticable” to make an equal division between Franklin’s widow, Nancy, and his
son, Gallant, without a sale.
0161 (Accession # 21484121). Robertson County, Tennessee. William Pope petitions on behalf
of his granddaughters for a perpetual injunction to be issued against Nashville merchants S & T
Aiken & Co. He explains that he conveyed two slaves to the girls on 17 June 1841 “by Deed of
gift,” which stipulated that “the said negroes [were] not to be subject to the payment of the debts
of William W Pope,” his son and the father of the minor petitioners. Pope points out “that one of
Said negroes Ben has been levied upon by the Sheriff of Robertson County as the property of
said William W. Pope.” The petitioners pray that the court restrain the sheriff “from selling said
negro Ben” and that “your Honor Order and Decree that your petitioners be ever quieted in the
right to said negro Ben & Charles.”
1842
0169 (Accession # 21484201). Maury County, Tennessee. Robert Campbell Jr. seeks the return
of four slaves, whom he purchased from Henry S. P. Chappel on 27 August 1841. Campbell
explains that he and Chappel mutually agreed to allow the slaves to remain in Chappel’s
custody “until the expiration of six months thereafter.” Campbell was “absent from the state of
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Tennessee” at the end of the six months, but, on his return, he “demanded the Said negroes
from the sd Chappel who refused to deliver the sd Negroes to your Orator & he cannot therefore
obtain the possession of the same.” The petitioner fears that Chappel intends “running the
negroes beyond the jurisdiction of this Court so as to deprive your Orator of the same.” He asks
the court to attach the slaves, whom he claims have depreciated in value since the sale, and to
appoint a receiver to take custody of them until the final decree of the court, which he hopes will
require Chappel to deliver the property to him, and to reimburse him for the slaves’ hire during
the time they have been detained.
0177 (Accession # 21484202). Montgomery County, Tennessee. Dr. Jesse Harrison “prays your
Honour to appoint some Responsible person a receiver requiring that he Enter into bond and
good security for the forth coming of Said Boy George,” a slave who is currently jailed as a
runaway. George’s title is currently in dispute in a case pending in the chancery court filed by
Lucy Brantly against her son, Sydney Smith, and Thomas Cherry and Benjamin King. Brantly
and Smith were indebted to Harrison for “medical services and other considerations.” The pair
placed George in Harrison’s possession “with the express understanding that the labour and
services of said Boy George were to discharge said indebtedness at a stipulated annual hire.”
George later became “refractory and evinced a disposition to Run Away.” Harrison also asks
that he “be relieved from any further liability for said Boy George.”
0181 (Accession # 21484203). Giles County, Tennessee. Orville and Eleanor McKissack seek
possession of certain slaves. Eleanor McKissack is the daughter of William M. McKissack and
Rebecca Sallard McKissack. When Eleanor was a baby, her maternal grandfather, Charles
Sallard, gave William three slaves, Murphy, Anna, and Patsy [Patty], upon “the condition and
with the understanding that said Negroes together with their increase should belong to your
Oratrix the said Eleanor W. upon her coming of age or marriage.” When Eleanor married Orville
McKissack in 1833, her father refused to give them the slaves, “but now holds the same
claiming as his own.” They charge that William McKissack “always and up to the time of the
marriage ... admitted that the title to said Negroes was not in him but that he held them under
said agreement with said Sallard.” On 23 September 1841, Sallard conveyed the slaves to the
complainants in a deed of gift, so they contend that they “have now a complete title.” The
plaintiffs request the slaves and compensation for their hire while in William McKissack’s
possession.
0199 (Accession # 21484204). Washington County, Tennessee. Allen Goodwin, the
administrator of the estate of the late Vaught Heaton, asks the court to compel Calvin Moore,
Nancy Moreley, and Samuel E. McQueen to surrender certain slaves, whom he claims belong
to the children of Vaught and Nancy Heaton. The slaves in question belonged to Nancy’s father,
Edward Smith, who gave them to his wife, Catharine, in 1808, who in turn gave them to Nancy
during her marriage to Heaton. When Nancy’s second husband, James Moreley, died around
1840, his administrator, Calvin J. Moore, claimed the slaves and their descendants as property
in Moreley’s estate, ignoring the Heaton children’s reversionary interest in the slaves. Nancy
Moreley then moved with Samuel E. McQueen “somewhere westward,” taking with her the four
younger slaves in the family, all of whom are “young likely and sound and healthy.” Moore holds
another member of the slave family, John. Goodwin seeks John’s return, as well as
compensation for his hire, and, in the event that the four slaves removed by Moreley and
McQueen cannot be found, he seeks “the price of said negroes together with the interest arising
upon the same.”
0209 (Accession # 21484205). Williamson County, Tennessee. Joseph M. Irwin asks the court
to perpetually enjoin John J. Burnett from collecting a judgment against him pursuant to the
purchase of a slave named Peter. Irwin explains that Burnett, the guardian of Edward Pickett,
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sold him the slave on 29 September 1840, with the knowledge that Peter was not in the state of
Tennessee. Burnett did inform him that Felix Robertson, “Captain of a Steam Boat in the
Nashville trade,” had previously purchased Peter when he was “exposed to sale on the Public
Square in Nashville,” but that the contract had been “rescinded.” Robertson took possession of
Peter, but his security “was not satisfactory and had been returned.” Irwin expected that “Mr.
Robertson would re-deliver the Negro Man on demand.” As soon as the “boating season
commenced,” Irwin saw Robertson in New Orleans and demanded the slave. Robertson
asserted “that he had already sent the Boy to Texas and would not give him up.” Burnett
instituted suit for nonpayment on Irwin’s bond, and an execution is “about to be enforced against
Your Orator’s property.” Having not “even seen the Negro since the day of his purchase,” Irwin
seeks relief.
0215 (Accession # 21484206). Maury County, Tennessee. The heirs of the late William Y.
Frierson state that Frierson died “seised & possessed of” nine slaves. They contend that there
are “assets & effects sufficient to satisfy the legal claims & demands against sd estate exclusive
of the above mentioned negroes.” They further “believe it would be greatly to the interest of the
distributees that a sale of sd. negroes should be made inasmuch as it would be wholly
impracticable to make a division of the same on account of their family connexions & the
difference of age & value.” The petitioners therefore request “that an order be granted for the
sale of the negroes” and that the administrator of the estate be made a defendant and “required
to answer all the parts & charges herein contained.” The attached commissioners’ report reveals
that the nine slaves were divided among the heirs on 28 March 1842.
0223 (Accession # 21484207). Maury County, Tennessee. Joseph Fagg asks that “proceedings
may be had before your Honour” to determine if “a writ of lunacy may be instituted” for his
eighty-seven-year-old father. Fagg reports that his father, Joel Fagg, “has become very feeble
and infirm, and from old age and imbecility of mind and body has become incapable of taking
care of himself and his property.” Joseph fears that his father “is liable to be mislead ... &
controlled by others as a child.” The petitioner states that his father owns seven slaves, various
livestock, and three hundred acres of land. In order “to secure the estate and provide for the
comfort of his said father,” Joseph Fagg requests that a guardian be appointed.
0229 (Accession # 21484208). Maury County, Tennessee. Martha W. Farrar asks the court to
grant her a “final separation” with alimony from her husband, William B. Farrar, who is “addicted
to intemperance.” She represents that his “cruel and inhuman” conduct towards her makes it
“unsafe and improper for her to cohabit with him and be under his dominion and control.” He
recently “advertised her as having deserted his bed and board and cautioned the public against
giving her any credit,” leaving her with no ability to support her family. She seeks a sufficiency of
his property to maintain the family and writs of attachment and injunction issued against his
property, which includes five slaves, whom she fears he will remove to Texas. A month later,
Farrar amended her bill in response to a constable levying upon her husband’s slaves, who
were in the custody of the clerk and master per the court’s earlier decree. She asserts that
William initiated the levies in order “to defeat the order for her maintenance and ultimately to
defeat her and her children of alimony.”
0255 (Accession # 21484210). Marshall County, Tennessee. Mary Allen seeks the recovery of
three slaves from James H. Huggins and Brevard Huggins. Allen states that “she lost
possession of said negroes” when “an execution issued” and her property “was levied upon and
sold under said execution and purchased by James H. Huggins for himself or as agent of
Brevard Huggins.” Even though she believed the judgment to be “void,” Allen arranged with
James that he “should bid off the negroes and allow your Oratrix [to] redeem them on or before
March last.” She reports that James did buy “the said negro woman & boy” for $248, but that he
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and Brevard now “utterly refuse to permit your Oratrix or any one on her behalf to redeem the
same.” Allen asks “that your Honor will declare said sale to be void, and decree that defts
deliver over said negroes who are of peculiar value to complainant to your Oratrix.”
0260 (Accession # 21484211). Bradley County, Tennessee. Jacob Jester asks the court to
enjoin Sanders W. Lea, Robert N. Gillispie, and William S. Russell from enforcing judgments
won against him while acting as the security on a note for his brother, John Jester. He also asks
the court to order the sale of John’s two slaves, Daniel and Easter, to “satisfy said judgments
and costs.” The petitioner became his brother’s security in 1840 on a debt of $340 that John
owed to Lea. A year later the sheriff seized Daniel and Easter and offered them for sale. Jester
alleges that his brother entered into a “fraudulent arrangement” at the sale with Gillispie, who
purchased the slaves for John’s benefit at the “paltry sum” of $100 and now holds them “under a
secret trust.” John Jester then “removed to parts unknown,” and Lea sold the judgments to
Russell, the constable’s surety, in order to “relieve said constable and to subject the property of
your orator to the satisfaction of said judgments.” Jester charges that his brother’s slave
property was “of value sufficient to pay and discharge said judgment” and that the constable
“fraudulently permitted said John to dispose of” it.
0273 (Accession # 21484212). Bradley County, Tennessee. Anderson Nowlin, the next friend of
his sister Artimincy, requests that Benjamin R. Inman be enjoined from selling the slave woman
Milly and her children. Nowlin recounts that his mother, Winney Nowlin, “unfortunately ... gave
birth to a Daughter by the name of Artimincy Nowlin and who by birth was an Idiot or Natural
fool.” He states that his father, James Nowlin, “believed it to be his duty to give and settle said
negro girl and her increase upon the said Artimincy.” Nowlin cites that “said conveyance was
only made for the purpose of enabling said unfortunate Daughter to procure a support and help
from said negro and increase and without the help of said negro woman to attend and wait on
said Idiot,” Artimincy would surely have suffered. The petitioner reports that after said
conveyance, his father became indebted to Inman and the “said claim matured into a judgment”
against his father whereby Milly was levied and seized by the constable, who “will expose said
negro girl to sale.” Nowlin asks that Inman be directed to answer the charges and that “said
property be decreed to said Artimincy for her sole benefit” with a trustee appointed to manage
them for her.
0279 (Accession # 21484213). Smith County, Tennessee. Dianah Reeves asks “that a
perpetual injunction enjoining and restraining the said defendants” be issued against Martin
Sloane and his business partners. Reeves asserts that “a judgment rendered against Frances
Pugh” in favor of the defendants has resulted in an execution being “issued on your oratrix’s
negro man Osker.” She “most positively alledgs that she does not owe said Judgment nor is she
liable either directly or indirectly” for its payment. Fearing that unless “prevented by the timely
interposition of your Honorable Court said negro Osker will be sacrificed to pay sd unjust
Demand so illegally levied upon your oratrixs property,” Reeves asks that “said negro Osker or
any other property which does or may belong” to her be protected from sale for the satisfaction
of debt.
0284 (Accession # 21484214). Smith County, Tennessee. Dianah Reeves asks “that a
perpetual injunction be granted enjoining and restraining the Defendants Baily and Bowman”
from selling her slave named Oscar. Reeves asserts that “a Judgment rendered against
Frances Pugh,” her son, has resulted in an execution being levied “upon a negro man Oscar
which belongs to your Orator and not to Frances Pugh and unless said officer [Bowman] is
prevented by the timely interposition of your honorable Courts your Oratrix said negra man will
be sacrificed to pay said Debt.” She argues that “the said Frances Pugh is of Lawful age and
that your Oratrix is not bound for said Debt in any way whatever.” Reeves further charges “that
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the Said Defendants Bailey and Bowman have combined to cheat and defraud your Oratrix out
of what little she has as they cannot come at what your oratrix has by fair means they wish to do
so by foul means.” Reeves asks that her slave Oscar and “any other property which belong to
your Oratrix” be protected from sale for the satisfaction of a debt.
0290 (Accession # 21484215). Smith County, Tennessee. Mary A. Harper seeks a divorce from
her husband, Alfred Harper, and asks for “a reasonable suport out his estate.” Mary claims that
her husband began verbally and physically abusing her “about six weeks after said Marriage.” In
one violent episode, he seized her “by the hair of her head” and dragged her “over the house.”
He also began inviting “negroes to visit him at his own house” and, on a night in August 1842,
he made an “arrangement to give a Super to the Negroes at 25 Cents a head & the use of his
kitchen to dance in during the night & he remained with the Negroes dancing with them Most of
the Night.” Mary also accuses Alfred of committing “acts & deeds inconsistant with the
matrimonial vow by conducting adultery with his sd. negroe woman Lacy.” Informing the court
that Alfred owns 119 acres of land, two slaves, and “stock of various kinds,” she seeks an
injunction, barring him from disposing of his estate until a final decree of the court. Alfred denies
associating with “negroes ... on equal terms” in his answer. In a related petition, Mary Harper,
recently divorced by court decree at August Term 1843, seeks custody of her infant child, who
was born “whilst said Bill was pending in said court.” She cites that her divorce from Alfred
Harper was granted, but “no order was made in said decree as to who should have the custody
of said child.” She asks for custody “of her said child free from the contact or disturbance of said
Alfred.”
0307 (Accession # 21484216). Sumner County, Tennessee. The heirs of the late William
Clampitt request that his children and his estate “be left in the hands of” his widow Martha. They
state that William died possessed of a one hundred-acre tract of land, assorted livestock, and
three slaves. They allege that it was his desire “that his children should be kept together with
their mother and there should be no partition of the property during her widowhood there not
being more property belonging to said estate than would support raise and educate said
children.” The petitioners state that if Martha takes her dower “it would take such a portion of the
land, as would render the balance of little value to the children.” They also contend that “a
division of the personalty” would not be “manifestly for the interest of all the parties concerned.”
In particular, Martha is “desirous to keep her children together as she feels the fostering care
and attention of a mother, to be necessary in rearing said children.” They pray “that the above
mentioned land and slaves and other personal property” be ordered to remain intact, with the
understanding that Martha will “support, and educate said minor children” and the estate’s
administrator will not “make sale of the same or any part thereof.”
0313 (Accession # 21484218). Giles County, Tennessee. Martha Fogg joins her adult children
in asking that commissioners be appointed to divide and distribute the slaves in the estate of
John Fogg, Martha’s late husband and the children’s father. They also report that a slave
named Silas, who “has been considered the property of the said Arthur D. though there has
never been any division of said negroes among your petitioners,” has been sold for $356 to
Rufus G. P. White. The petitioners request “that all the right title & interest which your petitioners
& the said defendants have in to said negro boy Silas, be divested out of them & vested in said
White.” Martha names her minor children—George, Everly, Malenia, and Agness—defendants
to the bill and avers that her husband’s slaves “are of value sufficient to indemnify said minors &
will afford them a much larger share than was allotted to your petitioners.”
0321 (Accession # 21484220). Williamson County, Tennessee. Clem McClary Sr., a free man of
color, joins his forty-six-year-old wife Rachel and their six children, thirteen-year-old Peter,
eleven-year-old Mary Ann, nine-year-old Susan, seven-year-old Eleanor, five-year-old Clem Jr.,
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and three-year-old Elizabeth, in a petition for their emancipation “by proper & legal bonds being
executed without incurring the penalties of the act of 1831 Ch. 102 and that they be allowed to
remain within this state.” The petitioner, “with a view in good faith to emancipate his said wife
Rachel & his two only children then born of her,” contracted to purchase them from Martin Clark
in early December 1831 “before the passage of” said law. He further states that since 16
December 1831 “the said Rachel has ever since lived with him as his wife and as a free woman
and has since that time borne to him your petitioners Susan Eleanor Clem & Elizabeth and that
no other person has since that time exercised any ownership over said Rachel or her children
but that they have lived with said Clem McClaury sen. as his wife & children as orderly
industrious free persons of color.” The petitioners pray that their emancipation be forthcoming
and “that they be allowed to remain within this state.”
0332 (Accession # 21484222). Montgomery County, Tennessee. The “President directors &c of
the union Bank of the State of Tennessee” ask the court to issue an attachment against certain
property, including four slaves, belonging to Henry and Andrew Newman. In the meantime, the
bank asks the court to appoint a receiver “to take the same into possession and hire it out until
the decision of said suit.” The bank claims that Andrew Newman “has actually succeeded in
removing of his negroes to the State of Alabama” and that “the number of them was
considerable more than enough to pay” his debt. They allege that the property “passed through
Nashville, on its way to Alabama under the charge of two persons who had been employed by
said Henry Newman to run said property off,” but that an agent of the bank and another creditor
gave “Hot pursuit” and were able to overtake the property and bring it “within the Jurisdiction of
this Court.”
0343 (Accession # 21484223). Sumner County, Tennessee. Sarah Ray asks to be “protected
and quieted in her rights” to a slave named Celia and Celia’s eight children. She asserts that her
mother, Lydia Ray, gave Celia to her “about the year 1804” as “part of her interest in” the estate
of her late father, Joseph Ray. She complains that her nephew, George Ray, has taken
advantage “of the weak and fickle mind of an infirm mother of ninety years of age” and
convinced Lydia, through the help of his “agent in the immediate neighborhood,” Charles Coker,
to convey the slaves to him. The sixty-three-year-old petitioner asserts that she has “devoted
her whole life to the care and attention of her Mother, that she has worked day and night for her
frequently till 11 or 12 o’Clock that she for many years, say at least for 25 years, weaved and
worked for corn meat, Sugar goods and every thing necessary for her and the family’s Support
that she was the means of Keeping the family and property together, that she for 30 years has
worked harder than any slave on the place, and in all probability harder than any in the County
of Smith.” She asks the court to enjoin her nephew and Coker from “disturbing or molesting her
in the enjoyment” of the slaves. In the meantime, the petitioner asks that Cyrus W. Brevard be
appointed as receiver of the slaves, who should then be hired out.
0356 (Accession # 21484224). Bradley County, Tennessee. The Planters Bank of Tennessee
asks for an attachment “to be levied on” certain “negro slaves” belonging to James H. Fyffe and
Hugh Smith “to be disposed of” to satisfy a judgment won by the bank for payment of Solomon
Bogart’s $3,350 debt. The bank seeks to hold Bogart’s property, as well as the property of the
three men who served as his security, subject to the judgment. The bank accuses the
defendants of conveying eight slaves to other men in order “to delay, hinder embarrass and
defeat the collection of the aforesaid debt to your orator.” The bank alleges that the
“confederates” intend to remove the slaves “beyond the jurisdiction of the State of Tennessee.”
0367 (Accession # 21484225). Sumner County, Tennessee. Joseph and Martha Robb ask that
James White, the administrator of the estate of Martha’s late father, Samuel Calhoun, be
ordered to deliver to them two slaves that Martha’s maternal grandfather, Richard King, gave
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her before his death. They also ask that Calhoun’s personal estate, which includes nine slaves,
be divided between them and Martha’s stepmother, Martha H. Hallam, and her husband,
William, “according to their respective rights.” The slaves in question, Sloan and Sally, are
“family negroes” with whom Martha Robb was raised “from her earliest infancy” and to whom
she “has become very much attached.” The Robbs assert that the two slaves were devised to
Martha in Calhoun’s will in order to “carry out the intentions of the said Richard King,” and are
not subject to Martha Hallam’s right of dower as Samuel Calhoun’s widow. They testify that “a
recovery of their value would be altogether an inadequate remedy” and therefore request “a
specific delivery of the slaves themselves.” They also ask to be compensated for the slaves’ hire
while they have been in the hands of said administrator.
0385 (Accession # 21484226). Bedford County, Tennessee. Peter Lee, the administrator of
Hugh Snelling, seeks to make his final account of the estate. Lee represents that his intestate
died in April 1841 and that the heirs agreed to appoint commissioners to divide the estate. The
commissioners “required each of said distributees to furnish a statement of the money and other
property advanced ... by said Hugh Snelling”; they then divided the twenty-eight slaves into
groups and allotted them to the heirs. Since the lots were of unequal value, the heirs should
have paid money to each other to make the shares equal, but some of them were “dissatisfied
with said division and refused to comply.” Lee initially refused to hand over the slaves until the
heirs complied, but he later decided to let them have their slaves and balance the shares when
he made his final settlement. Lee is ready now to settle said estate. He avers that he “has
repeatedly requested said distributees to ... pay or secure the amount to be paid by them
respectively,” but several heirs refuse to do so. Lee asks that the court compel the heirs to
equalize the shares or that it decree “a distribution de non.”
0399 (Accession # 21484227). Maury County, Tennessee. The “Branch of the Bank of the State
of Alabama at Montgomery” asks the court to attach “a large number of slaves” belonging to
Rene Fitzpatrick and Stephen Horton to be held subject to the payment of their $5,451 debt to
the bank. The two own a total of forty-six slaves between them, and forty-two are currently in the
possession of Arnold Zelner, the jailer of Maury County.
0405 (Accession # 21484228). Maury County, Tennessee. James H. Shorter, a citizen of
Georgia, asks the court to issue an attachment “to be levied on” the property of Rene
Fitzpatrick, who owes him several “sums by judgment.” Shorter asserts that Fitzpatrick, a citizen
of Alabama, has “absconded therefrom with about 40 negroes, horses mules & waggon &c all
which property is now in Maury County Tennessee and will be run off immediately if not
stopped.”
0412 (Accession # 21484230). Giles County, Tennessee. In this “amended bill of complaint,”
Andrew M. Ballentine, Samuel Kercheval, Richard G. Scoggin, and Robert Toland ask the court
to hold eleven slaves “subject to complainants debt.” They claim that two bills of sale for the
slaves from Edward D. Jones to Edward H. Jones and Edward D. Jones to Homer R. Jones
“have never been duly proved or registered.” The petition initiating their suit is not in the
collection.
0420 (Accession # 21484231). Cannon County, Tennessee. John Martin, the administrator of
the estate of the late Richard Butcher, asks the court to enjoin Joseph Ramsey, James H.
Stone, and Goolsbury Means “from selling or interfearing with said Negro boy Daniel,” a sixteenyear-old
slave in Butcher’s estate described as a “likely valuable boy ... borne his property, and
is a family slave, which the family is unwilling to part with.” Martin reports that the three men
“came to the house of your orator in Cannon County on the fifth of September 1842 and
pretended to have Executions in their hands against one Henry Kinsey [and] forcibly took the
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said Negro out of his possession.” He asserts that he “knows of no right” that the defendants
had to take Daniel. Butcher’s estate is indebted, and Martin testifies that the estate’s creditors
“are entitled to said boy first to have their debts satisfyed.” The county court ruled in favor of the
defendants, but the supreme court reversed the decision on 30 January 1845.
0433 (Accession # 21484232). Shelby County, Tennessee. James Bates submits that on 19
November 1842 “two judgments were rendered against him” by defendants Walton and Steen.
He points out that “in may last he hired three negroes of said Martin Walton at twenty five
dollars per month and retained them about two months.” The petitioner contends that “it is for
the hire of said negroes with a few other items of account that said judgments were rendered
against him.” Bates states he contracted with Walton “to receive in payment of said claims a
certain waggon at the price of sixty dollars.” He claims “that said Steens was not known to your
petitioner at all in said transaction,” and he believes Steen was added when “said debt was
divided and two seperate suits instituted thereon in order to reduce the amount to the
jurisdiction of a justice of the peace.” Considering “himself injured and aggrieved,” Bates asks
the court to issue subpoenas and “to remove the proceedings in said causes to the circuit court
of Shelby county at its next Term.”
0440 (Accession # 21484233). Shelby County, Tennessee. William Patterson complains that his
wife, Catharine McIntire Patterson, left their home two years after their marriage in 1837 and
moved in with her mother, who owns “some twelve or fifteen negroes.” Patterson repeatedly
attempted to get her to move with him from their then-home of Alabama to Tennessee, where
he believed “he could thereby better his condition in life.” She refused to move with him to
Tennessee or live with him anywhere else. William Patterson, now a resident of Tennessee,
asks the court to dissolve his marriage.
0452 (Accession # 21484234). Sumner County, Tennessee. The petitioners seek to recover
property willed to them by their grandfather. They relate that their maternal grandfather, Elijah
Humphries [Humphris] [Humphreys], bequeathed slaves and other property to them in his 1794
will. Jessee Haynie Sr., father of five of the petitioners, concealed the information from his
children, telling them that Humphries willed the property to their mother Rhoda [Rodah] [Rody]
Humphries Haynie for her life and then to her children. The plaintiffs avow that they were “kept
in ignorance of their rights” until 1842, when “a copy of the Clauses of Said will was found
among the papers of Jessee Haynie at his death.” They charge that Jessee Haynie Sr. sold
twelve slaves illegally to various buyers and also bequeathed their rightful property to his third
wife (“a young woman in her 19th year”) and to two daughters by his second wife. Haynie’s will
has not entered probate yet and “it is probable that the same will be contested.” In the
meantime, the petitioners ask the court to issue an injunction and an attachment to confiscate
the slaves held by the defendants, because they fear the defendants will remove them from the
court’s jurisdiction. They also ask the court to award them title to the slaves and compensation
for the time others held the slaves.
0512 (Accession # 21484235). Smith County, Tennessee. In August 1842, Francis Gordon
conveyed some property in trust “for the benefit of Jacob W. Roe & other creditors & securities”
and appointed David Ward and John Newhouse trustees. Prior to that time, Creed Penn, the
current sheriff of Smith County, “levied two executions upon some of the property embraced in
said trust deed” to satisfy a judgment obtained by John Roe against Gordon. Gordon explains
that he “purposely” left three of his slaves out of the deed in order to satisfy that execution, as
well as others. Wiatt Bailey, former sheriff of Smith County, seized and sold the three slaves
yielding a total of $801. Gordon asserts that this sum is sufficient to satisfy all executions
pending against him, including Roe’s, and accuses Bailey, Haney, and Penn of forming a
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“pretext for selling other property” belonging to him. He asks the court to restrain the defendants
from further seizing his property, particularly that contained in the trust deed.
1843
0527 (Accession # 21484302). Williamson County, Tennessee. Stating that “he has been this
day emancipated from slavery by a decree of this court,” John Griffin, a free man of color, seeks
permission to remain in Williamson County, where he has lived for the past eighteen years and
where “most of his friends and relations” reside. He further notes “that he has a wife and six
children now living in the county of Williamson & held in slavery.” Griffin “prays your worships to
grant him the privilege of residing in said county of Williamson.”
0534 (Accession # 21484303). Williamson County, Tennessee. Betsy, a free woman of color,
asks to remain in Williamson County and to be “exemted from the penalties imposed by the act
of 1831 Chap 102 and other penalties and conditions imposed on free persons of colour
residing in this state or required to leave the same.” Betsy attests that she has been “a resident
of the County of Williamson near twenty five years ... that all her friends and relations are in the
County of Williamson where the greater part of her life has been spent.” The petitioner further
says that “she is a woman of good caracter and is disposed to keep the peace and be of good
behaviour towards all the free white citizens of this State.” Betsy states “that her occupation is
that of a washer woman and she believes that she is amply able to support herself and save
Enough of her earnings to prevent her becoming a charge upon the County in her old age.”
0541 (Accession # 21484304). Maury County, Tennessee. Henry Wade asks that James and
Pleasant Akin “be perpetually enjoined” from proceeding with the sale of the levied property of
Elizabeth Simmons. Wade explains that on 3 February 1843 James Wade “delivered to your
Orator a deed of trust for the use and benefit of Elizabeth Simmons,” which included household
furniture, livestock and a seventy-year-old slave named Nancy. The provisions of the deed
stipulated that the property contained therein was “for her use & benefit exclusively,” and it did
not belong to her husband and was not “subject to the payment of his debts.” Wade reports that
“James Akin & others have had executions levied upon some of the property to satisfy debts
owing by” Elizabeth’s husband and “the same is advertised to be sold.” As Elizabeth’s trustee,
Wade cannot “silently permit sd property to be sold and the sd Elizabeth deprived of the scanty
means of support which has been afforded her by others.” He asks that the court issue an
injunction “enjoining & restraining the sd James & Pleasant Akin from further proceeding by sd
executions.”
0547 (Accession # 21484305). Maury County, Tennessee. James G. Booker, executor of the
estate of his late father, Peter R. Booker, and the estate of his late brother, Henry L. Booker,
seeks the court’s advice on distributing the slaves in Henry’s estate. Booker explains that his
late father’s will left “six thousand dollars worth of slaves” to each of his children, specifying that,
if any of the children died “without issue, either before or after coming of age,” the slaves should
be “equally divided between my surviving children.” Henry Booker died in 1841, leaving only a
wife, and the petitioner questions whether his brother’s “negro property ... reverts back to the
estate of the said Peter R. Booker ... or whether the same vested absolutely in the said Henry
L.” He also informs the court that various creditors of Henry have won judgments against him,
and certain slaves are in the sheriff’s hands to be sold to satisfy the decrees. He asks the court
to enjoin the creditors from “interfering in any way with said negroes, until the rights of your
orator as Executor of said Peter R. are settled by your honour to said property.”
0554 (Accession # 21484306). Maury County, Tennessee. John Huddleston, a resident of
Lowndes County, Mississippi, seeks an attachment on slave property that he “believes & so
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charges” is “now in Maury County at what precise place or in whose possession he is not
advised.” The petitioner recounts that “one George Stillman of Lowndes County Mississippi
borrowed said negroes the mother to wait upon his family as a cook until your Orator should
want them or until said Stillman could hire one in her place.” Huddleston contends that Stillman
“fraudulently run off said negroes to parts unknown” and that “they are concealed by various
persons to him unknown as yet” in this county. Since Stillman is at present insolvent, the
petitioner “has good reason to believe” that if he should “endeavor to regain said negroes
without the aid of an attachment that said negroes will be run entirely off so that your Orator will
lose them.” Huddleston therefore asks that the sheriff “attach said negroes & keep them” and
that Stillman be required to answer his charges. James Douglass claims to be the “lawful
owner” of the slaves in his cross bill; he alleges that Stillman purchased the slaves from
Huddleston “six years ago” and proceeded to sell them to Douglass for $1,300 in 1843. The
1847 decree ruled that Huddleston had a valid claim on the slaves and that Douglass
fraudulently “purchased [the slaves] with a view to defeat the same.”
0576 (Accession # 21484307). Williamson County, Tennessee. William Donelson seeks a writ
of attachment against Thomas J. Porter in an effort to collect a debt for $281.25. Donelson
explains that several men won a judgment against Porter for the hire of a slave in a previous
suit in 1840; the court ordered Porter to “deliver over ... a negro man of great value” in
satisfaction thereof. Porter, however, removed the slave, worth $700, to Mississippi and
“converted him to his own use.” The complainants in the earlier suit assigned their rights to
Donelson, who now seeks to collect the debt from Porter, now residing in Tennessee. Donelson
reminds the court of an 1838 judgment in Porter’s favor, which he successfully “enjoined
collection of.” Proceedings regarding this judgment are currently pending in the supreme court.
The petitioner asks the court “to attach said Judgment debt or so much thereof” and to apply it
toward the satisfaction of his debt. In a bill of revivor filed six months later, Donelson cites that
Porter has recently died. He now seeks to obtain payment of the debt in the name of Porter’s
administrator, Archy Porter.
0587 (Accession # 21484308). Maury County, Tennessee. Jessee H. Fitzgerald asks the court
“to restrain the said William W. Coleman from selling the negro girl Jane.” The petitioner states
that Coleman, a constable, “has levied several executions amounting in all to about five hundred
dollars” in favor of the defendants upon “Jane as the property of one Martin Dodson againt
whom are said several executions.” Fitzgerald argues “that the said negro girl is not the property
of said Martin Dodson and was not at the time said executions were levied, but that she is and
was at the time and had been for several months the property of your orator.” He asks that the
defendants be commanded “to appear & answer the several allegations herein contained.”
Fitzgerald also charges that “there is a considerable amount of usury in each of the aforesaid
executions.”
0592 (Accession # 21484309). Knox County, Tennessee. Thomas B. Cox, the administrator of
the estate of the late Ailey H. Mabry, asks for permission to sell eight slaves that belong to the
estate. He explains that “in compliance with his duty and in obedience to the laws” he duly
advertised and offered up for sale “all the perishable property belonging to said estate which
brought about the sum of $230.” Cox ascertains “that there are debts against said estate far
exceeding in amount the value of the assets which your petitioner was authorized to sell and
convert into cash.” Cox notes that the debts of the estate may be as much as $3,000 and they
“are now bearing interest.” With the view that “he has no other means of discharging the debts
of the estate,” the petitioner believes “it advisable for the interests of the estate that these slaves
should be sold at once in as much as they are mostly unproductive.”
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0597 (Accession # 21484310). Marshall County, Tennessee. Hilliard Vincent, his nine brothers
and sisters, and James Amis, guardian of the minor Vincent siblings, ask that their father,
James Vincent, and William Shehane be ordered to surrender a slave named Gabe. Their
grandfather’s will bequeathed a life estate in the “slave for life named Gabe of the value of
$600.00” to their mother. After their mother’s death, their father conveyed “all his interest” in
Gabe “and other slaves” to the petitioners by a deed of gift. As the “absolute owners” of Gabe,
they explain that they hired him out to William Shehane “for two weeks,” but, that instead of
returning the slave to them “as he was bound to do,” Shehane “wrongfully & fraudulently hired
or pretended to hire said slave of said James Vincent for the residue of the year.” They fear that
the pair is “endeavouring to hire persons to run & secrete said slave” beyond the jurisdiction of
the court. They also request that the sheriff of Marshall County attach Gabe and hold him in his
custody while their case is being tried. In his cross bill, James Vincent, who is illiterate, asserts
that he was intoxicated when he executed the deed of gift to his children.
0611 (Accession # 21484311). Williamson County, Tennessee. Adam, “a man of Colour,” sues
for his freedom. On 1 November 1841, Amos Hurley, guardian of the minor heirs of Leonard
Smith, sold Adam for $901 to Michael Garrett. Adam asserts that his former owners “were
willing, he should acquire his freedom, by paying the price, that should be bid for him at publick
sale.” In fact, Adam contends that he, Hurley, and Garrett agreed before the sale that Adam
would repay the purchase money and that Garrett would free him. Adam thus acquired “notes
bonds and evidences of debt upon good and Solvent persons” for $550 and gave them to
Overton Kennedy, one of Garrett’s securities. On 8 January 1842, Michael Garrett wrote a deed
freeing Adam, whereupon he “engaged in business acquired property in his own name, and in
all respects, acted as a free man.” Adam reveals that Hurley won a judgment on the debt never
paid by Kennedy and that the sheriff seized his land, two horses, a saddle and bridle, and his
person to satisfy said judgment. He further argues that Garrett falsely promised to pay Hurley’s
judgment, but instead kept the $407 worth of bonds and notes that he had given him. Adam
reports that most of his property was sold and that he was sold at auction for $401 to Amos
Hurley, who put Adam back in jail until seventeen days ago. At that time, Hurley directed an
agent “to carry your Orator to the State of Mississippi and Sell him into perpetual slavery for
what he would bring in that Market.” Of the opinion “that he was entitled to his freedom ... and
seeing that ... he was about to be kidnapped & Sold into hopeless and perpetual slavery, far
removed from his friends and the evidences of his claim to freedom,” Adam “openly left”
Hurley’s agent on the way to market and returned to Davidson County. He asks the court to void
the sale to Hurley and to confirm his freedom.
0631 (Accession # 21484312). Knox County, Tennessee. William Rodgers, the administrator of
the estate of the late Alexander Kanard, seeks permission to sell a forty-year-old estate slave
named David. Rodgers explains that the said estate “is endebted three hundred dollars and
upwards and that there is only the amount of $111.34 of assets to pay said debts, and that the
creditors are pressing for their claims.” Believing that “there is no means of paying the liabilities
of said estate except said slave David,” the petitioner urges “your Honor to decree the sale of
said Slave David upon such term as may be most advantageous to the interest of said estate.”
0635 (Accession # 21484313). Smith County, Tennessee. John Stevens asks the court to allow
him a credit of $116 on a judgment won against him by James B. Moores. He also asks for the
title and possession of a slave named Lewis and for an injunction restraining Moores from
“further proceeding towards the execution of the said judgment against your Orator.” Stevens
explains that Moores received Lewis in 1841 through a mutual “exchange and transfer of
various items” between them. He further states that Lewis’s value “was put down at four
hundred dollars in round or even numbers, though it was well understood & expressly agreed
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between your orator & defendant Moores that he was only worth three hundred dollars.” Moores
later filed suit against Stevens,”charging that said Negro was unsound,” and won a judgment of
$400. Stevens protests that he was “defrauded out of one hundred dollars in the price of said
Negro,” asserting that Moores still retains Lewis. (The $16 balance is for the value of four
thousand shingles, which were also a part of their trade agreement.)
0641 (Accession # 21484314). Bradley County, Tennessee. The widow and children of the late
Robert Cate seek to have a bill of sale for the slave Pleasant set aside. They claim that Robert’s
father, the late William Cate, directed in his will “that a certain negro man named Pleasant ...
should be given to his son Robert.” They explain that shortly after William wrote his will he
“became entirley Delarious, and incompetent to Transact any Kind of bisiness.” They further
charge that Charles Cate, the brother of the late Robert, persuaded his father “to Give him a Bill
of sale to said boy Pleasant mentioned in the will.” The petitioners maintain that William
executed the will in question “in his proper mind and that He was very Desirous the will should
be proven.” Widow Matilda Cate states that she has been “left very pore with several small
Children” and that “the Fraudulent Conduct of the said Charles ... has tended to the manifest
Injury of Your oratrix and all most Ruined her prosperity in a pecuniary point of view.” The
petitioners therefore ask that the defendants be summoned to answer their charges, that the
sheriff of Bradley County take Pleasant into his custody until their case is heard, and that
William’s “will be Delivered up and proven and Registered as Required by law.”
0650 (Accession # 21484315). Bradley County, Tennessee. Sarah Cate asks that a “pretended
bill of sale” for a slave named Pleasant “be declared utterly fraudulent and void.” She states that
her late husband, William Cate, was “lawfully possessed among other things, and of his own
right, of a certain valuable and young negro boy, named Pleasant.” She charges that Pleasant
was in her husband’s possession until his death “when he the said negro boy was Secretly,
fraudulently and in violation of law, and of the rights of your oratrix and the other distributees of
the said William deceased, stolen or decoyed away by a certain Charles Cate.” She alleges that
Charles bases his claim on a bill of sale executed by William fourteen months before his death
when the said William “was excessively drunk, totally insane and incompetent.” Claiming that
said bill “was procured through the grossest fraud,” Sarah Cate prays that Charles be
summoned to answer her charges and be enjoined from removing Pleasant and that the “bill of
sale by a decree of this court be declared null and void, and the one half of the proceeds of the
sale of said negro boy be decreed to be paid to your oratrix.”
0658 (Accession # 21484316). Bradley County, Tennessee. William K. Pickens and five other
petitioners ask that Samuel J. Rowan and David Reagan be restrained from removing the slave
Bill outside of Polk County. They maintain that Rowan “caused an execution to issue” from a
judgment that resulted in Bill, “property that belonged or that was owned in part Jointly by your
Orators,” being levied on. They further state that “for the purpose of cheting and defrauding your
Orators,” Rowan seized Bill, “at least a half mile from said Town,” whereupon David Reagan,
the deputy sheriff, “there sold said negroe, for about the sum of sixteen Dollars.” The petitioners
argue that the “execution was void” and that Reagan “had no authority to sell said negro at any
other place than at or in the Town of Columbus.” They ask that the defendants “be compelled to
answer” their charges and that “Sheriff of Polk County be directed to take the possession of the
said negroe and him to be safely Kept ... untill the Suit at law is finally disposed of.”
0665 (Accession # 21484317). Giles County, Tennessee. Martha Estes and her husband,
William, ask the court to “decree to the said Martha A. Estes said negro Girl Jane to be held as
her separate property and for her sole and separate use.” The Esteses explain that Martha
purchased Jane in 1841 from William Gibner [?] with money derived from the estate of Samuel
Gilbert, her late father. Gilbert bequeathed the proceeds from the sale of his estate, after the
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discharge of his just debts, to his three daughters to be equally divided among the three sisters
and “free from the controll or claim of their said husbands.” Later that year, however, Lemack
Ezell won a judgment against William Estes and “levied an execution” on Jane. The petitioners
condemn the “wrongful seizure” of Jane and seek her return, as well as an account for her hire.
0671 (Accession # 21484318). Williamson County, Tennessee. Joseph and Amy Owen White
and Amy’s brother, Herbert Owen, seek to amend the deed of trust that the Whites executed in
1828 upon contemplation of their marriage. They explain that Amy brought four slaves to the
marriage, who were made subject to a “deed of marriage settlement” that allowed her to dispose
of the slaves as she saw fit after her death. The draftsman of the deed, however,
“misapprehended” their instructions, and the petitioners, who are “illiterate persons,” wish to
correct his mistake. They now outline the proper “disposition” for the slaves in the event that
Amy dies childless, and name eleven slaves who have been born to Jemima, Judith, and
Matilda since 1828. [The petition appears to be missing a page or pages.]
0678 (Accession # 21484319). Williamson County, Tennessee. Wiley Vessels and Horace
Vessels, through his next friend, Thomas Byers, seek to recover their twenty-eight-year-old
slave Patsey and her two children. The two petitioners state that they “were in possession of
said slaves ... in Chicot County in the state of Arkansas until some time in the month of July
1842 when the same were clandestinely taken and run off.” They claim that the abductor
“neither had any title to the same nor ever set up any claim to them.” They were later informed
that the slaves were “in the possession of the said William D. Taylor,” who lived one hundred
miles away from the petitioners and who laid claim to the slaves “under a mortgage” from
another individual. The petitioners report, however, that the slaves “were run off to the state of
Tennessee” before they “instituted any proceedings for their recovery of the said slaves.”
Fearing “that the said slaves will be again run off into parts unknown so they will be wholly lost
to your Orators,” the petitioners ask that the defendants be summoned to answer their charges
and that the slave family be placed in the custody of the sheriff “to await the further order of the
honourable court.”
0685 (Accession # 21484320). Williamson County, Tennessee. Richard Alexander asks the
court to attach Mary P. Breathitt’s slave, Randal, and to appoint a receiver to hire him out for his
benefit “until the further order of this court.” Alexander explains that Breathitt is “justly indebted”
to him and has failed to repay him when he “demanded the money.” Randal, a carpenter by
trade and “a specific legacy” to Mary from her mother, Elizabeth Eaton, “is liable to take to
Mississippi out of his reach at any time on getting the consent of said admr,” Thomas N.
Figuers. The petitioner asks the court to enjoin Mary from “having said slave conveyed out this
state.” He also mentions that Eaton’s will gave Randal to Mary during her life, and that, upon her
death, “said slave is to be free.”
0696 (Accession # 21484321). Williamson County, Tennessee. Edward L. Jordan, the
administrator of the estate of the late Sally Wood Jordan, seeks permission to sell two slaves
that belong to the estate. Jordan states that “Sally Jordan died seized and possessed of the
following property towit slaves Lucy aged about 50 & Jerman about 30 yrs” and that “this is all of
the property belonging to said estate known to your Petitioner.” He also reports that “the debts
against the estate will not amount to more than twenty dollars.” Recognizing that there is a
“small amount of property belonging to said estate and the large number of heirs having an
interest in the same,” Jordan believes “that it is impossible to divide the same without having a
sale thereof.” He therefore asks that the court will “grant him a decree ... for a sale of said
slaves Lucy and Jerman on a reasonable credit and that the proceeds thereof be divided”
among the heirs “share and share alike.”
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0704 (Accession # 21484322). Williamson County, Tennessee. Jacob Jamieson, a free person
of color, seeks to emancipate his fifty-year-old wife Lucy and his ten-year-old son James. He
states “that he is now old, as well as his wife, and he is very anxious, to have them
emancipated.” He explains “that he has no relations known of to him, who are not slaves” and
“upon his death ... he has no kin who could take them.” Jamieson avows “that his said wife &
child have industrious habits & have uniformly conducted & demeaned themselves as
peaceable persons & have always manifested a proper respect & submission, to the white
population of this community.” Attesting to his wife’s and son’s “good moral character,” the
petitioner prays “that they be so emancipated by your Worships.”
0709 (Accession # 21484323). Williamson County, Tennessee. Jacob and Lucy Jamieson and
their son James state that “the said Lucy & James have been duly emancipated,” and they “are
desirous of remaining in said County.” The petitioners report that Jacob “owns land & resides on
it in said County, and they have no relations or acquaintances out of the State.” They ask the
court “to grant to said Lucy & Jim the privilege of so remaining in said County of Williamson.”
0715 (Accession # 21484324). Washington County, Tennessee. The slaves of the late Loyd
Ford, by their next friend, Phoebe Stuart, seek to establish the validity of Ford’s last will and
testament, which bequeathed them their freedom, as well as certain lands in Washington
County where the petitioners wish to remain. They also seek an injunction against Ford’s
administrator and fourteen heirs at law, who contest the will and who threaten to sell them and
the property they have accumulated. The petitioners declare that Ford made a will on 1 March
1840, which called for the emancipation of his slaves upon his death. They surmise that his
resolution “was owing to the fact that most of your Orators and Oratrixes were born the slaves of
said Ford and were raised by him. In addition to this, most of complainants and especially your
Orator John were persons of irreproachable character and had rendered meritorious services to
their said master ... Most of your Orators and Oratrixes are persons of mixed blood, being
mulatto’s, and besides the motives above indicated they have always understood and believe
that their late Master was animated in his desire to emancipate them by the still more powerful
consideration of—natural love and affection.”
0732 (Accession # 21484325). Washington County, Tennessee. John Nave Jr. asks that his
contract with Calloway Ramsey for the purchase of a slave named Isabel be rescinded. He
states that he received “an assignment of the bill of sale” that cited various individuals who at
one time had an interest in Isabel. He further purports that “it is extremely doubtful whether or
not any title to said slave was communicated to him by said assignment.” Since Ramsey
represented Isabel as being “sound, healthy and sensible,” Nave gave him a horse and six
“writing[s] obligatory” for five tons of bar iron, “equal in cash to $403.20.” Nave reports that
“soon after said trade was made, your Orator, greatly to his surprise and mortification,
discovered that all the material statements of said Ramsey were false; that said slave instead of
being sound was diseased ... and instead of being sensible she is actually an idiot, or so far
destitute of reason as to be utterly incapable of rendering service as a slave.” Nave prays that
Ramsey be compelled to answer his charges and produce “the said several writings obligatory”
and that Ramsey be “decreed to pay your Orator for his care and trouble in keeping said slave”
and that he “refund the purchase money with interest.”
0741 (Accession # 21484326). Wilson County, Tennessee. The executors of the estate of the
late Wood Jones seek to carry out the provisions of their testator’s will. They ask that Edmund
Burton be ordered to deliver “up to them” a slave named Caty and her children “together with a
reasonable sum for hire,” so that the enslaved family can be distributed to the children of Polly
Amanda Jones Burton, the late wife of Edmund and Jones’s daughter. Her widower, however,
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“pretends to set up a claim to them by gift, as a marriage portion anterior to the death of said
Wood Jones.” The executors assert that although Burton had possession of the slaves before
the death of the testator, the slaves were a loan from a man, who was “in the habit of sending
negroes to his children after they were married and taking them back and sending others or the
same ones as it suited him.” Burton “positively refuses to give them up, but threatens to sell
them and appropriate the proceeds to his own use.”
0750 (Accession # 21484327). Franklin County, Tennessee. Joseph Franklin asks that he be
released from any liability on a note used by him to purchase a slave from the estate of the late
James Morris. He further requests that “the whole contract in regards to said negro man Jessee
be disanulled, canceled and held for naught.” Franklin explains that he purchased Jessee from
Morris’s administrator, Robinson Turner, in April of 1842, without the knowledge that the slave
was “diseased and unsound and had been for some Considerable Time previously labouring
under a dangerous and Lingering disease called in Medicine diabetes.” A post mortem
examination by “a man skilled in medicine” revealed “fully satisfactorily and conclusively” that
Jessee died “of and from the fatal effects of the disease aforesaid.” Franklin speculates that
Turner’s failure to give him a proper bill of sale for Jessee was “occasioned by a fraudulent
knowledge of the unsoundness of said slave.” He also seeks an injunction against Turner and
the note’s assignee, John G. Brazelton, prohibiting them from “all proceedings on said note at
Common Law in the mean time.”
0772 (Accession # 21484328). Montgomery County, Tennessee. Brittania Jones asks the court
to order her son-in-law, John H. Marable, to surrender “up to her” twelve slaves, who belong to
her late daughter’s estate. In the meantime, she asks the court to command the sheriff of
Montgomery County to attach said slaves “and to take them in his possession” until the case is
heard and decreed. Jones informs the court that her daughter married the defendant in
Arkansas and the laws of that state recognize her entitlement to said slaves “as heir of Mary in
preference to the marital right of said John H. Marable.” The Marables resided in Tennessee but
their slaves were hired out in Arkansas to Mary’s brother, John A. Jordan, until “some time after”
1843. Jordan alleges that her son, Robert Jordan, left the slaves “on the bank of Cumberland
river near to the residence of said Marable,” at Marable’s urging, “wholly ignorant of the death of
said Mary.” Jones also seeks compensation for the slaves’ hire while they have been in
Marable’s possession.
0784 (Accession # 21484329). Smith County, Tennessee. Reuben M. Searcy joins his wife,
Frances Alloway Searcy, and her four minor siblings in asking the court to compel Daniel A.
McEachern and Zachariah Alvis, the securities on Archelous Alloway’s guardianship bond, to
render an account of Alloway’s guardianship activities while managing the minors’ affairs. They
particularly seek the amount of hire generated by their two slaves, Lewis and Zuphea. The
petitioners explain that their grandfather, Booker B. Bradford, bequeathed to them the two
slaves and a legacy of $518. Their father, Archelous, managed their estate from 1834 until his
death in 1840. While they believe that their father “would have done them ample justice had he
not died,” they desire to settle the accounts, which have been taken over by Searcy, their new
guardian. The defendant McEachern is now administering Alloway’s estate, and the petitioners
request from him “the amount for hire in each year and the amounts of disbursement for each
one of your orators and oratrixes.” They assert that the slaves’ hire and “the interest annually on
sd. legacy would greatly overpay the amount expended on them.”
0800 (Accession # 21484330). Sumner County, Tennessee. The slave Nancy petitions for her
freedom and for the emancipation of her six children. Nancy avers that Sally Mahan [Mahon],
her late mistress, “was always attached” to her and her children and said that “she never
intended that they should be held in slavery after her death but would emancipate and set them
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free.” Mahan’s brother James was present when she prepared her will and told her that the best
way to ensure her slaves’ emancipation was to will them to him on condition that he free them.
Nancy claims that James Mahan said “he then could and would take them to a free state and
set them free” if he could not free them inside the state. Nancy charges that James Mahan has
not freed them as he promised. In fact, Nancy believes that Mahan has pledged or is about to
pledge some of her family to secure the repayment of a debt. The plaintiffs urge the court to
emancipate them. They also ask the court to issue an injunction against Mahan and to order the
sheriff of Sumner County to take custody of them.
0814 (Accession # 21484331). Sumner County, Tennessee. Richmond C. Tyree claims
ownership of an eight-year-old slave girl named Mahala [Hala, Haly], who is involved in a
freedom suit. Tyree reports that he paid $118.87 to James Mahan on 2 January 1843 to buy
Mahala. On 10 March 1843, Mahala and her family filed a freedom suit against Mahan. They
claim their freedom “under a verbal wish Which they alledge was made by their late mistress
Sally Mahon decd. and an alledged verbal promise made to her by said James, that he would
Set Said persons of color free.” When he heard about the suit, Tyree questioned Mahan, who
told him they had no right to freedom. Mahan admitted that his sister “had talked of freeing them
Sometime before She made her Will,” but he maintained that she “abandoned the idea” when
she learned that she could not emancipate them “So as to allow them to remain in this State.”
Instead, she bequeathed them absolutely to James Mahan. Tyree asserts that Mahan said he
would fight the suit. On 10 April, however, Mahan told him he would not contest the suit,
because he “was afraid of the Said Nancy.” She also had promised that her family “would live
with & Serve him as long as he ... lived” if he would not contest the suit. Tyree charges that
Mahan and Nancy are “combining together—for the purpose of procuring a decree in Said
cause for freedom and thereby to defraud your Orator out of his just right.” He asks “that this
cause be heard together with Said Bill for freedom” and that the court rule in his favor. Fearing
that Mahan and Nancy will hide Mahala from him, he asks the court to seize Mahala, who is still
at Mahan’s house with her mother, and hire her out until the cases are settled.
0821 (Accession # 21484332). Bradley County, Tennessee. The heirs of John King accuse
Robert King and Elisha Sharp of “combining and confederating together to cheat and defraud
your orators ... of their just and vested right in remainder to” a slave named Amy and her three
children. John King bequeathed a life estate in Amy’s mother, Nan, to his widow, Mary,
specifying that their children receive Nan’s “increase” after Mary’s death. The petitioners declare
that “the Negro woman Nan in said will mentioned bore many children after the death of the
Testator, so as to produce a sufficient Number to satisfy all the specific devises of Negroes in
said will Mentioned.” Notwithstanding the will’s stipulation, Robert King sold Amy and her family
to Sharp as if he “had an absolute estate in said negroes.” The petitioners now assert that Mary
King’s death in 1840 gave them the “immediate right to the possession of said Negroes,” which
they are unable to do because Sharp has “concealed” the slaves since his fraudulent purchase
in 1834. They seek the return of the enslaved family, including any other children Amy may
have borne. In the event that Sharp has sold the slaves, they seek an account of “their full
value.”
0833 (Accession # 21484333). Bradley County, Tennessee. Martin Langston asks the court to
enjoin the sale of a slave named David, who is now in the sheriff’s custody to satisfy an
execution against his father-in-law, Thomas Atchly. Langston explains that he purchased David
from Atchly for $450 on 12 April 1842. He declares that “said sale was fair, & for a full and
valuable consideration,” although a portion of the purchase price was used to discharge a debt
Atchly owed him. Attesting that the sale was made “without fraud, or intent to delay or defeat
creditors,” Langston seeks the court’s “interposition” to preserve his property rights.
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0841 (Accession # 21484334). Williamson County, Tennessee. William B. Porch asks the court
to order Thomas Demoss and Aris Brown to “deliver up to Your Orator” a slave named Julia and
her “small child which as yet has no name.” Porch explains that Brown, the sheriff of Davidson
County, has seized the two slaves for “an Execution in favor of one Thomas Demoss against
John C Porch,” the petitioner’s brother. While the slaves were hired out to his brother for “the
present year,” they belong to William, who purchased them the year before from B. C.
Robertson, “a citizen of Dickson County for the sum of Seven hundred Dollars.” William notes
that Julia is “peculiarly valuable to Your Orator as she [is] young, healthy and likely to raise him
a large family of likely and valuable children.” He seeks an injunction restraining the sale, as
well as compensation for Julia’s hire while she has been detained. The defendants’ answer
reveals that Julia’s child is named Maria.
0848 (Accession # 21484335). Maury County, Tennessee. Samuel Gentry, the administrator of
the late Pleasant G. Harden, asks the court to confirm the sale of a slave named Joshua. Gentry
informs the court that his intestate died in 1839, “possessed of sundry slaves,” and that included
in said slaves was “a negro man named Joshua, about 22 or 23 years of age.” He further
reports that in the latter part of 1841 “the said negro named Joshua ran off, & took the woods, &
absented & secreted himself entirely from the possession of your petitioner, & from the
possession & control of any one.” Gentry purports that he made “diligent search for said boy &
that all effort to get possession of him was unavailing.” Of the opinion that Joshua “would never
be caught” and believing “even if the boy was ever caught, he would probably run off again,” the
petitioner agreed to sell Joshua to one John L. Cheek, who “proposed to purchase said boy
from your petitioner as he then ran in the woods,” for $750. Gentry notes that Harden’s widow is
in agreement with the sale and that “they neither warrantied the title or the delivery of said boy
to said Cheek.” The petitioner therefore prays “your honour under the circumstances ... to ratify
& confirm said sale.”
0856 (Accession # 21484341). Bedford County, Tennessee. Benjamin Webb and Guynn Foster
ask the court to order John Patterson to “deliver up” a slave named Tom and the note Patterson
used to purchase Tom. They further ask that if Patterson “cannot do that, that you will direct an
account to be taken of the value of sd slave and decree that sd defdt shall pay the same with
the value of his hire.” The petitioners explain that Webb, through his agent, Foster, transacted
the sale with Patterson subject to a “defeasance” allowing Webb to repurchase Tom within six
months. The two men complain that Patterson refuses to comply with “sd defeasance,” alleging
that Tom has run away from him. The petitioners, however, assert that Patterson “has in fact
sold him for a sum largely over three hundred dollars,” the value of the note. They “allege
moreover if he has run away sd Patterson is liable.” Depositions in the court transcript reveal
that Patterson refuses to return the slave until the petitioners pay him for the costs incurred to
keep Tom in jail after his recapture.
0871 (Accession # 21484342). Shelby County, Tennessee. James Scott, a free man of color,
requests permission to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. He states that “he was born free
in the County of Burke in the state of North Carolina—that he removed to this County about
fifteen years since” and that his freedom papers were recorded in Shelby County on 10
November 1834. Scott fears “that should he remove from this state, he would have to be located
among strangers, and strange laws.” Noting that “his associates are here,” Scott asks that “your
worships may extend to him the privileges of the act of Assembly passed at Nashville 4th
February 1842.”
0876 (Accession # 21484343). Shelby County, Tennessee. Berry Chavers, a free man of color,
seeks permission to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. He states that “he has resided in the
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state of Tennessee for the last 17 or 18 years, and in the County of shelby for the last three or
four years.” Chavers claims “that he has & now does sustain a good character” and that “he
would state that there are many causes which induce him to express his desire to remain in this
county.” Noting that “his acquaintances are here, that he is acquainted with the Laws &
regulations of this state & is well pleased with the same,” the petitioner asks that the court
“permit him to remain in the County.”
0885 (Accession # 21484344). Shelby County, Tennessee. Wilson Davis, a free man of color,
seeks permission to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. He states “that he was emancipated”
and has resided in said state “many years previous to the first day of January A. D. 1836.” Davis
further states that “he has formed acquaintances and made friends” and that “he is now
engaged in an honest and lawful employment, from which by a proper Course of industry &
Economy, he can derive a comfortable subsistence for himself & family.” He fears that “were he
to remove from the State among Strangers where he could derive no advantage from the
Character for industry, honesty, and sobriety, which he believes he has sustained, he would in
all probability fail or at least find great difficulty, in procuring such employment as would yield
him a support.” Noting “that by a removal from the state he would be compelled to submit to a
great Sacrifice of the Comforts & Conveniences” he now enjoys, Davis asks the court “to grant
him the privilege of remaining a resident of the County of Shelby.”
0891 (Accession # 21484345). Shelby County, Tennessee. Margaret Brooks, a free woman of
color, seeks permission to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. She states “that she was
manumitted some time in the year of 1834 in the County of Hardeman in sd. state.” Margaret
further declares “that she has ever endeavred to demean herself in an orderly manner towards
all the free citzins of said state.” Noting “that all associates and acquaintances reside in the
county,” the petitioner “prays your worships to grant to her the privileges provided for in the act
of sembly made & provided for passed at Nashvill on the 4th day of February 1842.”
0898 (Accession # 21484346). Shelby County, Tennessee. Philip Thompson, a free man of
color, requests permission to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. He states “that he has
resided in the city of Memphis since the early part of the year 1835.” Thompson further states
“that he has acquired some property in the character of real estate in said city” and that “he has
demeaned himself circumspectly and cautiously to all the good citizens of said city.” The
petitioner prays “that your worships may grant and extend to him the priviledges provided for in
the act of assembly passed at Nashvill on the 4th day of February 1842.”
0905 (Accession # 21484347). Shelby County, Tennessee. Squire, a free person of color, seeks
permission to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. He reports that “he has resided in the state
of Tennessee previous to the 30th day of November 1835.” Squire states that “he is desirous to
continue to reside in said County—because his wife and children are slaves and are owned in
the county of shelby—and are now in the possession of William Peace in the town of Memphis.”
Representing “that he has given bond and security for his good behaviour as required by the
statute,” Squire asks that the court “grant him the privilege to reside in the County aforesaid.”
0912 (Accession # 21484348). Shelby County, Tennessee. Allen, a free man of color, requests
permission to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. He states that “he arrived in Memphis in
said state some time in the year of 1833 then a slave.” Allen explains that “he was manumitted
at the Court at Critten[don] County Arkansas as will fully appear from his papers of
emancipation.” Noting that “all his acquaintances live here that he knows of no other place to go
to,” the petitioner asks the court “to grant to him the priviledges provided for in the act of
Assembly passed at Nashville 4th February 1842.”
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0919 (Accession # 21484349). Shelby County, Tennessee. Henry Hill, a free man of color,
requests permission to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. He states “that he is desirous of
continuing to reside in said County because his wife is at this time living in Memphis ... and is
the property of Mr A. O. Harris, of said city.” Having “given bond and security for his good
behavior,” Hill prays the court to “grant him the privilege to reside hereafter in the County
aforesaid.”
0923 (Accession # 21484350). Shelby County, Tennessee. Elizabeth Larry, a free person of
color, asks to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. She states “that she has resided in the
county of Shelby for several years” and that “her age and description were registered at the
County Court in Bedford ... at the April Term 1820.” Noting that all her family and friends are
here, Larry “most respectfully petitions your worships that the priviledgs of the act of Assemby
passed at Nashvill 4th Februry 1842 be extended to her” and her daughter.
0927 (Accession # 21484351). Maury County, Tennessee. The administrator and administratrix
of the late William B. Alderson seek permission to sell a fifteen-year-old slave named Jesse[e] in
order “to pay the outstanding debts of sd estate.” They inform the court that Alderson died in
January 1843 and that they have “exhausted all the effects which have come to their hands.”
Included in the packet is a related petition filed several years later by Alderson’s heirs wherein
the heirs object to an 1848 settlement filed with the court by Alderson’s administrators. They
particularly complain about the “too small” and “palpably erroneous” sum the administrator
charged himself for rent of land and slave hire. Noting that one of Alderson’s slaves was sold
without an order from the court, they charge that the estate has been managed “loosely
fraudulently & negligently,” and they now ask that the court reopen the settlement so the estate
can be resettled.
0941 (Accession # 21484353). Sumner County, Tennessee. Martha Stone seeks a divorce from
Lewis Stone, whom she married in 1809 in the state of Virginia. The last four years, Lewis has
been “wandering about through the county and has made no provision or maintenance” for his
family. Lewis has in fact taken Sally, a slave given to Martha by her father, along with Sally’s
seven children, and “fraudulently put them in possession of a woman by the name of Charity
Hunter.” Martha asserts that Lewis “has maliciously deserted her” and currently has “taken up
with and now resides in the State of Ky. with Betsey Firkran, and with whom he has committed
repeated acts of adultery.” Martha reports that Lewis has “an estate of about a thousand dollars
in Virginia coming to him” and that she will be entitled to a portion of her mother’s estate at her
mother’s death. In addition to the divorce, she asks “that the said negroes be decreed to the
Compt, and her property and estate in Ky. be settled on her, and what property she has in her
possession be decreed to her.”
0950 (Accession # 21484354). Williamson County, Tennessee. Daniel Baugh, “Executor of the
last will and testament of Nathaniel Griffin deceased,” states that Griffin owned a forty-year-old
slave named John at the time of his death. Baugh contends that Griffin’s will directed “his said
slave to be emancipated” and he “is now desirous of carrying into execution this part of the will.”
Baugh believes that “said slave is a man of good moral character and industrious habits, and
has the trade of a blacksmith—As far as your petitioner has learned, said slave has always
manifested a proper respect and submission towards the white population and is a sober man.”
For these reasons, Baugh asks that “he may be permitted to carry into execution the will of his
testator, and that said slave may be emancipated.”
0955 (Accession # 21484355). Williamson County, Tennessee. James Park seeks to
emancipate his “female slave named Betsy of copper complexion supposed to be between forty
five and fifty years of age ... on account of the meritorious services and general good conduct of
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said Betsy.” According to an attached “indenture,” James Porter “for the consideration of the
sum of one dollar to him in hand paid ... hath bargained sold and delivered ... a certain negroe
woman slave named Betsy” to James Park on 31 December 1842.
Reel 14
Tennessee cont.
1844
0002 (Accession # 21484401). Wilson County, Tennessee. John B. Bryan and Nelson J. Bryan
ask that the sale of a slave named Louisa, the property of James Thomas, be ordered and that
“the proceeds of her sale be applied to the payment of their claims.” Thomas transferred three
slaves named Harriet, Isham, and Louisa by a deed of trust to Levi Gilliam on 8 June 1840.
Harriet died shortly thereafter and her son, Isham, was sold by the sheriff “under a court
execution.” Thomas has “taken no steps to close” the trust, and Louisa, who is worth $400, is
still in his possession. While Gilliam is willing to sell Louisa, he cannot “except by the aid of this
Court.” As the Bryans fear that Thomas “will run said girl beyond the limits of the State,” they
also ask the court to direct the sheriff to take possession of Louisa in order to “safely keep” her
until the “final order” of the court. The transcript of the court record reveals that the chancery
court was unable to safeguard Louisa as Thomas sold her to one Jonathan Doss in violation of
their decree. The case was appealed to the supreme court, which affirmed the lower court ruling
and ordered Doss to deliver up Louisa to be sold for payment of the Bryans’ claim.
0014 (Accession # 21484402). Montgomery County, Tennessee. John C. Bird, administrator of
the estate of the late William Brantley, asks the court to order the sale of five slaves belonging
to Peter N. Marr, a debtor of Brantley’s estate. Bird reports that his testator won a judgment
against Marr for about $1,072 in 1838, of which $450 remains outstanding. Bird points out that
Marr transferred seven slaves by a deed of trust to Charles Bailey in 1837 for the benefit of
other creditors. He believes that “the principal part of the debts mentioned in the deed of trust
has long since been paid & satisfyed” and that the value of the slaves is “more than amply
sufficient to pay the balance of the debts, and all or very near all of your Orators debts.” Fearing
that Marr will remove the slaves “out of the Jurisdiction of the Honbl Court,” he asks the court to
attach them for safekeeping and to decree him “any balance that may be due from the sale of
the negroes, after paying the balance of the debts that may be found due in the Deed of Trust.”
The 1851 newspaper notice of sale, after the case was decided in Bird’s favor by the supreme
court, includes four different names for Harriett’s children than the three names introduced in the
petition; these may or may not be the same slaves.
0026 (Accession # 21484403). Washington County, Tennessee. Samuel and Delilah Early
“impeach the validity” of an estate settlement made by Jonah Lilburn and Orville P. Nelson,
administrators of the estates of the late Hannah and Jacob Hartsell. When Delilah’s mother,
Hannah Hartsell, died in 1841, Jacob Hartsell administered her estate until his death in 1843.
The Earlys charge that Jacob “illegally” sold and purchased Hannah’s sole slave, Jane, at the
estate sale in violation of a prearranged agreement that Sarah Goode would purchase Jane for
$200, her share as a distributee of Hannah’s estate. Since the defendants’ settlement is
“predicated on” the report of sale made by Jacob, they ask the court to rectify this account and
to hold Jacob’s estate “liable” for Jane’s hire. In addition to making said allowance, they also ask
the court to enjoin the defendants from collecting a judgment against them for estate property
they purchased at said sale. They propose that a “fair settlement” will show that the estates
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actually owe them money, once the court has accurately ascertained Delilah’s distributive share
of her mother’s estate.
0038 (Accession # 21484404). Washington County, Tennessee. James and Priscilla Stuart
Farmer charge Robert Stuart with “setting up a false fraudulent and pretended claim” to four
slaves in whom the petitioners claim “one half of an undivided interest” by virtue of Priscilla’s
late mother, Sarah Laughlin Stuart. They explain that in 1810, Sarah’s father, Alexander
Laughlin, “made and executed a Bill of sale” to Sarah for a slave named Kit “and her increase.”
The four slaves in question are Kit’s daughter, Malinda, and her three children, who are
between the ages of four and nine. The slaves are currently in the “actual possession” of
Robert’s father, John Stuart. The Farmers inform the court that Sarah’s “last words”
acknowledged her “will and desire that the aforesaid Negroe property should go to her children,”
Priscilla and her brother, David. In addition to decreeing to them “half of the said negroes,” they
ask the court to attach the slaves for safekeeping and to enjoin Robert Stuart from “removing,
selling or disposing of them in any manner whatsoever.”
0051 (Accession # 21484405). Washington County, Tennessee. Deborah Houston asks the
court to enjoin her brother, William Houston, from “selling or hiring or in anywise disposing of”
her slave named Sandy. She recounts that “to her surprise twelve men” came to her brother’s
house to “have a guardian appointed for her” and then reported to the court “without her
knowledge or consent” that she was of “unsound mind.” Houston relates that “the next day” her
brother detained Sandy “against the will of your oratrix all under the pretense that your oratrix is
insane and incapable of managing her own affairs.” She deems the jury’s “report of her insanity”
false and unfounded and asserts that William “well knows it to be groundless.” Citing William’s
“own sinister purposes, and fraudulent designs,” she contends that William “procured the forces
of law to be employed as a colouring to give plausibility to this unjust usurpation of her rights.”
She assures the court that she manages her affairs with the same care “as prudent persons of
plain common sense take of their property.” She also seeks compensation for Sandy’s hire
while he has been detained by William.
0057 (Accession # 21484406). Maury County, Tennessee. Henry Foster, administrator of the
estate of the late James Bigham [Bingham] and guardian of his “numerous” minor children, asks
the court to direct the clerk and master to “take & state” an account between Bigham’s widow,
Elmina [Elmira], and the estate. Foster reports that he has taken “in his hands” the property of
the estate, consisting primarily of notes that he estimates are worth $14,000, “exclusive of eight
negroes.” The slaves, “four grown & four small,” have been “kept together” and hired out to
Elmina with whom his wards reside. Holding the widow’s notes for the hire, Foster avers that “it
would be advisable” to keep the slaves “undivided as between sd widow & minors.” He asks the
court to allot Elmina her part of the “monied means” of the estate while promising to file an
inventory of the minors’ property.
0065 (Accession # 21484407). Maury County, Tennessee. Henry Foster, guardian of Mary E.
and Frances T. Bigham [Bingham], asks for permission to apply a portion of the girls’
inheritance towards their education. Each girl is entitled to “one seventh of the annual hire of 3
of the said eight negroes” in their late father’s estate, “which would amount to about $17.00
annually.” Mary and Frances are fifteen years old and thirteen years old, respectively, and
Foster estimates that an allowance of “$50. or more to each” will secure the girls “a very
desirable education.”
0069 (Accession # 21484408). Knox County, Tennessee. Margaret Madison McClure seeks an
injunction against James Cox and others, prohibiting them from removing six slaves outside the
court’s jurisdiction. In the meantime, she asks the sheriff of Blount County to take possession of
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the slaves “and so secure them as that they will be forth coming at the hearing.” McClure
explains that on 12 April 1844 she filed a bill against the defendants in the chancery court
“Setting up her claim to certain Negroes in the possession of the said Defendants.” In her
original bill, an injunction “was not prayed for,” but she now fears that the defendants have
removed or concealed the slaves in controversy.
0074 (Accession # 21484409). Marshall County, Tennessee. Mary Jane Fitzpatrick seeks a
divorce from her husband, William, with whom she claims she can never again live “for fear of
death or great bodily harm.” Mary Jane confesses that her husband is a “drunkard,” who visits
“houses of ill-fame” where he indulges in the “most obscene & improper conduct.” He has
repeatedly “beat & choked” her and recently “maliciously & for the purpose of destroying the life
of Your Oratrix with a knife or razor tried to cut her throat.” She then “fled from his house” and
now resides with her mother. Mary Jane also asks the court to order William to “provide a
suitable maintainence for her children & a suitable allowance” for her. While William “was not
the owner of anything” when they married, he now has obtained property from his “wealthy”
father, Morgan. She asks the court to attach “such slaves, land & other property as the said
Morgan may have given her husband” and to enjoin the two men from selling any of “said
property.” She also asks the court to decree a slave named Dick and a horse, which she
brought to the marriage, as her separate property.
0080 (Accession # 21484410). Smith County, Tennessee. Leroy Settle, Samuel E. Stone, and
Joel W. Settle ask the court to perpetually enjoin Martin W. Sloan from selling a slave named
Isaac under an execution against their debtor, Silas C. Cornwell. The petitioners explain that
Cornwell executed a deed of trust “for a certain negro slave named Isaac” to secure the
payment of said debt to “Samuel E Stone & Co.” While Isaac was assisting “in taking a boat
back, which had drifted off from Jackson county and was lodged in the vicinity of Carthage in
Smith County,” the sheriff of Smith County seized the slave as Cornwell’s property. The
petitioners argue that the said Cornwell “has no title in said negro subject to sale under
execution” because “the legal title to said slave Isaac, by virtue of said deed is vested in said
Joel W. Settle trustee as aforesaid.” They cite the statute, which prevents the sale of slaves
“under executions against others than the persons having legal title thereto,” and they ask the
court to apply the same to Isaac, “a valuable, trusty slave and an excellent blacksmith.”
0088 (Accession # 21484411). Giles County, Tennessee. Thomas H. Harper asks the court to
attach nine slaves belonging to Edward F. Mahone “to answer the said debts & costs of your
Orator.” Harper won a judgment against Mahone in an Alabama court in 1838 but has been
unable to collect the award due to a series of legal maneuvers by Mahone. The petitioner
understands that the slaves “have already been attached in four several suits,” but he is still
“desirous of enforcing his said debt & of subjecting said slaves to the satisfaction thereof.” He
notes that Mahone is a resident of Alabama, “so that the ordinary process of law in Tennessee
cannot be run against him.”
0094 (Accession # 21484412). Bradley County, Tennessee. Benjamin R. Inman seeks
compensation from Benton Henegar for Inman’s portion of the proceeds from a sale of slaves.
Inman met Henegar in Tallahassee, Florida, where Inman had travelled “with some horses to
sell.” He loaned Henegar $300 so Henegar could purchase a family of five slaves. From
Tallahassee the two men decided to travel to Columbus, Georgia, where they hoped to sell the
family for “the best price, in partnership.” Inman furnished a carriage and used the horses he
intended to sell in Tallahassee to transport the group. The contract, “perfectly agreed upon,”
called for an equal split of the sale’s proceeds, after Henegar refunded the $300. The men sold
four of the slaves “making a clear profit of four hundred dollars,” but the eldest male slave,
Chapman, “was taken sick” and could not be sold. As soon as Henegar “got the said money into
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his hands, he refused to account and pay over” Inman’s half. Inman now seeks “one half of said
four hundred dollars, the nett profits on the purchase and sale,” as well as “one half the
difference between the price given for said boy Chapman and his present value.”
0099 (Accession # 21484413). Williamson County, Tennessee. Minor siblings John, Edward,
and Joseph Edwards join with their sister, Frances Ann Edwards Bradly, and her husband,
William D. Bradly, in seeking permission to sell a twenty-six-year-old slave named Anderson.
The petitioners hold Anderson as “tenants in Common” and since the “intermarriage of your
Petitioner Frances Ann with said Bradly it has become necessary to have said negro sold.” They
wish to divide the proceeds from the sale “according to Law.”
0107 (Accession # 21484414). Williamson County, Tennessee. Charles A. Merrill, administrator
of the estate of the late Lodwick B. Beech, asks the court to allow certain legacies in Beech’s
will to be “abated to an amount sufficient to pay all the just debts and liabilities of said testator.”
The petitioner also seeks an injunction against two of Beech’s children, restraining them from
removing slaves named in the will out of Williamson County. Merrill reports that after qualifying
as administrator, he found Elizabeth Beech and Sarah Neville already “in possession of” the
slave property bequeathed to them by their father’s will. He maintains that a portion of the estate
must be liquidated in order to pay its debts. He seeks an account of these debts and also asks
that a court-appointed receiver take custody of the slaves and hire them out while the suit is
pending. In an amended bill, the petitioner explains that Elizabeth B. Beech was “inserted in
said original bill as a defendant by mistake of counsel,” having “died previous to the date of
testators will.”
0119 (Accession # 21484415). Wilson County, Tennessee. John Roach seeks to prevent Lewis
Wright and Joseph Rutland from collecting a judgment against him pursuant to an execution
levied on his property. Roach purchased a slave named Andrew from Wright and Zedekiah Tate
for the price of $500 on 19 March 1844. The bill of sale warranted Andrew’s soundness of mind
and Wright and Tate’s title in the slave as guardians of James Tate and Rachael Tate Walden.
The slave was not warranted to be sound in body as he was “afflicted with something in the
nature of white swelling.” Even so, Roach was satisfied with the purchase and Andrew became
“a favourite slave ... & is a pretty good shoemaker.” Since the purchase, however, Roach has
learned that Andrew is one of a group of slaves, who “were due to have their freedom at a
certain period” under the will of the late Ignatious Jones. Obviously “unwilling to risk the
controversy and run the hazard of losing his money in the event of their success,” Roach
refuses to resume payments on the purchase. He, therefore, seeks an injunction in this case if
Andrew “is by right entitled to his freedom”; if he is not, Roach “prays that the title of the said
James J. & Rachael & her husband be divested out of them and vested in him, or in Case the
Sale was illegal & that Cannot be legally done, he prays that he may have a decree for the
amount he has already paid.” By an agreement between the parties, this case “was to abide by
the result of the Case of John & others in the Supreme Court so far as the question of freedom
was concerned.” The chancery court’s final decree reveals that the supreme court granted the
slaves in the estate of Ignatious Jones their freedom and, therefore, ordered the defendants to
compensate Roach in the amount of his purchase money plus interest.
0133 (Accession # 21484417). Davidson County, Tennessee. Robert Martin asks the court to
attach “said negroes Celia & Child and Rebecca” so that “said negroes may be made liable to
your orators” claim against William S. Olliver for “medical services rendered to his family.”
Olliver and his wife, Adeline, both signed the note because Mr. Olliver had previously conveyed
in trust “all his property of every description” to his wife for her “sole and separate use.” Martin
assumed that Adeline Olliver’s inclusion on the note would ensure that “the property would be
found and he could compel payment thereof.” The Ollivers, however, removed from Tennessee
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to Virginia “without making any provision for the payment of your Orators said demand.” Martin
charges that the deed of trust was executed “under such circumstances of indebtment” as to
make it “a delay hindrance and fraud upon his creditors.” In fact, Olliver “has since executed
ownership over the negroes mentioned in said deed of trust” by reconveying them to a third
party. He asks the court to hold the slaves in “legal custody” and to nullify the second
conveyance.
0141 (Accession # 21484418). Montgomery County, Tennessee. Minor Sally Etheridge asks the
court to order “a final Settlement with her former Guardian,” Nathan Skinner, “from the time he
was first appointed up to the Present time.” When Skinner first became her guardian, Sally
explains that she was “Quite young and Knew Nothing of her rights or of her property.” She now
has reason to believe that Skinner possessed, used, and controlled “a likely Negro fellow,”
whom she inherited from her father’s estate, and that he later sold the slave in 1839 for $630
when he was in fact worth $800. She charges that Skinner similarly underestimated the slave’s
yearly hire and hired him out for between $60 and $80 when “the Boy was Worth from One
hundred and twenty dollars to One hundred and fifty dollars.” She now seeks a report from
Skinner as to “how much and what disposition he has made” of her late father’s estate. She also
asks the court to reaffirm the previous appointment of her subsequent guardian, Joel B. Acre,
whom she “Chose for herself.” By the time the case reached the supreme court in 1845, Sally
was married to one Peyton Thomas.
0154 (Accession # 21484419). Williamson County, Tennessee. James Thompson, the uncle of
Milton Thompson, asks the court to compel his nephew’s guardian, Edwin Austin, to pay him for
the care of Milton’s recently deceased brother, Alfred, who “was an Idiot totally.” After his
father’s death in 1834, Thompson’s sister, Rebecca, came to live with him bringing with her two
young slaves and her two children. The family lived with James from 1834 until 1842, during
which time the proceeds of their slaves’ labor “was never sufficient” for their support. After
Rebecca’s death, the boys “had no means of support” and were “furnished their victuals &
clothes by Your Orator.” Alfred was also “very troublesome” during this time, “frequently straying
away from home & having to be searched for ... & otherwise requiring strict personal attention.”
Alfred died a year after his mother, and Edwin Austin, another uncle, soon thereafter took over
Milton’s guardianship. The petitioner now requests that Austin compensate him out of Alfred’s
property for his “services & outlay,” which include a “Physicians bill & funeral expenses.” He
maintains that he is willing to give “credit for Alfred’s share of the hire of said Slaves,” as Alfred’s
administrator. Depositions from neighbors include extensive description of the inferior quality of
Alfred’s clothing; William Gambill opined that Alfred “went as badly clothed as any white person
I ever saw.”
0166 (Accession # 21484420). Overton County, Tennessee. The children of James Peak seek
the return of four slaves currently in the possession of their grandfather, Walter Ally. The
petitioners assert that Ally gave their mother a slave named Mary when she married their father,
James Peak, her third husband. Mary remained with their parents for two years until she was
“privily seduced from your Orators by said Ally.” After Mary had two daughters in 1833, Ally
gave the slaves to another granddaughter, Mariah Rawlings Humble, their mother’s daughter
from a previous marriage. The slaves were then sold at public auction, whereupon James Peak
purchased them, paying one-half of the $412 purchase money to a third party to whom Humble
had sold his interest. The petitioners contend that they were given half of the slaves by their
grandfather and that their father’s purchase of the other half “vested in them the whole of said
negroes.” They argue that they have “raised the said negroes from children, clothed and fed
them, and continued to keep them as thier own” until Ally “fraudulently seduced them to leave.”
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They insist that their grandfather holds the slaves “with a strong hand” and ask the court to
recognize their title vested in them “by the gift and Statute of Limitations.”
0179 (Accession # 21484422). Sumner County, Tennessee. The children and grandchildren of
Stephen and Sarah Winchester seek to sell the slaves belonging to the late Winchesters so that
the proceeds from the sale may be divided among them. “Many years ago” Sarah Winchester’s
father, Joshua Howard of Maryland, deeded in trust four slaves “and some others who are dead
and their increase” to the late couple “for the support education and maintenance of their
children”; at their death, the slaves were to be divided “among said children.” The slaves have
increased in number considerably since the deed of trust. As some of the petitioners live in
Tennessee, some reside in “free states,” and one lives in Texas, they believe that “a good and
practicable division advantageous” to all parties cannot be effected without a sale of the
property. One of the petitioners, Rebecca Eliza Beck, has already received “a little negro ...
which she sold for $200”; the petitioners agree that said Beck “should be charged without regard
to her present value.” They also ask the court to appoint Samuel H. Lauderdale as receiver,
“who will take possession of said slaves and hire them out till the 15th day of July.”
0185 (Accession # 21484424). Shelby County, Tennessee. Sarah Tias, administratrix of the
estate of the late John Tias and guardian of his five minor children, unites with her son-in-law,
William Kimbell, in asking the court to appoint commissioners to divide the slaves in Tias’s
estate among his heirs. Tias died “some years ago,” leaving sixteen slaves of “various ages.”
William Kimbell is entitled to one-seventh of the slaves “by right of his wife, Mary, one of the
daughters of said John Tias,” while the other petitioners are entitled to the “remaining six
sevenths of the estate.” They ask the court to “set apart and allot to the said Kimbell” his portion
of the slaves.
1845
0194 (Accession # 21484501). Sumner County, Tennessee. Patrick Stuart seeks the return of
his slave Green. Stuart relates that he bought “a negro boy named Lewis” on 2 April 1842 from
John Saunders [Sanders]. In July 1842, Saunders told Stuart that “he had a Prospect of making
Some disposition of Lewis that would be advantageous ... but was not certain whether it could
be accomplished.” He offered “a boy named Green” as a pledge for the return of Lewis “or a boy
of equal value.” Stuart agreed. Saunders never returned Lewis, so Stuart kept Green until John
Mills claimed prior ownership. Operating “under a mistake of the facts and his rights,” Stuart
gave up Green. He attests that he later discovered that Mills’s claim was fraudulent and sued to
recover Green. He won in the Sumner County circuit court, but Mills appealed. The Tennessee
Supreme Court reversed and remanded the case on the grounds that Stuart should have sued
in equity. Stuart asks the chancery court “to take jurisdiction of his Case” and declare that “the
Said act of Surrender of Possession by him” had been “induced by the fraud &
misrepresentation of Deft Mills.” Stuart also asks the court to compel Mills to return Green.
0204 (Accession # 21484502). Washington County, Tennessee. The “President, Directors &
Company of the Union Bank of the State of Tennessee” seek the court’s assistance in collecting
a judgment against Samuel Green and Jacob Hartzell [Hartsell] as the endorsers of the late
Samuel G. Chester. They explain that the execution issued pursuant to their judgment was
returned by the sheriff “nulla bond,” and they now fear that, “without the aid of a court of Equity,”
they are “likely to be defeated” in its collection. They inform the court that Green and the
recently deceased Hartzell executed two “pretended” deeds of trust for the benefit of Jacob
Klepper and James H. Jones, respectively, whereby they conveyed “all, or nearly all” of their
property, including four slaves. The bank argues that the transactions are “fraudulent & void”
and were made “to hinder, delay, & defeat the creditors.” They allege that the “whole of said
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property” remained in Green and Hartzell’s “exclusive possession” and should now be made
subject to the satisfaction of their “just demands.” They ask the court to issue “writs of injunction
to restrain” Klepper and Jones from “parting with” the property.
0214 (Accession # 21484503). Washington County, Tennessee. Elizabeth E. Allison, daughter
of the late Isaac Allison, asks the court to compel Jesse Allison and Samuel Latture to provide
an account of their administrative activities regarding the estates of Isaac Allison and the late
John Allison Sr. The petitioner explains that she “is entitled to one third of the proceeds” of the
sale of her father’s estate and “of the various notes and accounts” reported in his inventory. She
also informs the court that her late father was “one of the heirs at law and distributees” of John
Allison Sr., who owned eight slaves at his death. She now “impeaches the whole of said
settlement” made by Latture in 1836. She also charges that Jesse Allison “has never attempted,
so far as she knows, in her behalf, to recover any part of the personal due her” from Allison Sr.’s
estate and “in that respect, most grossly and culpably neglected his duty as administrator.” She
cites her “right in equity to call upon” Latture to show “what part” of the estate she is entitled to
recover, and “to hold the said Jesse Allison ... accountable for the same.” She particularly seeks
her share of the slaves “set apart to her.”
0232 (Accession # 21484504). Maury County, Tennessee. William R. Bradley joins eleven other
petitioners in asking the court to appoint commissioners to divide thirteen slaves equally among
them. The complainants assert that they “each own one equal Eight part in value of said
slaves.”
0240 (Accession # 21484505). Maury County, Tennessee. William Cherry asks that a slave
named Sarah be sold so that the proceeds may be “appropriated to the payment of whatever
may be due and owing to the said William Walker” and the “residue” given to him. The petitioner
explains that Walker purchased Sarah “with the express understanding and agreement” that
“the said negro was to be conveyed to a trustee for the use and benefit of the children of your
Orator” when Cherry paid him $126. Walker, however, now “claims an absolute title to said
negro” and will neither accept the $126 Cherry has tendered nor reconvey the slave “under the
contract aforesaid.” Cherry asserts that, “in an ordinary market,” Sarah is worth $400, and he
asks the court to order Walker to “pay to your Orator the difference between the price at which
said negro was sold and her real value.” He also seeks compensation for her hire since “the
said 1st day of September 1843 to the time that a final decree shall be rendered in this cause.”
0248 (Accession # 21484506). Maury County, Tennessee. Margaret Hackney asks the court “to
settle” fifteen slaves “upon your oratrix for her separate use & enjoyment free from the
molestation & hindrance” of her husband, Joseph Hackney. Margaret explains that, “at the age
of about 70 years and without any children,” she found herself beseeched by said Hackney to
exchange her “solitary and Lonely” condition for “his protection as her Husband.” Unwilling to
give up “the power of disposition” of her slaves, to whom she was “much attached,” she desired
a marriage contract securing the same “for her separate and sole use during their marriage.”
Believing that such a contract “looked like the parties had no confidence in one another,”
Joseph promised Margaret that, if she agreed to marry him, he would convey the slaves to her
“the very next week after their marriage.” Margaret consented and the couple married. She now
complains, however, that Joseph has reneged on his promise, grown “ill & fractious,” abused
her repeatedly, and threatens to “run the negroes off & sell them.” She asks the sheriff to attach
her slaves and to deliver them safely to a receiver, who will hire them out until the final
determination of the suit.
0268 (Accession # 21484507). Maury County, Tennessee. The children and grandchildren of
the late John Smiser Sr. seek a division of the property in Smiser’s estate among the
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distributees of his will. The will specified that Smiser’s executors, John Smiser Jr. and Alfred
Smiser, retain his property together on his farm until the present year when they should make
“disposition of said estate.” In the meantime, Smiser desired that his slaves work on the farm
under the superintendence of said executors. He also stipulated that the “the funds arising from
his contract with the Columbia & Pulaski Turnpike road company” be applied to pay his debts
and that his share in a “partnership in the growing & manufacturing of hemp and running a set of
grist & sawmills” be sold and the proceeds divided among his heirs. His widow, Eve Mary
Smiser, has recently died and her interest in the estate should descend to their children and one
grandson, Edward Garland. The petitioners pray that the clerk and master “proceed to take &
state an account with said executors” and that commissioners be appointed to “divide said
property according to the terms & provisions of said will.”
0278 (Accession # 21484508). Knox County, Tennessee. Frances Robertson asks the court to
bar her husband, Francis H. Robertson, from trading, selling, or removing her two slaves,
Kizziah and Amos, out of Knox County. Robertson explains that her husband purchased Kizziah
and her daughter, Eliza, at his father-in-law’s estate sale in 1843; he paid $715 for the two
slaves, who “were bought in part satisfaction of the amount due to your Oratrix from the estate
of her father,” which she estimated at $900. He then sold Eliza “to pay his debts” and “availed
himself of the benefit of the bankrupt law.” In the meantime, Kizziah had another child named
Amos. Robertson’s creditors, however, have recently obtained judgments against him “upon a
supposed indebtedness.” The petitioner now asks the court to enjoin them “from in any wise
molesting, disturbing or levying upon said negroes.” She also reports that her husband has
transferred the slaves’ titles to Amelia Peck. She asks the court to divest the titles from Peck
and to vest them “in a trustee, to be appointed by your Honor, to hold them in trust for your
oratrix and her heirs.” Finally, she asks for any “balance due her from her father’s estate.”
0290 (Accession # 21484509). Franklin County, Tennessee. William Edward Venable,
administrator of the estate of the late Letty White, joins the heirs of James Philips in asking the
court for permission to sell a slave named Jemima. In the 1845 “valuation, allotment and
division” of White’s estate, the Philips heirs received Jemima and another slave named Henry.
Venable sold Henry in order to “discharge the indebtedness” of the heirs to White’s estate. They
are now “anxious to have their share of the other slave Jemima and … it is impossible to make
distribution of said slave among the parties interested without a sale of said slave.” They ask for
a decree authorizing said sale and a distribution of the proceeds among the four entitled parties.
0299 (Accession # 21484510). Franklin County, Tennessee. Joseph L. Baker, administrator of
the estate of the late James Estill, seeks permission to sell two estate slaves named Jesse and
Reuben in order to divide the proceeds among the estate’s numerous heirs, who live in
Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi. He submits that “it is impossible to distribute said
negroes among those entitled thereto without a sale.” Jesse and Reuben are both under seven
years of age.
0306 (Accession # 21484511). Smith County, Tennessee. John McCall, executor of the last will
and testament of the late Thomas J. Hubbard, seeks permission to sell six estate slaves in order
to divide the proceeds among Hubbard’s heirs. McCall states that it is “impossible to divide said
negroes without a sale” as Hubbard had fourteen brothers and sisters, “a part of whom are now
living & those dead have left children now living.”
0312 (Accession # 21484512). Sumner County, Tennessee. William H. Cartwright asks the
court to enjoin Samuel R. Anderson, “the Sheriffs of Sumner and Wayne Counties and all others
from further proceedings upon” a judgment won against him in a previous suit. In 1843
Cartwright endorsed a note for $275 from Washington Carter over to Anderson “for the purpose
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of being discounted in Bank in order that said Carter might pay off a debt in the hands of a
constable named Thomas H. Bell.” Anderson, however, never discounted the note, and, in
August 1843, successfully sued Cartwright and Carter. Cartwright complains that “the Law was
wrongly charged in the trial of said cause” and that “at the time said note was first made and
endorsed Washington Carter was oweing in executions about $1600 which was levied by said
Bell and another Constable R T. Warner on the negroes of said Carter.” The slaves were later
sold bringing “about $1200.” Calling it “a fraud in said Anderson to appropriate said note in the
manner he did,” Cartwright seeks relief.
0318 (Accession # 21484513). Williamson County, Tennessee. John W. Peebles and his wife,
Mary Elizabeth Boyd Caruthers Peebles, ask the court to compel James W. Boyd, the executor
of the estate of Mary’s late father, to account with them for their one-eighth part of the estate.
George W. Boyd died in 1841 possessed of a “considerable estate” that included twenty-five
slaves. The Peebleses complain that they have “received no portion of it from the executor
although the time his long passed when it was made his duty by Law to distribute the State
among the legatees respectively.” They also ask the court to appoint commissioners to “allot
and Set apart ... their part in value of the land and negroes” belonging to the estate.
0328 (Accession # 21484514). Williamson County, Tennessee. Thomas F. and Leah Cannon
Perkins join Leah’s brother, William P. Cannon, in asking the court to compel Rachael S.
Cannon, widow and administratrix of the late Newton Cannon, to provide an accurate account of
her administration of the estate. Leah and William’s father, Newton Cannon, died in 1841
leaving a widow, ten children, and 125 slaves, “of which about 60 were working hands.” The
slaves were dispersed across two farms in Tipton County, a farm in Williamson County, and
Cannon’s “valuable house & lots in Nashville.” The petitioners allege that Rachael Cannon
“negligently & carelessly managed” these farms “for want of employment of proper overseers.”
They complain that she “caused a pretended valuation” of the estate, which was “grossly below
the true value,” and that her “pretended settlement” of the same is “erroneous & more favorable
to her than it should have been” and should be “revised & corrected in this Court.” They
particularly ask Cannon to produce “the names & number of slaves, with their increase, ages, &
annual value of their hire” from the time of her husband’s death until 27 February 1844. The
court record reveals that a portion of Cannon’s slaves hired in aggregate for $2,292 in 1843,
giving the breakdown in terms of “men women & boys” in each hiring situation. The court’s
decree provides great detail about slave management on the farms under Rachel’s
administration.
0348 (Accession # 21484515). Rutherford County, Tennessee. Wyatt A. Brown seeks an
injunction to restrain David M. Jarratt from removing his slave named Jefferson, who is “a first
rate Blacksmith,” beyond the court’s jurisdiction. Brown explains that he mortgaged Jefferson to
Jarratt in order to prevent the slave from being sold under sheriff’s levy in 1842; in return, Brown
received a $600 advancement that would allow him to discharge his debts to a third party.
Jarratt proposed that the constable proceed to sell the slave, whereby he would purchase him in
a “mere formal sale to carry out” their agreement. Jarratt assured Brown that the bill of sale
would “not affect in the slightest degree your orator right to redeem sd. slave.” Since the
transaction, Jarratt has offered Brown $115 in exchange for Brown’s equity of redemption and
Jefferson has been in Jarratt’s possession the entire time. Recently Brown arranged to redeem
Jefferson through a third party, but Jarratt “claimed him as his own absolutely” by virtue of the
earlier bill of sale. Insisting that the conveyance was a mortgage, Brown asks the court to
facilitate Jefferson’s redemption.
0359 (Accession # 21484516). Williamson County, Tennessee. The heirs of the late Nicholas T.
Perkins Sr. join Perkins’s son and administrator, Nicholas T. Perkins Jr., in seeking an account
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of the estate’s administration, which reflects the heirs’ indebtedness to the estate and the
advancements received by them from Perkins Sr. during his lifetime. Perkins Jr. also asks for
permission to divide the estate’s fifty-four slaves, whom he estimates as worth $15,000, and to
sell much of the real estate in order to pay the estate’s debts. The petition documents include an
1843 petition filed by creditors George H. Burton and Benjamin Litton seeking to enjoin Perkins
Jr. from distributing or selling the estate, Perkins Jr.’s answer to the petition, and an amended
bill filed by Burton and Litton. A note on the court record reveals that the case was settled by
court decree on 6 October 1849.
0372 (Accession # 21484517). McMinn County, Tennessee. Meany G. Rudd, John Rudd, and
Joseph Rudd seek to protect their remainder interest in a slave named Huldah. The siblings
explain that their father, Herod Rudd, bequeathed a life estate in five slaves to their mother,
Sarah Rudd, who has recently died. They and another brother, William Rudd, and two siblings,
who predeceased their mother, were to share the interest in remainder. The petitioners charge
that their brother, William, who served as executor, has violated the trust “reposed in said will”
by fraudulently selling Huldah to James S. Bridges in the 1831. Bridges has “enjoyed the profits
of her labor ever since and claims her as his own right and property.” The petitioners have
requested that William Rudd and Bridges “deliver up” Huldah so that she can be sold “and the
trust executed according to said will.” The two men “wholy refuse” to do so, however, and by
their “fraudulent and unconscientious conduct” will “cheat and defraud your complainants out of
their just, lawful and equitable rights.” They ask that the bill of sale in the 1831 transaction be
declared “null and void,” that the defendants be compelled to surrender Huldah, that the
enslaved woman be sold, and that the proceeds of said sale be divided among them.
0388 (Accession # 21484518). Giles County, Tennessee. Charles W. H. Biles, the former
overseer and manager of a farm belonging to Stephen Biles, seeks an injunction against
Archibald White, a creditor of his former employer. Biles explains that he served as security for
Stephen in a transaction with one Jane D. Johnson, to whom Stephen owed a debt. He later
advanced Stephen the money to pay Johnson in exchange for “a lien & trust upon” two slaves.
He now asserts that these slaves “cannot legally be seized or sold” by Stephen’s creditors.
White, however, has recently procured an execution against Stephen Biles in the supreme court
and caused the slaves “to be levied upon” as Stephen’s property. The petitioner asks the court
to enjoin their sale and to decree them “to belong to your Orator.”
0395 (Accession # 21484519). Davidson County, Tennessee. Austin Wade and Elizabeth Wade
Scott, siblings of the late Frances Wade, ask the court to compel Frances’s guardian, Ephraim
McRady, and the administrator of her estate, Joseph L. Wingfield, to account for their “actings
and doings” with regard to her property. They explain that, when Frances was “quite a young
woman,” she suffered a “spell of sickness” that left her “in such a state of prostration and
imbecility, that she became idiotic for the remainder of her life.” Her “numerous” siblings entered
into an agreement in 1816, whereby Joseph Wingfield, a brother-in-law, consented to “support
and clothe her during life” in exchange “for the use of her property.” McRady took over as
Frances’s guardian upon Wingfield’s death in 1838, but Frances and her three slaves remained
with Wingfield’s surviving family. Frances herself died in 1843, leaving three other slaves, the
surviving progeny of Sarah, one of her original three slaves, now deceased. Joseph L. Wingfield
promptly filed a bill seeking permission to sell the slaves to pay her debts. Pointing out that
Frances “was incapable of contracting a valid debt,” her siblings now allege that Wingfield
“trumped up” an account in order to obtain the court’s authorization to sell the slaves. Two of
said slaves now reside with Wingfield and his sister, Lucy Ann, and “have been called the
property of the said Lucy Ann.” Having received a total of $14 between them from Wingfield as
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their share of Frances’s estate, they seek an accurate accounting of what is due them and
possession of the slaves or compensation for their value.
0415 (Accession # 21484521). Williamson County, Tennessee. Naomi C. Graham Johnson
seeks the court’s assistance in securing her inheritance “for her sole and separate use.” She
explains that two years after her father’s 1835 death, her guardian, Henry C. Horton, took
possession of her father’s five slaves, who have “remained in the hands of the said Henry C.,”
along with three additional slaves born since that time. While still a minor, Naomi married Jesse
W. Johnson, a man “improvident in his habits, and disposed to squander rather than to
accumulate.” Naomi now informs the court that “settlement of her interest in the above
described slaves upon herself is necessary to secure her and her children a support.” Horton,
however, claims that he and Samuel Henderson purchased Naomi’s interest in the slaves from
her husband in 1843 by agreeing to assume Jesse’s debts “to the amount of $375.” Naomi
asserts that her interest in the same was worth at least $800 and “probably a thousand Dollars.”
She now asks the court to nullify the alleged deed of conveyance. She maintains that in addition
to a division of the slaves, Horton owes her money for “the hire of slaves and rents of Land.”
0426 (Accession # 21484522). Bradley County, Tennessee. The heirs of the late John Cozby
accuse the administrators of his estate, William B. Cozby, William McDonald, and David
Ragsdale, of returning a fraudulent account of the estate. They assert that Cozby’s son, William
B., has instituted a campaign of “fraud, device and cunning” designed “to throw upon and
burthen the estate of the said John with the payment” of his own debts; not only was William
indebted to his father before his death, but he owed “divers” other creditors to whom he
mortgaged slaves and other property. They charge that he has sold and hired out estate slaves
at reduced prices “to make profit and gain at the expense” of his father’s many heirs. Recently
he received the court’s permission to sell four estate slaves under the pretense that it was
necessary to pay the estate’s debts. The heirs call the sale a fraud “practised ... upon the
Honorable Court,” which culminated in William’s “friend” purchasing at least one of said slaves
for William’s use. They ask the court to compel said administrators to make a final settlement
based on an accurate account with a division of the slaves and their hires among the
distributees.
0436 (Accession # 21484523). Maury County, Tennessee. Cornelia Long seeks a divorce with
alimony from her husband, Nicholas Long, citing his “brutal, inhumane, and grossly insulting”
behavior towards her. Wildly jealous and convinced of her infidelities, Nicholas regularly cast
“aspersions ... upon her virtue and chastity” and accused her of “indecencies and indignities”
that would shock “any reflecting moral or religious individual.” For example, Nicholas accused
her of “aiding abetting and assisting” her brother “with using violence to a young lady of the
neighbourhood, for the purpose of carnally knowing her without her consent.” He further
charged Cornelia with “taking a servant to watch while she was perpetrating acts of infidelity.”
Insisting that “she has stood the indignities offered to her long enough,” she seeks a divorce
from Nicholas, who is “impotent & incapable of procreation.” She “only wants” the property that
she had when she married Nicholas and demands that he deliver up “her wearing apparel
instantly.” In his answer, Nicholas denies all charges. He avers that Cornelia repeatedly told him
that “if she was his wife she was not his slave and that she was white and free to go where she
pleased.” He also reports that she had six slaves when they married, but that when he went to
Kentucky to retrieve them, her “interest in the negro property” was “bound up” and the slaves
could not be removed from the state.
0460 (Accession # 21484524). Davidson County, Tennessee. John Woods seeks the court’s
assistance in “redeeming” a slave named Simon, who is currently in the possession of Oliver P.
Catron. Woods explains that Simon ran away from his “service” on 27 December 1843 and was
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later apprehended in Nashville and jailed “for a period of twelve months.” Simon told the jailer
that he belonged to “some one living & resident in Williamson County” and that his name was
Peter. In January 1845, the sheriff advertised and sold “Peter” as a runaway slave, and Toliver
Dawson purchased him at auction for $355. Dawson later sold Simon to Oliver Catron for $600.
Woods “called on” Dawson in May to “avail himself of the provisions of the act of the General
Assembly” in an effort to redeem the slave. Dawson “would not hear him” and walked off “in
great anger.” Woods then “immediately” informed Catron about his “right” to redeem Simon. He
now asks the court to permit him to redeem the slave after paying the amount Dawson paid for
Simon. In a supplemental bill, Woods asks the court to nullify the sales to Dawson and Catron,
citing irregularities that “invalidate” the transactions.
0471 (Accession # 21484526). Sumner County, Tennessee. The children of Lewis Mansker
seek to collect their father’s portion of the estate of his uncle, Kasper Mansker, who died in
1821. The petitioners explain that Kasper’s will included a clause instructing his executors to sell
his slaves after his widow’s death, and, after paying $500 to Mary Miller, to divide the balance
between his two nephews, Lewis and John. When Kasper’s widow died in 1840, she held
twenty slaves, who were to be treated as if she “never” remarried per her marriage contract with
Isaac Walton. The petitioners now assert that they are entitled to “one half value of said property
and personal estate” after deducting said $500. The twenty slaves, however, have filed a suit for
freedom in the chancery court, citing a provision in the widow’s will directing their emancipation.
The executors of said widow admit in their answer that Mrs. Walton had only a life estate in her
husband’s slaves and the children born since his death. The petitioners acknowledge that the
slaves are “under the control of this Honorable Court” while the suit is pending and ask the court
to “consolidate the suit for freedom with this cause and let them be tried together.” They seek
the amount to which “they are entitled under the will of Kasper Mansker” or a decree for the sale
of the slaves and “their due portion of the fund arising from the sale or such portion of the slaves
themself as the court may deem” them entitled.
0481 (Accession # 21484527). Shelby County, Tennessee. Burkley Reed Thomas seeks a
divorce from his estranged wife, Martha Bailey Thomas, apart from whom he has lived for at
least two years. Reed alleges that Martha continues to have intimate contact with Robert
Coleman, a man to whom “she had been attached & and to whom she had been engaged to be
married” before she married the petitioner. He contends that his wife was not only verbally
abusive to him, but would order the overseer “to seize & strip naked the negro women & men, &
have them cruelly beaten & tortured when no offence had been committed.” Thomas further
reveals that his wife confessed to him “that she had a plan” to kill him and the slaves and that
she carried arsenic “for the purpose of poisoning petitioner.” He asks that he be “freed and
discharged from the obligations” of marriage. A neighbor alleges in a related document that
Martha Thompson “whipped to death” one of her servants “before her marriage and one Since”
her separation from her husband.
0498 (Accession # 21484528). Shelby County, Tennessee. John C. McGehee, administrator of
the estate of his late brother, Fountain McGehee, seeks the court’s assistance in settling his
brother’s estate. McGehee explains that his brother’s five slaves were to be “equally divided”
between his widow, Cynthia McGehee, and his only son, William McGehee. He now asks the
court to appoint commissioners to appraise and divide the slaves.
0506 (Accession # 21484529). Shelby County, Tennessee. Susannah Bond supplements an
earlier petition for divorce from her husband, Sylvester Bond, by seeking an injunction and an
attachment preventing her husband and his brother, John Bond, from removing his slaves
“beyond the jurisdiction of the Court.” She claims that her husband “has been pretending to sell
his property so as to defeat the claim of your Oratrix to a settlement or provision out of the
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same.” He specifically taunted her by declaring that “he would sell all his property for one cent &
pocket that before she should have any of it.” To accomplish that end, Sylvester has allegedly
conveyed his five slaves to his brother, John Bond. The slaves, however, are still in Sylvester’s
possession, and he still employs them. The petitioner asks the court to issue writs of ne exeat
and injunction, preventing the defendants from leaving the county and finalizing their
transaction. [The Race and Slavery Petitions Project does not hold Bond’s original bill.]
1846
0515 (Accession # 21484601). Davidson County, Tennessee. John Cartwright asks the court to
hold five slaves subject to the debts of James Watkins and William W. Brown. Watkins and
Brown signed a note on 14 March 1846, promising to pay Cartwright $396.25 plus interest
within nine months. A year earlier Watkins had conveyed some lots in Nashville and five slaves
to one Robert B. Castleman in a trust deed. The deed stipulated that, in the event that Watkins
failed to pay the debt, Castleman should “expose said property to sale” and apply the proceeds
to the debt. The petitioner explains that Watkins “forfeited” the trust deed and Castleman sold
the lots in Nashville, “leaveing the negroes, subject to the other debts of the said James
Watkins.” Watkins still has not paid Cartwright the money, and the petitioner now asks the court
to sell the slaves and pay him the amount of the debt.
0523 (Accession # 21484602). Bradley County, Tennessee. Minor Samuel A. Easly accuses the
executor of the estate of his late uncle and his uncle’s widow, Mary Easly, with combining and
confederating “together to cheat and defraud” him of certain slaves specifically bequeathed to
him by his uncle’s will. Said executor, David Westfield, has refused to deliver seven slaves to
him and plans “to make them chargeable with the debts of the Testator.” Westfield has already
sold nine of his testator’s slaves and purchased them himself at “a sacrificed price”; in addition,
he recently has joined with Easly’s widow in filing a bill in the chancery court seeking the court’s
authorization to sell a portion of Samuel’s legacy. Samuel insists that “there remains sixteen
Negroes and their increase besides those which were bequeathed” to him, leaving a “sufficiency
of Negroes to sell without selling” his legacy. He asks the court to decree that Westfield
“properly Marshall the assets so as to protect the Negroes specifically bequeathed to your
orator.” He seeks delivery of the remainder of his legacy, as well as compensation for the
slaves’ hire while Westfield has “controlled the labours benefit and advantage of said Negroes.”
0533 (Accession # 21484603). Williamson County, Tennessee. Susan Philips and her two
children, Samuel Franklin and Catherine Philips, ask to be “emancipated and set free with
permission to remain in this State upon giving bond and security as by law is required.” Susan
explains that her “kind and benevolent” master, Joseph Philips, died in 1830, leaving a last will
and testament that bequeathed freedom to her and Samuel Franklin “so soon as she the said
Susan should earn for said estate the sum of four hundred dollars after the death of the said
Testator.” Susan now submits that she has turned over said money to the estate’s administrator.
Her daughter, born after the testator’s death, should also be emancipated since “by the Law of
the land her state and condition follows that of her mother.” Susan Philips “states to the Court,
that she and her children were born and raised in the County of Williamson where she has ever
lived, that notwithstanding her humble and enslaved condition in life, she has laboured to
preserve and maintain an upright and honest character.” She plans in “future life so to conduct
herself and nurture her infant children.”
0537 (Accession # 21484604). Bradley County, Tennessee. Eliza Morris asks that William H.
Stringer and Asahail Rawlings be ordered to “surrender and deliver up” her slave named Clerry;
she then seeks permission from the court to “have and hold said Negro Girl as her separate and
individual property free from any right or controll” of her husband, Thomas Morris. The petitioner
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explains that her husband “left and deserted your oratrix” six years ago and has gone “to parts
unknown.” She confides that, “thrown upon her own resources,” she purchased nine-year-old
Clerry from James Smith for “a full fair and valuable consideration” and kept Clerry in “her own
Exclusive possession and controll.” She asserts that her title to Clerry was “Notoriously Known”
by Stringer and Rawlings, who were “intimately acquainted with the said James Smith and his
negro property.” Even so, after Smith’s death in 1845, the pair “sent a negro Man a slave
belonging” to Smith’s estate “to purloin & decoy” Clerry from her possession. They have kept
her since November 1845 until the present time “against the will consent or approbation of your
oratrix.” Citing Clerry to be now worth $600 and hiring for $5 per month, Morris also seeks
compensation for “a fair and reasonable hire” during the time they have detained her slave.
0546 (Accession # 21484605). Franklin County, Tennessee. James T. R. Taylor, administrator
of the estate of the late Moses Taylor and also one of Taylor’s heirs, seeks permission to sell
the only two slaves in Taylor’s estate. Taylor asserts that a division of the slaves “cannot be
made among the distributees of said Moses without a sale thereof.” Taylor’s report of sale
reveals that Cherry, a twenty-year-old female slave, sold for $504, while George Roper, a
seven-year-old boy, sold for $299. Taylor started the bidding for Cherry at $450 and the bidding
for George Roper at $250.
0550 (Accession # 21484606). Sumner County, Tennessee. Joseph C. Guild asks the court to
sell three slaves in the possession of E. Penn “for the Payment and Satisfaction” of a debt owed
him by Penn’s brother, George W. Penn. In the meantime, he asks the sheriff to attach said
slaves and “Safely Keep” them while the suit is pending. Guild acted as Penn’s security on a
loan for $105.41 due on 2 July 1846. Penn later left the state and relocated to Missouri still
owing Guild the money. Guild now represents that Penn left a thirty-three-year-old slave named
Anne and her two infant children with his brother. He recently sent “said note to Missouri for
collection”; Penn responded by acknowledging the debt, but “stating his inability to Pay it.” Guild
asks the court to hold Penn’s three slaves in Tennessee liable for the debt.
0554 (Accession # 21484607). Knox County, Tennessee. Pleasant M. Bowerman, administrator
of the estate of the late Henry Bowerman, seeks permission to sell the slaves in the estate “in
order to enable your petitioner to make distribution” among the heirs. Bowerman reports that
some of the heirs live in free states and “could not receive slaves as their part of sd estate and
your petitioner is well satisfied that it would be to the interest of those concerned in said estate
as distributees, that said slaves be sold and a division be made of the proceeds of said sale.”
Describing the difficulties of hiring out several of the slaves, the petitioner reveals that Caroline
is a “natural idiot, never having had any mind and a slave who is unable to care of herself”;
Kitta, Mariah, and Chana are “old women & your petitioner is unable to hire” any of them; and
Ephraim, Saul, Will, and Edward “for the want of a master have been spoiled so that they
cannot be hired to any one at all acquainted with them.”
0560 (Accession # 21484608). Smith County, Tennessee. Elizabeth Moores and her son, Henry
L. Moores, seek the court’s “advice and direction ... as to the rights and power confered upon”
Elizabeth by the will of her late husband, William Moores. Elizabeth explains that although she
has endeavored to support her “family of helpless females” without the sale of the estate’s land
and slaves, it has now become necessary to sell some of the estate’s real and personal
property. She reports that through her “care and attention” she has “nearly quadrupled” the
number of the estate’s slaves, who have been levied upon to discharge the estate’s debts. She
charges that these levies are “the acts of a part of the devisees under said will” and that the
property left to her “was not liable for said debts beyond the life estate of your oratrix.” She
avers that “fair and reasonable charges for the boarding clothing schooling &c from the death of
their father ... up to the time of their respective marriages would have diminished their
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respective shares at least an amount equal to the whole debts your oratrix now owes.” She asks
the court to restrain her creditors from selling the slaves until the court rules on the particulars of
their legal title. In the event that the court holds her property liable for the debts, she asks the
court to allow her a credit for the “the necessary maintenance and Education of her children.”
0569 (Accession # 21484609). Rhea County, Tennessee. The administrators of the estate of
the late James Montgomery and his other heirs seek the court’s permission to sell the estate’s
ten slaves. They argue that because “said estate will have to be divided into 11 original
Distributive shares and there only being 10 slaves, unequal in value,” a sale is necessary “in
order that an equal distribution of said estate may be had.”
0579 (Accession # 21484610). Marshall County, Tennessee. The daughters of Robert W. Hill
join their respective husbands and their minor brother, William Jasper Hill Jr., in asking the court
to “set apart” their interest in five slaves in order that they be “advantageously divided.” The
children recovered the slaves “against their said father by a decree of this Court” at an earlier
term, and the slaves “were settled upon them separate and apart” from their husbands. Two
daughters have recently married “and no provision has been made for them independent of their
said husbands.” They fear that the slaves, who are now hired out, “are likely to contract habits of
an injurious character.” They inform the court that James C. Record, their trustee, holds a fund
of the slaves’ hire, which they would also like divided among them.
0585 (Accession # 21484611). Marshall County, Tennessee. Priscilla Russell seeks a divorce
from John Russell, her husband of eighteen years. Priscilla accuses her husband of
abandonment and adultery. She confesses that “she & her said children (three of whom are
girls) have been left comparatively unprovided for, and are at any time liable to be turned out
upon the world without any the slightest provision for their support.” She particularly fears that
John “is now seeking to turn his property into money for the purpose ... of evading such
responsibility.” She asks the court to appoint a receiver to take the property, including a slave
named Burton, into custody until the suit is determined. She also seeks a “suitable support and
maintenance for herself and her said children.”
0595 (Accession # 21484612). Davidson County, Tennessee. Matilda Kingston seeks a divorce
from her husband, William Kingston, who abandoned his family in 1845 after twelve years of
marriage. Matilda characterizes his disposition during the marriage as “cross, ill natured,
crabbed & faultfinding.” Before he finally deserted her, he beat her with “a large stick” and gave
her “a half dozen severe & heavy blows, over the shoulders and arms to the manifest danger of
her limbs & life.” He then instructed their son to bring him a “cowhide or horse whip,” but Matilda
was able to escape to her brother’s house before further injury. “At a loss for any just excuse” to
abandon her, William “offered to hire a man ... to creep to bed to your Oratrix, & let himself be
detected there.” She fears that her husband “will return, and again assert his rights over her as
his wife & subject her to his will & violent conduct.” She surmises that this conduct “is founded in
his disappointment in not receiving as much property as her fathers circumstances at the time of
marriage induced him to hope for.” She also asks the court to enjoin him from “carrying off” her
slave, Louisa, “which came to her as her distributive share of her fathers estate & was when he
left, nursing the infant child which was left with your oratrix.” She asks the court to “settle”
Louisa upon her.
0602 (Accession # 21484613). Smith County, Tennessee. Bartlett B. Uhls and James C.
Sanders, the executor of John Cochran’s estate, ask the court to seize and sell Thomas J.
Black’s remainder interest in six slaves currently in the possession of his mother, Elizabeth
Folks. Claiming that Black, a former deputy sheriff, is indebted to them, the petitioners charge
that he has “removed to parts unknown,” where he is “hopelessly insolvent” with the exception
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of his interest in these slaves. Sanders’s testator gave two slaves, Mourning and her son, Jim,
to his sister Elizabeth in 1834 and she was to have “the use of said negros during her natural
life,” after which the slaves would be divided among her seven children. Mourning has since had
four more children. The petitioners ask the court to sell Black’s “undivided seventh” of the
slaves; in the meantime, they ask the court to enjoin Black and Folks from either disposing of or
selling any part of Black’s interest in the property. An 1848 report of sale reveals that Black’s
interest in the six slaves was sold to Henry McDonald for $160.
0610 (Accession # 21484614). Maury County, Tennessee. Thomas Mahan asks the court to
enjoin “all further proceedings” in the collection of a judgment against him regarding the hire of a
slave named Caswell. He contends that William Brooks has attempted to “defraud” him by
refusing to “give him the just credits & deductions” to which he is entitled for the “support and
maintenance” of his mother-in-law, Mary Brooks. Mary left Caswell, in whom she held a life
estate, with Joseph before she “removed to the Western District” decades ago. At her son’s
behest, Mahan took possession of Caswell and kept him at “the rate of fifty dollars a year” for a
period of five years until Mary’s death. In 1845 one Michael Dooley brought suit against Mahan
for Caswell’s hire and won a judgment. William Jackson later “made a claim for the hire of said
slave as a compensation to himself” for “the board and maintenance of said Mary Brooks.” Both
Dooley and Jackson transferred their claims to Joseph “who concealed his interest” therein from
Mahan. Mahan claims that “by procuring said pretended claim” from Jackson and “getting a
nominal administration for his sole benefit” from Dooley, Brooks will deprive Mary Brooks’s heirs
“of their just distributive shares in said estate.” Mahan is entitled to a share in right of his
deceased wife. Brooks has since transferred the judgment to a third party who “has taken out an
execution.” He asks the court to “perpetually enjoin the same.”
0620 (Accession # 21484615). Knox County, Tennessee. Gabriella and her two daughters,
Delila and Henrietta, ask the court to enjoin the heirs of Joseph Bell from selling them as slaves.
Citing their “history of lineage,” they proclaim that Gabriella’s grandmother, Jinny, was “an
Indian and free” and that her mother, Judy, was “begotten by a white man by whom her grand
mother had ten children born at or near Port Royal Caroline Co. Virginia.” Jinny resided with one
John Roy and, “either by Indenture or some other arrangement,” came into the possession of
and resided with “a certain Rodham Kenney.” After Gabriella was born, she and her mother
“were taken by some legal process and sold as the slaves or property of” Kenney and
eventually purchased by “a certain Edward Downing,” who gave them to his sister, Bell’s wife.
The Bells then brought them to Tennessee and received the profits of their labor until Joseph
died around 1838. The petitioners represent that “there is to be this day an assembling” of Bell’s
heirs “for the purposes of distributing or selling” them; “the time has at length arrived when
complainants are absolutely forced to assert the right which they have to freedom.” They reveal
that Bell always admitted their ancestors’ freedom and that his daughter, Margery, “has
repeatedly declared that at her death complainants with their offspring,” who now number eight,
“should be free.” They pray that the court “will decree their absolute freedom and will perpetually
enjoin the said defendants from any interference.”
0639 (Accession # 21484616). Smith County, Tennessee. Lorenzo Ballow and his wife, Mary
Kitrell Ballow, seek to protect their remainder interest in several slaves under the terms of a trust
established in 1826 by Mary’s father, Isaac Kitrell. The trust reserved to Kitrell a life estate in
four female slaves—Rose, Winney, Harriet, and Mima—and directed that the women and their
“increase” be equally divided amongst Kitrell’s children at his death. Kitrell then “placed” Rose
with the Ballows; Winney with Margarett Kitrell Proctor and her husband, Green; Harriet with
Isham Kitrell; and Mima with Fielding Kitrell. While subject “to be returned to him whenever
called for,” the slaves spent the next decade thus dispersed, and each slave woman had one or
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more children, several of whom were later conveyed outside of the family. While the elder Kitrell
is still living, the Ballows fear that Mary’s siblings are maneuvering the property in a manner
“prejudicial to their rights.” They have approached Kitrell to formalize the loans as they currently
exist, ensuring “no further division” of the slaves at his death. Fearing that their title to the slaves
“may be involved in further difficulty and dispute,” they ask the court to declare to them “their
estate & title in remainder to an undivided fourth of said negroes mentioned in said deed.”
0650 (Accession # 21484617). Smith County, Tennessee. Ruth Moore seeks a divorce from her
husband of thirty years, John Moore. Ruth informs the court that she lived “very happily” with
her husband for about twenty years until he became “much addicted to the debasing habit of
intoxication” and began to verbally and physically abuse her. She now has “Just cause to fear
and does fear that she is in Great danger of death or Great bodily harm from” his abuse. Ruth
brought two female slaves to the marriage; one of them, Eliza, has since had five children. Ruth
asserts that the couple had “a Very good start for young beginners in the world which with
proper care and economy might have been increased by this time to a hansom estate.” John,
however, has “disposed of her real estate his own and the most of said slaves.” She seeks an
injunction to prevent John “from disturbing or in any way molesting her in the possession and
enjoyment” of two slaves, who remain with her, and “a reasonable Sum for maintenance” during
the suit. Less than a month later, Ruth filed an amended bill asking the court to bar the
constable, and “all other the creditors real or pretended” of her husband, from selling the
couple’s four remaining slaves to pay John’s debts. In his answer, John Moore attributed his
wife’s marital discontent to a period of “very feeble health,” wherein she “became apprehensive
of the loss of their property.” The “heavy expenses incurred” during her sickness drained their
finances, and they lost “nine valuable negroes by death.” The couple dismissed the suit in
August 1847, attesting that the “difficulties existing have been amicably adjusted.”
0666 (Accession # 21484618). Washington County, Tennessee. In an amended bill of
complaint, Sarah Jett asks the court to perpetually bar her estranged husband, Starke Jett, and
three other men from selling her slave named Ricard [Richard] to satisfy certain debts owed by
her husband to creditors. Sarah explains that, from the time of her marriage until the said
judgment, she had the “entire controll and management of said negro boy,” who was part of her
allotment from her father’s estate. Starke “renounced” all rights to Richard and signed a
marriage contract stipulating that Sarah “should have the exclusive control benefit and use of
the said negro boy.” She has since “left the house of her said husband” due to his “cruel and
intolerable ill-treatment,” and has filed a bill for divorce in the circuit court. One of Starke’s
creditors, Jacob Merchant, has caused multiple levies to issue against Richard, upon certain
lands of hers in Virginia, and upon property in her father’s estate. She asks the court to “stay the
insatiable hand” of Merchant, who is trying to force “a quadruple payment of said debt.” She
also prays “that the said negro boy be by a decree of your honourable court restored to the
absolute control of your Complainant.”
0675 (Accession # 21484619). Washington County, Tennessee. John Gamble seeks
compensation for the “care, maintenance & support” of his forty-year-old sister, Elizabeth, who
is of “unsound mind” and “requires as much assistance watchfulness & care as an infant.”
Gamble represents that he has kept Elizabeth at his own house, paid her medical bills “for the
last Fifteen or Sixteen Years,” and “had the trouble & expense of rearing feeding & clothing two
negro slaves, from their infancy to the present time.” Now, “less able, than he was formerly to
bear the constant drain upon his purse & his industry,” he asks that “his past expenditures be
reimbursed him & that he be allowed a fair compensation for the past maintenance of his sd
sister & for her future support.” Gamble further requests that the clerk and master be directed to
“take an account” of the debts due him from the said Elizabeth and to ascertain if it would be
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“expedient” to sell the thirteen- and fifteen-year-old slaves in order to raise a fund for Elizabeth’s
support. A related deposition reveals that the slaves are the children of Elizabeth’s sole slave,
who “was drowned some thirteen or fourteen years” ago.
0697 (Accession # 21484620). Davidson County, Tennessee. Carter Allen, surety on Thomas
Taylor’s guardianship bond, asks the court to require Taylor to make a complete settlement of
accounts with his son-in-law and daughter, William K. and Pamelia Ware; he is particularly
concerned about the management of the two slaves owned by Pamelia before her marriage.
Taylor assumed guardianship of Pamelia in 1819 and continued in that capacity until she
married Ware in 1828. At that time, Taylor delivered the two slaves to the Wares, who took “the
possession & control of them from that date.” Allen now represents that he and Taylor “are
growing in years, and may not in the course of nature live many more years.” He “desires to
close his business transactions & be free from all anxiety, and litigation.” Having examined the
records of the county court, he has noticed that Taylor has not filed any returns for the years
between 1820 and 1827. He fears that he “would be harassed with litigation” if Taylor died
without settling the account and seeks the court’s assistance in settling the matter. Allen died
before the case was adjudged; the bill was later revived in his executrix’s name and
subsequently dismissed.
0711 (Accession # 21484621). Maury County, Tennessee. Dillard Hardwick seeks “to
countermand the attachment and injunction granted upon the prayer” of his father, Jonathan P.
Hardwick. The petitioner reminds the court that his father filed “his original bill” on 23 December
1846, in which he claimed entitlement to an enslaved family and prayed that “they may be
delivered to him.” Noting that the court issued an attachment on said slaves, Dillard now enters
his cross bill, charging that “the negroes mentioned in Complts Bill are his own absolute
property that he purchased them in the year 1838.” He further explains that his father became
“pressed and embarassed in his circumstances,” whereby “your orator loaned him sd. negroes
with others for an indefinite period with the understanding & agreement that he was to have
them until he became relieved from his embarasment or until your orator should need them &
that he was to return them at any time when demanded by your orator.” Dillard declares that his
father “has had the possession and use of his negroes for a longtime he is now able to do
without them and your Orator needs them and wants them.” Fearful “that sd negroes are unsafe
and in danger of being removed by the sd. Jonathan beyond the jurisdiction of sd Court,” the
petitioner prays that he “be permitted to retain the possession of sd. slaves and to dispose of
them as his interest may dictate.”
0744 (Accession # 21484623). Davidson County, Tennessee. Edward Wilkinson and his sister,
Emma C. Wilkinson, seek the return of two slaves from Anthony W. Vanleer and Robert Baxter.
The siblings explain that their grandmother, Sarah McCarstle, gave them each a slave on 10
November 1835; Edward received Bob or Robert, “a negro man then about twenty two years of
age,” while Emma received “a negro woman slave named Fanny about the same age.” The
petitioners complain that their father sold the slaves to the Nashville firm of Vanleer, Hicks & Co.
around the year 1838 or 1839, “in part consideration of a steamboat” called the Nashville.
Asserting that he did not have “any power or authority so to do,” the petitioners now wish to hold
the firm’s surviving partners, Vanleer and Baxter, “accountable.” They characterize the slaves
as “valuable family negroes,” for whom they “cannot be compensated” in money. They also
seek reimbursement for the slaves’ hire while in the firm’s possession.
0761 (Accession # 21484624). Davidson County, Tennessee. Nathaniel Drake, a minor
petitioning through his next friend, Alfred Drake, asks the court to compel his former guardian,
Benjamin C. Drake, to compensate him for “whatever estate of his has come, or might, by due
diligence, have come into” his hands. The petitioner explains that Drake has never rendered an
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account of his guardianship since his appointment in 1835. Before he recently “withdrew himself
from the state,” Benjamin sold his plantation, several of his slaves, and other property “to defeat
and defraud your orator of his just demand upon him.” A partial list of said property includes:
“the said slaves Caroline and Squire ... in the hands of said [William] Chandler; and the slaves
Sylva and children in the hands of the said Elisha Reeves; and the said slaves Charles and
Mary and the four head of horses and fifty barrels of corn in the custody of Charles.” Benjamin
also “falsely pretended ... to set said Charles free.” The petitioner now asks the court to attach
the property and to appoint a receiver endowed “with power to dispose of it,” so that the
proceeds can be applied “towards satisfaction of your Orator’s said demand.”
0770 (Accession # 21484625). Davidson County, Tennessee. George Hall and Andrew
Blakemore seek to protect their interest in several slaves currently held by Jenny Hutson
Robertson, the widow and executrix of Jesse Hutson [Hudson]. The petitioners explain that they
are the assignees of Jesse Hutson Jr. and are thus entitled “either in possession action or
reversion to all the property devised to him by said will.” They charge that Jenny’s second
husband, William P. Robertson, during his lifetime, “either carried, or caused to be carried to
parts unknown” several slaves embraced in Hutson’s will, sold them for “about the sum of
thirteen hundred dollars,” and purchased other slaves in their stead. Hall and Blakemore’s father
brought suit against the Robertsons in 1814 and caused them to enter into bond for the slaves’
forthcoming at Jenny’s death. The petitioners now voice their concern that the sureties on the
bond are “wholly insolvent.” The slaves have increased in number despite two women having
“disappeared” or run away. They fear that Robertson “or some agent of hers” will “carry off said
slaves” and thereby “defraud & defeat” their claim. They ask the court to enjoin Robertson and
to appoint a receiver to keep the slaves during the suit’s pendency. They also ask the court to
compel Robertson to account for the whereabouts of all the slaves and their issue and to give
bond with security that she will not remove any of them.
0784 (Accession # 21484626). Rutherford County, Tennessee. Rolly Wrather asks the court to
enjoin Henry and Levi White and Adam Finch from selling his slave named Charlotte. Wrather
explains that he hired Charlotte to his son, Alexander, “during the term of the year 1846.”
Constable Finch has levied executions “upon said Girl Charlotte” at the “instance of the said
Henry and Levi B White, who are or pretend to be creditors of the said Alexander B. Wrather.”
The petitioner asserts that Charlotte “never was the property of the said Alexander B. further
than he acquired a specie property by hiring her for the year.” Averring that Charlotte was in fact
“born in your orator’s family,” Wrather declares that he “attaches peculiar value to her that
cannot be compensated by damages.” He asks the court to determine “by what authority they
have interfered with said slave” and to decree that Charlotte be “delivered up to your Orator.”
0794 (Accession # 21484627). Rutherford County, Tennessee. Minor siblings William H. and
Sarah B. Smith join their uncle, Joel R. Smith, in seeking to secure their remainder interest in
several slaves belonging to Joel’s recently deceased mother, Elizabeth McMinn. McMinn
received a life estate in three slaves by the 1835 will of her father, George Ridley. The
petitioners charge that, after Ridley’s death, McMinn “assumed to ... do acts which were
inconsistent with her limited title” in the slaves, including making “dispositions of a portion of
them which, she ... had no right to make.” McMinn particularly “attempted to give away” the
slaves to various children, who in turn sold them to third parties; those not otherwise disposed of
are now in the possession of McMinn’s sons, William and Peter Smith, and include some of the
nine children of Hannah, a slave named in Ridley’s will. Noting that McMinn’s life estate was
subject to a deed of trust, the petitioners now accuse the trustees of negligence and assert that
they are liable personally “for so much of the trust property as has been lost by their neglect.”
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They sue McMinn’s heirs for the value of the slaves already sold and their hire, and they seek a
proper division of the slaves among those who share remainder interest in them.
0810 (Accession # 21484628). Washington County, Tennessee. John McCrosky amends a
previous bill by asking the court to grant him “a priority over” the president and directors of the
Bank of Tennessee in the satisfaction of a claim against John A. Aiken, Alfred E. Jackson, and
William G. Gammon. McCrosky explains that he recovered a judgment in 1838 against Aiken in
the name of Henry McCray. Eight years later the Bank of Tennessee also won a judgment
against Aiken, and an execution was levied upon Aiken’s two slaves named Elbert and Jenny.
The court soon thereafter stayed the execution by granting Aiken an indulgence. McCrosky
asserts that Jackson “had no authority” to order the issuance of said execution and that “said
levy creates no lien on said slaves and that if any attaches it does so by virtue of your Orators
said execution previously issued and returned as aforesaid.” He asks the court to enjoin the
men from removing the slaves beyond the court’s jurisdiction. He also requests that the sheriff
of Washington County take custody of the two slaves until the case is heard and adjudged. [The
Race and Slavery Petitions Project does not hold McCrosky’s original bill.]
0817 (Accession # 21484629). Davidson County, Tennessee. John Reid, administrator of the
estate of the late Peter M. Winston, seeks the court’s interpretation of “the meaning of ... some
of the clauses and items” in Winston’s last will and testament. In particular, Reid asks how the
“laws of the land” affect his testator’s direction to “purchase as soon as possible, and without
delay a woman of color, named Eliza and all her children, and that said Eliza & children, after
the purchase be, forthwith, emancipated, and taken to a free State, & placed there in a situation
that they can live comfortably.” The petitioner also cites the clause wherein the executor is
directed to purchase a plot of land for one Kitty Ailstolk and to “support her in a comfortable &
reputable manner during her life, and at her death sell said place for the benefit of Eliza & her
children.” Reid finally asserts that Winston directed that “all the rest and residue of his property
real and personal” be given to Eliza and her children. The petitioner therefore prays that
Winston’s next of kin be made party defendants and that his “said will & the provisions thereof
be constructed and specific directions be given.” The hire values for five slaves for the years
1855–1857 are listed in the clerk and master’s report dated May 1857.
0862 (Accession # 21484630). Sumner County, Tennessee. Elizabeth Rutherford asks the court
to compel her son, Thomas W. Rutherford, to make a settlement with her regarding the
business he transacted while superintending her farm. The petitioner explains that, after her
husband’s death, Thomas desired to “live with her, and take charge of the farm,” which
employed “six working hands.” She consented that “he should do so and after the family being
supported, out of the proceeds of the farm he should take and manage for his own use the
overplus.” A particular slave named Jacob, a “valuable boy,” was not to “compose one of the
hands, or an in any manner to fall within said arrangement.” During the three years that she and
Thomas shared the farm, he “acted as her agent” and hired out Jacob “upon a steam boat” for
Elizabeth’s benefit. She now contends that Thomas owes her $18 per month for Jacob’s hire for
portions of the three-year span and for certain other expenses, such as a doctor’s bill and a note
he collected for her. She asks the court to assist her in obtaining compensation from Thomas,
who “retains possession of her farm as aforesaid.” This case was arbitrated with another related
suit filed by Thomas Rutherford against Elizabeth.
0868 (Accession # 21484631). Sumner County, Tennessee. In his amended bill of complaint,
Thomas W. Rutherford, executor of the estate of the late James Rutherford, seeks to protect the
remainder interest in several slaves belonging to his testator’s heirs. His earlier bill sought to
enjoin his mother, Elizabeth Rutherford, and three others from removing an estate slave named
Ritter and her child beyond the court’s jurisdiction. He has recently been informed that the
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defendants sold the slaves to “John Hall & his brother,” who intend to “remove them to the state
of Mississippi.” Rutherford now contends that, if the slaves are carried off, “it will be an entire
loss to said heirs in remainder” and he will be held accountable. He asks the court to compel the
defendants to answer “all they know” about the transaction and the slaves’ whereabouts. He
also asks the court to order the sheriff to attach Ritter and her child while the suit is pending.
This case was arbitrated with another related suit filed by Thomas Rutherford against Elizabeth.
[The Race and Slavery Petitions Project does not hold Rutherford’s original bill.]
0873 (Accession # 21484632). Shelby County, Tennessee. Marcus Brown, a free man of color,
“is desirous of remaining & residing in the County of Shelby in said state.” He declares “that he
is a native of the state of Tennessee” and that “he has a number of acquaintances & friends in
said County & state.” Of the opinion that he can “more easily make a support for himself by his
labor than he could do else where,” Brown “prays your Honorable Court to grant him the
privilege of remaining and residing in said County according to the act of assembly in such case
made.”
0878 (Accession # 21484634). Marshall County, Tennessee. Lavina Wilson complains that
Samuel Kanier holds her slave named Charlotte “in defiance of complainants known &
acknowledged title.” Lavina loaned Charlotte to her mother, Mary Alexander, “about 12 or 13
years” ago. Her mother was about to move to Tennessee from North Carolina “and being old
and poor, complainant furnished her with said Girl to wait upon her in Tennessee.” Mary died in
1839 and her son-in-law, Samuel Kanier, took possession of Charlotte and has “continued to
the present time to have the benefit of said negro’s labor a period of nearly seven years.” Wilson
asserts that Kanier is “accountable” to her for Charlotte’s hire “during that space of time.”
Charlotte is now in the possession of Richard Dougherty, who “under pretence of hiring her has
colluded with his co-defendant to keep complainant out of her rights.” She fears that Kanier and
Dougherty will take Charlotte out of the state and asks for an attachment and injunction so that
Charlotte cannot be moved. She also seeks an account of Charlotte’s hire.
0884 (Accession # 21484635). Marshall County, Tennessee. David McGahey seeks the court’s
aid in settling an estate. Joab Bagly died in June 1845 and, as administrator of the estate,
McGahey sold most of Bagly’s personal estate “except the slaves & also such articles as were
left with the widow for her years support.” The $1,200 raised from the sale is not enough to pay
the liabilities of the estate, so McGahey believes that some or all of the slaves must be sold. He
further informs the court that two of Bagly’s sons-in-law, Richmond Campbell and John Orr Jr.,
borrowed money from Bagly to buy land. Campbell gave notes but has not repaid them. Orr
never gave notes “and is liable for it either as a debt or as an advancement.” McGahey asks the
court to appoint a guardian ad litem for the minor heirs, to subpoena the heirs to ascertain how
much advancement they received during Bagly’s life, and to decide whether to sell the slaves or
divide them among Bagly’s heirs. [Petition damaged.]
0908 (Accession # 21484636). Sumner County, Tennessee. Thomas Norvell and his two
sisters, Susan and Minerva Norvell, seek writs of injunction and attachment against Aaron
Adams, John Mills, and Benjamin Mills to protect their interest in certain slaves they claim as a
legacy from their grandfather, Anthony Murray. The Norvells explain that they hold the
remainder interest in four slaves bequeathed to their mother, Sarah Norvell, during her lifetime.
They now complain that their indebted father, Robert Norvell, either mortgaged or sold said
slaves in 1815 to various parties in violation of Murray’s will. The slaves in question have
“increased” in number to fourteen and are now scattered across four states and in the
possession of the defendants and several other men. The petitioners assert that, at Sarah
Norvell’s death in March 1843, three-fourths of the title to the slaves vested in them. (Another
sister has relinquished her interest in the slaves.) They now ask the court to partition the slaves
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among them and to order the defendants to compensate them for the slaves’ hire since their
mother’s death.
Reel 15
Tennessee cont.
1847
0002 (Accession # 21484701). Bedford County, Tennessee. Sophia A. M. Swales seeks a
divorce and alimony from her husband, John Swales. She declares that “she intermarried with
one John Swales: that they lived together a number of years ... peaceably & kindly” until “about
seven years ago” when her said husband abandoned her and their two children. Sophia
recounts that “she does not now know where he resides or what has become of him,” and she
alleges that “her husband has been utterly neglectful of your Oratrix during that time: failing to
provide for her and family those necessaries of life, which from his position he was bound to
do.” The petitioner “would further state that she has in her possession as the property of John
Swales three negroes ... which negroes your Oratrix received from her parents and they did not
come from her said husband, or any of his relations.” Sophia requests that the court will “decree
a dissolution of the bond of matrimony now existing between your Oratrix and the said John
Swales and also grant to your Oratrix and her two children such alimony as to your Honor may
seem right.”
0007 (Accession # 21484702). Maury County, Tennessee. George H. Gordon, a resident of
Mississippi, seeks to recover “the right & title” to thirteen slaves that were conveyed to him in a
deed of trust by Wesley Reily on 2 March 1842. Gordon explains that Reily “being indebted to
divers persons in a large amount of money ... executed a deed of trust, to secure said debts,”
thereby conveying the said slaves to your orator as trustee. He points out “that by the terms of
said deed it was the duty of your orator” to seize the aforesaid property, “which was not placed
in his possession, and sell the same,” if Reily “should fail to pay off said judgments or said
promissory note.” Gordon charges that shortly “after the execution of said Deed & before the
execution of the trusts therein specified the said Wesley Reily ... ran off & carried away said
negro slaves in said deed conveyed out of the state of Mississippi.” Citing that he “was
defrauded out of his right as trustee,” Gordon prays that writs of attachment issue on the slaves
that were fraudulently sold and that the title to all the slaves be vested in him “or that they be
sold & the proceeds paid over to your orator.”
0019 (Accession # 21484704). Davidson County, Tennessee. The cross bill of Ann Banks and
others requests that the sheriff take custody of a slave girl named Leah [Lear] until the court
rules on both petitions. Banks represents that she and the other petitioners have judgments
against the defendants for various sums, resulting in a levy “upon a negro girl named Lear.”
Banks contends the slave has been “transfered and conveyed” from one defendant to the wife
of another defendant “since the levy of said executions.” Charging “that said conveyance is
fraudulent and made for the purpose of defeating” their demands, the petitioners believe “that
said negro is liable for their claims” and implore the court to rule in their favor.
0030 (Accession # 21484705). Maury County, Tennessee. In a series of petitions during the
years 1847 and 1848, Margaret Hackney seeks the court’s interposition in her unhappy
marriage with Joseph Hackney. First petitioning through her brother and next friend, George
Dickey, she seeks a separation from Joseph and alimony. Citing her husband’s “aim and design
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... to become ... the owner of her negroes,” she alleges that Joseph “is anxiously awaiting her
decease in order to have his scheme fully consummated.” She believes that he is trying to
hasten her death and has “even gone as far as to force opium and brandy upon her when she
was lying sick.” He also removed her from their farm where she was “comfortably situated” and
has “incarcerated her in a most uncomfortable shed-room.” She fears she will “die by piecemeal”
through exposure to inclement weather and Joseph’s disregard. Dickey shortly thereafter
files a bill reiterating his sister’s “present situation,” adding that Joseph forbids Margaret’s
relatives to visit her, and he asks the court to “determine whether she ought forthwith to be so
provided for that her health and comfort may be secured.” Margaret answers with a bill for
dismissal, relating her brother’s death, her expectation not to live “much longer,” and her desire
to remain with Joseph, whom she calls “her best living friend.” After the court appoints her
another next friend, she reopens her suit and asks to be “placed among her friends where she
can be treated kindly in her declining days.” She then amends this bill, accusing Joseph of
adultery, asking for an “absolute divorce” from him and that “all the property that belonged to her
at the time of said marriage be settled upon her.”
0062 (Accession # 21484706). Davidson County, Tennessee. William H. Petty, the sole heir of
the late William Petty, seeks possession of a slave named Tenah. Petty recounts that his father
died in 1826, possessed of “a negro woman slave named Tenah,” who went “into the hands of”
of his estate administrator, John Greer. Petty charges that Greer “sold without any order or
authority” the slave woman, who at present “has come into hands of said Catherine Lee who
now holds and claims her as her own.” Reporting that Greer is now deceased, Petty “prays that
said Catherine Lee and William T. Ross administrator of said John Greer” answer his charges
and that “the said slave be decreed and declared to be the property of your orator.”
0068 (Accession # 21484707). Smith County, Tennessee. William L. Martin, trustee of Joseph
A. Martin, reports that “there was allotted to petitioner in trust for said Joseph A. Martin a negro
named Tom,” which represented one-seventh of the property owned by the late William Martin,
their father. William explains that “after the division of said negroes the said Joseph A. Martin ...
made a contract with Wilson T. Martin” to exchange Tom for “a negro woman Marinda and her
two children Jane & Alfred.” As trustee, William consented to the trade and “is of opinion that the
exchange was fairly made, that the woman & children were worth the amt given for them.” He
asks “that your honor confirm said contract” and “that titles to said slaves be divested and
Invested accordingly.”
0073 (Accession # 21484708). Lincoln County, Tennessee. Abram Martin, Edward A. Mosely,
and James and Ann Finch seek writs of injunction and attachment to ensure the safekeeping of
five estate slaves involved in a title dispute with Samuel E. Gilliland and Matt M. Marshall.
Marshall claims the slaves according to an 1843 will of Rachael Martin. The petitioners,
however, assert that, before her death in 1847, Martin published another will, which “revoked
and annulled” the earlier document. They inform the court that from the evening of Martin’s
burial “up to this day” the slaves have been “unheard of by your complainants and were taken
and carried ... from said grave yard or the plantation ... into the county of Lincoln.” They believe
that Marshall, who is “in insolvent circumstances,” will remove the slaves beyond the jurisdiction
of the court preventing their ability to recover them. They ask the sheriff to take the slaves into
his custody “to abide the decree of this court at the division of a suit at law to be brought for their
recovery.”
0087 (Accession # 21484709). Lincoln County, Tennessee. Charles Bright, “Administrator with
the will annexed of James Duff deceased,” seeks a “construction of said will and aid in the due
execution of the same.” Bright reports that Duff died “seized and possessed both of
considerable real and personal estate.” He cites that Duff bequeathed “all and singular my
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negro slaves, both male and female to the American Colonization Society to be by them
transported to the American Colony of Liberia to be forever free and independent.” In addition,
Duff also allocated “the sum of $50” to “each of my negro slaves so set free.” Bright further
reveals that Duff’s will directed that “until it shall be convenient for the above named Society to
transport my negro slaves so set free, that they shall be hired out by families and the proceeds
thereof ... be applied towards having the children both male and female taught to read, write and
cypher.” Noting his lack of legal expertise, Bright pleads for assistance in executing “all the
points that may arise under said will.” He also prays “that this Court would appoint a guardian or
guardians” for the twenty-eight slaves, whom he has requested be named as parties to the bill.
0112 (Accession # 21484710). Davidson County, Tennessee. Felix K. Zollicoffer asks the court
to “attach” seven slaves belonging to Hudson A. Kidd. Zollicoffer, “accommodation indorser” on
a note for $650 owed by Kidd, fears that Kidd will “remove and carry off said property beyond
the limits of the State of Tennessee,” making Zollicoffer liable for the debt, which will “become
due about the 27th day of February 1847.” The petitioner, in addition, seeks payment of the
debt.
0119 (Accession # 21484711). Davidson County, Tennessee. Benjamin Litton, surety on a note
for Mary F. Baldwin, asks the court to hold Baldwin’s separate property liable for a debt she
contracted to purchase household furniture. Litton acknowledges that Baldwin set up a marriage
contract with her husband, Henry, to prevent Henry’s creditors from selling Mary’s slaves to
satisfy his debts. The court deemed the couple’s “household and kitchen furniture” liable for said
debts, and at a sale of the same, Mary purchased various “beds, chairs, tables, carpets, plates,
knives, forks &c ... absolutely necessary for the comfort and existence of her family.” Her
husband was not considered “in any way a party to the transaction.” Litton charges that the
terms of the marriage contract authorized Mary to contract debts and that her “separate
property” should therefore be made subject for the same. He reports that, although many of the
slaves mentioned in her marriage contract “have died, been sold, or are incumbered by
mortgages,” a “sufficiency of property” remains in her hands. He asks the court to compel her to
“set forth” the extent of her slave property, which could then be sold or hired out to repay him.
0127 (Accession # 21484712). Davidson County, Tennessee. Melissa Robertson requests that
the defendants be enjoined from selling a slave named Leah [Lear]. The petitioner explains that
“on the 15th June 1843 one Preston W. Davis a neighbor and friend of hers conveyed to the
said James Whitworth by a bill of sale or Deed of Trust ... a certain negro girl named Lear to be
Kept and used by your oratrix and her children.” She states that in November 1843 said slave
was levied upon whereby the petitioner “obtained an injunction and prevented [the constable]
from selling her,” and the slave “was redelivered to your oratrix and has remained in her
possession ever since without being disturbed.” Robertson recounts that “a few days ago” a
constable “by virtue of a pretended or real judgment, and execution, ... against her said
husband” once again levied on Leah and “has advertised her for sale on the 18th day of this
month.” Claiming “that said negro girl is a family servant that she has in a great degree raised
her from her infancy that she is much attached to her,” Robertson prays that the defendants be
“perpetually enjoined from selling said negro girl and that she be redelivered to your Oratrix.”
0137 (Accession # 21484713). Maury County, Tennessee. Elizabeth Smith and her five minor
siblings ask the court to attach several slaves now in the possession of Arkey Y. Partee and to
require Partee to “give bond & security for the forthcoming of all sd negroes with their increase”
at the termination of their mother’s life estate. In 1826 the petitioners’ father conveyed the
slaves to William Yancy for the use of their mother, Nancy Hobson Smith, during her natural life
and “after her death the sd negroes with their increase if any to be equally divided between all
her children.” Yancy hired out a seventeen-year-old female slave named Gilley, and the profits
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she generated were intended to support Nancy. Noting that their father and their trustee have
died, the Smiths aver that Gilley and her seven children are now in Partee’s possession, “by
what right he claims [them] or ... how he got possession of them your oratrices & orators know
not.” The petitioners fear that, considering the “difficiency of his title to sd negroes,” Partee will
“run them off” beyond the jurisdiction of the court. Two years later, Partee filed his cross bill
asking the court to nullify the 1826 deed of trust and make “good and valid” his title to Gilley and
her children. Partee claimed that he acquired the slaves when they were levied upon and that
the deed of trust between Smith and Yancy was created to defraud Smith’s creditors.
0154 (Accession # 21484714). Smith County, Tennessee. Thomas Wooton, executor of the will
of Peggy Coleman, seeks permission to sell an estate slave named Mariah in order to discharge
the estate’s debts. He also asks the court “to construe said Will as to the time of distribution of
the surplus” of the estate’s assets. Coleman’s will directed that Mariah “should go to” her sister
and her sister’s husband, “for the special purpose that they should take her niece Martha Jane
Douglas, and raise and educate her.” The couple was to keep Mariah until Martha Jane became
of age, married, or died. Adding that they “have failed to take said slave upon the terms
mentioned in said Will,” Wooten asks to sell Mariah in order to make a distribution of the
proceeds “amongst those entitled under the will.” Included in the packet are depositions and a
decree in the 1860 case of minor Martha Jane Douglass versus A. H. King, in which Douglass
seeks compensation for Mariah’s hire during the years 1846–1860. The depositions with the
petition estimate her hire at an average of $40 a year over the fourteen-year span.
0163 (Accession # 21484715). Williamson County, Tennessee. Jacob Halfacre Jr., surety for
Sarah Nevills on a note used to purchase a slave, seeks reimbursement from Sarah and her
husband, Josiah Nevills, in the amount of $217.17. Halfacre explains that Nevills induced him to
become her security by “saying that she had an ample seperate estate under” the will of her late
father, Lodwick B. Beech, that would pay the note. Beech’s administrator also confirmed to
Halfacre that Sarah was entitled in trust to four slaves as a separate estate. When the note
became due, however, Sarah was unable to pay it, suit was instituted against Halfacre, and a
judgment was obtained against him. Sarah sold the slave, a fourteen-year-old boy named
Jacob, repurchasing him herself, but did not generate enough money to discharge the judgment
against Halfacre in its entirety. Halfacre informs the court that Beech’s administrator has
assented to Sarah’s legacy, and she now hold four slaves through inheritance. He asks the
court to compel the sale of a portion of this property in order to pay the debt.
0169 (Accession # 21484716). Giles County, Tennessee. George T. Malone, administrator of
the estate of the late Willis R. Malone, joins the other “heirs & next of kin” of the said intestate in
seeking assistance in settling the estate. The petitioners point out that “the said Willis R. Malone
had, at his death, no effects of much value, except such as he derived under the will of his
father George Malone.” They ask the court to decide if the said property should “upon the death
of said Willis R., to go to his administrator & his assets for the payment of his debts, or whether
the same rolls back into his father’s estate & goes to his relations under said will.” They also
report that George T. Malone, in his duty as administrator, sold fourteen-year-old Giles, the sole
slave in the estate, for “a full & fair price & which sale complainants desire to be confirmed.” The
petitioners therefore pray that the creditors of the estate be named “defendants to this bill,” that
an account of the estate’s assets and expenses be determined, and that “the residue of said
assets distributed & divided as required by law.”
0178 (Accession # 21484717). Davidson County, Tennessee. George W. Martin seeks
damages from Ralph Martin for an alleged fraud committed against him in a transaction for the
sale of two slaves. George reports that he was convinced by the defendant to purchase from
him a husband and wife named Appollo and Hannah for $1,250. Ralph recommended the
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slaves “in the highest terms,” characterizing Appollo as “remarkable for his fidelity [and]
integrity”; he also stated that Appollo “could make as a hack driver forty dollars a month” and
that Hannah “could make one hundred dollars a year.” Shortly after the transaction, however,
Hannah ran away to a free state and Appollo, after being furnished with “a fine pair of horses to
be driven in a hack,” attempted to follow her, but was arrested and jailed. After some effort and
expense, Appollo was retrieved and returned to the petitioner. Claiming that Ralph knew that the
two slaves “entertained” the desire to run away, George asserts that Ralph “deceived him in
said contract.” He asks that “account be taken of the cost & expense paid by [him] and of the
value of said negro slaves, and that the said note be delivered up and cancelled.” In his answer,
Ralph Martin describes Appollo as a slave “allowed to hire his own time, paying his business to
respondent,” and Hannah as someone who “lived almost as a free person.”
0192 (Accession # 21484718). Smith County, Tennessee. David F. Womack, trustee for
Thomas G. Lindsey and his family, seeks writs of injunction and ne exeat to recover three
slaves currently in the possession of Jeremiah Smith and Samuel Tinsley. Womack loaned the
slaves to Lindsey’s family after he was unable to comply with a court decree directing him “to lay
out said [trust] fund in a negro woman.” The slaves, described as “family negroes raised by your
orator,” were worth $600. Lindsey promised to “make up the difference” between the slaves’
value and the money in the trust fund when he received the balance of his inheritance from his
late father, William Lindsey. The Lindsey family had possessed the slaves for about a year
when Lindsey “ran them off in the night time from” Prince Edward County, Virginia, to the state
of Tennessee. In the process of moving the slaves, he sold one of them; Womack later
recovered this slave when the purchaser, confronted with the “evidence” of Womack’s title,
“surrendered” her. Womack pursued the remaining slaves in Tennessee where he discovered
that Thomas had died. Lindsey’s widow administered on his estate, selling the slaves, including
one newborn, as estate property. He now sues Smith and Tinsley, requesting that the slaves be
“delivered up.”
0214 (Accession # 21484720). Davidson County, Tennessee. Mary Baldwin, through her
husband and next friend Henry Baldwin, seeks the court’s assistance in protecting certain
slaves secured to her sole and separate use by the couple’s marriage settlement. In January
1846 Baldwin executed “her separate deed of trust” with the firm of Catron and Stephenson
conveying seven slaves to them to secure the payment of two notes. This “separate and
independent act” was made without the knowledge of Mary’s trustee, James W. Hoggatt. The
petitioners now charge that the larger of the two notes is “deeply tainted with usury” and that the
transactions, being the “acts and deeds of a married woman,” ought to be “absolutely void.”
They also complain that Oliver Catron, a partner in the recently defunct firm, has “seized upon”
the slaves and committed them to the Davidson County jail subject to Mary’s debt. The
Baldwins claim that “in December last” they “effected an agreement” with Catron that settled the
debt. They ask the court to enjoin Catron from selling the slaves and to declare said notes null
and void. In the meantime, they ask the court to appoint a receiver to hire out the slaves during
the pendency of the suit. Hoggatt in addition asks the court to clarify his role as trustee of the
Baldwins’ marriage settlement.
0235 (Accession # 21484721). Bradley County, Tennessee. A pregnant Mary Snodgrass Hall
seeks an injunction to prevent her estranged husband, Alexander Hall, from selling her “negroes
and her other personal property.” Mary represents that Alexander has “willfully and maliciously
abandoned her” in her “delicate situation and day of trouble, forgetful of his own offspring
disregarding his marriage vow and cold heartedly and fraudulently contriving and intending to
pocket the whole entire property of your oratrix.” She charges that a “destitute” Alexander
married her “to make property in a way more easy than to work for it” and that, before his
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departure, he sold two of her slaves to “Messrs Miller & Parks,” who were “in partnership” with
John Osmunt “in buying negroes.” Her uncle, Edward Riell, bequeathed her a life estate in the
slaves, who were also reserved for her sole and separate use by the couple’s marriage contract.
In January 1847, Alexander informed the petitioner that he was going to Cleveland “to buy some
coffee” and transact business with Osmunt, but he never returned. She fears that he will sell her
remaining slaves and leave her and her infant daughter “without the means of subsistance.” In a
related petition filed two years later, Mary seeks a divorce and asks that she be “restored to all
the rights of an unmarried Woman.”
0248 (Accession # 21484724). Maury County, Tennessee. Andrew B. Walker asks the court to
require the clerk and master to ascertain “whether [two] negroes were unsound and unhealthy”
at the time he purchased them from the estate of the late Archibald Campbell. Walker
represents that he purchased an enslaved mother and child at Campbell’s administrative sale
and later learned that they were “unsound and badly diseased.” He asserts that the slaves are
“wholly valueless” and asks that the sale be rescinded and his purchase money of $666
refunded. As evidence of his claim, he informs the court that Campbell’s widow and
administratrix, Polly Campbell, originally sold the slaves to General G. J. Pillow, who returned
them for similar reasons.
0257 (Accession # 21484725). Marshall County, Tennessee. William Hughes, administrator of
the estate of the late David Carr, seeks an injunction restraining Charles Hardison and Thomas
N. Barham from “prosecuting their claims” to a slave named Tobe. On 25 March 1841, David
Carr paid Thomas Barham $500 for a half interest in Tobe, who was a blacksmith. Barham then
“purchased or agreed to purchase or hired from said Hardison his half of said negro boy Tobe.”
About 4 May 1844, Thomas Barham and his wife Sarah claimed Carr’s interest in Tobe, alleging
that Carr had deeded his interest by gift to Sarah Barham on 16 October 1842. After Carr’s
death, however, Hardison retrieved Tobe in Mississippi and brought him to Tennessee “by virtue
of a pretended agreement” he made with Carr and Barham dated 19 March 1841. Hughes
informs the court that Carr was deaf, mute, and illiterate and that the documents are therefore
fraudulent, having been made without Carr’s full knowledge and consent. Hughes seeks the
injunction until his claim to Tobe can be heard by the court.
0269 (Accession # 21484726). Marshall County, Tennessee. Samuel W. Penn declares that he
is the court-appointed guardian of Oliver Payne, “an idiot.” Penn avows that “his said ward is the
owner of a negro man named William and that this [is] all the property he has.” Fearing “that in
case of death or any accident befalling said negro that his [Payne’s] chance of support ... would
be entirely cut off and be thrown a burden upon his relatives,” Penn asks the court for
permission to sell William, who is “quite valuable,” for a sum “the interest of which will be
sufficient to support his said ward and will besides give a guarantee for his regular support.”
0282 (Accession # 21484727). Marshall County, Tennessee. Robert W. Hill died in 1832 leaving
his property, which included slaves, to his children. He and his mother, Lydia Hill, owned one
tract of land jointly. Lydia died in 1847, and now the heirs state that the property cannot be
“advantageously divided” unless it is sold. They ask permission to sell the tract of land. Related
documents include a report of sale of seven slaves in Hill’s estate, which yielded in aggregate
$5,120.50.
0293 (Accession # 21484728). Marshall County, Tennessee. Josiah Duncan seeks to sell the
property of his ward, Margaret Bigham. Duncan declares that Bigham, “an Idiot,” is “the owner
of one negro man named Sampson and of about 23 acres of land”; he notes “that besides this
she is worth only about $200.” Duncan contends that “the land is so situated as to rent for but
little and that in case of the death of said negro her means of support will be greatly contracted.”
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Of the belief “that it will be to her interest that said land & negro shall be sold,” the petitioner
prays “your honor to order a sale of the same on such terms as may be decreed best.”
0302 (Accession # 21484730). Marshall County, Tennessee. James Hughes, administrator of
the estate of Alexander Hughes, seeks the delivery of three slaves he claims as the property of
his testator’s estate. Two of the slaves in question were levied upon and sold in October 1844
as the property of Mary Allen “at the instance of one Brevard Huggins” and were purchased by
Brevard’s son, James H. Huggins, with the understanding that Allen “should have the
opportunity to redeem” them at a later time. Hughes argues that the sale was not valid, that
Huggins acquired no title to the slaves, and that he is entitled to their possession in his
administrative capacity. He cites a bill of sale from Allen to Alexander Hughes as evidence. The
Hugginses maintain that Allen and her late husband, Thomas, conveyed the slaves at various
times to Thomas’s cousin, William Allen, and to the late Hughes in order to defraud creditors.
There is concurrently a suit pending in the chancery court filed by Mary Allen against the
Huggins brothers.
0313 (Accession # 21484731). Marshall County, Tennessee. The heirs of Elizabeth Devins
petition for a distribution of the six slaves in her estate. Devins died in January of 1847, leaving
as heirs five children and one grandson. The heirs assert that the estate’s debts have been paid
but that a division of the slaves “can not be effected without a sale” of said slaves. They ask the
court to decree a sale and to divide the proceeds among them.
1848
0329 (Accession # 21484802). Shelby County, Tennessee. “Your petitioner Milly Brown, a free
colored woman, respectfully represents to your Worships that she wishes to remain in the state
of Tennessee under the provisions of the several acts of the General Assembly in relation to
free persons of color—She states that she was born and brought up in this state and has never
resided any where else—That all of her relatives, friends and associates are here and she is
unwilling to be separated from them—She is also informed that if she is driven from here she
will be forced to take refuge in a free state—This she is unwilling to do; for your worships know
that, with all their pretended philanthropy for our race, the condition of the colored population in
the free states is a deplorable one—Your petitioner also states that she has always supported
herself—been peaceable, honest and industrous—and hopes that your worships will not drive
her from the state of her nativity for an accident of birth over which she had no control—She
humbly suggests that her life is as dear to her, her liberty as sweet, her love of home as pure
and unsullied as that of the most favored in the land, and submits to your worships whether all
these endearing ties are to be broken, and her life rendered worthless and burdensome for no
other crime than that of being a mulatto.” [Transcription of petition.]
0336 (Accession # 21484803). Shelby County, Tennessee. David H. Jones, a recently
emancipated free person of color, seeks permission to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. He
submits “that he is engaged in a ... profitable business and is making a support for himself—that
he has been and still is a preacher amongst the Colored people in this section of country.”
Noting “that he has a wife a slave living in said County with whom he wishes to live,” Jones
“prays your worships that he have permission ... to remain and reside in the said County of
Shelby.”
0340 (Accession # 21484804). Davidson County, Tennessee. Ann Elizabeth Bennett and her
brother, John Lanier Bennett, seek to recover slave property given to them by their late father,
William Bennett. They report that in 1832 their father “made to them a deed of gift of certain
slaves ... to have and to hold jointly for your Orators’ sole benefit and behoof, as a fund for their
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education and support.” They further point out that one of the slaves, a woman named Adeline,
was hired out in 1844 to a Nashville resident and during said hire “complaint was made by him
of her misconduct.” The Bennetts relate that Adeline was sold based “upon the strength of said
complaint” and “this sale, though made with good motives ... was unauthorized, and, as your
Orators are advised, was void.” The petitioners explain that Adeline has had two children since
the sale, making the entire family worth $700 or $800, which is less than Adeline’s purchase
price of $450. Having not received any of said purchase price or any of the hires generated by
Adeline, the petitioners pray to have “said negro and her increase restored to them, as well as
an account of her hire” or the defendants “pay to them the present value thereof.”
0347 (Accession # 21484805). Davidson County, Tennessee. Thomas T. Smiley asks the court
to attach a slave named Francis and restore her to his possession. Smiley explains that he
purchased Francis for $306 at a sheriff’s sale in April 1848 after her owner, Robert C. Dodd,
became “insolvent & utterly irresponsible.” She was one of two slaves bequeathed in trust to
Dodd by the will of his late father, William Dodd. After the sale and purchase, Dodd expressed a
wish to redeem Francis “on account of his wife.” Smiley consented provided that Dodd repay the
purchase money “in a reasonable time.” In September, however, Dodd and his two brothers
replevied Francis and put her back in Dodd’s possession. While the suit is pending, Smiley asks
the court to deliver Francis to a receiver, who will hire her out.
0357 (Accession # 21484807). Lincoln County, Tennessee. The heirs of the late Abner F.
Hudson seek “an equitable division” of his estate. They report that Hudson died intestate,
“possessed of but two slaves,” and that “by the laws of Tennessee, said Slaves should be
equally divided amongst and distributed to said widow and children of said intestate.” Jane R.
Hudson Harrison is the widow and her two children, Susan and Joseph Hudson, are minor
children “of tender years.” The heirs propose “that said Slaves may be divided by alloting to said
minors jointly one slave” and one slave may be allotted to the widow. They also state that
Hudson owned two tracts of land, a two hundred-acre parcel on which he resided and a 132acre
tract “that can be advantageously rented.” They suggest that from the two hundred-acre
tract “one-third of said lands may be assigned for dower” and “the balance of said tract of 200
acres of land not covered by the Dower, be sold and the proceeds equally divided between said
minor children.” The petitioners “pray that commissioners be appointed to divide said slaves
amongst complainants ... or that by a decree of this Court said slaves be sold & the proceeds
equally divided amongst those interested.”
0361 (Accession # 21484808). Lincoln County, Tennessee. John E. Townsend asks the court to
attach eight slaves currently in the possession of Sarah Freeman and to enjoin Freeman and
Pleasant B. Sears from removing them from the state. Townsend explains that he purchased
the slaves from Freeman for $2,550 in 1841 in Alabama. He allowed Freeman to retain the
slaves “to gather her crop,” and she now refuses “to let him have them.” Townsend charges
Freeman and Sears with “fraudulently combin[ing] together for the purpose of depriving [him] of
said slaves & to cheat & swindle him out of the same.” While Townsend has instituted a suit for
the slaves’ recovery in the circuit court, he now fears that the defendants will “run off or remove
said slaves out of the State of Tennessee.” He informs the court that they “keep the slaves
concealed” and confides that he will “in all probability” lose them without the court’s intervention.
[The petition is missing a page.]
0366 (Accession # 21484809). Davidson County, Tennessee. The children of Olivia Cox seek a
division of the slaves in the estate of their late uncle, Marmaduke Norfleet, “according to the
interest of the petitioners.” Thomas Cox is entitled to two-sevenths of the total, L. B. Powell is
entitled to one-seventh, and the remainder should be held for the four minor petitioners. They
also inform the court that one of the slaves is in jail in Clarksdale, Tennessee. The petitioners
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amended their petition several weeks later seeking permission to sell two slaves, Jim and
Aimwell, who “are in the constant practice of running away.” Both are now in the Davidson
County jail.
0378 (Accession # 21484810). Smith County, Tennessee. John A. Sloan requests that
defendant Agness Sloan “be required to give Security for the forth coming” of nine slaves in
which she “was entitled to a life estate,” declaring “that at her death your orator was entitled to
said slaves & their increase.” He admits that security is not necessary if Agness will keep the
slaves in Smith County, “where your orator could have an opportunity of attending to and
watching over their safety,” but he fears that defendant Martin Sloan “will shortly leave said
county and that he intends taking said Agness and said negroes with him” to “places beyond the
jurisdiction of the court.” The petitioner argues that Agness is “old, infirm and easly imposed on
by the said Martin W. who is her son.” Noting that Martin “is in desperate circumstances,” John
Sloan cites “that there is great danger in permitting him [Martin] to take said negroes with him.”
He therefore prays that Agness “give bond & security” for the slaves or that “said negroes be
placed in the hands of a receiver, and hired out annually for her support and comfort.”
0385 (Accession # 21484811). Washington County, Tennessee. The children of the late George
W. Rutledge charge that the persons administering his estate have “mismanaged in a most
shameless and reckless manner as regard many of the important parts of the business.” They
report that their father left “a large and valuable estate, both real and personal consisting of
lands, negroes fine horses and other valuable stock ... amounting to a sum of between twenty
five and thirty thousand dollars.” They allege that the administrators and administratrix have
conducted two sales of part of the personal property, including slaves and horses, whereby they
“have become purchasers, directly or indirectly, and ... have been guilty of a violation of their
duties and behaved in a manner which has been very injurious to the rights of complts.” In
particular, they relate that Reuben, an estate slave, was “swapped off ... for another negro that
was sold & by this means the said slave Reuben brot only $400 a sum greatly below his value
as he can now be sold even in the depressed state of the market for negroes at $600 in cash.”
The petitioners request that “said defts be decreed to pay over to complainants whatever sum ...
may be deemed just for thier mismanagement of the said estate.”
0397 (Accession # 21484812). Rutherford County, Tennessee. Five children of the late Thomas
Sanders seek a distribution of the slaves and money in his estate. One of the heirs, Francis
Sanders Wilson, has recently married William H. Wilson, and she requests her “proportionable
share” of the estate “being one sixth of the whole.” Sanders owned eight slaves and a sum of
money, which, with interest since March 1846, now amounts to $150. The property is currently
in the hands of Meredith Sanders, guardian of Sanders’ four minor heirs.
0401 (Accession # 21484813). Lincoln County, Tennessee. William Moffitt seeks to recover a
slave named Sam, whom he claims is his property, but who is now in the possession of Milton
Buchanan, the administrator of the estate of the late Robert Buchanan. Moffitt asserts that he
gave Sam to his daughters, Judith and Elizabeth, in 1839. Sam was then sold and purchased at
least four times before Moses Buchanan, Moffitt’s son-in-law, sent him in the fall of 1842 to live
with the petitioner to care for him “on the account of his increasing age and infirmities.” In
December 1842 Sam was taken from the petitioner “at the instance of Robert Buchanan, by
virtue of an execution in favor of John McCollum against Moses Buchanan.” Moffitt and Moses
and Robert Buchanan agreed that Robert would purchase Sam at auction and that, upon
payment of “the residue of the purchase money out of his own funds,” Buchanan would convey
Sam to Moffitt. Buchanan made the purchase, but never conveyed Sam to Moffitt. Moffitt
asserts that at the time of the sale, Sam was assigned a value of $500 and is now “worth about
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$650.00.” He seeks an “injunction or attachment” to prevent the Buchanans from removing Sam
from the state.
0408 (Accession # 21484814). Williamson County, Tennessee. Martin Forehand, the
administrator of the estate of the late Robert W. Phipps, seeks permission to sell a ten-year-old
slave named Philip. Forehand alleges that “the Estate aforesaid is at this time in debt in about
the sum of $500.” Believing “it is necessary and proper to sell one of the negroes of said Estate
to pay the debts thereof,” the petitioner “prays the Honorable Court to decree the sale.”
0413 (Accession # 21484816). Sumner County, Tennessee. Nancy G. Bush files a cross bill
that claims the sheriff of Sumner County has falsely levied an attachment on her slave property.
Bush cites that “an attachment issued from the ... chancery court against the property of the
said Claiborne West,” but the slave woman and her three children who were seized are “her
property and that they are not the property of Said Claiborne West and are not liable to his
debts either directly or indirectly.” She points out that she “raised said woman from a child & has
had said woman & her children in her possession & control all their lives.” She further reports
that, even though she had hired out the slaves to West, “she never has never given or conveyed
them ... to Said Claiborne West.” Charging “that her title to said negroes is perfect & complete in
herself & are not subject ... to the debts of the Said West,” Bush asks that the defendants
answer her charges and the slaves “be released from the operation of Said attachment.”
0420 (Accession # 21484817). Smith County, Tennessee. Phereby Braswell asks that her
remainder interest in a slave named Evelina “may be secured by a decree of your honor.” She
explains that her brother-in-law, Reuben Braswell, “prevailed upon” her father, Sherwood
Evans, to loan him Evelina “to wait on” Phereby, who lived with him and her sister, Appy, and
who had been “greatly afflicted with Rheumatism so much so as to be entirely helpless for the
last twelve years.” Evans later formalized the loan by his will, which was probated in 1842, and
which bequeathed a life estate in Evelina to Appy. Phereby now asserts that she was “not
permitted to enjoy an equal benefit of the labor of said slave,” as Reuben and her sister allowed
her “only to stay a part of her time at the house ... being thrown the balance of the time upon the
hands of others.” She “has no doubt her father died under the belief that your oratrix was at the
house of the said Reuben at that time enjoying a part of the benefit of the labor of said girl.” She
now fears that Reuben plans to “run off said negro from the state.” He already tried to sell her to
a third party who balked at the sale when he learned of Phereby’s title in remainder. She asks
the court to attach Evelina and require Reuben to give bond and security “for the forthcoming of
said slave.”
0447 (Accession # 21484818). Knox County, Tennessee. Sarah Arnold seeks a divorce from
Dr. George M. Arnold, her husband of four years, whom she charges with adultery and violence
against her. She insists that she “cannot live with her said husband and even her life be safe.”
She brought to their marriage tracts of land, several slaves, and “a quantity of other property,”
which she asks the court to decree to her “as Justice and equity will entitle.” The slaves were a
gift from her grandfather, Samuel Todd, and left to her by her former husband’s will. She asks
the court to enjoin Arnold from disposing of them. In addition to being “restored to all the
privileges of a feme sole,” she asks the court to issue a writ of habeas corpus in order to bring
before them her eleven- or twelve-month-old daughter, whom George Arnold “positively refused
her the right to take with her.”
0454 (Accession # 21484819). Maury County, Tennessee. Martha Campbell and other “heirs &
distributees at law of Robert Campbell” request that commissioners be appointed “to value &
divide” twenty-nine slaves belonging to his estate. They confirm “that all of your petitioners have
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arrived at the age of twenty one & all deem it to their interest a division of said slaves should be
made.”
0462 (Accession # 21484820). Washington County, Tennessee. Thomson Stuart, the
administrator of the estate of the late John Clark, seeks assistance in settling the estate. He
cites that “at the time of the death of sd John Clark, out of a family of twelve children ... nine of
the twelve are now dead nearly all of whom ... have left very numerous & widely scattered
family.” Stuart notes that Clark made certain advancements, which included slaves, to his
children throughout his life and the value of these advances must be ascertained in order to
ensure “a fair & equitable distribution of the fund yet remaining undisposed of.” He reports that
“a large number of those interested in sd estate are non-residents” and “others are minors
without Guardians.” Deeming “it essential to his own security as Adm & to a just & equal
distribution of the assets in his hand,” Stuart prays “that the same be made under the direction
of this Hon. Court” and that all known “Distributees & the heirs at law & representatives of the
Decd children of the sd John Clark ... be made Defts to this bill.”
0474 (Accession # 21484821). Davidson County, Tennessee. Three daughters of Madison
Napier ask the court to enjoin “all further proceedings at law in favour of” R. B. C. Spence and
William Luten “in relation to the attachment & sale” of a slave named Jim. The girls, all under ten
years old, are the joint owners of Jim, who was the “sole & separate” property of their mother,
Mary Napier, who died seven years ago. The defendants have a claim against Madison Napier,
Mary’s widower and the father of the complainants, and have taken Jim and placed him in jail as
Madison’s property. The petitioners assert that “said boy is valuable & his hire is necessary for
their maintenance & education.” They worry that Jim “is closely confined in Jail in a cold room &
that his health & probably his life is endangered by such close & comfortless imprisonment.”
They also ask the court to deliver Jim to the clerk and master “or some person as receiver, to be
hired out & kept safely in the Country until the suit is disposed of.” A deposition from Henry Pratt
reveals that Jim is a highly skilled mechanic, who worked at Napier’s Mount Etna Furnace in
Hickman County.
0490 (Accession # 21484822). Smith County, Tennessee. Marmaduke Mason charges the
administrator of the estate of the late Levi Squires and Squires’s legatees with fraud in the sale
of an estate slave named Lucy. Mason purchased Lucy and her daughter, Prudilla, at a public
auction where all but one of the defendants were present and “encouraged the bidding.” Mason
realized that Lucy was “unsound and diseased” when she died three months after the purchase.
He complains that the defendants represented Lucy as younger than she was, and pregnant,
which he later found “was also untrue.” In fact, Lucy “was afflicted with derangement and
irregularity in her menstrual discharges ... and ... was of a scrofulous habit.” Mason alleges that
the family concealed Lucy’s situation and knew that “some five or six negroes of the same
family” as Lucy “died at about the same age.” He asks the court to take an account of Prudilla’s
value, which he is willing to pay, and that the balance of the purchase money be “enjoined
perpetually.” He also prays that the “administrators be enjoined from transferring said notes and
also from proceeding to collect them.”
0498 (Accession # 21484823). Maury County, Tennessee. Benjamin Fitzpatrick and Sarah M.
Brown Fitzpatrick petition the court along with Sarah’s siblings and the minors’ guardian to
divide seven slaves that are owned jointly by the petitioners. They declare that “Sarah M. has
intermarried with your Petitioner Benjamin, and your petitioner Calvin S has arrived at the age of
twenty one years and they are entitled to have their interest in said slave allotted to them in
severality.” The petitioners ask the court to appoint commissioners “to divide said negroes ...
and to set aside to the said petitioners each one share it being the one seventh.”
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0506 (Accession # 21484824). Davidson County, Tennessee. John B. Bosley, executor of the
will of the late William Cloud, seeks “a proper construction to be put upon each and all the
clauses of said will.” Bosley’s will directed that the petitioner hold two slaves, Becky and
Ephraim, in trust “for the benefit of Siller and her four children Nurvey, Rufus, Neomy & William
Francis & in trust for the use & benefit also of Nelson, Albert & David—all of whom are
themselves negros & were formerly the slaves of the said William Cloud.” In March 1846 Cloud
sold the said slaves “for the nominal consideration of one dollar” to E. W. Sehon of Ohio “for the
purpose of having said negros emancipated or freed & not to convey any real, substantial
interest to said Sehon.” Sehon manumitted the slaves by deed, to which Cloud’s will alludes by
instructing Bosley “to procure their freedom by removing them to a free state or otherwise in
case their free papers are not sufficient to procure their freedom.” Being “desirous to wind up
said Estate,” Bosley now seeks the court’s direction in executing Cloud’s wishes. He also asks
the court to order the sale of four additional slaves in order to distribute the proceeds among
Cloud’s heirs. The court decreed that Sehon’s emancipation of the slaves was “invalid &
ineffectual to establish their freedom in law,” but that, under the will, they were entitled to their
freedom. The court then instructed Bosley to apply at the next term of court for their
emancipation; the decree directed Bosley to remove the slaves to a free state and “there
emancipate them according to the laws of the state into which they shall be removed,” should
the Tennessee court refuse his request.
0532 (Accession # 21484825). Maury County, Tennessee. Elizabeth Hamilton seeks a divorce
and alimony from her estranged husband, Alexander C. Hamilton, with whom she is “not willing
on account of fear to live with ... any further.” She recounts the events of a particular evening
where Alexander “seized her round the neck & choked her,” took a chair “& struck it down upon
the table,” and followed her out of the house and “slapped her jaws violently.” She also charges
Alexander “with adultery on at least one instance.” She seeks to protect her interest in eight
slaves, whom she brought to the couple’s marriage; by an 1843 decree of the court, the couple
holds said slaves for their “use & benefit ... during their joint lives.” In the event that Elizabeth
dies before her husband, the court also directed that the slaves be divided between Alexander
and Elizabeth’s father, Joseph Hassell. Alexander has purchased Hassell’s interest in the slaves
and currently retains them. Elizabeth asks the court to direct the sheriff to seize the slaves “until
the final hearing” of the court.
0560 (Accession # 21484827). Sumner County, Tennessee. William Mohorn asks the court to
invalidate a deed of gift that he executed to his daughter, Pamelia. Mohorn informs the court
that he “had been intoxicated, say some two or three months incessantly” before he moved from
Virginia to Tennessee in 1845; when in a drunken state, he admits that he is “almost totally
bereft of reason and a maniac.” Fearful that William would squander his property, his family
persuaded him to convey the “family slaves,” whom he had inherited from his late father, in trust
to Pamelia. William drunkenly believed that the conveyance reserved a life estate in the slaves
for himself. Shortly thereafter, however, John Mohorn took the slaves from the petitioner’s
residence in Tennessee, leaving William’s second wife, who was in “very delicate health,”
without servants. She later left him for her family in Texas. After Pamelia married, her husband,
John Daly, hired out the slaves claiming them through his marital rights. In his “destitute
condition,” William now lives with his daughter and son-in-law, where he is forced to submit to
Daly’s “most distant and unwarrantable treatment.” He fears that his filing of this suit will cause
Daly to “run said slaves beyond the jurisdiction” of the court. He asks the court to attach the
slaves, whose aggregate value is about $3,000, and to restore them to his possession.
0573 (Accession # 21484828). Bradley County, Tennessee. Anderson McMahan accuses his
father-in-law, William McKissick Sr., and McKissick’s son, William Jr., of “running away” a slave
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named Maria, whom McMahan had loaned to his mother during her lifetime. After her husband’s
death in 1821, Levicy McMahan came to live with her son, who promised to “support and
maintain her in her life-time,” in exchange for “all her interest in the remainder” of his father’s
estate. Although “far advanced in life,” the petitioner’s mother decided to marry McKissick, and
the couple “concluded to move to the Hiwassee Purchase.” McMahan consented to permit
Maria, “one of his best and most valuable negro girls,” to go with them “to wait upon [Levicy]
work for her and render her comfortable, the ballance of her days.” McKissick convinced
McMahan to deliver him a bill of sale for the slave, but it was “fully understood, expressed, and
agreed that no title whatever to [Maria] was to pass to the said McKissick.” Levicy died in 1829,
and McMahan, “out of kindness to the husband of his revered mother suffered [Maria] to
remain” with the “distressed” McKissick. When McMahan later tried to retrieve Maria, he found
that William Jr. had taken her to “parts unknown.” William Jr. successfully concealed Maria from
the petitioner until 1846, when he learned that she and her two children were with William Jr. in
Missouri. William Jr. has since sold Maria but retains possession of her children. McMahan asks
the court to restrain the defendants from “further removing or disposing of” the enslaved
children, to order the McKissicks to restore the slaves to him, and to account with him for
Maria’s value and hire since his mother’s death.
0581 (Accession # 21484829). Rutherford County, Tennessee. George W. Smith, administrator
of the estate of the late George W. Anderson, states that he “has in his possession, as
administrator for distribution under said will about twenty slaves.” He further states that there are
nine distributees, “all of whom are minors” except four who have either married or have
“become of age.” Smith “prays your honor to appoint commissioners to divide said slaves by
setting apart ... their shares of slaves, being four ninths of the whole number.”
0587 (Accession # 21484831). Giles County, Tennessee. Robert M. Brigg states that he is the
security for Isaiah Ivey. Brigg explains that Andrew Forsythe invented and patented a hemp
brake in 1842 and that “said Ivey having great confidence in the success of said brakes
purchased of said Forsythe the right to make and sell the same for the states of Tennessee,
Missouri, Kentucky, & Alabama.” Jacob G. Braden likewise “had confidence in its great utility” so
the “said Ivey & Braden were to be partners in the said brake & its profits.” The petitioner
declares that Ivey “came to the conclusion to rent a farm for the year 1843, hire negroes to work
it & make a crop of hemp.” Since Ivey “was then insolvent,” Brigg relates that Ivey “could not
hire negroes without security,” which Brigg reluctantly agreed to become. When the venture
failed, Brigg reports that Braden, the other security, is “failing & refusing to pay anything” of the
debts incurred. The petitioner therefore prays that Braden and Ivey be made defendants and
“that your orator may have adequate relief in the premises.” [The petition is missing pages.]
0594 (Accession # 21484832). Giles County, Tennessee. James L. Norvel and William C.
Mayfield ask the court to “perpetually enjoin” an “unjust, illegal & grossly usurious” judgment
against Norvel in favor of Archibald C. White. White recovered the judgment for $624.50 in
December 1847; Mayfield served as Norvel’s security on the bond. Norvel and White began
business dealings in 1840. First White loaned Norvel several small sums of money and, in 1842
and 1843, Norvel hired several slaves from White, including Jack, Sam, and Allen for the sum of
$225 in 1842 and Simon, Jack, Sam, and Allen for $300 in 1843. Norvel repaid a portion of the
money in 1845, but White charged the “most enormous, illegal & unjust rate of interest,” and he
fell behind in his payments. The petitioners argue that only $326.26 of the judgment is “justly
due” White. They seek a writ of injunction to restrain White’s collection of the balance.
0606 (Accession # 21484834). Shelby County, Tennessee. Francis Burton, a free person of
color, asks permission to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. Eighteen-year-old Burton states
that she was born in Tennessee and “that she has a great many friends & acquaintances in said
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County,” with whose assistance Burton hopes to “obtain employment & thereby secure for
herself a more comfortable subsistence.” The petitioner “therefore prays permission to reside in
Said County of Shelby under the provisions of the Statute in Such Case made and provided.”
0611 (Accession # 21484835). Shelby County, Tennessee. Matthew Burton, “a free person of
Colour,” asks permission to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. He states that “he was born
free in Tennessee ... and wishes to Continue his residence in said County because he is now
engaged in learning the trade of barber in Memphis & believes he can learn said trade under
more advantages” here than in other locales. Eleven-year-old Burton prays the court “to grant
him permission to remain & reside in the County of Shelby.”
0616 (Accession # 21484836). Shelby County, Tennessee. Ellen Burton, a free woman of color,
asks permission to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. She states that “she has been
residing as a free person in the State of Tennessee” for a number of years and that she has two
daughters “under fifteen years of age.” She notes “that she has many friends & acquaintances
in Said County & She believes she can on that account procure a more comfortable subsistence
for her family in Shelby County than Elsewhere.” Forty-year-old Burton “therefore prays your
worshipful Court to grant her permission to reside in the County of Shelby.”
0621 (Accession # 21484837). Shelby County, Tennessee. Cely Burton, a free woman of color,
asks permission to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. She states “that she was born free in
the State of Tennessee” and that she “wishes to Continue her residence” in Shelby County. She
notes “that owing to the number of her friends & acquaintances residing in Said County she
believes she can procure a more comfortable subsistence in said County than elsewhere.”
Twenty-year-old Burton “therefore prays your worshipful Court to grant her permission to reside
in the County of Shelby.”
0626 (Accession # 21484838). Shelby County, Tennessee. William Henry Sikes, a free man of
color, asks permission to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. He states “that he was born free
in the State of Tennessee” and that he is “desirous of remaining in Said County for the reason
that he believes he can more easily make a support in Said County than he can elsewhere.”
Sixteen-year-old Sikes “therefore prays your worshipful court to grant him permission to reside
in Said County.”
0632 (Accession # 21484839). Shelby County, Tennessee. Mary Ann Sikes, a free woman of
color, asks permission to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. She states “that she was born
free in the State of Tennessee” and that she “is desirous of residing in said County because she
believes she can support herself more easily in said County than Elsewhere.” Fifteen-year-old
Sikes “therefore prays your Honorable Court for permission to remain in Said County.”
0638 (Accession # 21484840). Shelby County, Tennessee. Agnes Sikes, a free woman of color,
asks permission to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. She states “that she was born free in
the State of Tennessee” and “that she desires to continue her residence in said County for the
reason that she has many friends and acquaintances in said County and believes she can
procure a more Comfortable subsistence in said County than she can elsewhere.” Twenty-oneyear-old
Sikes “therefore prays permission to reside in said County of Shelby.”
0643 (Accession # 21484841). Shelby County, Tennessee. Hanna Sikes, a free woman of color,
asks permission to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. She states “that she was born free in
the State of Tennessee” and that she “is desirous of remaining in Said County for the reason
that she believes she can obtain a more comfortable support in Said County than Elsewhere.”
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Nineteen-year-old Sikes “therefore prays your Honorable Court for permission to reside in Said
County.”
0649 (Accession # 21484842). Shelby County, Tennessee. Alice Whitelaw, a free person of
color, asks permission to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. She states “that she was born a
slave in the Town of Bolivar ... in said state on the 22d February 1825 and remained the
property of Mrs Margret Rogers for the space of (20) years.” Whitelaw reports that she has been
“sold & transferred” many times, with her last owner being “William B. Morris of the city of Cinta
& State of Ohio.” She states that “thereafter, to wit on the 26th day of Nov 1847,” she was
“manumitted & set free” by Morris. Whitelaw submits “that she has resided in the city of
Memphis for the space of four years and has ever conducted, herself with propriety, and in
obedience to the Laws as she ever desires to do.” She asks the court to grant her “by order of
your worshipful court privilege to remain in said state of Tennessee.”
0657 (Accession # 21484843). Shelby County, Tennessee. Jane Dougherty, a free woman of
color, asks permission to remain in the state of Tennessee. She states that she has had several
owners, the last one being William Morris, who “discharged her from servitude” on 2 February
1846. Dougherty’s reason for desiring to stay in said state is the fact that “her Mother who is
very old and very much afflicted is a slave for life belonging to the estate of Wyatt Christian
Dec.” She states that her mother is “utterly helpless” and that “your petitioner is her principle
stay & protector.” Believing “if she were compelled to leave the state that ... her aged & afflicted
mother would not receive that attention which her utter helplessness requires,” Dougherty prays
that “she may be permitted to remain a citizen of this state.”
0664 (Accession # 21484844). Shelby County, Tennessee. Reuben L. Kay “wishes to
emancipate his negro woman Phebe Reynolds, aged about 35 years.” Kay reports that
Reynolds “has paid for her freedom, is honest, peaceable and industrious, and has amassed, by
her own exertions, a considerable amount of property.” He further states that Reynolds “has
been for some time married to a slave,” who is also a resident of the county. Attesting to her
“high character,” Kay prays that Reynolds “be forever emancipated and discharged from
servitude; and that she be permitted to enjoy all the rights and privileges of a free person of
color in as full and ample a manner as if she had been born free.” He also asks that Reynolds
“be permitted to remain in this state.”
0669 (Accession # 21484845). Shelby County, Tennessee. Phebe Reynolds, a free woman of
color, asks permission to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. She states “that she was born
and brought up in a slave state” and has lived in said county “for many years.” She notes that
“all her relatives reside in said county” and that “she is, and has been for some time, married to
a colored man named Lewis the property of David Townsend ... That all these ties not only
make her anxious to remain in this state, but would render life worthless any where else.” Citing
that she “knows the habits and customs of the slave states, what is due from her to free white
citizens under all circumstances,” Reynolds “humbly prays your worships to permit her to remain
in this state.”
0677 (Accession # 21484846). Shelby County, Tennessee. Judy Pritchitt, a free woman of
color, asks that she and her four children be allowed to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee.
She states that she “has been residing as a free person in the state” for a number of years and
that all of her children “were born free in the state.” Believing that “she can procure a more
comfortable subsistence in said County for herself & Children than she can elsewhere,” Pritchitt
“prays your worshipful Court for permission to reside with her said children in the County of
Shelby.”
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0682 (Accession # 21484847). Shelby County, Tennessee. Hannah Dodds, a free woman of
color, seeks permission to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. She states that she “was
liberated by one James Dodds in Shelby County” and that “she has resided in said county ever
since.” Dodds points out that “she wishes to reside in said state because she was born and
reared in a slave state—all her relatives and associations are here.” She notes that “if she is
driven from this state she will be compelled to settle in some of the free states.” Feeling “that in
no portion of our Government is the condition of the free colored race more deplorable than in
the free states,” Dodds submits that “she would prefer to return to bondage under a kind master
than to reside in a free state.” She “prays your Worships to permit her to remain in this state
under the provisions of the several acts of the General Assembly.”
0687 (Accession # 21484848). Maury County, Tennessee. In her divorce suit, Elizabeth
Hamilton details how her husband, Alexander Hamilton, used “violent language towards her &
finally Seized round the neck & chocked it & then took a chair and Struck her down upon the
table with all the furnature upon it & broke it all into pieces.” In addition, Elizabeth “has been
informed & believes” that her husband “has not been faithfull to his marriage vows,” although
she is not sure of the “Specific instances or times of his adultery.” Noting that the court decreed
in 1843 that the eight slaves procured from her father “should be held, for the use & benefit of
your Oratrix & the said Alexander C during their joint lives,” Elizabeth explains that her husband
“is now in possession of all of said negroes Except Sophia—She has died & Letitia was Sold by
him.” The petitioner charges that she “is entitled during her life to an Equal benefit of Said
Negroes,” and she prays for a divorce and alimony.
0691 (Accession # 21484849). Williamson County, Tennessee. Thomas Crow, administrator of
the estate of the late Nancy Lavender, seeks permission to sell two slaves belonging to her
estate. He explains that Lavender “died the owner and possessor, among other things of two
negro slaves” and “that other assetts of said intestate’s estate beside said two slaves [are] more
than sufficient to discharge the debts.” As there are numerous next of kin, Crow asserts “that the
said two slaves cannot be divided ... without a sale of the same and such sale is necessary to a
division.” He “prays Your Honour to decree that said two be sold for the purpose of distribution.”
0698 (Accession # 21484850). Marshall County, Tennessee. Alexander Davis states that he
and his brother James “are the joint owners of four negro slaves, towit Matilda, Lewis Mary &
Linda,” who once belonged to Hezekiah Davis, the brothers’ father. Alexander, no longer a
minor, represents that Mary Davis is the current guardian of James and that she has possession
of the slaves and hires them out. He claims that the proceeds of those hires amount to at least
$200–$300 and that he is entitled to half. In addition, he charges that “he was the joint owner of
an other negro named Hannah that died and the said Mary Davis as guardian aforesaid refuses
to account for one half expenses of the said negro while sick but seeks to make your orator pay
the whole.” Seeking his just half of the slave property, the petitioner prays that Mary and James
Davis be subpoenaed, that the slaves be divided, and that Mary Davis, as guardian, be
compelled “to account to & pay over one half the proceeds of said hire & pay one half the
expenses of said Hannah.”
0706 (Accession # 21484851). Marshall County, Tennessee. Susan Johnston, the widow of
Robert Johnston, declares that she is entitled to a dower in the lands owned by her late
husband as well as “to the one sixth part” of the slaves he owned. She notes that her husband
died intestate in 1846 and that the court appointed her and one James Johnston as
administrators of the estate. Johnston specifies that “she does not desire a third part of each
separate tract of land assigned to her” but instead she requests that her dower “be set a part to
her out of the said tract of land in Marshall County including the mansion house out houses
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improvements &c.” She asks that her children and their guardians be subpoenaed to answer her
bill, that a writ of dower be issued, and “that Commissioners be appointed to allot & set a part
the one Sixth part of said negroes to your oratrix and that she may hold them absolutely in
severalty.”
0718 (Accession # 21484852). Marshall County, Tennessee. Drucilla Secrest seeks a divorce
from her estranged husband, Tyra Secrest, whom she married in 1833, and custody of their
seven children. For the first seven or eight years, Tyra Secrest treated her well except during
occasional drunken bouts, but in the last six or seven years, he became so abusive that several
times she was forced to leave the house. Drucilla reports that recently Tyra “has got into habits
of almost Constant drunkenness—and has got to abusing his Children in a wanton & cruel
manner.” A “man of fine estate,” Tyra has threatened “to take his negroes off” so as to prevent
Drucilla “from getting alimony out of the same.” He owns at least eleven slaves and has
“disposed of two of said negroes,” whom he received from Drucilla’s father’s estate. He also has
“a large estate coming to him from the estate of his father who has lately died.” Drucilla seeks
writs of attachment and injunction to prevent Tyra from “running off or disposing of his property.”
She also asks the court to enjoin her father’s executors from paying her $1,000 inheritance to
her husband.
0727 (Accession # 21484853). Marshall County, Tennessee. On 13 November 1834, William
Pickins gave his sister, Betsey Ann Meece, and her children an eight-year-old slave girl named
Juda and her future children. About 1838, Meece sold her interest in Juda to her brother,
Hamilton Pickins, for $400. Meece died in 1848, leaving two daughters, the petitioners, Anna
Jane Jones and Margaret Elizabeth Harris. The daughters and their husbands now allege that
Hamilton Pickins “knew the extent of said Betsy Ann’s interest when he made said purchase,”
but, since Meece’s death, Pickens has tried to persuade them to release to him their interests in
twenty-two-year-old Juda and her three children, four-year-old Malvina, two-year-old Caroline,
and six-month-old Adeline. The plaintiffs believe that Pickins will dispose of the slaves when he
hears that they “are determined to insist on their rights.” They ask the court to attach the slaves
and issue an injunction against Hamilton Pickins. They also ask the court to award the slaves to
them and divide the slaves between the plaintiffs.
0740 (Accession # 21484854). Marshall County, Tennessee. Gabriel Long, son and
administrator of the late Richard Long, informs the court that said Long died in 1848, leaving a
contested will. He complains that, two years before his death, Long’s “artful & shrewd”
grandson, Richard B. Long, defrauded his grandfather by “wickedly and unjustly” influencing the
elder Long to sell him a slave named Elijah for $1 and the “love and affection” he had for him.
Richard B. Long later exchanged Elijah “for the purpose of [obtaining] ... a younger and better
slave,” a fourteen-year-old girl named Grace; Elijah was subsequently carried “by traders to
parts unknown.” The petitioner asserts that the transaction was void due to Richard Long’s
incompetence and that Grace therefore belongs to Long’s estate. He asks the court to
subpoena Richard B. Long, to attach Grace so as to prevent Long from removing her, and to
award Grace to Richard Long’s estate. In an earlier suit, Gabriel Long and his brother, Thomas
Long, and James Shaw, son-in-law of Richard Long, complained that the eighty-eight-year-old
Long was incapable of handling his own affairs. They charged that Long owns “a considerable
amount of real & personal property,” including slaves. Citing that “his mind is greatly impaired”
and “he has lost his memory to a very great extent,” the petitioners feared that he was “liable to
be imposed upon and robbed by any one.” They thus prayed that “a writ of Lunacy may issue
out of your honorable Court to inquire of the unsoundness of mind of the said Richard Long.”
0760 (Accession # 21484855). Marshall County, Tennessee. The “only children and
descendants” of slaveholder Benjamin Thompson seek permission to sell a “tract of land and
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town lot” in Thompson’s estate with “the proceeds to be equally divided amongst your orators.”
Thompson died in 1848, leaving his property to his children and grandchildren. They represent
that they are “the only persons interested in the distribution of his estate,” and it is “manifestly to
the interest of all of them” that the land be sold. Thompson’s will directs the manumission of his
three slaves, Jerry, Bruce, and Maria, and instructs his executors to “take out of the money
arising from the Sale of my property the Sum of One hundred Dollars to be by them expended in
removing Said Negroes to a free State the Negroes to be allowed to take choice of the State to
Which they will be moved.” [The petition is missing a page.]
0788 (Accession # 21484856). Marshall County, Tennessee. John Garrett, a resident of Tipper
County, Mississippi, petitions for the return of a slave named Wilson, now in the possession of
David R. Mitchell. On 1 January 1847, “one Mrs. Mitchell” sold a slave named Wilson to Dr. W.
W. Cavenaugh [Kavenaugh]. Shortly thereafter, Cavenaugh “swapped or exchanged the said
boy, Wilson,” with Garrett “for and in consideration of a negro woman.” In December of 1847,
Garrett sold Wilson to A. C. Blair; shortly after the transaction, Blair returned the slave “on
account of disease and unsoundness.” Garrett cancelled the transaction, but before Wilson
came back into his possession, the slave absconded and was later found in David Mitchell’s
possession in Marshall County, Tennessee. Mitchell claims Wilson as his property, and Garrett
fears that he will try to sell him before the dispute is settled. Garrett asks that Mitchell be
enjoined from doing so, that his title to Wilson be confirmed, and that Wilson be returned to him.
In his various answers, Mitchell asserts that he holds Wilson’s title by virtue of a bill of sale from
his mother, Isabella Mitchell, to him in 1838.
1849
0799 (Accession # 21484901). Washington County, Tennessee. In a supplemental petition,
Gideon and twelve other persons of color seek the freedom promised to them by the late
Charles Jones. They remind the court that they filed their original bill in 1844, arguing that the
said Jones “made his last will & testament, whereby he directed that Yr. Orators & Oratrixes
should be freed at certain ages & periods therein specified.” Their original bill also noted that the
said Jones died in 1835 and that his wife Susannah died in 1840, “at which time nearly all of Yr
Orators & Oratrixes were by the terms of sd will entitled to their freedom.” They “show that
notwithstanding their right to freedom, they have been kept in servitude for from 9 to 10 Years ...
beyond the terms which they were required to serve by the will of the sd Charles Jones” by the
defendant, William Jones, who “is an intemperate & dangerous man.” Citing that several
petitioners “are considerably advanced in Years & their freedom is likely to be of little benefit to
them,” they renew their prayer “that their emancipation be declared by Yr Hon Court as prayed
for in their original bill & that an account be taken of the hire due them respectively since the
death of Mrs Susannah Jones.” They also beseech the court “to place them in the Hands of a
Receiver ... & to direct him to Hire them out to humane persons who will treat them kindly &
protect them from injury.” The related documents contain reports from the court-appointed
receiver and clerk and master, which detail the hiring values of the petitioners from 1852 to
1867. In their 1872 bill, the petitioners represent that “by the result of the late civil war in the US,
proclamation of President Lincoln acts of Congress &c, your Complainants were freed before
the question presented by them to the Court was adjudicated”; however, funds that should
compensate them for their hire while their suit was pending are “still undisposed of.”
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Reel 16
Tennessee cont.
1849 cont.
0002 (Accession # 21484902). Davidson County, Tennessee. Felix K. Zollicoffer, administrator
of the estate of the late Leoner Williams, joins Williams’s two daughters in seeking a division of
the three slaves in her estate. Sophronia C. Curren and her sister, Martha A. Kidd, are the sole
distributees of the estate. In an amended petition, the petitioners seek a sale of the slaves,
having decided that “said negroes cannot be conveniently divided.” They also represent that
said negroes “are not suitable family slaves & have no such habits as would suit them in that
respect.” They would like to reinvest the proceeds of the sale in “family servants.” Zollicoffer’s
guardian’s report further stipulates that the newly purchased slaves be held “for the sole and
separate interest of the said heirs ... and their children after their deaths.” The same report
records details about the slaves’ hire, medical histories, and temperament. The packet also
contains a petition filed in 1855 by Elizabeth Glascock to confirm the sale of a slave named
Sarah to Martha A. Kidd.
0020 (Accession # 21484903). Williamson County, Tennessee. Laban L. Waters, administrator
of the estate of the late Sarah Carsey, seeks permission to sell three estate slaves “for the
purpose of distribution among the parties entitled thereto.” Carsey died on 7 March 1849, the
owner of a twenty-five-year-old slave named Orres and her two children, Ellis and William, both
under the age of ten years old.
0026 (Accession # 21484904). Davidson County, Tennessee. Horatio and Lucinda Brayton
represent to the court that they are “willing & anxious to redeem” a slave named Anache, whom
Lucinda holds in Mississippi as her “sole & separate” property. They explain that Lucinda, who
“was in great need of money,” placed Anache “in the hands of her friend James Benham, to sell
or mortgage for the purpose of raising the money for her.” Benham mortgaged Anache to
Tolliver Dawson for the amount of $350. A few months later, Brayton’s attorney attempted to
repay Dawson $375, but Dawson “would not receive it & refused to give up said slave ... for less
than $550.” The Braytons inform the court that Dawson “follows the business of buying & selling
negroes,” and, if he is not restrained, they fear that he will sell Anache “beyond the limits of this
state.” Asserting that Dawson “bought her to sell again in the event that she was not redeemed,”
they ask that “said negro be attached & held subject to the further order of this Court.” Asking
the court to declare the transaction a mortgage, the petitioners also seek an account of
Anache’s hire while in Tolliver’s possession and during the pendency of the suit.
0035 (Accession # 21484905). Williamson County, Tennessee. Jones Floyd seeks permission
to sell two slaves in the estate of his late son, Josiah Floyd, who died on 22 September 1849.
Floyd, the administrator of Josiah’s estate, asserts that said sale is necessary in order to pay his
son’s debts, which amount to $700. He also reports that the estate “has a claim to three slaves
in the State of Virginia, one of which is a runaway.” The petitioner believes that said estate is
“insolvent, and he is unable to advance the value of said two slaves, out of his individual means,
without a sacrifice.”
0043 (Accession # 21484906). Maury County, Tennessee. “To the worshipful, The County
Court, in the State aforesaid The undersigned your petitioner, would respectfully represent to
your worships that your honourable body at its April term, in the year 1846, Upon the petition of
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Benjamin Johnson, liberated or set your petitioner free, according to an act of the general
assembly in Such cases made & provided. That your petitioner might remain as a free person of
colour in the County of Maury & State of Tennessee. Upon entering into bond, as the Statute
made & provided directs, which he did. And as the term of 3 years Specified in Said act, has
now, or is nearly expired, your petitioner respectfully prays this worshipful court to grant to him
again the privilege of remaining in Maury County & State aforesaid, as a free person of colour,
in pursuance of an act of the general assembly passed in 1841 & 2.” [Transcription of petition.]
0047 (Accession # 21484907). Maury County, Tennessee. Francis H. Eddlemon asks the court
to restore to his possession a slave named Gilbert, who is currently advertised for sale for the
payment of the debts of Thomas G. Turner. Eddlemon purchased Gilbert from Turner in January
1848 and has had “the possession, control and management of said boy Gilbert from the time of
said purchase until he was taken from complainant’s possession” while Eddlemon was “called
from home” on business. In January 1849, Samuel Neely obtained a judgment for $100 against
Turner, and the constable, William J. Jaggers, levied the execution upon Gilbert. Citing his bill of
sale, Eddlemon asserts that Gilbert “justly” belongs to him. He prays that Gilbert be released
from the constable’s custody and that an injunction be issued to restrain Neely, Jaggers, “and all
other persons claiming” Gilbert “from selling said negro boy.”
0053 (Accession # 21484908). Sumner County, Tennessee. Albert McCall, administrator of the
estate of the late Rebecca Blackmore, seeks permission to sell five estate slaves in order to
distribute the money among the estate’s distributees. The slaves, who are “very unequal in
value,” must be divided into six distributive shares, which McCall deems “impracticable” without
a sale.
0058 (Accession # 21484909). Rutherford County, Tennessee. The children and heirs of the
late William R. Mathews seek permission to sell their interest in a cotton gin “and a small piece
of land attached thereto.” Before his death, their father contracted with his brother, Epps S.
Mathews, to erect the gin “upon the dividing line between their respective tracts of land.” Each
man was to furnish “an equal number of his own hands & horses to work said Cotton Gin; and
the profits to be equally shared between them.” The petitioners now represent that “in
consequence of the death of their said Father, the division of his estate, and the fact that the
slaves will be hired out, the stock &c, sold, it will be impracticable to carry on said Cotton Gin.”
Believing it will be “most beneficial” to them to sell their interest, they ask the court to authorize
a sale.
0065 (Accession # 21484910). Lincoln County, Tennessee. Joseph W. Clarke asks the court to
attach Thomas Sullivan’s interest in several slaves and a plantation “so that the same may be
made subject” to a claim Clarke has against him. Clarke informs the court that Sullivan’s father,
Cornelius W. Sullivan, died on 25 October 1846, leaving a life estate in five slaves to his widow,
Mary. The petitioner asserts that, “under the law regulating descents and the Statutes of
distribution of this State,” Thomas and his eight siblings are entitled “to have the slaves and
plantation equally divided amongst them” at Mary’s death or remarriage. Clarke asks that
Thomas’s “one undivided ninth part” in the property “may be subjected to the complainants
aforesaid demand.”
0070 (Accession # 21484911). Williamson County, Tennessee. Mary J. Oglevie and her four
minor children join the administrators of her late husband’s estate in asking the court to appoint
commissioners to “allot and set apart to her” her interest in eleven slaves in the estate of her
late husband, Jason W. Oglevie. A commissioners’ report reveals that said slaves had an
aggregate value of $4,725.
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0078 (Accession # 21484912). Rutherford County, Tennessee. “To the Hon Samuel Anderson
Judge &C. The Petition of Elizabeth House a minor who petitions by her Guardian Alfred
Blackman, and of James Batey and his wife, Ellen formerly Ellen House Your Petitioners
represent that the said Elizabeth House and Ellen Beaty are the owners as tenants in common
of several slaves, derived by distribution under the will of their late Father Hezekiah House
decd—That said slaves have heretofore been held for them by their Guardian, Alfred Blackman
That by the marriage of Petitioner Ellen, with the said James Beaty, it has become necessary to
divide said slaves, that the share of Each may be held in severalty They therefore pray your
Honor to appoint Commissioners to divide said slaves between Your Petitioners, Elizabeth
House and Ellen Beaty.—And they will pray &c.” [Transcription of petition.]
0082 (Accession # 21484913). Davidson County, Tennessee. The children of Lucy Gaines seek
to protect their “interest in remainder” in a slave named Jim, “a very valuable man worth ...
seven or eight hundred dollars,” whom they fear “will not be forthcoming” at their mother’s
death. Jim is the son of a slave named Betty, who was one of several slaves bequeathed to
their mother by their grandmother, Frances Henderson. The petitioners report that “some twenty
years ago” their mother’s husband, Thomas L. Gaines, sold “all his interest in said slaves to one
Thomas D. Porter,” who possessed the slaves “& their increase” until his death. Jim has
recently come into the possession of “one James H Wilson,” who claims him as his “absolute
property” under a purchase from Porter “or from some person who derived title from him.” The
petitioners “have heard” that James “is upon a plantation or farm owned by said Wilson in
Mississippi.” They ask the court to enjoin Wilson “from selling or otherwise disposing of said
slave in any manner so that the rights of your orators & oratrixes may be defeated.” They also
ask the court to attach Jim and to require Wilson to “give security” to have Jim “forthcoming” at
Gaines’s death.
0091 (Accession # 21484914). Rutherford County, Tennessee. William S. Butler, administrator
of the estate of the late Samuel Patterson, seeks permission to sell an estate slave named
Maria and her three-week-old child, Susan, in order to discharge the debts of the estate. Butler
obtained permission by “a former decree of the court” to sell certain slaves; however, a slave
named Sam noted in the decree was “unfit for sale, on account of disease.” As Sam is “still
diseased,” he prays that Maria and her child be sold “for the purposes aforesaid.”
0096 (Accession # 21484915). Rutherford County, Tennessee. Benjamin Clayton, administrator
of the estate of the late Peter R. Vaughan, seeks permission to sell two estate slaves named
Emaline and James in order to discharge the estate’s debts.
0101 (Accession # 21484916). Rutherford County, Tennessee. The widow and children of the
late Hardy Simmons seek a division of four slaves, whom they “own in common as the heirs and
distributees” of Simmons. They represent that the slaves “can be better divided between them
by setting apart the slaves” belonging to Simmons’s two minor sons, William and Henry
Simmons, “in conjunction”; the boys’ share would then be held by Eli Sea, their guardian, until
they become of age.
0107 (Accession # 21484917). Rutherford County, Tennessee. The widow and minor children of
the late Samuel Patterson join his administrator, William S. Butler, in seeking a division of “the
twenty or more” slaves in his estate. With the exception of two female slaves ordered to be sold
by a former court order, the said slaves “or such of them as are of sufficient size” are currently
hired out for the present year. Once they are returned to Butler’s possession, the widow,
Camilla Patterson, asks that her share of the slaves be allotted to her.
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0113 (Accession # 21484918). Rutherford County, Tennessee. The executors of the will of the
late Jonathan Currin ask the court to appoint commissioners to divide the estate’s twenty-seven
slaves among Currin’s heirs. In particular, they desire them “to set apart to Horace P. Keeble
and Cassandra C Keeble,” Currin’s recently married daughter and her husband, their portion of
the slaves. The petitioners represent that “there is no necessity for said negroes to be kept
together.” The estate includes several enslaved families.
0119 (Accession # 21484919). Davidson County, Tennessee. Henry Strother asks that the
property of his sister, Helen Strother, and her husband, George Strother, be attached and
subjected to a debt that his sister owes him for her portion of the purchase price of a slave
named George. Strother reports that the siblings agreed to purchase Charles, who “was
affected ... with something like a tremulous palsy” and was assumed to “bring very little” at the
estate sale of their late father, Judd Strother. Helen requested that Henry “bid off said slave, to
prevent him from being sacrificed” and told Henry that she would join him in the purchase “& be
half owner of the slave.” Henry cites that he is “very anxious to get rid of” Charles, who “has
behaved himself very badly since said purchase.” To this end, Henry sent Charles to Georgia,
where he was jailed for “some criminal offence, which occasioned your orator some expense”;
he has also run away causing Henry additional expense. The petitioner complains that he has
received “no remuneration” from Charles’s services and deems the slave “from some cause
either of nature or accident ... to be so perverse & unmangeable & wicked as to be almost totally
worthless.” He seeks compensation from Helen for her half of the purchase price and
subsequent expenses, which she “has refused & still refuses to pay.” Although Helen and
George have moved to Alabama, Henry points out that his sister owns “an undivided half” of a
town lot in Nashville out of which he can be compensated.
0128 (Accession # 21484920). Rutherford County, Tennessee. The heirs of the late Walter S.
Lowe ask the court to appoint commissioners to “assign set off and put” Lowe’s widow, Nancy
A. M. McGill, in possession of her dower. Lowe’s estate consists of lands and nine slaves “to be
divided equally between” McGill and Lowe’s two minor children, James Henry Lowe and
Elizabeth Henrietta Lowe.
0133 (Accession # 21484921). Rutherford County, Tennessee. Mary Sanders and Aurilla
Francis Lannom, children of the late Levi Lannom and sole heirs to his estate, join the executors
of Lannom’s will in seeking a partition of the land and a division of the slaves in Lannom’s estate
between them. They inform the court that, at Lannom’s death, “said land and slaves descended
to your Petitioners ... jointly and in equal proportions.”
0139 (Accession # 21484922). Williamson County, Tennessee. Albert R. Cartwright,
administrator of the estate of the late Lewis Turner, reports that Turner died intestate and
“leaving ... neither widow, or children or the descendants of such.” His next of kin and
distributees are comprised of four living siblings and the children of five brothers and sisters,
“who died previously to the death of Lewis.” Cartwright now asks the court to order a sale of the
sixteen slaves in the estate “for division and distribution among the several claimants thereof.”
He maintains that the “unequal ages and value of said slaves” prevents him from making a
division “without a sale thereof.”
0147 (Accession # 21484923). Lincoln County, Tennessee. A. A. Greer, Robert C. McEwen, his
wife, Mary A. E. McEwen, and W. T. Ross, administrator of the estate of the late Ebenezer
McEwen, ask the court to confirm Mary A. E. McEwen’s sale of a slave named Eliza to Stephen
Hart. Ebenezer McEwen mortgaged Eliza to Mary McEwen in 1847 in order to secure the
repayment of a $400 loan. Mary McEwen derived the money she loaned Ebenezer from the sale
of five slaves, who were her “sole and separate” property. After Mary McEwen took possession
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of Eliza, Eliza “became threatened with a disease called scrofula.” “Apprehensive that said slave
might not be worth the $400,” Mary McEwen “determined to sell her for the best price” she could
obtain. Hart purchased Eliza in 1849 for $500, “her full value.” The petitioners also ask that
Ross “be released from all liability for said $400” and “the same be settled on” Mary McEwen.
0151 (Accession # 21484924). Maury County, Tennessee. The heirs of the estate of the late
Charles J. Sowell, who died in the Republic of Texas in 1840, seek permission to sell the
estate’s twelve slaves in order to divide the estate equally among the heirs. They report that
Sowell’s widow, Elizabeth D. Sowell, “has controlled and managed the entire property up to the
present time and has by reason of such sale and management laid herself to account for the
proceeds of the property in her hands.” Sowell’s daughter, Mary Jane, who has recently married
David A. Aikin, particularly “desires to have her share in the estate decreed to her.” They ask
the court to order Elizabeth Sowell to “pay over the amount due” them.
0160 (Accession # 21484925). Rutherford County, Tennessee. The heirs of the estate of the
late Walter Wade ask the court to appoint commissioners to divide said estate, which includes
eighteen slaves. Wade’s widow, Susan P. Wade, is entitled to one-eighth of the slaves; his six
surviving children, “husbands and wives ... considered as one,” are each entitled to one-eighth;
and two grandchildren, Granville N. and Elizabeth T. Wade, are jointly entitled to the remaining
eighth. The petitioners point out that Walter Wade advanced a total of five slaves to three of his
children during his lifetime, and they ask that the commissioners charge them “as a part of the
shares of those to whom the advancements were made.”
0170 (Accession # 21484926). Sumner County, Tennessee. James Butler, administrator of the
estate of the late Elizabeth Boyle, petitions the court to set aside an arbitration committee’s
ruling concerning a slave title dispute involving John Boyle, other members of his family, and the
estate. Butler explains that his testator “swapped” slaves with John Boyles “several years before
her death”; Elizabeth gave John a slave named Craft, whom she had purchased from James
Alderson, and received from John in return a slave named Sarah, who has since had two
children. After Elizabeth’s death, John Boyles took possession of Sarah and her children,
claimed them as his own property, and has since dispersed the slaves among his children,
giving Sarah to his son, James, and giving Sarah’s children to his daughters, Jane and Mary.
After Butler attempted to regain the slaves and Boyles refused to surrender them, the parties
eventually agreed to submit the dispute to arbitration. Butler claims that a particular member of
the committee “was so partial to the Oposite party” that he refused to grant Butler a new hearing
after a majority of the arbitrators consented to his request. He now asks the court to invalidate
his arbitration bond and to “decree him Sarah and her two children and the hire of the Same
Since the death of the Said Elizabeth.”
0181 (Accession # 21484927). Lincoln County, Tennessee. William T. Ross and Clement C.
Clay Jr. ask the court to attach a slave named George and hold him subject to the payment of a
$200 debt owed them by John and James Harton for “their joint services rendered as attorneys
in defending” George against a charge of burglary. George, who “is owned by one or both of
said defendants,” was acquitted of the charge at the November 1849 Term of the circuit court in
Lincoln County. The Hartons are nonresidents of Tennessee but “have an interest in said
negro,” who is now in Lincoln County but whom the petitioners fear the Hartons will remove
“beyond the jurisdiction of the court.” They ask that the court decree “said amount due” and that
“George be sold and the proceeds applied to the payment of all the Costs hereof and to the debt
of Complainants.”
0186 (Accession # 21484928). Maury County, Tennessee. The children of the late Hezekiah
Ward ask the court to order the sale of Ward’s real estate and a division of his slaves “according
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to the interest of the several parties.” At his decease, Ward’s property was to be divided
between his widow, Elizabeth Ward, and their children. A son, Hillary Ward, previously
petitioned the court to have his “interest in the negro property” of his late father set apart for him.
The remainder of the property was then held “in common” by Elizabeth Ward and the other
children. Elizabeth Ward has recently died, and the property is now in the hands of her
administrator, James M. Mitchell. The Ward children seek a settlement of their late parents’
estates.
0193 (Accession # 21484929). Bedford County, Tennessee. James L. Scudder asks the court to
protect his remainder interest in several slaves until the termination of his mother’s life estate in
the same. Scudder explains that his grandfather, William O. Whitney, bequeathed a trust estate
in two slaves named John and Susannah to his widow for the benefit of their daughter, Harriet
P. Scudder, provided that she afterwards divorce her husband. Scudder’s mother accepted the
contingency, and after her divorce, the legacy vested in her during her natural life. The petitioner
now complains that his grandmother and the executors of his grandfather’s will allowed John
and Susannah to be sold through a succession of illegal maneuvers in order to evade creditors.
Both slaves are now in the possession of George Kimbro. Susannah is rumored to have had
seven children, and Scudder estimates “their probable aggregate value” along with John at
$2,500. He fears that Kimbro will take said slaves outside the court’s jurisdiction. He therefore
seeks writs of injunction and attachment in order to secure “that they shall be forthcoming” at his
mother’s death.
0209 (Accession # 21484930). Maury County, Tennessee. Sally Smith, a free woman of color,
seeks permission to remain in Maury County, Tennessee, with her two children, Robert and
Christiann, where she “can the better make a support for herself and children.” Smith explains
that she “has been living in the county and State aforesaid for a great number of years” and “did
live with one Jacob Rogers, for a great while previous to his death” during the summer of 1849.
She insists that her two children, both under the age of fifteen years, shall not “become a tax
upon the county aforesaid” and that she now “Stands prepared and ready to give good and
sufficient security as by Statute made and required in such cases.” She also asks that
“certificates of her freedom be granted her.”
0212 (Accession # 21484932). Smith County, Tennessee. John N. Jordan, trustee for his wife
and son, Nancy N. Jordan and John B. Jordan, seeks an injunction to prevent William Young
from selling a seven-year-old girl named Oliff, whom Nancy Jordan’s father, John B. Hughes,
gave to him to hold in trust for Nancy and John’s use. The said Young recently “sued out an
execution” on a judgment against Jordan, and the constable of Smith County threatened to levy
on Oliff as Jordan’s property. While Jordan was away from his home in Kentucky, the constable
prevailed upon his wife and son to execute a delivery bond “to prevent the removal of said
negro,” and Oliff remained in Jordan’s possession. He now fears, however, that she will be sold
unless restrained by the court. He insists that Oliff is “trust property” and in no way “bound or
liable” to the “individual & proper debt of your orator.” He asks the court to protect “the trust set
forth in said deed,” to cancel said delivery bond, and to perpetually enjoin Young from selling
Oliff “by virtue of said execution.”
0220 (Accession # 21484933). Maury County, Tennessee. David C. Gillespie asks the court to
compel John B. Winn to “perform his contract” by carrying a slave named Jane “out of the state
or near the state line & then keep her himself or dispose of her by sale or otherwise.” He also
seeks an injunction restraining Winn from permitting Jane “to run at large.” Gillespie explains
that he sold Jane to Winn “upon the express condition” that Winn “dispose” of her beyond the
limits of the state. The “uncontrollable, wicked & vicious” slave struck such fear in Gillespie that
he was willing to accept $525 for her, a price “much less than her actual value.” Winn, however,
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refuses to carry her off and “has the hardihood to assert in the face of his contract that it was
never his intention” to do so. Gillespie insists that this “wilful violation” of their contract “exposes
him, & his family [and] his property to the vengeance of sd negress,” who has already
threatened to kill her own child, “the property of your orator,” and whom he fears “would burn his
house down.” Citing her “inflamed” passions and “her purposes aggravated by being sold,” he
confides that he does not know “at what moment he may feel her vengeance.” In the event the
court decides not to enforce the contract, Gillespie asks the court to rescind it and restore Jane
to his possession.
0240 (Accession # 21484934). Bedford County, Tennessee. Richard Bandy, Enoch D. Rushing,
George W. Bandy, and William D. Hill, endorsers on a bill of exchange for Washington Short,
ask the court to enjoin James H. Locke, the last endorser on the bill, from prosecuting a suit
against them for “non-acceptance & for non-payment” of the $4,500 debt. The petitioners
explain that Short had the bill discounted by the bank “under the pretext of purchasing slaves in
Virginia for this and the Southern Market.” The Bank of Tennessee later filed suit against the
petitioners and Locke, but “by some arrangement” with the bank, Locke brought suit “in his own
name” against them. The petitioners believe that Locke received at least partial payment for the
bill from Short before Short moved to Missouri, but Locke has not given the money to the bank.
Arguing that Short’s slave trading activities are “in violation of law and against the public policy
of this state,” they assert that the bill is “void.” A related petition reveals that the court granted a
judgment of $5,128.67 in Locke’s favor.
0256 (Accession # 21484935). Davidson County, Tennessee. The children of Lucy Gaines seek
to protect their “interest in remainder” in several slaves, whom they fear “will not be forthcoming”
at their mother’s death. The slaves were bequeathed as a life estate to their mother, Lucy
Gaines, by the 1816 will of their grandmother, Frances Henderson. The petitioners report that
their mother’s husband, Thomas L. Gaines, “about twenty years ago,” sold “all his interest in
said slaves & their existing & future increase to one Thomas D. Porter,” who possessed the
slaves “as his absolute property till his death.” Porter’s widow and children kept the slaves and
their increase “until recently” when the widow “lately pretended to sell them to one Richard
Polk,” who “was & is wholly insolvent & paid nothing for said slave & promised to pay nothing.”
They charge that Porter and Polk have been “removing them from place to place” and their
whereabouts are now uncertain “as they have been on the wing for sometime past.” The
petitioners ask the court to enjoin Porter and Polk “from selling or removing or otherwise so
disposing of” said slaves. They also ask the court to attach the slaves and require the
defendants to “give security” to have them “forthcoming” at Gaines’s death.
0269 (Accession # 21484936). Davidson County, Tennessee. Allen Thornbrough, administrator
of the estate of the late Jesse N. White, asks the court to establish and “set up” White’s
“undivided interest” in six slaves brought to his marriage by his widow, Mary McMurray White.
Thornbrough asserts that White became “the legal & proper owner” of the slaves “by virtue of
his marriage.” Mary White currently holds one of the slaves as her dower, while the other five
are in the possession of the guardian of White’s children from her former marriage to William
McMurray. Thornbrough complains that they both “refuse to give them up or allow your Orators
right or claim to any portion” of them. White’s estate is insolvent so Thornbrough also asks the
court to enjoin all creditors from commencing and prosecuting suits against the estate and for
permission to sell the estate’s right to the slaves.
0279 (Accession # 21484937). Davidson County, Tennessee. Sachfield Maclin, Henry Driver,
and Mary Maclin Park seek a distribution of the proceeds from the sale of five slaves belonging
to the estate of the late Sarah Maclin. They remind the court that William Driver, administrator of
Maclin’s estate, obtained a previous court order authorizing the sale. They report that petitioner
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Henry Driver became the “highest, last & best bidder” at a public sale of said slaves by a bid of
$1,662. William Driver, however, “refuses to pay over” the proceeds to the heirs, claiming that
Henry Driver is insolvent. The petitioners maintain that “there is no reason why said estate
should not be distributed.”
0286 (Accession # 21484938). Bradley County, Tennessee. Robert M. Swan, executor of the
estate of Samuel Swan, seeks to prevent James H. Johnson and Mathew Knox from claiming
three slaves. When Swan’s father died in Knox County in 1818, he left most of his estate to his
wife “for her benefit and support during her natural life.” After her death, any remaining property
passes to the surviving Swan children. In May 1849, Swan brought his mother to live with him.
He also brought Burr, Nelson, and Westly, the sons of two estate slaves, “to wait attend & afford
assistance to the widow.” Recently, however, James H. Johnson and Mathew Knox have come
to Bradley County claiming the three slaves by right of a deed of trust executed by Mrs. Swan.
Johnson and Knox claim absolute title to the slaves and plan to take them back to Knox County
and sell them. Swan argues that his mother is “old Feeble & weak-minded near Eighty years of
age” and “Wholy incapable to make contracts or dispose of property.” He also points out that
she had no legal right to dispose of the slaves absolutely, since she only has a life estate in
them. Swan asks the court to void the deed of trust and to enjoin Johnson and Knox from
“interfering with said negroes in any manner what ever,” even suing for possession of them, until
his case is settled.
0301 (Accession # 21484939). Williamson County, Tennessee. Sarah Haley, “a feme covert,”
seeks a divorce from her husband, Wyatt Haley, with whom she lived one month before he sent
her away on a “horse he had prepared for her.” She informs the court that a month into their
marriage, Wyatt declared “she might prepare to leave him for we ... can live together no longer.”
She contends that “the reason” he “invited her to leave him” was because he was “impotent and
incapable of procreation.” She avers that she has never had any “sexual communication with
the defendant such as is usual in the marriage state.” She also complains that even though her
husband has property worth at least $5,000, he “put up a notice at the store of Charley Williams
in Eagleville notifying the public not to credit your Oratrix on his account.” She requests “suitable
and proper alimony out of the property of the defendant,” which includes ten slaves.
0318 (Accession # 21484940). Blount County, Tennessee. Mary “alias Polly Williams” charges
her husband, William B. Williams, with “gross and iniquitous fraud” before their marriage and
seeks a divorce from his “bed and board.” She explains that William took advantage of her “not
being able to read writing” by misrepresenting their marriage contract, which Mary believed was
intended to secure to her “for her own benefit” the considerable property she inherited from her
late parents. The document, whose “true contents” William concealed, instead “only binds said
Williams not to sell the negros named in it without her consent.” She has left the home of her
“irritated, cross and ill” husband, taking with her only “a small, filly and the old negro Chloe,”
while William retains “a considerable part of her property,” including a slave named Tom.
William has instituted suit to recover the filly and certain sums of money he thinks are due Mary
from her father’s executors. She asks the court to enjoin him from “further prosecuting” his suit
and removing her property outside the court’s jurisdiction. She also asks the court to order the
sheriff to take Tom into his possession “for the benefit of your Oratrix.”
0327 (Accession # 21484941). Sumner County, Tennessee. Several distributees of the late
William H. Garrison ask the court to ascertain their distributive share of Garrison’s estate. They
complain that, after Garrison’s death in 1843, his widow, Mary Garrison, took possession of his
“large real and personal estate” and “continued to move from place to place, so as to defeat the
appointment of an admr who could legally settle up the estate.” During this time she “sold or
disposed of” two of Garrison’s four slaves. They argue that William Johnson assumed
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administration of the estate “finally in 1844” and returned an inventory showing the two
remaining slaves as “being in suit, or [their] title litigated.” The petitioners charge that Johnson
has “failed and neglected to compel said Mary to account for and pay over the value of said
property.” They contend that his suit is an effort “to protect himself against the payment of their
just demand against him” and that he and Mary have reached a compromise in said suit in order
“to defraud them.” They ask that an account of the estate “be taken by and under the direction”
of the court. They seek their respective portions, “which would be one ninth each after
accounting for advancements.”
0335 (Accession # 21484942). Knox County, Tennessee. The children of the late Jacob Butler,
who are also his legatees in remainder, ask the court to enjoin the executors of their late father’s
will from collecting notes from a previous sale of the estate’s slaves. They explain that Jacob’s
widow, Martha Butler, obtained a court decree for a division of Jacob’s slaves in a previous suit.
Commissioners recommended that the slaves be sold and the proceeds distributed. Butler’s
executors, Jacob M. and Caleb Butler, conducted the sale and have since collected the notes
for payment. The petitioners fear “a misappropriation of the funds which may have come” into
the executors’ hands. They ask the court to order them to “surrender” said notes “to the hands
of the Clerk & Master of your Court” and order the purchasers to pay over their money to the
clerk and master as well.
0343 (Accession # 21484943). Bradley County, Tennessee. Margaret Twomey seeks a divorce
from her husband of twenty-five years, Thomas L. Twomey. She complains that Thomas
“wrecked” her happiness by commencing an “adulterous intercourse” with one Sarah Blackwell,
a woman “who is said to live in a small house in the mountain, where she is visited by
Complainants husband.” Thomas’s liaison with Blackwell has “caused an indictment against him
for Lewdness, which is now pending, in the circuit court.” She believes that Thomas has
“furnished Sarah with a part, if not all the means of a maintenance” and that Thomas is
determined to sell his property, which includes slaves, “and leave for Texas” with Sarah.
Margaret fears that she will be left “without house, home, or money.” She asks the court “to set
apart” for her some part “of the negroes land and other property” from Thomas’s estate for her
support. She also seeks an injunction to prevent Thomas from selling or removing his slaves
beyond the state.
0358 (Accession # 21484944). Sumner County, Tennessee. The heirs of the late Sarah McLin
ask the court to set aside the previous sale of four estate slaves and order a new sale “under
the Decree of this court.” They explain that McLin’s administrator, Henry Dobbins, “pretended
that he was anxious to avoid the costs of getting a Decree” for the sale and proposed that the
slaves “should be valued and Sold privately.” He prepared articles of agreement, which the heirs
signed, giving Dobbins the authority to have the slaves valued and sold at private sale. The
petitioners now assert that Dobbins, “instead of discharging his duties as agent & trustee,”
decried the valuation and “made no suitable effort to make sale of them for the best price.” They
accuse him of “using his exertions to depreciate their value with a view to get the negroes or a
portion of them himself.” They charge that he indirectly became the purchaser of several of
them and that he sold another to Charity Carr, one of McLin’s heirs. They ask the court to
compel Dobbins to return the slaves so they can be sold properly, suggesting that the slaves
“would bring $1800.”
0369 (Accession # 21484945). Giles County, Tennessee. Mary Williams seeks an injunction to
prevent one of her husband’s creditors, Martin Sulzbacher, “& all officers & agents” from
“disturbing her rights” to a slave named Lorenzo Dow. The petitioner explains that, before her
1823 marriage with an indebted Henry W. Williams, “marriage articles were accordingly drawn
signed & executed” giving her a “sole & seperate Estate” in certain slaves “and other property.”
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One of the original slaves embraced in the contract, Charlotte, has since had a son named
Lorenzo Dow, who has recently been levied upon at Sulzbacher’s “instance.” Mary calls the levy
“wholly illegal” and asserts that “no right for the levy or sale whatever exists.” She asks the court
to intervene and to protect her “sole & seperate” property. The court’s decree consolidated and
“heard together” this case and a cross bill filed by Martin Sulzbacher against Mary and Henry
Williams, which the supreme court dismissed. The text of the cross bill is not included in this
transcript.
0380 (Accession # 21484946). Marshall County, Tennessee. A pregnant Milly L. Morris seeks a
divorce and alimony from her husband, Joseph Morris, as well as custody of their child and of
the unborn one “if said child is a female child.” Milly reports that Joseph “exhibited towards her a
jealous suspicious dictatorial spirit,” governing their “domestic matters” by arbitrary rules, which
he called “golden rules [that] were not to be varied from in any instance.” He found fault with her
housekeeping and “treated her more like a slave or hired servant than wife,” noting that he told
her that if she “was as obedient to him as Andrew [a servant] she would get as kind treatment
as him.” Twice he forced her to work while pregnant; the second time she “warped a web of 65
yards which in streaching up her hands to reach the pins strained and fatigued her very much”
causing her to have an “abortion” the following day. Finally, one of her husband’s slaves, Nelly,
informed her that Joseph fathered a mulatto child named Mary. Joseph then “tryed to make the
negro confess that complainant had quized the negro to get her to inform complainant all about
the mulatto child.” He next talked over “the whole matter” in the presence of “two white
Gentlemen ... denominating it a trial” and then gave Nelly 367 lashes until she was nearly dead.
Asserting that Joseph owns seventeen slaves, valued near $10,000, she seeks “a sufficient
portion of his property” for her own use.
0413 (Accession # 21484947). Shelby County, Tennessee. Loueza Harris, a free woman of
color, seeks permission to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. Harris declares that “she has
been a resident of Shelby county for a long time—that she has friends and relations residing in
said county and is very anxious to be and remain with them.” Desiring “the privilege of
remaining and residing in said county,” the petitioner prays “your Worshipful Court she may be
allowed” to continue her residency here.
0420 (Accession # 21484948). Shelby County, Tennessee. N. G. Curtis “is desirous of setting
free and emancipating his negro woman slave, named Loueza Harris.” Curtis claims that the
thirty-five-year-old slave “has served him well and faithfully and has earned by her services and
good behavior a title to her freedom, and has fully paid out, in labor, her full value, and is an
honest slave and of good character.” He “prays your worships that said slave Loueza Harris be
emancipated and set free, he giving hereby his full assent.”
0427 (Accession # 21484949). Shelby County, Tennessee. Ethel H. Porter “desires to
emancipate a slave named Adeline [Yates].” He describes the twenty-two-year-old slave as
being “of light yellow complexion, low stature, weighing about 125 pounds.” Porter contends that
Adeline “is peaceable, quietly disposed, of good temper & character & has long & faithfully
served her master.” Believing that she “well deserves to be free,” the petitioner “prays that said
Adeline may be permitted to be set free & so declared as by the law prescribed.” [Attached and
related to this petition are bonds for John and Eliza Chubb, free people of color; however, their
specific petitions for emancipation and/or for continued residency in the state are not included.]
0445 (Accession # 21484950). Marshall County, Tennessee. In a related case from 1848,
Alexander H. Davis asked the court to divide the slaves from Hezekiah Davis’s estate between
himself and the other heir, James C. Davis. The court agreed and gave Alexander Davis two
women: sixteen-year-old Mary and fifty-year-old Matilda. In this case, Gideon B. Black petitions
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the court as guardian of Alexander Davis, “who is an idiot or of imbecile mind.” Black says that
the two female slaves are Davis’s only property. Citing that “one of said slaves being an old
woman and the other a girl they are of but little value” to Davis, Black asks the court to let him
sell the slaves, “the proceeds of the sale to be applied to his [Davis’s] maintenance.”
0451 (Accession # 21484951). Shelby County, Tennessee. J. W. Faris “wishes to emancipate
his negro man named Aleck McCoull.” Faris reports that “said negro man Aleck has paid for
himself, and his submissive, orderly and industrious conduct entitle him to his freedom.” Faris
further believes that “said boy is honest and obedient and ... will never, if emancipated, be guilty
of a breach of the peace, or become chargeable to the county.” The petitioner “humbly pray[s]
your Worships to decree that the said Aleck McCoull be emancipated, and restored to all the
rights and privileges of a free person of color in as full and ample a manner as if he had been
born free.”
0456 (Accession # 21484952). Shelby County, Tennessee. Phillip Thompson, a free person of
color, seeks the emancipation of his sister Eliza and her two sons. He declares that he and Eliza
“were born slaves for life, and that he has, with the fruits of his own labor, purchased his own
freedom and the title to the slaves aforesaid.” He further argues “that his object for purchasing
Eliza and her children was to secure their emancipation, and having now paid for them he is
anxious to carry out this intention.” Thompson “would humbly pray your Worships to make a
decree emancipating the said Eliza and her two children Wallace and Henry, and that they be
restored to all the rights and privileges of free persons of color in as full and ample a manner as
if they had been born free.”
0462 (Accession # 21484953). Shelby County, Tennessee. Eliza Thompson, a free woman of
color, requests permission to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. She explains that her
brother, Phillip, recently applied for her emancipation and the emancipation of her two sons and
that “she is anxious to remain with her brother, who has been disabled by afflictions to pursue
his trade.” In this way, Thompson asserts that she will be able to aid “him to procure a living,
and therby repay as far as she can the debt of gratitude which she owes him for purchasing the
freedom of her self and children.” The petitioner “prays your Worshipful court to grant her the
privilege of remaining, with her two children, in this state.”
0466 (Accession # 21484954). Shelby County, Tennessee. Cesario Bias “is desirous of
emancipating” a forty-year-old slave named Lewis Morgan. Bias asserts that Morgan “has been
a faithful obedient slave to your petitioner for years.” He notes that Morgan “has served your
petitioner now for a long time and has earned for him more than his present value.” Believing
“that he is a boy of good character and has always behaved himself correctly and properly,”
Bias begs leave to request that the slave “be set free and emancipated agreeable to the acts
now in force in this state.”
0473 (Accession # 21484955). Shelby County, Tennessee. Lewis Morgan, recently
emancipated, seeks permission to reside in Shelby County, Tennessee. He reports that “he has
been a resident of Shelby County for a long time” and “that he has a family in said County—and
is very desirous and anxious to remain with them in Said County.” The petitioner humbly “prays
your worshipful Court that the privilege of remaining and residing in Said County of Shelby be
granted him.”
0478 (Accession # 21484956). Shelby County, Tennessee. Charles A. Leath “is desirous of
setting free and emancipating his negro man slave named David Lawrence.” Leath claims that
the thirty-five-year-old slave “has served him well and faithfully and has earned by his services
and good behavior a title to his freedom and has fully paid out in labor, his full value—and is an
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honest slave and of good character.” He “prays your Worships that Said slave David Lawrence
be emancipated and set free, he giving hereby his full assent.”
0486 (Accession # 21484957). Shelby County, Tennessee. David Lawrence, a recently
emancipated free man of color, requests permission to reside in Shelby County, Tennessee.
Lawrence explains that “he has been a resident of Shelby County for a long time” and “that he
has a family residing in Said County.” Being “very desirous to be and remain with them,” the
petitioner seeks “the privilege of remaining and residing in Said County which he respectfully
prays your worshipful Court he may be allowed to do.”
0490 (Accession # 21484958). Shelby County, Tennessee. Emily Davis, a free person of color,
seeks permission to remain in the state of Tennessee. She explains that “she has resided, with
her husband, in this state for the last twenty years.” Davis points out that “she has, together with
all the other free persons of color residing in South Memphis, been served with notice to give
bond and security before your worshipful court, and obtain permission to remain in the state.”
The petitioner “humbly pray your honors to grant her permission to remain in the State of
Tennessee.”
0495 (Accession # 21484959). Shelby County, Tennessee. Samuel Brown, guardian of Thomas
and Edwin Phoebus, seeks the sale of a slave named Dick, who belongs to his wards. Brown
believes that the slave “is of bad disposition and habits who is constantly running away &
subjecting his owners to repeated & serious expenses attending his recapture.” The petitioner
points out further that Dick “is also addicted to drunkenness and ... he is of very little worth to
said wards and is daily deteriorating in value.” Citing that Dick’s sale price “would be of far
greater value to the said wards than the retention of said slave, Brown “prays your Honor that
said negro may be ordered by the court to be sold.”
0501 (Accession # 21484960). Marshall County, Tennessee. In 1838 and 1839, William H.
Patterson of Marshall County, Tennessee, incurred a $650 debt to John Mullagin of Alabama.
The debt now totals $960.10 and is due, but Patterson has moved to Missouri, and “the ordinary
process of the law cannot be served upon him.” Andrew Patterson, William’s father, died and
left William a one-eighth interest in eighteen slaves. The will, executed by James Patterson,
ordered that the slaves be divided among the heirs within one year of Andrew’s death. Mullagin
fears that William and James Patterson are trying to sell their interests before the division “in
order to cheat and defraud your orator out of his sd debts.” Mullagin has been told that James
Patterson has some of William’s property, including money. He asks the court to subpoena
James Patterson, to enjoin him from giving any of William’s property to William or his agents, to
attach William’s property (including the interest in the slaves), and to award Mullagin his money
out of William’s money or out of the proceeds of a sale of the slaves.
0515 (Accession # 21484961). Maury County, Tennessee. John Hayes and family seek the
court’s sanction to mortgage trust estate slaves necessary to secure their purchase of property
in the town of Columbia. They report that Robert Campbell conveyed eight slaves to James
Thomas in trust for Ophelia C. Hayes “during her natural life for her support & maintenance, and
for the support and maintenance of the children of the said Ophelia.” They further explain that
“they are unable to give any security, nor have they any means sufficient to secure any portion
of said purchase money” without the slaves in said trust. Believing “it is manifestly to the interest
of themselves, their said children that they should be enabled to purchase said property,” the
petitioners pray to court to “direct and order the said trustee ... to sanction said purchase and to
pledge the said negroes to secure the payment of the purchase.”
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0523 (Accession # 21484962). Maury County, Tennessee. Matilda Branden joins her husband
Charles and their nine children in requesting to sell a twenty-two-year-old slave named Green.
She submits that her father, George Murphy, gave her Green “for her sole and separate use
during her life” by a “Deed of Gift” dated 22 November 1842. The deed stipulated that her heirs
would inherit the slave at her death. As Green “is the only servant owned” by the petitioners,
Matilda believes that “a female servant would suit ... much better, and be more serviceable to
her now, and be more profitable and advantageous to the other Petitioners after her death, than
the boy Green.” The Brandens ask that “some suitable person” sell Green “and with his
proceeds, purchase a suitable negro woman, or a woman and child or children.”
1850
0534 (Accession # 21485001). Williamson County, Tennessee. The eight heirs of the late
Robert W. Phipps declare that they “are the owners in common” of eleven slaves. Three of the
petitioners “desire to have their respective interests in said slaves allotted and set apart to
them.” The estate’s administrator reports “that said estate has not as yet been finally settled up
but that he has sufficient assetts to settle the same without the slaves and that he has no
objection to the distribution of said slaves among the petitioners.” Nancy, William, and
Montgomery Phipps therefore ask that suitable commissioners be appointed “to allot and set
apart the one eighth part in value to each of them of said slaves.”
0541 (Accession # 21485002). Maury County, Tennessee. Samuel B. Lee seeks relief from an
“unjust and fraudulent judgment” made against him. Lee explains that he sold a forty-year-old
slave woman named Louisa and her child to Agnes Rodgers in 1845 for $400. Lee warranted
Louisa as “sound and sensible”; two years later, “she was taken sick and died.” In December
1848, Agnes Rodgers, her daughter Elleanor Ross, and her son-in-law Edward Ross filed suit in
circuit court for “a breach of the warranty of soundness contained in said bill of sale.” Elleanor
Ross testified at the trial, claiming “she had no interest in the result of the suit either directly or
indirectly,” but she attested that Louisa was “wheezing and ... had phthysic” [consumption]
before the sale. Lee surmises that the jury ruled against him based on Elleanor’s testimony. The
sheriff seized some of his land to settle the judgment. Lee charges that Elleanor’s testimony
was “without truth or foundation” and that she is the main beneficiary of the suit. He asks the
court to enjoin the sheriff and the defendants from further action to collect the award won in the
circuit court.
0552 (Accession # 21485003). Rutherford County, Tennessee. Mathias Fox, administrator of
Elizabeth Fox, seeks permission to sell the two slaves in his late mother’s estate. He informs the
court that the two slaves are “Martha a girl about Seven Years of age and Jackson a boy about
nine months old.” Citing that Elizabeth Fox left eleven children as her heirs, the petitioner states
that “Said Slaves are unsusceptable of a division among Said heirs and that it would be
manifestly for their interest that they Should be Sold for a division of the proceeds of Sale
amongst them.”
0556 (Accession # 21485004). Rutherford County, Tennessee. William B. House seeks his
share of seven slaves. House petitions with his three younger siblings Martha, Ambrose, and
George, and their guardian, Joseph Watkins. The House children explain that they inherited
seven slaves from their father, Robert House. The children currently own the slaves “equally
and jointly,” but they “are now Subject to distribution among your Petitioners each Share and
Share alike.” William House has reached the age of twenty-one and “is desirous to have his
share of Said Slaves Set apart to him.” The petitioners ask the court to appoint commissioners
“to Value Said Slaves-and set apart to your petitioner William B House, his distributive Share of
the same.”
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0561 (Accession # 21485005). Williamson County, Tennessee. Mary Tennessee Kinnard
Crump, widow of John O. Crump and daughter of the late George Kinnard, seeks a division and
distribution of her late husband’s estate; the estate includes a claim on the estate of her late
father. Crump’s mother, Catharine Kinnard, survived both her husband and son-in-law. In 1845,
Mrs. Kinnard made a settlement with her five children, in which the petitioner and her late
husband received two slaves valued at $450. Her husband exchanged these two slaves two
years later for a slave named Fanny, alias Ann, who has since had a child. Mary Crump asserts
that she is now entitled to Fanny and her child. Claiborne Kinnard, her brother and administrator
of her late husband’s estate, however, has taken possession of the slaves, insisting that “said
estate is entitled in some way to your oratrix’s said individual interest, as legatee of said George
Kinnard, deceased.” She contends that she “has a right to elect on which estate to assert her
claim, and she elects to assert claim to the property so divided and sold, against the estate of
said John O. Crump.” She asks the court to ascertain the proper course of distribution and to
order that “the surplus of said estate” be divided and distributed among said owners thereof.
0569 (Accession # 21485006). Rutherford County, Tennessee. Whitmel Ransom, administrator
of the estate of the late Gideon M. Ransom, seeks permission to sell the slaves in the estate.
The petitioner reports that Gideon died intestate in August 1850 in Davidson County, leaving his
mother and seven siblings as his only heirs, “he never having been married.” Whitmel Ransom
informs the court that his brother owned five slaves: sixty-three-year-old Ned, eighteen-year-old
Isham, eighteen-year-old Peter, twenty-year-old Jane, and three-year-old John. Since “Said
Slaves are unsusceptable of a division amongst the Several distributies,” Ransom represents
that “it will be necessary to Sell all of them for a distrabution of the procedes of Sale” among the
heirs. He asks the court to order the sale “upon Such terms as to Your honerable Court Shall
Seem right and proper.”
0574 (Accession # 21485007). Rutherford County, Tennessee. The heirs and administrators of
the estate of the late William Goodman pray for permission to sell the slaves in Goodman’s
estate. The petitioners inform the court that William Goodman owned seventeen slaves ranging
in age from infancy to fifty years old. They request that the court allow them to sell these slaves,
because they “Cannot be beneficially divided amoungst them the distributies.” After the sale, the
administrators can divide the proceeds among the heirs.
0579 (Accession # 21485008). Rutherford County, Tennessee. The children of the late
Benjamin Ransom seek the distribution of eight slaves inherited from their father. The children
inform the court that Benjamin Ransom died in 1844, and his will directed that, when Joseph
Ransom, the youngest child, turned twenty-one years old, “all his slaves not otherwise
specifically devised, should be equally divided between his children.” They attest that Joseph is
now twenty-one years old. Eight slaves—Ned, Martha, Joshua, Mary, Overton [Overall],
Frankey, Chany, and Moses—”were not specifically devised but left to be equally divided.” The
petitioners also explain that Benjamin Ransom purchased his late brother John’s share of the
said slaves and receives two shares. Another brother, Gideon Ransom, “has been declared a
Lunatic by the County Court of Rutherford County,” so his guardian Benjamin should also take
possession of Gideon’s share. The petitioners ask the court to appoint commissioners to divide
the said slaves.
0586 (Accession # 21485009). Williamson County, Tennessee. Agathy Sally Marr sues by her
husband and next friend, Nicholas L. Marr, to sell a dangerous slave, whom she received from
the estate of her late father, Nicholas Perkins. Her father’s will directed his executors to “allot &
set apart” twenty slaves for her use, retaining legal title to the slaves until certain conditions
were met. The executors did so, giving her a slave named Tom as one of the said slaves. The
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petitioner declares that Tom has “a very bad character” and is “supposed & believed to have
instigated & been concerned in the poisoning & killing of a child of your Oratrix.” She relates that
Tom was tried in the circuit court but acquitted due to lack of evidence. Currently, Tom is
“confined in the jail of Williamson County for safe keeping.” The petitioner declares that “under
the Circumstances, your oratrix would not feel safe in again taking said slave home, to live on
the same place with herself, & is desirous he should be sold.” The executors, however, “make
some difficulty” about selling him, because the will prohibits removing any of the testator’s
slaves from the county. The Marrs pray the court to order the sale.
0601 (Accession # 21485010). Davidson County, Tennessee. Michael Callaghan, executor of
the estate of the late Phillip Callaghan, asks the court to arrest Lyman and Jane M. Tarbox and
to retrieve two slaves and some other personal property belonging to the estate. The petitioner
states that Phillip Callaghan’s personal property included two slaves (ten-year-old John and sixyear-old
Chesterfield), “a mantle time piece of the value of $50.—a feather bed worth $20—& a
portrait of the testator’s first wife worth $50.” He exclaims that Lyman and Jane Tarbox “within
the last twenty four hours, seduced from the care & possession of the agent in whose keeping
your orator had placed them the two negroes John & Chesterfield ... that between the hours of
10 & 12 to day they went by a back door into the house of his said agent & fraudulently &
furtively carried off said clock feather bed & portrait.” He alludes that the Tarboxes are “of low
means & irresponsible for any damages in their torts or contracts” and that they are planning to
flee back to their home state of Texas “or other parts unknown.” Callaghan contends that he will
incur great expense pursuing them and will not recover the value of the property because of the
defendants’ poverty. He therefore asks the court to arrest the Tarboxes and retrieve the estate
property, holding both the property and the defendants until the case is tried.
0607 (Accession # 21485011). Williamson County, Tennessee. William P. Yarbrough, executor
of the late William Yarbrough Sr., asks the court to help settle accounts and to determine the
inheritance rights of various heirs. His father died in 1825, leaving about sixty-five acres of land
and various personal property, including slaves. Yarbrough left most of his estate to his wife
Leanah [Sarah] during her life or widowhood, directing his executors to sell everything after her
death and divide the proceeds between his four sons and two daughters. The will bequeathed
life estates to his daughters, estates that would pass absolutely to their children. Leanah died in
1849, and the petitioner needs to settle accounts with her estate. Yarbrough also has questions
about the inheritances. Several Yarbrough sons have died, devising parts of their inheritances
to their sisters. The petitioner does not know what kind of interest his sisters have inherited,
“whether an estate for life & then over to their children or absolutely since the death of said
Leanah.” He “prays your honor to declare what is the correct construction ... of the testators will
as relates to said Rebecca Bennett & Elizabeth Cockburn.”
0617 (Accession # 21485012). Knox County, Tennessee. Fifty-seven-year-old Sarah M. Price
seeks support from her estranged husband and her just share of their property. She explains
that she married Charles W. Price in 1817. She laments that “untill he got in the habit of drinking
to excess she had no fears but they would spend the remainder of their lives together, as they
have lived agreebly” for almost thirty years. Three years ago, however, her husband “drove her
off telling her that every hour she staid her life was in danger.” Sarah, fearing that “in his
drunken hours he would take her life,” left him. For the past three years, she has rented land
less than two miles from her husband’s property and has supported herself by “her own
exertions” and the labor of the slave she brought to the marriage; however, she “has for some
time past been afflicted with Rheumatism so as to render her unable to labour as she has
heretofore done.” She asks the court to set aside “a suitable part” of Price’s property for her
support, “out of the power of her said husbands controll.” She specifically asks for the slave she
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brought to the marriage, and she requests an injunction to stop Charles from disposing of any
property until her case is settled.
0626 (Accession # 21485013). Rutherford County, Tennessee. George E. Johnson,
administrator of the estate of the late Lewis Johnson Jr., begs leave from the court to sell a
slave. The petitioner informs the court that his intestate never married or had children, but he
did have seven brothers and sisters, who are his heirs. Johnson states that “his intestate
owened at his death a negro man named Hobb aged 22 Years That it will be necessary to Sell
Said Slave for distrabution amongst the Said Several distributies.” He asks the court “to grant
him an order to Sell Said Slave upon Such terms as to Your honerable Court Shall Seem right
and proper.”
0630 (Accession # 21485014). Bedford County, Tennessee. James H. Locke disputes several
transactions arising from a sale of the trust property of Richard Bandy. He alleges that Bandy
created the trust to “hinder and delay” in the collection of a bill of exchange for which Locke
received a judgment at an earlier term of court. Locke reports that the sheriff returned the
judgment as “no property to be found,” a charge Locke gainsays as fraudulent. He maintains
that Bandy and Enoch Rushing had “perhaps ten thousand dollars—the proceeds of a drove of
negroes sold by them in the South with which they could have paid the debts in said deeds of
trust.” He asks the court to enjoin the multiple purchasers of eight trust slaves from paying “any
monies or effects owing by them” and to require the sheriff to hold the slaves “subject to the
further order of the court.”
0643 (Accession # 21485015). Williamson County, Tennessee. Minerva B. Swanson, the widow
of James Swanson Sr., claims a portion of her late husband’s estate. Minerva’s first husband,
William B. Theobald, bequeathed his entire estate, including a number of slaves, to her for life.
She married James Swanson Sr. in 1847, and, in 1848, Swanson became the administrator de
bonis non of the rest of Theobald’s estate. James Swanson Sr. died intestate in April 1850,
leaving property and slaves in Tennessee and Mississippi. Minerva asserts that Swanson only
held Theobald’s property as administrator, never in such a way “as that his marital rights
attached thereto.” Swanson’s administrators, however, disagree, claiming the property by right
of marriage for Swanson’s estate. Minerva asks the court to grant her ownership “in her own
right” of the slaves and property that were bequeathed to her by Theobald’s will. She also
informs the court that four of the defendants claim to be Swanson’s illegitimate children. They
maintain that he legally recognized and legitimated them, making them heirs to his estate. She
demands that they prove their claims “by strict legal evidence.” If the claims are valid, she asks
the court to decide how to divide Swanson’s estate and to set apart her share to her.
0657 (Accession # 21485016). Washington County, Tennessee. Eliza Brooks and her
daughters, Sarah and Eliza, seek their freedom. In 1844, Eliza’s husband, Robert Brooks, a free
man, contracted with Charles H. Deakins to buy her freedom. Deakins “was anxious to
emancipate her,” but was “unable or unwilling to bear the whole expense of emancipation”; he
agreed, however, to sell Eliza, worth “at least five hundred dollars,” to Brooks for $175. In order
to pay on time, Robert Brooks borrowed money from Shelby T. Shipley, and he executed “a
note, bond, mortgage, bill or sale or other instrument to said Shipley.” Brooks could not repay
the loan, so Shipley and later holders of the note claimed Eliza and her children. Eliza argues
that the goal of the sale was emancipation and that these men “or any other intelligent Citizens
knew or ought to have known that in a civilized and Christian State like Tennessee, the laws will
not tolerate a contract so monstrous as that of a husband selling his wife or a parent his child.”
She asserts that her labor over the past three years has repaid the holders of the note.
Currently, Charles Greene claims Eliza and her daughters. Eliza asks the court to emancipate
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them. She also asks the court to enjoin Charles Greene from disposing of her, her children, or
the note in any way until the matter is resolved.
0673 (Accession # 21485017). Bedford County, Tennessee. Flora L. Ewing Cheatham, a minor
suing by her guardian Milton P. Wheat, seeks the return of her seventeen-year-old slave named
Porter. Flora inherited Porter in 1844 from her father James Ewing. On 10 November 1849,
Flora married Nicholas P. Cheatham, also a minor, but she left him after a month or two. She
claims that she fled, because his language to her was “such As a Gentleman would not employ
to his Slave Much less his wife” and his conduct was “marked with Cruelty and inhumanity.”
Flora is suing for divorce in Kentucky, where she and her husband live. Flora charges that her
husband and father-in-law “Secretly and Fraudulently abducted ... Said Slave Porter and
Clandestinely Run Him off” to Tennessee, where they sold him to Joseph Thompson, a slave
trader. When Flora’s agents found Thompson, he suggested placing Porter in jail for safekeeping
until the matter was settled. Flora charges that “about The witching hour of midnight he
[Porter] was mysteriously Spirited away by a Son of Said Thompson” and was hidden by
Thompson’s business partner. Flora declares that she never assented to a sale, and she argues
that Kentucky laws bar her husband from claiming Porter by marital rights. Flora asks the court
“to decree, that Said Slave Porter, shall be delivered up to your Oratrix; Or that She be paid his
full value, and in the mean Time ... to grant the States Writ of Injunction to restrain Said
Thompson and Little, from Selling or Removing Said Slave, Beond the Jurisdiction of this
Court.”
0692 (Accession # 21485018). Washington County, Tennessee. Susannah Tipton, “widow &
Relict of one Samuel Tipton,” sues the executor of Samuel’s estate. Samuel’s 1833 will gave
her a life estate in three slaves—Bob, Antony, and Mary—as long as she remained a widow.
James Tipton, the executor of Samuel’s estate, never delivered the slaves to her as directed by
the will; instead, he hired them out himself and kept the proceeds. In 1849, Susannah gave her
son Abraham Tipton power of attorney, and he persuaded James to agree to return the slaves.
Abraham, however, had been elected to the state senate. While he was in Nashville for the
legislative session in November 1849, James instigated “a Jury of inquisition ... to inquire into
and report upon the mental Condition of your Oratrix.” The jury ruled her mentally sound, but
James persuaded the court to appoint a guardian for her on the grounds of “physical debility”
and a supposed request from Susannah herself. Susannah denies having made such a request
and argues that the county court had no authority to revoke the power of attorney given to
Abraham. James now refuses to give the slaves, now four in number, to Abraham or account
with him for their hire over the years. Susannah asks the court to enjoin James and the other
seven defendants, who owe money for hiring the slaves, from settling accounts until the court
decides her case. She also asks the court to award her the slaves, to hand them over to
Abraham, and to compel James to pay over all money arising from their hire.
0716 (Accession # 21485019). Smith County, Tennessee. Two heirs of the late Mary Simpson
ask the court to appoint an administrator for her estate and to compel a third heir to account for
and surrender the deceased’s property. Sarah Terry and Mary Washer, suing with their
husbands, inform the court that they are daughters of Mary Simpson, who died intestate in 1847
or 1848. They claim that their mother died possessed of “several valuable slaves,” land,
livestock, a crop, and furniture. Sarah and Mary charge that their brother, John Simpson, took
possession of Mary’s estate and “is now claiming the same or the most there of as his own
property.” They ask the court to force John to account for and surrender the property to an
administrator. The plaintiffs allege that “if sd John had any Idea, that complainants would
proceed to try to secure sd slaves or to have an administrator appointed who would seek after
sd slaves and sd estate, that he would run them or move them beyond the reach and jurisdiction
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of this court.” They therefore seek an injunction against John to prevent him from removing or
disposing of any property, particularly the slaves, until the case is settled.
0725 (Accession # 21485020). Sumner County, Tennessee. Jane Shepherd, petitioning through
her next friend, Joseph R. A. Tompkins, urges the court to protect her small inheritance from her
husband’s creditors. Jane’s father, James Miller, died intestate in 1848, “leaving a considerable
estate, both personal & real.” Unfortunately, his estate is indebted, and there are nine heirs, so
she expects to receive no more than “five or six hundred dollars.” Jane laments that her
husband “is in debt and, that all of his estate except what the law allows him has been taken &
sold under execution, and that he is yet considerably involved.” She fears that her husband’s
creditors will seize her inheritance when she receives it. She has already lost a slave girl named
Mary, given to her by her father when she was still single. Jane asks that her inheritance “be
settled upon herself, to be in no wise subject to the Controle, or debts of her husband.” In
addition, she asks the court to issue an injunction against Joseph Miller, the administrator of her
father’s estate, to prevent him from giving any of her inheritance to her husband until the court
decides the case.
0732 (Accession # 21485021). Williamson County, Tennessee. The heirs of the late William
Bond petition the court to distribute the estate slaves and to sell Bond’s land after assigning his
widow her dower from the land. William Bond died intestate in 1850, leaving twenty heirs—his
widow, seven sons, four daughters and their husbands, and three granddaughters. Morris L.
Bond, administrator of the estate, believes that he can pay the estate’s debts and the
administrative costs from other assets. He “is willing that said slaves be divided” among the
heirs, provided that they all give a “refunding bond to pay their share of any other debts” that
might be discovered. The petitioners also report that William Bond owned two tracts of land
containing about 250 acres. Nancy Bond, the widow, “is entitled to dower in said real estate,”
and the other heirs believe that the land remaining after her dower is set aside cannot be
divided evenly. They ask the court to set aside the widow’s dower and to sell the rest of the
land, distributing the proceeds to the other heirs.
0739 (Accession # 21485024). Smith County, Tennessee. Samuel C. Bridgwater, executor of
the estate of Francis Pride, seeks the court’s interpretation of Pride’s will and instructions for
executing it. The executor asserts that Pride’s “primary object of Solicitude was the
emancipation of his Slaves in Tennessee ... or otherwise to provide for their comfort and
happiness in the best manner practicable.” Pride’s will ordered the emancipation of his slaves if
they could remain in Tennessee or move to Illinois. The laws have changed, however, since
Pride wrote his will. “The last Tennessee Legislature repealed all laws authorizing the
emancipation of slaves upon any other conditions except under the act of 1831, which requires
bond and security in double the Value of the slave, that he or she will leave the State
immediately.” In addition, “the Constitution and laws of the state of Illinois have been so
amended or altered as now to prohibit the introduction of free persons of color there to live, or to
prohibit their emancipation when carried there as Slaves.” Bridgwater asks the court to involve
Pride’s heirs—and the slaves, if necessary—in the case, to interpret the will, and to direct him
how to execute its provisions properly. In his will, Pride described one group of his slaves as
“one family and the Servants I have commonally kept together as my family.” The clerk and
master’s 1856 report of hires refers to the same group as the “Yellow lot of slaves.”
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Reel 17
Tennessee cont.
1850 cont.
0002 (Accession # 21485025). Bradley County, Tennessee. John B. Eldridge sues to reclaim
property. Eldridge explains that Jesse Mathews died intestate in 1843 “as well as he now
remembers.” In September 1850, the county court appointed Eldridge to administer Mathews’
estate. Eldridge charges that Thomas J. Mathews, son of the intestate, “forced the ... widow to
leave the ... farm and late residence of his said father” and took control of the entire estate.
Mathews sold some of the property and “the balance he used as his own and has sold and
disposed of the same privately as best suited his convenience.” Eldridge also claims that
Mathews fraudulently sold several slaves belonging to the estate and has used the others
without paying for their hire. The petitioner further charges that Mathews took money and
financial documents on hand when his father died. Mathews refuses to return any property or
account for it. Eldridge requests that the court compel Thomas J. Mathews and his alleged
associate William Reed to account for and return all property belonging to the estate of Jesse
Mathews. He also asks for an injunction against Mathews to prevent him from “selling or
removing” the remaining slaves.
0021 (Accession # 21485027). Knox County, Tennessee. Martha M. Gault Weaver, suing by her
brother and next friend, Theodore M. Gault, seeks to prevent her estranged husband from
depriving her of support. The petitioner reminds the court that she has filed a chancery suit
against her husband, John Weaver. The suit alleges “adultery on his part & shameful & cruel
neglect” and asks for a separation from bed and board, with alimony. Fearing that her husband
would try to thwart her request for alimony, Martha obtained an injunction to prevent him “from
selling or in any manner disposing of his property until further order of the court.” She alleges,
however, that John has sold his two slaves to Joseph Wallace “in defiance” of the injunction and
“with the fraudulent purpose of depriving petitioner of the benefit of any recovery she might
make.” She also charges that Weaver intends to get his share of his father’s estate and
“abscond & leave the country.” The petitioner asks the court to arrest her husband “to answer
the contempt of the process of the court in violating the said writ of injunction.” She also asks
the court to seize the slaves sold by Weaver and his inheritance, unless one of the defendants
posts bond and security.
0029 (Accession # 21485028). Rutherford County, Tennessee. The administrators and heirs of
Turner Delbridge seek to have the remaining slaves of the estate assessed and part of those
slaves set aside to one of the heirs. The petitioners state that Turner Delbridge died intestate in
1844, leaving a widow, Susan, and five children. The Delbridges inform the court that the estate
includes “Several Slaves for life and that all Your petitioners have heretofore received their
distributive Shares of Said Slaves ... except the petitioners James Delbrige and Edward
Delbridge.” Susan Delbridge, guardian of her children, holds five slaves for James and Edward.
Since James Delbridge has now reached the age of twenty, the petitioners want him to receive
his inheritance. They ask the court “to appoint a Suitable number of Commissioners to value
Said Slaves and to Set apart” to James Delbridge his share.
0035 (Accession # 21485029). Maury County, Tennessee. Fanny Duff and her children seek to
protect their rights to six slaves. In 1834, Fanny’s father, John Blackwell Sr., gave Fanny and
her husband John a life estate in two two female slaves named Darcas [Darcus] and Sarah.
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Fanny’s children will inherit the slaves and their increase after Fanny and John die. Darcas has
since borne four children—Sarah, Calvin, Amanda, and Jefferson. John Duff has sold Sarah,
Amanda, and Jefferson to the other defendants, who claim to be their “Absolute” owners. John
Duff is “insolvent,” and Fanny fears he will sell the remaining slaves if not prevented. She also
worries that the purchasers, John McNeeley and Leonard Pheobus, intend to sell the slaves or
remove them “beyond the Jurisdiction of the Courts of Tennessee.” Insisting that these slaves
“are necessary to enable her to support her family,” Fanny asks the court to prevent the sale or
removal of the slaves. She also asks the court to award “the use and possession income and
profits of said Slave Sarah and her said increase” to her for her family’s support and that she or
some other trustee take charge of the slaves.
0044 (Accession # 21485030). Giles County, Tennessee. The heirs of the late Alexander Black
seek to settle Black’s estate. Alexander Black died intestate in 1849, leaving an estate
containing about 208 acres of land and twenty-three slaves. Black’s heirs include his widow
Tabitha, four sons, two daughters, and one granddaughter. Quincy Black, administrator of the
estate, is ready to settle his accounts and distribute the slaves, but he needs to confirm the
value of slaves, horses, and money advanced by Black to several of the children. He also needs
to settle accounts with the estate of his brother, Leroy P. Black. He asks the court to order an
account of the advancements and to appoint an administrator for Leroy Black’s estate. The heirs
state that Tabitha Black has not received any dower land from the estate. They contend that
dividing the land to provide a dower would lessen the value of all the land. Instead, they propose
that the court allow the widow “in lieu of her dower to keep possession, and use & cultivate the
whole of the said tract of land” for the rest of her life.
0058 (Accession # 21485032). Williamson County, Tennessee. The Planters Bank of
Tennessee seeks payment of a debt by a sale of the debtor’s slaves. The bank’s solicitors
inform the court that the bank won a circuit court case in 1843 against Samuel W. Gentry and
Sutherland S. Mayfield. The court awarded the bank $2,796.27 damages, plus costs of suit. At
the time, the sheriff found no property to seize to pay the judgment. The bank avers that
“Samuel W Gentry is wholly insolvent and therefore is not made a party” to the suit, but it has
learned that Mayfield had nine slaves. Mayfield supposedly sold the slaves to several of his
creditors, but the bank asserts that the bills of sale were “intended and operated” as mortgages.
It claims that several of the slaves “always remained in the possession of said S S Mayfield” and
that he has paid off large amounts of the mortgages. The solicitors ask the court to discover
how much Mayfield still owes to these creditors and who actually owns the slaves and their
increase. If Mayfield still owns the slaves, the bank prays that the court will order them sold to
pay the money owed it.
0066 (Accession # 21485043). Shelby County, Tennessee. Sarah H. Leath, “a citizen of Shelby
County,” desires to manumit her slave Charlotte. The slave was “born in the family of your
Petitioner & has all her life performed & rendered unto your petitioner & her family services of
the most meritorious & faithful character, & by her industry has been enabled, apart from doing
her regular service to her mistress, to lay up a fund of money for the purchase of her freedom.”
Sarah notes that “these considerations, meritorious services & ... $400 paid in money by the
said Charlotte to your petitioner induce her to pray your Worships to Concur with your petitioner
in granting freedom to the said slave.”
0070 (Accession # 21485044). Shelby County, Tennessee. Charlotte Leath, former slave of
Sarah Leath, petitions the county court for permission to remain within the county. She declares
that “she has lived all her life time in the family of her late mistress, who owns several of her
children, and that your petitioner is very much attached to her children to the white family with
which she has been all her life connected, & that in case of sickness or distress or misfortune in
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any way she should look to her White folks to take care of her, which she has no doubt they
would do.” Leath adds to her prayer that “she knows of no other home, & would be much
distressed to be compelled to leave her native state & thrown among strangers.”
0076 (Accession # 21485045). Shelby County, Tennessee. Milly Swan, a free woman of color,
asks the court to emancipate her ten-year-old stepdaughter, Harriot, who is a slave. Swan
declares that Harriot is “of good & unimpeachable character and industrious habits” and is “a
resident of said County.” Based on “the love and affection entertained by your petitioner for the
said Slave Harriot,” the petitioner requests “your Honl Court ... to manumit & set [her] free from
all the duties of servitude which said slave owes your petitioner” and that Harriot “be allowed to
remain in the state of Tennessee.” Included with this petition is a bond whereby George Swan,
Milly’s brother, is bound as an apprentice to Milly until age twenty-one “to be taught and
instructed ... to do and perform manual labor about a farm.” Also attached is a register of free
people of color that lists the names and occupations of seventy-one persons.
0090 (Accession # 21485046). Shelby County, Tennessee. Britt Hines, a free man of color,
asserts that in 1835 he purchased “a negro woman named Martha and a boy named Sam—wife
& son of your petitioner.” He reports “that it was agreed & understood at the time of said
purchase that your petitioner should emancipate and make free the said Martha & boy Sam, &
also any Issue or children that the said Martha should give birth to thereafter.” Being “desirous &
anxious to emancipate the said Martha & her children,” Hines prays that his wife and three sons
may be set free.
0099 (Accession # 21485047). Shelby County, Tennessee. Martha Hines, a free woman of
color, requests permission to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. She declares that she “has
been a resident of the state of Tennessee since 1830.” Noting that “her said husband is now
engaged in a profitable business in this state & cannot well leave,” Hines “prays that your
worshipful body will grant her and her three children permission to remain in the state.”
0106 (Accession # 21485048). Shelby County, Tennessee. Benjamin McClenon, a free man of
color, represents that in 1834 “he removed from the State of Georgia to the Town of Jasper in
the County of Marion Tennessee at which time & place he presented his certified letters of
emancipation.” McClenon reports that Marion County “then & there granted to him a duly
certified copy of the order of emancipation with the permission to remain in the State of
Tennessee.” The petitioner explains that he moved to Shelby County in 1836 and unfortunately
“on the way down lost his certified copy of emancipation.” Being “a man of good moral character
& of industrious habits & good respect among his neighbours,” McClenon prays “your
Worshipful Court to grant unto him letters of emancipation anew & permission to remain” in the
state.
0113 (Accession # 21485049). Shelby County, Tennessee. William Armour, a free man of color,
“wishes to emancipate his slave Rachael.” Armour asserts “that Rachael is his wife, and that he
purchased [her] for the express purpose of having her emancipated.” He humbly prays “that the
said Rachael may be emancipated and restored to all the rights and privileges of a free person
of color in as full and ample a manner as if She had been born free.”
0121 (Accession # 21485050). Shelby County, Tennessee. Rachael Armour, a free woman of
color, represents that she “has resided in the state of Tennessee for the last thirty years.” Noting
that her husband William “also resides in the said state under the authority and by the
permission of your worshipful court,” Armour “would pray for permission to remain in the said
state of Tennessee.”
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0127 (Accession # 21485051). Shelby County, Tennessee. “Your petitioners Joseph Toney and
his wife Mary Ann (formerly Mary Ann Sikes) free persons of Colour pray your worships to allow
them the priviledge of remaining in Shelby County, and also to allow their child Ann Elizabeth
now about 9 months of age to remain with them, upon their Complying with the laws now in
force in such Cases. April 1st 1850.” [Transcription of petition.]
0131 (Accession # 21485052). Marshall County, Tennessee. Samuel Penn, guardian of Oliver
Payne, an “idiot,” reports that “he has in his hands $875 ... arising from the sale of the slave
William.” Penn “is of opinion that it would be to the interest of the said idiot that a part of said
funds should be vested in the purchase of a young female slave,” and he seeks the court’s
permission to do so.
0134 (Accession # 21485053). Shelby County, Tennessee. Jacob Moon declares that “he is
now the owner and possessor of a female slave named Ruthie Anna Maria.” He asserts that she
“has been living in this state, for and during the last eighteen or nineteen years.” Moon recounts
that “she desirous of her freedom ... was purchased by one Marcus B. Winchester ... under an
agreement that he would emancipate her, so soon as, by her industry, she should have re-paid
him for the money expended in her purchase.” The petitioner explains that Winchester
conveyed the slave to him “subject to this condition” and that “that condition has now been
complied with, on her part.” Thinking “that she is a fit subject for emancipation; will demean
herself, properly; will support herself, and not become a charge upon the county,” Moon asks
“that an order be made emancipating said slave.”
0141 (Accession # 21485054). Shelby County, Tennessee. Ruthie Anna Maria, a recently
emancipated free person of color, seeks the court’s permission to reside in the county. She
asserts that “she has been living within this state, for eighteen or nineteen years.” She also
points out that she has fulfilled her obligation to repay “the monies expended in her purchase.”
Desiring “the privilege of remaining within this county and state,” the petitioner promises that
“she will demean herself properly; will support herself, and not become a charge upon the
county.”
0146 (Accession # 21485055). Shelby County, Tennessee. Simeon Marsh “makes known to this
worshipfull court his full consent to the emancipation” of his fifty-year-old slave named Ralph.
Marsh asserts that “said slave is desirous of his freedom” and that he “has been living in this
state for the last thirty years.” Citing that Ralph is “industrious, honest peaceable, and of good
habits and character,” the petitioner requests the court to emancipate his slave and to “permit
said slave to continue to reside in the county of Shelby and state aforesaid.”
0150 (Accession # 21485057). Shelby County, Tennessee. Rev. John H. Gray and Billy Armour
seek the court’s confirmation of Billy’s emancipation. Gray informs the court that he purchased
forty-year-old Billy Armour in July 1848 for $700 from John D. Armour, “with the intention of
emancipating and manumitting the said Billy.” Gray “is now the more inclined to this by reason
of the industrious services and good and orderly character” of Billy. The petitioners assert that
Billy Armour has met all the requirements for emancipation established by the state legislature.
They explain that Billy plans to move to Liberia “so soon as he may do so,” but he wants to
remain in the county for now. He has two sons, still slaves, “whom he desires to purchase and
take with him to the colony or state of Liberia.” The petitioners report that the “purchase contract
has already been made” and that Billy is “industriously employed, by honest labor and good and
orderly conduct, in raising funds for this purpose.”
0165 (Accession # 21485058). Shelby County, Tennessee. “Your petitioner Lucretia Toney a
free person of Colour prays your worships to allow her and her child James Henry Toney now
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about 11 years of age the priviledge of remaining in Shelby County Tennessee upon their
complying with the laws now in force in such cases April 1st 1850.” [Transcription of petition.]
0169 (Accession # 21485059). Shelby County, Tennessee. Vina James, a free woman of color,
seeks permission to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. She states that “she has with her
under the age of fifteen years four children” and that “she is now comfortably situated among
her friends.” Believing “she can more easily provide a support for her family than by removing to
another state,” James “prays your worshipful Court to grant herself & her children” leave to
reside in the state.
0174 (Accession # 21485060). Shelby County, Tennessee. Maria Batt, a free woman of color,
requests permission to remain in Tennessee. She asserts that “she was emancipated by the will
of her master James austin of Giles County in the year 1840.” Noting that “she has sisters &
brother in said state & has procured herself a Comfortable home,” Batt asks the court to grant
her permission to continue “her citizenship of” Tennessee.
0178 (Accession # 21485064). Sumner County, Tennessee. John and Walter Lockwood and
William A. Odell, New York merchants, seek to collect money owed to them. In 1842, they
“recovered a judgment” in Mississippi for $4,615.99 against two of the defendants, Nathaniel G.
and Daniel W. Nye, but the sheriff found no property to seize. Shadrick [Shadrack] Nye, father
of Nathaniel and Daniel, died in the spring of 1850 in Sumner County, Tennessee, leaving his
entire estate to his widow Elizabeth during her life or widowhood and to his four children after
her death or remarriage. Nye’s estate contains about 550 acres of land and eight or nine slaves.
Claiming that Nathaniel’s and Daniel’s interest in the personal estate is “the only means”
available to pay the debt (now $6,915), the plaintiffs ask the court to order their interest sold. To
accomplish this goal, they ask Elizabeth Nye, widow and executrix, to disclose the contents and
value of the estate. They also ask for an injunction to prevent the Nyes from selling or removing
the slaves until the case is decided.
0204 (Accession # 21485065). Sumner County, Tennessee. Administrator William Lockett
seeks to settle the estate of his father-in-law, James Horsly [Horsely]. When Horsly died in
1839, he left his estate to his widow Jane for her life and to his seven children after her death.
Jane Horsly and several of the children moved to Missouri, taking four estate slaves with them.
Over the past eleven years, Jane and four of the children have died. Four heirs remain: James
and John Horsly in Missouri, and William Horsly and William Lockett (heir to his late wife’s
portion) in Tennessee. They agreed to leave the slaves in their respective locations with the
heirs living in those states, and the Missouri heirs paid money to Lockett’s co-administrator,
William Horsly, to equalize the shares. Lockett complains that William Horsly has not shared
with him that money or the hire of the Tennessee slaves. Horsly has claimed that he
“exhausted” the money to pay estate debts, but Lockett avers that the Missouri heirs should
help pay any remaining debts. Lockett asks the court to compel the other heirs to settle the
estate. He also asks that the four Tennessee slaves “be either sold or divided” between himself
and William Horsly.
1851
0227 (Accession # 21485101). Williamson County, Tennessee. Mary Y. Owen seeks a divorce
from Richard A. Owen, “a man of disilute and dissipated habits,” whom she married in January
1837. Although Mary “conducted and demeaned herself toward him as a kind affectionate and
obedient wife,” Richard treated her with “great cruelty and inhumanity all of which she bore for
the sake of her children.” He eventually drove her from their house, and then “took into his
house and home” another woman with whom he has been “guilty of diverse and repeated acts
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of adultery.” Mary informs the court that Richard is “entitled” to a “considerable number” of
slaves from the estate of his late father, Jabez Owen. She asks the court to enjoin the
administrators of her late father-in-law’s estate from selling the slaves. She finally seeks
alimony, custody of the couple’s four children, and the status of a feme sole.
0243 (Accession # 21485102). Davidson County, Tennessee. The heirs of Benjamin Allen seek
an accounting of the estate from the executors of Allen’s will, Samuel M. Allen and M. Shadrach
Allen. The petitioners inform the court that Allen “wished & intended that all his property
including his negros & real estate, should be valued or sold and that their value or the proceeds
of such sale should be equally divided between all his children.” They maintain that, with two
exceptions, the slaves in Allen’s estate were taken at their valuation “by those to whom they
were willed.” The other slaves were sold with certain lands and perishable property, for which
the executors are liable “to the sum of” $3,635.62. They assert that the executors should be
held accountable for other debts owing the estate and that the advancements Allen made to
children in his lifetime “should have been regarded by the executors in their settlement with the
court as so many debts due the estate.” They also inquire as to who should be charged with the
hire of a slave offered to Benjamin Allen “if he would move to Davidson [County].” They finally
ask the court to order the executors to “pay over to” them the portion of the estate to which “they
may respectively be entitled.”
0255 (Accession # 21485103). Rutherford County, Tennessee. George W. Smith, administrator
of the estate of the late George W. Anderson, joins Anderson’s children in asking the court to
appoint commissioners “to set apart” Henry Anderson’s portion of his late father’s slaves.
Anderson’s will stipulated that his children “shall have their shares when they become of age or
should marry.” The petitioners inform the court that Henry Anderson has recently arrived at the
age of twenty-one and now “desires to have his share of said slaves set apart to him.” A
commissioners’ report reveals that Anderson owned twenty-one slaves, whose estimated value
totals $7,128.
0260 (Accession # 21485104). Rutherford County, Tennessee. The children of the late William
Brady ask the court to appoint commissioners to divide the slaves in their father’s estate. The
children currently own four slaves as tenants in common. The eldest child, George T. Brady,
has recently come “of age” and “is desirous of having his share laid off to him in Severalty.”
Brady owes his former guardian, Edwin A. Keeble, $81.65 for furnishing “necessary clothing,”
which he would also like to reimburse. A commissioners’ report estimates the value of the four
slaves at $2,100.
0263 (Accession # 21485105). Lincoln County, Tennessee. John W. Gragg joins his mother,
Jane Gragg Wilson, in seeking permission to sell a slave named Gilford, who belonged to his
late father, John Gragg. Gragg’s 1842 will bequeathed Gilford to his widow “during her natural
lifetime or widowhood”; at her death, Gragg directed his executors to sell Gilford and divide the
proceeds among his children. A later clause in the will, however, restricted Gilford’s sale until
after Jane’s death. Jane Gragg married her current husband, Matthew Wilson, in 1849. The
petitioners now inform the court that they “freely relinquish to said children” their interest in
Gilford. They ask the court to direct the sale and order “the proceeds distributed to & equally
divided” among Gragg’s children.
0268 (Accession # 21485106). Rutherford County, Tennessee. The widow, children, and
administrator of the late Blunt Jorden seek permission to sell six slaves in Jorden’s estate in
order to pay the debts “now pressing against the Estate.” Jorden’s debts amount to “between
twenty five hundred and three thousand dollars,” and the family has “no means of paying them
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without the sale of a portion of the Slaves of which he died possessed.” One of the slaves,
Joshua, is a thirty-year-old blacksmith.
0273 (Accession # 21485107). Davidson County, Tennessee. William H. Barlow seeks to regain
possession of a slave named Caroline, whom he traded with Daniel B. Boling in exchange for a
slave named Lafayette on 24 November 1837. Barlow complains that Boling represented
Lafeyette as “a likely, healthy and valuable boy, perfectly sound and trustworthy,” when, in fact,
the slave was “wholly unsound in body” and subject to “violent and protracted fits.” In addition to
Caroline, who at the time of the trade was almost four years old and worth $350, Barlow gave
Boling “one sorrel horse, one bay horse, and clay bank mule.” Barlow now worries that Boling
has gotten his property “without consideration” and removed it from the county. He insists that
he has “a right to possession of his property ... and to be indemnified by the said Boling if such
property cannot be obtained.” Deeming the trade “null and void by reason of the fraud,” Barlow
asks the court to attach the property of the insolvent Boling and to restore to him “his property in
its value.”
0280 (Accession # 21485108). Maury County, Tennessee. The surviving family of Almond
[Almon] Chaves, a free person of color, ask the court to compel Chaves’s administrator, Basil B.
Satterfield, to render an administrative account of the estate. They inform the court that Chaves
died intestate in 1848 in Hickman County without a wife or children. They further report that
Chaves possessed a sixteen-year-old slave named Jonathan and “perishable property,”
including livestock and “the crop for 1848,” worth $1,500. The petitioners charge that Satterfield
has sold Chaves’s perishable property, hired out Jonathan “from year to year,” and collected “all
the debts due his intestate.” Satterfield has returned but one account of sales, returned no
account of hire, and made no settlement with the clerk of court. The petitioners, residents of
North Carolina, insist that they are “the only persons interested in the distribution of the estate.”
They therefore demand that Satterfield account with them for the estate and “deliver up said
slave Jonathan.”
0286 (Accession # 21485109). Rutherford County, Tennessee. William A. Ransom and John A.
Crocket, administrators of the estate of the late John Ransom, seek permission to sell three
estate slaves “for distribution amongst the heirs of the said intestate.” They inform the court that
there are twelve distributees of said estate and that “said negroes are unsusceptable of a
divition amongst them.” They therefore seek an order to sell eighteen-year-old Isaac, twentyyear-old
Matilda, and Matilda’s infant child. A commissioner’s report reveals that Matilda’s child
had died by the time the slaves were sold at auction, less than a month after the petition was
filed.
0291 (Accession # 21485110). Knox County, Tennessee. Charlotte, Ellen, and George, slaves
belonging to the late William Townsend of Alabama, seek an injunction to prevent the executors
of Townsend’s will from selling them or removing them beyond the jurisdiction of the court. The
petitioners inform the court that Townsend’s will instructed that his slaves “be taken to some
State where they could be set free & have all the benefits & privileges of free persons of color.”
The petitioners reveal, however, that said executors “clandestinely removed your orators
starting them in the night” for Tennessee for the purpose of “selling or disposing of them as
slaves.” They fear that William Cain is “on his way to the South or west to sell them which
conduct is a direct violation of the provisions of sd will.” They intend to file a bill against Cain “to
obtain their freedom,” but, in the meantime, they ask to be placed in the court’s custody while
their suit is pending. The petitioners comprise three generations of the same family.
0297 (Accession # 21485111). Williamson County, Tennessee. The children of the late Samuel
C. and Nancy Hughes ask the court to allot and “set apart” to Sarah Ann Hughes McClellan her
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portion of their parents’ estate. They children are the owners in common of four slaves “which
descended to them” upon their parents’ deaths. Sarah Ann has recently married Robert J.
McClellan. The children’s guardian, Brice M. Hughes Sr., currently holds possession of the
slaves. Noting that each child is entitled to a one-fourth share, they ask the court to decree a
division of the slaves.
0303 (Accession # 21485112). Davidson County, Tennessee. William Scruggs and Mary
Barksdale, children of Finch Scruggs, seek to protect their remainder interest in a slave named
Jamima and her children under the 1798 will of their great-grandfather, James Scruggs. The will
bequeathed a life estate in Jamima to their father and gave the slave and her “issue” to the
petitioners at Finch’s death. After his relocation from Virginia to Tennessee “many years ago,”
Finch sold his interest in the slaves to one Mary Matthias. Finch is currently eighty years old,
Matthias has since died, and Jamima has given to birth to several children, who are now in the
possession of Isaiah Stull as his “absolute property.” Stull has hired out Jamima’s children, Kitty,
Jane, and Solomon, for the current year. Scruggs and Barksdale sue Stull and the two hirers of
the slaves, seeking an attachment and “bond & security for the forthcoming of said slaves” at
Finch’s death.
0314 (Accession # 21485113). Davidson County, Tennessee. Michael Callaghan seeks the
court’s “judgment & intervention” in constructing the will of Philip Callaghan, who died in July
1850, leaving a widow and four minor children. Citing the will’s “many ambiguities,” Callaghan
seeks direction in disposing of his testator’s property, including three slaves named Sally, John,
and Chesterfield. In particular, he is uncertain whether eleven-year-old John should be sold in
order to raise a fund to pay a specific legacy to Callaghan’s daughter, Ellen. Callaghan’s
children live in Texas, California, Alabama and, Tennessee and, being minors, need “the care &
guardianship of your honorable Court.”
0326 (Accession # 21485114). Lincoln County, Tennessee. Claiborne A. Freeman asks that
“the pretended contract for the sale of” a slave named John be declared “void & recinded.” He
asserts that “he was the owner of a likely negro man aged about seventeen years worth at least
nine hundred dollars,” whom he had hired out “for the present year.” Freeman further recounts
that on 8 May 1851 “he came to the town of Fayetteville & indulged in the use of spirituous
liquors untill he became completely overcome with liquor.” He confesses that he “was so drunk
he was not senseble of any thing he done” and that “he was wholly incapable of attending to
any kind of business.” The petitioner charges that the defendants took advantage of his
“excessive intoxication” by inducing him to trade his slave John for a sixty-year-old slave named
Hannah, “worth about $100 at present.” Freeman also avows that “neither the body or the
signature” of the purported bill of sale “is in his hand write.” Citing that “he was so drunk he did
not know what he was doing,” the petitioner argues “gross fraud and immorality on the part of
said Moores & Thomson.” Freeman therefore prays that the bill of sale be set aside and that
“your complt may have his negro boy John delivered to him.”
0333 (Accession # 21485115). Davidson County, Tennessee. Granville P. Smith seeks to
recover the value of a female slave named Louisa, whom he sold to Thomas H. Johnson “about
three years since.” He informs the court that he traded Louisa with Johnson’s agent, John C.
Penticost, for a slave named Ann of comparable value. After the “purchase,” he “became aware
that the negro woman would not suit his object in buying her and he therefore determined to sell
her.” To avoid the trouble and expense of separate conveyances, he wanted Penticost to
transfer the bill of sale to the subsequent purchaser. Ann, however, “could not be favorably
disposed of in the Nashville market,” so he sent her to New Orleans where John Carroll
purchased her for $450. Shortly after the sale, Carroll was sued for Ann’s recovery, on the
ground that Johnson’s title, which he received from Jeremiah and Margaret E. Austell, was
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“fraudulent.” Carroll was thereby “evicted and deprived of her,” and Smith was compelled to
refund Carroll’s purchase price. Smith now charges that Johnson defrauded him, being “well
aware” he had “no valid title” at the time of their transaction. Having received “no compensation”
for Louisa, Smith seeks the court’s interposition.
0345 (Accession # 21485116). Davidson County, Tennessee. John Hugh Smith, administrator
of the estate of the late B. R. B. Wallace, asks the court to take an account of Wallace’s
personal property and of the estate’s assets and debts. The estate’s previous administrator
obtained an order from the court to sell Wallace’s five slaves, but the court later set aside the
order for sale of three of them; one of the slaves, Mary, has since died. Smith also informs the
court that the books for Wallace’s blacksmith business “were very irregularly kept” and that at
the time of his death, Wallace “was largely indebted to various persons.” He maintains that the
assets of the estate are “insufficient to pay the debts against [it].” He asks for permission, if
necessary, to sell Wallace’s house and his remaining slave to pay said debts. He also seeks an
injunction against Wallace’s creditors and requests that the administration of the estate “be
transferred to this Court.”
0354 (Accession # 21485117). Davidson County, Tennessee. Thomas C. Rutherford asks the
court to compel Herman Cox, administrator of the estate of the late Richard Wright, to “hand
over” constable receipts related to the hire of four of Rutherford’s slaves. Rutherford explains
that Wright acted as his agent in hiring out the slaves to Eli Woods and D. McGuire in October
1848. Shortly before he died, Wright placed Woods’s note in the hands of William H. Clemons, a
constable of Davidson County, for collection. Cox later did the same with McGuire’s note. The
court awarded judgments in Wright’s favor in both cases. Rutherford now complains that Cox
holds the constable’s receipts for the notes “as assets in his hands for the payment of” Wright’s
creditors. Rutherford maintains that the notes were taken out solely in consequence of Wright’s
agency and that Wright “did not regard the said notes as his property.” Cox refuses to surrender
the notes and “seems desirous” that Rutherford file a claim and become a creditor of the estate.
Meanwhile the constable refuses to pay the debts unless Rutherford can produce the receipts.
Rutherford therefore asks that the court enjoin Clemons from paying Cox any monies and that
Cox relinquish the receipts.
0362 (Accession # 21485118). Maury County, Tennessee. Martha A. Andrews, suing by her
next friend, James H. Thurmond, seeks to protect her property from her dissipated husband.
Martha states that, before she married Littleberry B. Andrews, she and her sister owned “an
undivided interest in three slaves”—Jack, Mahala [Mahaly], and her child. Currently, the slaves
are in the possession of Andrew T. Gray, Martha’s guardian. Martha’s sister and brother-in-law
have petitioned the court to distribute the slaves. While Martha supports her sister, she does not
want to lose her interest in the slaves either to her sister or to her own husband Littleberry.
Martha represents that her husband “is improvident and addicted to the Vice of intemperance.”
He is trying to obtain possession of her share of the slaves and has already pledged it to pay
debts. Martha asserts that “if he should succeed in getting it into his possession, he will waste
the whole amount of it, in less than twelve months.” Martha asks that “her interest in said slaves
be settled upon her for her sole and separate use” and that the court enjoin the defendants
“from doing any act” that would give the slaves to her husband.
0369 (Accession # 21485119). Williamson County, Tennessee. The executors of the estate of
the late Nicholas Perkins ask the court to partition Perkins’s eight slaves between his daughters,
Malvina Perkins Richardson and Mary Thomas Perkins, who is a minor. Nicholas Perkins died
in February 1848.
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0374 (Accession # 21485120). Williamson County, Tennessee. Philip A. Owen asks to have his
share of four slaves set apart and allotted to him. Owen owns the slaves jointly with his four
minor siblings.
0380 (Accession # 21485121). Williamson County, Tennessee. John B. McEwen, administrator
of the estate of the late Elinor Prior, asks the court to decree “a sale of the said slaves Bob,
Sam, and Dolly for the purpose of distribution among those entitled thereto.” Prior died “without
children or the descendants of such” and “from the number of the next of Kin ... said slaves
cannot be divided in the mode pointed out by law.” McEwen requests that, if Dolly, who is
upwards of sixty years old, cannot be sold, then she should “be put up and sold to the person
who will agree and obligate himself to support and take care of her [for] the least sum of
money.”
0386 (Accession # 21485122). Overton County, Tennessee. Andrew Wilson seeks to protect his
interest in several slaves, whom he mortgaged to his brother, Reuben Wilson, in September
1841. While the brothers and their eleven siblings share an interest in the slaves as their
patrimony, the slaves and their “increase” have resided with their mother “under a family
contract,” which has recently ended with their youngest brother’s arrival at “full age.” Wilson
explains that “pecuniary embarrassment” necessitated the mortgage, but that his brother
expressly agreed to allow him to redeem his interest in the slaves “whenever he should tender
defendant an equal amount of property.” Andrew complains that Reuben now “sets up the
fraudulent pretence” that their arrangement was an “absolute sale.” He and “perhaps the other
heirs” have caused the slaves to be sold at auction and the proceeds from the sale are now in
the hands of two commissioners. Andrew insists that, at the date of the sale, he was “young
giddy necessitous and improvident” and that his brother, who was many years older and
“possessed of great shrewdness and cunning,” took advantage of him. “Ready and willing” to
repay Reuben, Andrew now asks the court to take an account of the value of the advanced
property, to enjoin the commissioners from paying over the proceeds from the sale, and to
ultimately “set aside” the mortgage.
0397 (Accession # 21485123). Williamson County, Tennessee. Thomas M. Clardy asks the
court to attach David Patillo’s property, including a slave named Rachel, and to enjoin Patillo
from selling or removing the property outside the court’s jurisdiction. Clardy explains that he
became security for a $500 note Patillo used to purchase land from B. W. Lane. The note is
about to become due. Clardy informs the court that, “for several days past,” Patillo “has been
engaged in selling & disposing of his property as fast as possible.” He insists that, “within in the
last day or two,” Patillo has “absconded & carried with him” four slaves and other property.
Clardy fears he will be “compelled to pay said debt” unless the court intervenes and restrains
Patillo in his course. Clardy also points out that Patillo’s wife, Frances, has recently sued David
for divorce and alimony and caused the court to attach Rachel, who has been in Frances’s
possession in another county in Tennessee. He asks the court to ascertain the debts due Patillo
and the whereabouts of his property “so that a sufficiency of the estate ... may be subjected to
the satisfaction of the debt upon which your orator is bound.”
0402 (Accession # 21485124). Davidson County, Tennessee. William Scruggs and Mary
Barksdale, children of Finch Scruggs, seek to protect their remainder interest in a slave named
Jemima and her children under the 1798 will of their great-grandfather, James Scruggs. The will
bequeathed a life estate in Jemima to their father, and gave the slave and her “issue” to the
petitioners at Finch’s death. Finch brought Jemima to Tennessee from Virginia “many years
ago,” where she had “issue a female child.” Finch then sold his interest in the slaves to one
Mary Matthias [Mathews]. While in Matthias’s possession, Jemima had at least nine children;
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the slaves passed to Matthias’s four children at her death. Thomas Matthias received Delila and
her two children, Elijah and William, whom he has recently sold to Guilford Read. The
petitioners now “require a discovery of the number, names & ages of her children,” as Read
“refuses to recognize your Orators interest therein.” They “seriously apprehend” that the slaves
will be “removed, or sold & lost” to them. They ask the court to protect their “present right of
future enjoyment,” by attaching the slaves and compelling Read to post “bond & security for
[their] forthcoming.” Six years later Scruggs and Barksdale filed another bill against Read,
complaining that he and his security, Samuel M. Allen, had failed to execute bond as required
by the earlier decree. They further complained that the men had failed to deliver the slaves to
the clerk and master as required in default of bail. Deeming them “guilty of contempt,” they ask
the court to require Read and Allen to bring the slaves “within the Jurisdiction of this Court or
that they be charged with their value.”
0414 (Accession # 21485125). Williamson County, Tennessee. Sarah E. Armstrong and her
minor sister, Ann L. Baugh, seek permission to obtain a division of “a negro man slave named
Arthur,” whom they own as tenants in common. The sisters derived Arthur’s title “from one
Lemuel Pope who died some years ago.” They inform the court that Arthur is the “only slave at
present owned by them in common, the negroes which came to them from their father having
been divided before they obtained possession of this one.” Since Arthur cannot be divided, they
ask the court to decree his sale “upon such terms and conditions as to your Honor shall seem
right and proper.”
0424 (Accession # 21485126). Bradley County, Tennessee. William H. Swan seeks to restrain
Robert M. Swan from “disposing of” any slaves or “other property” in his possession or control in
which his brother, Samuel, “may have an interest.” William Swan explains that Samuel signed a
note promising to pay him $220 on 24 March 1841. Later Samuel became entitled to a
distributive share in his late father’s personal estate, “consisting mostly of negro slaves.” The
petitioner now informs the court that Samuel has “no other effects ... out of which said note can
be satisfied, unless this distributive share can be reached.” He speculates that Robert Swan
“holds said slaves, ten or twelve in number for distribution according to the terms” of his
testator’s will. He finally asks that Samuel Swan’s property be sold and that the proceeds, “so
far as necessary,” be appropriated to the satisfaction of said debt.
0429 (Accession # 21485127). Lawrence County, Tennessee. William Lucas asks the court to
order the foreclosure of two mortgages and “cause an account to be taken as to the amount” he
owes Joseph Miller. Lucas explains that in 1841 he mortgaged his slave named America to
Miller in order to secure a debt of $500. The pair agreed that America would only remain in
Miller’s possession as security until he repaid the debt. A year later Lucas was indebted to two
local merchants, who caused the sheriff to levy upon Lucas’s slave Pinkney. At the constable’s
sale, Miller agreed to purchase Pinkney; again, the men agreed that Lucas would have the
“privilege of redeeming” him when he repaid the purchase money. Miller now informs the court
that, although he is ready to redeem both slaves, Miller has “disregarded” their contract and sold
America to William Parks. America has had three children, and the family of slaves is now worth
between $1,300 and $1,400; Pinkney is now worth $800. Lucas asks the court to order an
account to ascertain what he owes Miller, how much he has already paid him, and “for the
services of said slaves.” He finally asks that the court “reinvest title to the same in your orator.”
0437 (Accession # 21485128). Williamson County, Tennessee. The two youngest children of
the late Wright Stanley petition the court for a construction of Stanley’s will “and of the rights and
liabilities of the respective devisees and legatees in said will.” The petitioners believe that their
father’s “bounty” has been disproportionately distributed to his children. They submit that their
brother and two sisters, who reached twenty-one years of age well before them, have received
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their shares of the slaves, land, and profits from their late father’s estate. They now ask the
court to compel the executor of the will “to come to an account and pay over” their equitable
share of the estate. The estate’s profits include the rents and income from Stanley’s real estate
and the wood and timber thereon. They ask the court to ascertain the “rights interest and
estates and liabilities of all parties under said will.”
0454 (Accession # 21485130). Williamson County, Tennessee. James Carothers and his son,
Wiley B. Carothers, seek to dissolve their partnership with Patrick Erskine and ask that “proper
accounts be taken” of the firm’s assets. The men entered into a partnership in 1850 “under the
name & style of Carothers & Erskine in the business of purchasing & selling slaves.” James
Carothers furnished $14,040, “including two negroes valued at $1000,” which his partners took
to Virginia to invest in the purchase of slaves to be sold in the south. The pair returned with a
“gang” of twenty-four slaves purchased for $11,707.50. After picking up two additional slaves in
Tennessee, they headed south where they sold all but one slave, a man named Lewis, “who is
not in good health.” They assert that “the whole cost of slaves bought and sold by the firm”
amounted to $12,820, and the gross proceeds of the sale amounted to $17,757.50. The
petitioners inform the court that “the balance of the property assetts or funds of said firm is or
ought to be in the hands of the defendt Patrick A. Erskine.” They complain that Erskine has
used a “great portion” of the money and has not repaid James his principal and interest. Citing
that Erskine has “absconded from” the state taking with him “said moneys or the proceeds
thereof,” they ask the court to attach his property and have “said slave Lewis ... & what is
coming to them decreed to them.”
0466 (Accession # 21485131). Montgomery County, Tennessee. Cave Johnson asks the court
to compel William Chilton to compensate him for a debt out of his interest in the estate of the
late James N. Dortch, the first husband of Chilton’s current wife. Johnson explains that he won
two judgments against William in October 1850, but he has been unable to collect his money
because William has no property. The petitioner informs the court that Robert Chilton, William’s
brother and the administrator of Dortch’s estate, has “not as yet delivered over” Mrs. Chilton’s
inheritance. The estate’s slaves, which number between ten and twelve, are currently hired out
for the present year. Although Robert Chilton agreed “more than twelve months ago to pay sd
debts out of the estate,” he has recently applied to the court to surrender his administration of
Dortch’s estate. Johnson now asserts that Robert has not delivered William’s portion of the
estate “for the purpose of delaying and hindering the creditors of the said William from collecting
the debt.” He asks the court to intervene.
0472 (Accession # 21485132). Davidson County, Tennessee. William and Keziah Everett Cagle
seek an injunction to prevent Sally Everett and Laban Abernathy from selling or removing a
slave named Betsey. The petitioners explain that they and Keziah’s father share a remainder
interest in Betsey after Sally Everett’s death. Keziah’s father, Simon Everett, laid out money for
the purchase of a slave in 1829. David Abernathy then conveyed a slave named Harriet to
Laban Abernathy to hold in trust “for the use & benefit of the said Simon Everett & his wife Sally”
during their lifetime; Sally Everett later sold Harriet after Simon’s death. Sally eventually
purchased Betsey with part of the proceeds from the sale. The Cagles now insist that Laban
Abernathy, who “knew of the sale & consented to it,” ought to be “as responsible as if he had
actually made the sale himself.” While Sally currently has Betsey in her possession, the
petitioners fear that she is planning on selling her. In addition to the injunction, they also ask the
court to require Sally to post bond for Betsey’s “forthcoming.”
0481 (Accession # 21485133). Franklin County, Tennessee. Johanna Houston asks the court to
attach a slave named Eliza and to “give your Oratrix a decree for said negro woman Eliza and
for her hire.” Houston, a recent widow, explains that her father, William Smith, deeded Eliza and
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another slave, Milly, to her in 1819. At the time Johanna was married to her husband, who was
“a drinking man and a spend thrift,” a fact “well known to her said father.” She informs the court
that her father deeded the property to her only, “showing that it was his intention to exclude the
martial rights of her said husband and secure the property to her and her children or assigns.”
She complains that, during his lifetime, her husband “continued to dissipate and spend her
property,” including Eliza whom he sold to Woodruff Parks without her consent. She claims that
Parks has had possession of Eliza for “19 or 20 years,” and she fears that he will “run her off so
that she will probably be lost to your oratrix.” Confiding to the court that her husband left her “in
a very destitute condition with a large family to raise” and that Eliza is a “family slave of great
and peculiar value,” she seeks the court’s assistance in recovering her property.
0492 (Accession # 21485135). Williamson County, Tennessee. Naomi Johnson seeks a divorce
from her estranged husband, Jesse W. Johnson, whom she married in 1839. She claims that he
is addicted to the use of “ardent spirits,” which promotes treatment towards her “so cruel and
inhuman as to render it unsafe and improper for her to cohabit with him.” He uses language
towards her “a gentleman would not use towards his slaves” and has repeatedly accused her of
infidelity “even with a negro in the presence of her mother.” The petitioner informs the court that
she has four slaves derived from the estate of her late father, whom she claims as her “sole and
separate” property; however, when she left Jesse to “seek protection in the house of her
mother,” her husband “swore that if she attempted to move off one of the negroes he would kill
her.” She asks to be restored “to all the rights of a feme sole” and that the slaves be “set apart
or restored to her.”
0502 (Accession # 21485136). Davidson County, Tennessee. William M. Alexander asks the
court to issue a writ of inquisition to the sheriff to “Summon a Jury to ascertain and report what
is the mental state” of his eighty-two-year-old father, Thomas Alexander. The petitioner fears
that his father, whom he calls “a person of unsound mind and mentally incapable of managing
his own affairs,” will “waste his estate for want of sufficient mental capacity to take care of and
manage the same.” Thomas Alexander owns “some fifteen negro Slaves” and several hundred
acres of land.
0511 (Accession # 21485137). Bedford County, Tennessee. Jordan C. Holt, Benjamin Moseley,
and Jordan C. Holt Jr. seek an injunction restraining the collection of a debt. They submit that
Holt purchased a slave named Frances from the estate of the late Rebecca Fisher in April 1850.
Frances was warranted as healthy; however, soon after the purchase, Holt discovered “that she
was afflicted with consumption or some other disease,” of which she died within a few months.
Holt maintains that Frances “never rendered him any service whatever, but on the contrary was
during all that time a heavy charge.” The petitioners believe that Fisher’s heirs and administrator
knew of Frances’s illness; they claim “in fact one of them, Lewis Gaunt in conversation with your
Orator about her, in effect admitted it but falsely pretended that she was pregnant and alleged
that her illness was caused by her pregnancy alone.” Fisher’s heirs and administrator have
recently instituted a suit against the Holts and Moseley, demanding that they pay for the slave.
Holt has refused, insisting “that this Honl. Court will not compel him to pay his money for
nothing, or for a diseased and dying negro.” Therefore, the petitioners pray that the heirs and
administrator be perpetually enjoined from collecting payment for the slave.
0524 (Accession # 21485138). Washington County, Tennessee. Robert Love seeks the court’s
advice on the proper execution of his late parents’ and sister’s wills. Love’s father, Thomas, died
in 1832, leaving an estate of property and slaves to his widow and children. The widow, Anna,
sold two estate slaves and gave a slave named Peggy and her children to her son-in-law,
Benjamin Dulaney; however, Dulaney may not have been entitled to the slaves because his
wife, Mary Love, was a minor at the time and by the provisions of Thomas’s will, his heirs were
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only eligible to receive their inheritance upon reaching majority. Anna Love died in 1843, leaving
all her property and her share in her late husband’s property to the petitioner and his siblings.
The petitioner’s sister, Seraphina, has also died, leaving her own estate. Robert Love has now
incurred many expenses on behalf of the estates “in maintaining, clothing, supporting, and
educating” minor siblings and in “raising and clothing young negros,” yet he is still uncertain on
the proper division of the estates’ properties and slaves. He contends that “the said three wills
are so intimately connected that it is necessary they should all be before your Honor in order to
the correct ascertainment of the rights of the parties and the proper settlement of the business
of said estates.”
0540 (Accession # 21485139). Maury County, Tennessee. Orphaned minor Anna Booker seeks
to protect her inheritance by asking the court to uphold and enforce a deed of trust executed by
her late father, Peter R. Booker, in 1848. Booker conveyed a 425-acre tract of land “together
with about fifty slaves” to Winfield S. Rainy as trustee “to be held for the benefit of” his wife,
Mary, “and his children by his said wife.” After the widowed Mary Booker married Washington
Meredith, the couple petitioned the court to have the deed set aside. While the suit was
pending, Mary Booker Meredith died, leaving Anna Booker the only issue of her marriage with
Peter Booker. The court eventually ruled in Meredith’s favor, entitling him to Mary’s “distributive
share of one half of” Booker’s personal estate. Anna, who was “of tender years” during the suit,
now calls the decree “clearly erroneous” and asks the court to rehear the case. Two years later,
Anna Booker filed a bill of review, detailing the ways in which her mother “treated said deed as a
binding and valid disposition of the property” before repudiating it before the court. Anna insisted
that it was never her father’s intention “to give to said Mary T. any part of said estate absolutely”
and that she herself is “clearly entitled to all of said slaves under said deed.” Citing Rainy’s
cross bill as “antagonistic to her rights,” she asks the court to reverse its earlier decree,
preventing Meredith from selling the slaves and real estate to satisfy her father’s debts.
0577 (Accession # 21485140). Williamson County, Tennessee. Polly Sharpe and Nancy D.
Jordan and their husbands seek a division of the property of the late James Allison. Sharpe is
the daughter of Allison. In 1821, her former husband, the late Samuel N. Martin, who is also the
father of petitioner Jordan, conveyed four slaves to Allison. By his will, Allison devised that the
surviving two slaves of that group as well as his other slaves and property be divided among his
daughters and their families. Some of Allison’s heirs have since died, making an equitable
division of the property difficult. Especially under debate is a tract of land that Allison’s will
ordered apportioned among his heirs. The petitioners pray that the other Allison heirs be made
parties to this suit and that the court devise an acceptable division of the testator’s property.
0590 (Accession # 21485141). Bedford County, Tennessee. As administrator of the estate of
the late Leighton Ewell, Abner L. Landis seeks a redivision of the slaves of the late John Ewell.
By his 1824 will, John Ewell ordered that his slaves be put into a life estate for the benefit of his
widow. He further ordered that his brothers, Leighton and Dabney Ewell, be named his
executors. Leighton did not qualify, and he died leaving two children as heirs. In 1848, John’s
widow relinquished her right to the life estate and had the estate’s slaves divided among the
other heirs. Landis claims that Leighton’s estate had a right to be represented in this division; he
charges that its omission in said division defrauded the estate of its rightful inheritance. Landis
prays that the division of slaves be nullified and that the heirs, who received the slaves, be
made to account for their numbers, names, and values. He further prays that the court order a
redivision of the property. In their answer, the defendants state that Leighton’s estate has no
claim to the slaves because John had advanced him approximately $355.66. In an amended
bill, Landis states that he has been made administrator of the estates of three children of John
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Ewell. He claims that these heirs were not represented in the division of the slaves either,
further denoting the need to void the original distribution.
0615 (Accession # 21485142). Smith County, Tennessee. The petitioners seek a distribution of
their late father’s slaves. Prior to his death, Larkin Corley Sr. “pretended to make a conveyance”
of his slaves to certain individuals. The petitioners believe this conveyance was “fraudulently
obtained” by his wife, who took advantage of him while he “was in a state of intoxication.” They
“further charge that in pursuance of this transaction, & to show the fraud practised on the old
man ... Deft Nancy his wife, caused each one of the Children ... to hand him $10 in silver. When
one would hand it to him, the old Lady would get it back from him & hand it to another who
would hand it to the old man again, until they all pased the money round in that way.” However,
“on his deathbed,” Corley “requested that his slaves with all the rest of his property should be
equally divided amongst his children.” All of the petitioner’s sisters are willing to do this, but
several of their husbands “claim said slaves” under the original conveyance. The slaves are now
eleven in number and should be divided in some manner. Yet, because of the first conveyance,
“there is a cloud upon the title of said slaves,” which “has a tendency to imbarris an
Administrator so much so that no person can be found to Administer the Estate.” The petitioners
pray that the court appoint an administrator “with power to take into his possession said slaves”
and distribute them.
0622 (Accession # 21485143). Montgomery County, Tennessee. Agnes Shelton and her minor
children, residents of Kentucky, seek the return of a slave named Flora. Shelton bought Flora
and “all her increase” from Edmund Bradshaw in 1844 and allowed her husband, William, to act
as trustee. William was then indebted to the merchants Kinkeard & Grant for $400–500. “In
ignorance of her rights,” Agnes sold her interest in Flora and her children to G. Corban,
William’s surety on his debt. Corban and William Shelton then brought the slaves into
Tennessee and sold them to John Pope, a trustee for his wife and others, for $1,010. Agnes
and her children pray that Pope be enjoined from selling the slaves out of the court’s jurisdiction
and that the court set aside the sale.
0630 (Accession # 21485144). Bedford County, Tennessee. Joel and Polly Lowrance seek the
return of a slave named John Solomon. Upon their marriage, Polly was the sole owner of a
slave named Tempy, the mother of John Solomon. In 1840, Joel became indebted, prompting
Polly to mortgage her slaves to John Fisher, who agreed to advance money for the debts on the
condition that he get to keep the slaves in his possession until he was repaid. The Lowrances,
“not understanding the form of a Mortgage; Executed to said Fisher a Bill of Sale for Said
Negroes; for the precise amount of Money advanced, $403.75 ... Said Negroes at the time were
worth considerably more.” Soon afterwards, Joel Lowrance fell ill and “Fisher came to see him;
and whilst there persuaded your Orator to let him have the obligation which they held on him to
deliver the negroes.” Two years later, the Lowrances requested the return of the slaves but
Fisher denied them. Instead, he sold Tempy to “a negro trader, who soon after Took her out of
the Country.” Fisher is now dead, and his heirs have advertised to sell John Solomon at public
auction. Having “much more than paid” their debt, the Lowrances pray that their slave be
returned to them and that the estate compensate them for the loss of Tempy. In the meantime,
they pray that the estate be enjoined from selling John Solomon.
0645 (Accession # 21485145). Giles County, Tennessee. The Field family seeks to sell a slave
and a tract of land. In 1842, Harrington L. Field executed a deed of trust to William Arrowsmith,
part of which trust consisted of a slave “named Mille who for the last two or three years has
been of but little if any value to your orators & oratrices, having contracted habits of running
away & lying out for months, and at one time near twelve months.” They wish to sell Mille and
put the profits towards the purchase “of another slave, or some other property.” In addition, the
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family owns a tract of land in trust in Pulaski, Tennessee, and “it would be to their Manifest
interest to dispose of said tract of land, that they might remove to the state of Texas ... and the
proceeds of the sale of said land ... could be vested in slaves.” They pray that the court allow
the sale of the slave and the land and that Arrowsmith be “discharged from all further liability for
said trust.”
0654 (Accession # 21485146). Washington County, Tennessee. James D. and Elizabeth J.
Rhea ask the court to execute her late father’s will. Alfred Carter died possessed of “valuable
lands, with Iron works & other valuable improvements” and slaves. By his will, his widow
received a life estate in his land and slaves; upon her death, the slaves were to be divided
among his sons, as he wished “to prevent them being thrown into numerous hands.” The will
further stated that, after his debts were paid, all remaining property should be distributed among
his six children. One clause states, “The heirs of Elizabeth J. Rhea to receive one sixth part of
my estate.” The Rheas argue, “Strictly & properly the phrase ‘the heirs of Elizabeth J. Rhea’ has
no legal fixed & determinate meaning, yr Oratrix Elizabeth J. Rhea being still living, & although
the mother of several children, still in legal contemplation, a living person can have no heirs.”
The Rheas believe that Carter did not mean that the property should “remain in abeyance &
locked up during the life time of Yr Oratrix & then go to her heirs but on the contrary” but that it
should go to Rhea now as a life estate held in trust for her children. The Rheas “pray that yr
Honor will construe the sd will & direct its execution in conformity with the true meaning & intent
of Testator.”
0673 (Accession # 21485147). Washington County, Tennessee. Wiatt, Rebecca, and their
children, people of color, seek their freedom. Vachael Light, their late master, freed the
petitioners by his will and the “intention of the sd. testator is shown by being three times
expressed in the sd. will, thereby shewing that the sd. testator intended to leave no doubts on
the minds of those who should see his sd. will that he meant not to leave any of your Complts.
in bondage.” Further, it was the “long cherished wish of his life that yr. Complts., to whom he
was much attached, should serve no one as slaves” after his death. By another clause in his
will, Light left “all his household & kitchen furniture” to Rebecca, as well as the residue of his
estate’s land. However, the testator’s son, Right Light, “has in direct violation of the wishes of
his deceased father, gone to the County Court of Sullivan & taken out letters of administration
on the estate of his sd. father.” Right Light has now sold the property devised to Rebecca and
“has, by some means, procured an order ... to sell all the Complts.” The petitioners pray for an
injunction against their sale and “that they may be secured in their right to freedom under sd.
will.”
0680 (Accession # 21485148). Bradley County, Tennessee. Margrett Eaton seeks to be made
administratrix of her late husband’s estate. When John W. Eaton died, the petitioner “was Lying
very Low and sick so much so that she was unable to attend his burial and so continued untill
after Letter of administration was granted upon the Estate of her deceased husband.”
Consequently, Ahag Shamblin, “who was not the next of kin nor the Creditor of said deceased,”
was granted the administration and has now taken possession of the estate’s slaves and other
property. He has “carried off” four of the slaves and employs others “to his own use.” Eaton has
also learned that “Shamblin is Insolvent not worth any thing of his own,” and she fears that he
will abscond with the slaves. Eaton “is able & willing to give good & Sufficient security for the
faithful discharge of her duties as administratrix.” She prays that the court revoke Shamblin’s
fraudulent appointment as administrator and name her in the post instead. She further prays for
an injunction against Shamblin, forcing him to return all of the estate property.
0689 (Accession # 21485149). Bradley County, Tennessee. Anderson McMahon seeks
compensation for the loss of a slave named Mariah. McMahon’s mother and William McKissick
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Sr. intermarried about 1826 and removed from Cocke County. Before they moved, McMahon
gave them Mariah “to wait upon and take care of his said Mother during life, with the express
agreement between your orator and his said mother and husband” that he was to retain title to
the girl. When his mother died, McMahon went to McKissick’s home to retrieve Mariah, “but
finding McKissick distressed in mind, and being requested by McKissick to let said girl remain
with him and cook for him until the marriage of one of his sons,” McMahon agreed. Several
years later, he learned that McKissick had distributed some of his property “amongst his
children” and that his son, William Jr., had taken Mariah and her two children to Missouri;
thereafter, he learned that Mariah had been sold. Both McKissicks had full knowledge of
McMahon’s rights yet they chose “to cheat or defraud your orator out of his said negroes.”
McKissick Sr. is now dead and his son Abraham illegally acts as the executor, having taken
possession of the estate’s “8 or 10 negroes.” McMahon prays that Abraham McKissick be
ordered to submit an inventory of the estate and that he be enjoined from selling any of the
slaves until further order of the court.
0701 (Accession # 21485150). Williamson County, Tennessee. The seven heirs of the late
Nicholas Perkins seek to sell a slave from his estate. By his will, Perkins ordered his slaves
distributed among his heirs. His daughter, Agatha Sally Marr, and her husband received twenty
slaves, including a sixteen-year-old named Ann. Ann, who served as a nurse, was “impulsed by
some motive” to give the Marrs’ infant daughter, Mary E. B. Marr, “a dose of Laudanum which
caused the death of the child and said slave has been prosecuted in this court for the crime of
Murder,” but she has been acquitted. Despite Ann’s acquittal, the Marrs are “unwilling to receive
her again in their family.” The petitioners, in their capacity as estate executors, pray that they be
permitted to sell Ann and be allowed to purchase another slave for their use. The petition is
accompanied by testimony from Ann’s trial, including the testimony of several slaves. Mr.
Nichols, the Marrs’ overseer, testifies that another slave named Tom may have compelled Ann
to give the child an overdose. Nichols believes Tom and Ann may have been engaged in a
sexual relationship. Several witnesses suggest that Ann may have poisoned the child because
she did not want to accompany the Marr family on an upcoming trip to Alabama.
0749 (Accession # 21485151). Sumner County, Tennessee. George Zarecor seeks to set aside
a ruling. In August 1849, he purchased a slave named Milly and her two children from Reuben
Wright Sr. Wright represented Milly as “sound & healthy except for a short time before ... August
1849—that she was then under the care of Dr. Walton—and that there was not much the matter
with her”; he also claimed that she was pregnant. Zarecor agreed to pay $650 for the slaves,
paying $450 in 1849 and issuing a promissory note for the remainder. After the purchase,
Zarecor learned that Milly had been unwell for some time, probably suffering from dropsy, and
that “she had been sold several times as unsound property.” Zarecor opines that “said negro
has been a dead expense on his hands from the day of his purchase until her death in August
1850.” Zarecor and Wright took their cause to arbitration where it was ordered “that Complt.
should have a credit of $61.50 on said note—because said woman was not pregnant at the time
of sale—and that defdt. should recover the ballance of said note with interest.” Zarecor believes
that the arbitrators made the wrong ruling as it “was a strong case of fraud.” He prays that the
award be set aside and that Wright pay him “damages for keeping said negro woman.” He
further prays that Wright be enjoined from seeking judgment to collect the original award.
0756 (Accession # 21485152). Shelby County, Tennessee. Sarah Leath seeks to emancipate a
slave named Sarah. Leath states that Sarah is “of yellow complexion and aged about twenty
years.” The slave “has been an obedient faithful, and good servant—and her whole conduct
towards petitioner, has been such as to create the desire in the mind of petitioner to reward her
with her freedom.” Leath prays that the court allow the emancipation.
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0767 (Accession # 21485153). Shelby County, Tennessee. William H. Eanes seeks to
emancipate Nancy Smith, the slave of the late T. Lee Smith. The late “Smith died seized and
possessed of said Nancy as his slave for life and that by his said last will it is provided that she
shall be set free and emancipated and invested with all the privileges and immunities of a free
person of color ... and further that all necessary expenses for securing her said freedom should
be paid out of his estate.” As the estate’s executor, Eanes believes “that the provision aforesaid
for said Nancy’s freedom is the first and foremost charge which he has imposed upon it” and he
therefore prays that the court grant Nancy’s emancipation. A related petition reveals that Nancy
is mulatto.
0773 (Accession # 21485154). Shelby County, Tennessee. “Your petitioner Tempe Hooper
would state that she has been emancipated agreeably to the laws now in favor in this State at
the present term of this Court—that she has been residing in this State for the last sixteen years
and that she is anxious and desirous to remain in this State and in the County of Shelby—
believing that she would not be enabled to support herself any where else—and also because
her friends and relations all reside here in this State—She therefore prays to be allowed to
remain in this State upon the Conditions required by law.” [Transcription of petition.]
0781 (Accession # 21485155). Shelby County, Tennessee. “Your petitioner, Bennet Repeto
shews to your worships that he is a resident of the County of Shelby aforesaid, and that he is
the owner of a slave named Tempe known as Tempe Hooper, and that he is desirous to set free
and emancipate Said slave—that she has been a good and faithful servant and slave to him and
has worked and labored faithfully for him and earned him a large amount of money—for which
reasons he is desirous to set free and emancipate said slave. He therefore prays a decree of
emancipation of said slave Tempe—and as in duty bound, he will pray &c.” [Transcription of
petition.]
0792 (Accession # 21485156). Shelby County, Tennessee. “Your Petitioner Nancy a mulatto
woman, lately the Slave of T. Lee Smith late of said County decd., who has been invested with
the privileges & immunities of a free person of color by the last will & Testament of said T. Lee
Smith duly proven in open court and admitted to record by order of your worshipful Court this
day rendered, begs leaves to say to your worships, that for the reason that She respects and is
attached to the citizens of this County and is well assured of kind treatment at their hands so
long as she continues worthy of the same, which it is her wish and purpose to merit by good
conduct, She is desirous of living in this county of Shelby, and therefore prays of the court the
privilege of remaining and residing in the same upon the terms & conditions set forth in the laws
of the State of Tennessee.” [Transcription of petition.]
0798 (Accession # 21485157). Shelby County, Tennessee. William H. Carroll seeks to
emancipate a slave named John Brown. Carroll asserts that John is a faithful servant, who “has
labored and worked industriously—and has fully paid and discharged the whole amount of his
value to your petitioner.” For these reasons, Carroll prays for a decree of emancipation for John.
0803 (Accession # 21485158). Shelby County, Tennessee. “The Petition of John Brown a free
man of color, emancipated at the third term of this Court would represent to your worships that
he has been for a number of years a resident of the County of Shelby—that he has a family
residing in said County with whom he is desirous and anxious to remain—and whom it is his
duty to support—and that he has many other ties which bind him to the said County—and which
render him desirous to remain in said County—and he therefore prays the Court that leave be
granted him to remain in said County of Shelby, agreeably to the laws now in favor in this State
and as in duty bound, your petitioner will ever pray &c.” [Transcription of petition.]
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0808 (Accession # 21485159). Sumner County, Tennessee. Mary Barksdale and William
Scruggs debate George Scott’s claim to a family of slaves. The petitioners are the greatgrandchildren
of the late James Scruggs of Virginia. By his 1799 will, Scruggs bequeathed a
slave named Jamima to Finch Scruggs, the petitioners’ father. The will further stated that upon
Finch’s death, the slave should pass to the petitioners. In 1811, Finch sold Jamima and her
daughter Caroline to Mary Matthias of Tennessee. Upon the death of Matthias, Jamima and her
nine children passed to Rachael Matthias Stull and her husband; at their deaths, their daughter
and her husband, the defendant George Scott, acquired Jamima and her daughter Hagar. The
petitioners contend that Scott refuses to recognize their rights to the slaves elucidated in the will
of James Scruggs. They assert that the sale of Jamima from Finch Scruggs to Mary Matthias
did not negate their interests in the slave and her increase. Therefore, the petitioners pray that
Scott be enjoined from removing the slaves from the jurisdiction of the court, provide an
inventory of the slaves, and, at the death of their aged father, surrender the slaves to their
possession. In his answer, Scott asserts that the sale from Scruggs to Matthias did, in fact,
nullify the petitioners’ claims to the slaves because it was an absolute sale without conditions
and, if Finch Scruggs claims otherwise, then he is committing fraud.
0827 (Accession # 21485160). Sumner County, Tennessee. William Horsly and William Locket
petition for a settlement of the estate of the late Robert Horsly. The Horslys and Locket were
together entitled to a one-third interest in a group of four slaves, Mary and her three children,
Eliza, Sarah, and Martha. The slaves were part of the estate of the late James Horsly, the father
of William and Robert Horsly and the father-in-law of Locket. Robert Horsly died “indebted some
$400 or 500 he being a young man and was at college receiving his education at the time of his
death.” William Horsly is acting as the administrator to his estate. The petitioners ask that the
slaves be sold and the proceeds be divided equitably between themselves and the estate of
Robert Horsly, and that the legacy received by Robert Horsly’s estate be used to pay his debts.
They also ask that William Horsly, in his capacity as administrator, be made a defendant to a
suit currently pending by William Locket against the other heirs of James Horsly. The related
commissioners’ reports reveal that, after the slaves were divided, Robert’s estate received the
slave Eliza, who was sold in April 1852 for $585.
0832 (Accession # 21485161). Davidson County, Tennessee. Ephraim H. Foster asks the court
to emancipate “a certain mulatto Slave called James Thomas.” Foster informs the court that he
has owned Thomas since 20 January 1834. He further acknowledges that he placed Thomas “in
a barbers Shop, where he remained until he had learned his trade well.” Noting that the said
Thomas “is now an adept in his business, and profitably employed therein,” the petitioner
praises Thomas as “industrious, honest, moral, & humble & polite” and affirms that Thomas “has
so conducted himself as to gain the confidence & the respect, the good wishes and the constant
patronage of all who know him.” Foster concludes that Thomas “is a man of great worth in his
place & that he would, as a free man, make a valuable, honest & excellent citizen.” The
petitioner urges the court “to decree the freedom of said negro James according to acts of
assembly in such cases made and provided.”
0835 (Accession # 21485162). Davidson County, Tennessee. Twenty-three-year-old James
Thomas seeks permission to remain in Tennessee. Recently emancipated by Ephraim Foster
“at the present term of this worshipful Court,” Thomas informs the court that he trained as a
barber and “is now honestly and profitably employed in his shop in the town of Nashville, where
he has a large custom & is trying to make a living by faithful attention to his business.” The
petitioner believes that “if he is compelled, under the existing laws, to remove out of the State,
he will be greatly damaged by having to Start anew in some Strange Country & rebuild a
character he trusts he has already established in Tennessee.” He asks the court to allow him to
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remain in Davidson County, “exempt from the pains & penalties imposed by law upon free
people of color, emancipated since the year 1831, and that on complying with its conditions, he
may have all the priveledges & benefits confered upon such persons by the act of 1842.”
0839 (Accession # 21485163). Dickson County, Tennessee. James H. Martin seeks the return
of a fourteen-year-old slave named Tom. Martin mortgaged Tom to William Miller in March 1840
for the sum of $300. Some time later, Miller “advanced to your Orator some more money upon a
loan, the exact amount not now recollected, and took a mortgage upon said slave to secure the
debt.” The mortgage had a provision “allowing your Orator time to redeem the Boy.” However,
Martin believes this was unnecessary because the amount of money advanced to him did not
equal Tom’s value. Now Miller claims ownership of Tom. Martin prays that Miller be made to
answer these charges and that Tom be “redelivered” to him along with an account of his hiring
fees while in Miller’s possession.
0848 (Accession # 21485164). Carroll County, Tennessee. William Long asks that a twelveyear-old
enslaved girl by the name of Drusilla be sold to satisfy a debt. Long submits that on 7
March 1850 he “placed in the hands of Saml L Bridgeman the sum of eight hundred & thirty five
dollars,” with the “agreement and understanding ... that Bridgeman was to take said sum with
him to Missouri and lay the same out in a couple of Negro Boys for your orator.” He further
reports that the said Samuel proceeded to Missouri, where he gave $600 to his father Nathaniel,
who was willing to sell “a couple of negroes a girl & a Boy.” Long points out that Samuel did
offer to refund the $600, “if your orator should not feel disposed to take said negroes.” The
petitioner explains that he chose not to take the said slaves and that the said Nathaniel brought
the slaves to Tennessee, where he “sold one of said negroes to wit the Boy & did not pay your
orator one cent of said sum of $600.00.” Long notes that Nathaniel has placed the slave girl in
the possession of one William A. Bridgeman, “promising your orator that said William A should
sell the said girl & pay your orator over a portion of the purchase money.” Having “no confidence
in promises of said Nathaniel,” Long prays that the sheriff “attach seize and take in possession
said negro girl” and that “said girl be sold and the proceeds applied towards satisfying your
orators debt.”
Reel 18
1852
Tennessee cont.
0002 (Accession # 21485201). Lincoln County, Tennessee. Elizabeth E. Chitwood seeks an
injunction against her sister and brother-in-law in order to maintain possession of a slave. In
1840, Chitwood’s mother’s estate was divided, and Chitwood was bequeathed three slaves to
share with her sister, Ann. The petitioner kept a slave named Amy and her child, Minerva, while
Ann received a slave named Martin along with a promise of $200 from Chitwood. In order to
secure the debt, Chitwood executed a mortgage on Amy in 1842. Soon after, Ann intermarried
with Daniel Blakemore; the petitioner and her slaves lived with them until 1850. Now, Daniel
Blakemore has instituted a suit against Chitwood claiming ownership of Amy by right of the
unpaid mortgage. Chitwood maintains that Amy labored for the Blakemores during her stay at
their home and that this is sufficient to cover the value of the mortgage. Now the petitioner fears
that Blakemore is planning to steal Amy, even charging that he or his agent has twice “at a late
hour of the night ... attempted to break into the house where she lives when there was no Man
at home.” Chitwood confides that “Amy is a family Negro of peculiar value, and her value in
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money would not compensate Complt for her.” Therefore, Chitwood prays that the Blakemores
be enjoined in their suit against her and that the mortgage be declared satisfied.
0013 (Accession # 21485202). Davidson County, Tennessee. Penelope Hickman, a feme
covert, seeks an injunction to protect her eleven slaves from a levy executed by the Davidson
County sheriff. Hickman received the slaves from her late father’s estate when she was still a
minor, “and there is a mutual attachment between herself & said slaves, such as belongs to the
relation between them.” When she intermarried with Edwin W. Hickman, her mother convinced
him to allow Penelope the continued sole and separate possession of the slaves. Some years
later, in 1851, her husband settled a deed of gift upon her and her children consisting of slaves
from his mother’s estate. Edwin Hickman kept “a large estate—consisting of valuable lands” and
thirty or forty slaves for himself. However, “the most exorbitant usury was extorted from her said
husband, by his creditors,” who seized and sold his property at unfair rates. Further, the
creditors have also levied their debts against Penelope’s slaves. She asserts that “it is
manifestly unjust & oppressive to subject her property for the payment of said debts,” and she
therefore prays that the sheriff and the creditors be enjoined from selling her slaves for the sake
of her husband’s debts.
0024 (Accession # 21485203). Smith County, Tennessee. Francis Dowell seeks to void his
purchase of a sick slave. In 1851, Dowell purchased a slave named Candace from Ann Sulivan
for $550. Sulivan warranted the twenty-two-year-old slave of “sound health and sensible.” As
Sulivan held “a good deal of kind and human feeling for the said slave,” she wished to sell her to
the petitioner, so that Candace might remain near her husband. Dowell accepted Candace after
having only “glanced” at her; by this he noticed that “she was dressed up well, had her head tied
up with a hand kerchief as is frequently the case with house servants.” However, after the
purchase, Dowell found that she was not as able a servant as Sulivan claimed, and he therefore
asked Sulivan to take back the slave and repay his purchase price, which she promised to do.
However, Sulivan instead removed to Texas without settling the issue. Dowell has now
determined “that Candace is Constitutionally and fatally diseased in both mind and boddy, and
was prior to purchase. That her brain is and was diseased, either from wounds artificial or
natural” and she is now a charge on his account. Dowell prays that the sale of Candace be
found void on account of fraud and that an attachment be levied on Sulivan’s remaining property
in Tennessee, all of which is under control of her son, Harbert H. Sulivan, and that Sulivan take
back Candace.
0043 (Accession # 21485204). Davidson County, Tennessee. George P. Allen seeks to collect a
debt on behalf of the estate of the late Asburn Weed. As the estate’s administrator, Allen
discovered an unpaid promissory note among Weed’s papers for $1,100. The note was
executed in 1848 by Edwin W. Hickman on behalf of William Allen but later conveyed to Weed
for his use. Subsequent to executing the note, Hickman executed a deed of trust to Mr. Hieman
on three slaves named William, Sam, and Albert. In 1850, Hickman “conveyed the same
negroes together with others to ... Robert P. Estes to secure sundry debts” due to Ares Brown.
Then, in January 1852, Hickman sold Albert to John W. Walker and Sam to Bridger Pitt. Now,
Hickman does not possess enough property repay the note due to Weed’s estate. Therefore,
Allen prays that Hickman, Hieman, Estes, Brown, Walker, and Pitt all be made defendants to
this suit; that each be enjoined from selling or removing the three slaves from the jurisdiction of
the court; and that the slaves be ordered sold to satisfy the debt. In the judgment, the court
ordered that Sam and Albert be sold and the proceeds put towards repaying the note and its
interest.
0056 (Accession # 21485205). Stewart County, Tennessee. Bob, Reynolds, and Jacob, slaves,
seek their freedom and their rightful inheritance. The petitioners and their mother and siblings
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were owned by William Crouse. Prior to his death, Crouse conveyed all his land and slaves to
James Chambers on the condition that Chambers agree to free the slaves according to
Crouse’s wishes. Crouse also requested that his land, livestock, and furniture be left “for the use
of his slaves.” Crouse died in mid-1850 and, in December 1851, William Bowling,
“confederating” with Chambers, “set up claim to your Orators and their mother and sisters and
brother ... under what Your orators charge to be a false and fraudulent deed of Gift from their
former master.” Bowling then took the petitioners’ mother and sisters “by force ... out of Stewart
County and beyond the jurisdiction.” Bob was then sold to Allen Barnes and Jacob to attorney
Joseph Wall; Reynolds remains in Chambers’s possession. The petitioners pray that Chambers,
Bowling, Barnes, and Wall be enjoined from removing them from the jurisdiction; that writs of
attachment issue against Bowling and Chambers until they return the other slaves; and that
they, the petitioners, be declared free and the rightful owners of Crouse’s estate. In a related
petition, the other slaves also sue for their freedom.
0084 (Accession # 21485206). Stewart County, Tennessee. Bob, a free man of color, seeks
permission to remain in Tennessee. By a “suit now in the Supreme Court at Nashville,” Bob, his
siblings, and his mother were all declared free people of color. By the decree of the chancery
court, which was affirmed by the supreme court, Bob “would be compelled along with his cocomplainants
to go to Liberia as soon as a sufficient fund could be raised.” Bob now informs the
court that “he is in very bad health, and has been labouring for many years under a serious
disease” that would make travel extremely painful. He also relates that if he were removed from
the state he would “be severed from his family his wife & children.” He prays that the court
“grant him the poor boon of permitting him to spend the final remaining days yet allotted to him
in the bosom of his family.”
0088 (Accession # 21485207). Lincoln County, Tennessee. The twelve heirs of the late
Elizabeth Jennings seek to sell her estate slaves. By her will, Jennings requested that slaves
named Harvey, Sarah, Liza, Booker, and Isabella be divided among her four minor
grandchildren. However, the “testatrix left at the time of her death outstanding & unpaid some
claims against her to the amount of about” $500. Jennings did not leave enough property to
both satisfy the debts and distribute the slaves among her grandchildren. Therefore, the
petitioners pray that the five slaves be ordered sold “to pay said claims if necessary & the
balance be divided among those entitled to the same.”
0093 (Accession # 21485208). Giles County, Tennessee. Vernon M. Jennings, a minor heir of
the late Elizabeth Jennings, asks the court to recognize his claim to a slave. By her will,
Jennings left a slave man named Horry to her son, the petitioner’s father, Benjamin Pleasant
Jennings, for use “during his natural life and at his death to go to his children.” However,
Benjamin has recently sold the slave to John Ferrell. In addition, several other citizens have
recently brought suits against Benjamin, and his remaining property is now held in the custody
of the sheriff, who will sell it to satisfy these claims. The petitioner believes that it is his father’s
intention to “deprive your orator of the remainder in said slave.” Therefore, Jennings prays that
his father and those who have suits pending against him be enjoined from selling Horry until the
court rules who is entitled to the slave.
0099 (Accession # 21485209). Rutherford County, Tennessee. The heirs and administrator of
the late James J. Hollowell seek to distribute his six slaves. “Cynthia A Wadley was the widow
of intestate and James R B Hollowell the only child and heir of intestate and as such are
distributees and entitled to the whole personal estate.” R. B. McLean, the estate’s administrator,
prays that the court appoint commissioners to divide the slaves between the heirs.
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0103 (Accession # 21485210). Maury County, Tennessee. Laban Jordan seeks the return of
five slaves. Jordan donated the slaves to his granddaughter upon her marriage to John F.
Jamieson in order to aid and assist their start “in the world.” Jordan “made no conveyance in
writing of said slaves and therefore” retained the title to them for himself. However, Jamieson
“now claims said slaves to be his own property.” The petitioner “is anxious to have said slaves
settled upon the wife and children of said John F. in such way that they shall not be liable to his
control or subject to his contracts.” Therefore, he prays that a writ of attachment be issued by
which his slaves are returned to him and “that the court will settle them on his said Grand
daughter and her children in such way that they may be secured for their permanent benefit.”
0109 (Accession # 21485211). Bedford County, Tennessee. The four children of the late Hetty
Wilhoite seek the return and value of her estate slaves. Wilhoite’s father, Ephraim Burrow, died
in 1833 and by his will he devised to her “a negro woman named Susy or Susan, for her natural
life, and at her death the said negro and her increase were to belong to and be enjoyed by the
children of the said Hetty.” The will further stipulated that the slaves be hired out until all of
Hetty’s children came to majority. Hetty died in 1851, and Susy and her five children remained
in possession of her widower, Pierce Wilhoite. Wilhoite has now sold Susy to an unknown
person, “who has removed her beyond the jurisdiction,” and he has also sold Susy’s son, a
slave named Isaac. The petitioners aver that these “sales were made for the purpose of
depriving them of said negroes.” The petitioners pray that a writ of attachment be issued by
which the remaining slaves are placed in the protective custody of the sheriff and that they then
be hired out by an appointed receiver. They further pray that Pierce Wilhoite be ordered to
account for the values of Susy, estimated at $600, and Isaac, estimated between $700 and
$800, and that these values, along with the values of lost hires and interest, be granted to them.
0126 (Accession # 21485212). Williamson County, Tennessee. Thomas J. Miller seeks
compensation from Elizabeth Marshall for his work as her agent. Miller states that Marshall is
“an aged woman and afflicted with bodily infirmities which prevented her from attending to her
business with any degree of convenience.” Therefore, in 1847, Marshall gave the petitioner
power of attorney in order that he might manage her fifteen to twenty slaves and farm. Miller
found that Marshall “was much inclined to be fickle and whimsical in the management of her
affairs,” sometimes being very “strict” with her slaves and at other times “extending to them
great indulgence.” Beyond managing the hiring of Marshall’s slaves, he was also responsible for
managing the slaves, who remained on the farm. Miller was never compensated for this work.
Further, “part of the time he was agent as aforesaid your orator had a family grocery store in the
town of Franklin, and from the same furnished defendant often with articles” as well as “small
sums of money,” for which he has never been repaid. Miller prays “that an account may be
taken under the decree of this court of your orators said agency, That he be allowed all his
proper payments and disbursements” as well as “reasonable compensation for his services.”
0155 (Accession # 21485213). Franklin County, Tennessee. Elizabeth Newman and her
husband, Randolph, residents of Alabama, seek the return of a slave given to her by her late
father, John Syler. In 1835, Syler conveyed a slave named Milly, then about eight years old, to
Elizabeth for her “sole and separate use.” In 1843, Randolph “became embarrassed” by debts
and, in order to protect her property, Elizabeth sent Milly back to Syler’s house in Tennessee. In
exchange, Syler loaned the Newmans a ten-year-old slave named Manda. The next year, Syler
offered to give them Manda as their permanent property; the Newmans agreed and Syler
executed a second deed of gift. However, as Randolph Newman’s affairs remained disordered,
Syler continued to house Milly until his death. Now, John W. Syler, the estate’s executor, has
legal possession of Milly and her two children and refuses to give them up. Further, the widow
of the late Syler claims that, by right of his will, she is entitled to a life estate in Milly. The
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Newmans argue that Milly is not subject to the provisions of the will and is Elizabeth’s property
by right of the 1835 deed of gift. They pray that Milly and her children be returned to them and
that they “be allowed hire for her since the death of said testator.”
0174 (Accession # 21485214). Williamson County, Tennessee. The six heirs of the late Sarah
F. Patton seek to sell her estate. Patton died possessed of a slave named Amanda and her two
children and two tracts of land. Malachi Pollard, administrator of the estate, states that the
estate “cannot be divided and portitioned among petitioners without a sale thereof.” Therefore
the petitioners pray that the court order a sale of the property and a distribution of the profits
among the heirs.
0180 (Accession # 21485215). Rutherford County, Tennessee. William Miller seeks to satisfy
the debts of the estate of the late Carna H. Norman. As executor of Norman’s estate, Miller has
found that “there are debts to a considerable amount Still due and outstanding of which
petitioner knows about the sum of seven hundred dollars.” To satisfy these claims, Miller prays
that the order allow him to sell estate slaves named Henry and Martha. In the report of the sale,
Miller represents that “the sale of a slave of less value than the girl Martha would enable him to
pay the debts of said estate.” Therefore, he substitutes a nine-year-old slave named Violet for
Martha at the public sale.
0184 (Accession # 21485216). Giles County, Tennessee. Gray E. Scales seeks the return of
three slaves owned by his late wife, Prudence. In 1842, Prudence’s mother, Elizabeth Sims,
conveyed slaves named Caroline and Phillis Jane to her on the condition that the slaves’ hires
be conveyed to Sims during her lifetime. Prudence married Scales in 1847, and they lived
together in Alabama until her death in 1850; their young son died two months later, thus leaving
the petitioner as the only heir to her estate. “By some means,” Sims reacquired the slaves after
Prudence’s death and took them back to Tennessee. Sims then conspired with another
daughter, Nancy H. Kercheval, “to defraud your orator of said slaves.” Kercheval entered a false
petition of debt against her mother, to which Sims confessed judgment. The slave Caroline and
her young child, Bobb, were then sold for the repayment of the pretended debt. The slave Phillis
Jane was put in possession of Sims’s son-in-law in Arkansas. Scales prays for a writ of
attachment by which the slaves are kept within the jurisdiction of the court, preferably “within the
control of your orator.” In an amended bill, Scales states that his late wife “had acquired a valid
title to” the slaves “against the said Elizabeth & all other persons,” thereby making the slaves
“absolutely hers.”
0195 (Accession # 21485217). Smith County, Tennessee. Benjamin Motly charges that William
Young “has not Kept” his covenant concerning the soundness of certain slaves purchased by
Motly from the defendant. He alleges that Young “made executed & delivered to the plaintiff his
covenant under seal ... & thereby acknowledged and bound himself that he for the consideration
aforesaid so received as aforesaid for the negro slaves ... would warrant unto Motly that said
negroes were sound in boddy & mind, and slaves for life and free from all other claims.” The
petitioner avers that Young “did not keep but broke the same ... in that the said negro slave
Squire was unsound in body, and was greatly diseased with a disease of the heart, of the lungs,
of the bowels.” Asserting that “said negro slave Squire was wholly worthless and became and
was of great expense and trouble,” Motly seeks “damage of the plaintiff of $1200 and therefore
he sues.”
0198 (Accession # 21485218). Davidson County, Tennessee. Margaret Mary Best seeks the
return of a slave named Mary Jane and her child, George. In 1826, Best received three slaves
from Thomas Donnelly; at the same time, he sold four slaves to Best’s brother, Thomas Griggs.
Best then conveyed her slaves to her brother but in 1848 he returned them, with their increase,
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to Best and her husband, John, by deed of gift. When Thomas died in 1849, his and Best’s
father, William Griggs, filed a bill “against your oratrix and her husband claiming an interest in all
the negroes originally conveyed by Donnelly to your oratrix & her brother, & also attaching the
deed of Gift from the said” Thomas on the grounds that he was mentally incapacitated. The
court found in favor of Griggs, and the Bests appealed. Meanwhile, the parties agreed to
arbitration. The arbitrators granted the slaves to Margaret Best on the condition that she furnish
her father with an annuity. Now, Best finds that her husband’s creditor, Samuel Ament, claims
the slaves Mary Jane and George against his debts. Deputy Sheriff J. M. Jones has the slaves
in his custody and advertises them for sale. Margaret Best believes that she “is entitled to the
whole of said negroes by virtue of the award of the arbitrators.” Therefore, she prays that
Ament’s claim be overturned and that the court order an injunction against the sale of the
slaves.
0223 (Accession # 21485219). Wilson County, Tennessee. Henry Ward seeks the court’s aid in
settling the estate of the late Levisa Saunders. Ward finds that his “greatest difficulty ... in the
discharge of his duties is in relation to the disposition the law requires him to make of a family of
negroes eleven or twelve in number, the issue of a negro woman named Polly or Molly. It is a
question of doubt” as to whether Saunders owned Polly in life estate or outright. Saunders
inherited the slave from her mother, Mary Bowen. By Bowen’s 1824 will, Saunders was granted
Molly in life estate; however, by a 1827 codicil, Saunders is granted the slave in her own right.
Ward finds further confusion because Saunders’s will directs that Molly and another slave
named Lydia, “her ‘two old servants ... have the privilege of living with any one of her children or
any where else that may suit their convenience best.’“ Molly “has very much such liberty as was
contemplated in the will” but none of the heirs will take charge of Lydia, who “is encumbered
with a deformed child which is utterly unable to take care of itself.” Ward is uncertain how to
distribute Molly’s seven children and three grandchildren because of the mixed instructions
found in the wills. Therefore, he sues the heirs of the estate and prays that the court direct a
distribution of the slaves and that it decide “what provision shall be made for” Molly and Lydia.
0234 (Accession # 21485220). Rutherford County, Tennessee. Elizabeth M. Smith and her five
children seek to distribute slaves from her late husband’s estate. By his will, William H. Smith
bequeathed “Seven average slaves” to each of his children upon their reaching the age of
eighteen. Elizabeth Smith reports that her son, Napoleon B. Smith, has attained the age of
eighteen and is therefore entitled to his share of slaves. She requests that the court appoint a
commissioner to “set aside said slaves so bequeathed.” The decree reveals that William H.
Smith “died seized and possessed of 49 or 50 slaves.”
0238 (Accession # 21485221). Davidson County, Tennessee. James A. Woods seeks payment
of debts. In 1851, Woods won two judgments against E. W. Hickman for debt. However, Woods
was unable to collect against the judgment because Hickman was found to be “totally insolvent”
and has no property “out of which said Judgements could be satisfied.” Woods accuses Aris
Brown, “a man of considerable wealth,” of “discounting & shaving notes”—or promoting bogus
financial companies—“& loaning money at heavey & oppressive usurious interest for several
years & particularly to said Hickman.” In one instance, “Hickman made & executed a deed of
trust to R P Estis for the use & benefit of said Brown, conveying to said Estis several verry
valuable slaves to secure the payment.” Woods believes that Brown’s high interest rates have
caused Hickman to become insolvent, thus denying Woods the ability to collect on his debts.
Woods prays that Brown be ordered to disclose his loaning practices, especially his rate of
interest, and that he be ordered to pay the debts owed to the petitioner by Hickman.
0251 (Accession # 21485222). Davidson County, Tennessee. Amanda Wright and her husband,
John, seek to sell a slave, whom she holds in life estate. In 1849, Amanda’s brother died and
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“left in the hands of one A B Brown a sum of money to be invested in a negro girl to be settled
upon your Oratrix to her sole and separate use during her life and after her death” to be devised
to her children. Brown purchased a fourteen-year-old slave named Jane for $450. The Wrights
have found “that the only use they have for said girl is that of a house servant for which
business she is wholy unfit. And although they have taken great pains to train her and qualify
her for the duties of a house servant ... they have been wholy unable to accomplish the task.
Nature made her a negro and they have been unable to make any thing else of her.” However,
the Wrights believe Jane “would make a good hand on a farm or a cotton field.” The Wrights
have been offered $650 for Jane but cannot sell her without the court’s permission because she
is only held in life estate. Therefore, they pray that the court allow them to sell Jane “and the
proceeds invested in another negro girl to be settled on your Oratrix and her children in the
same way.”
0259 (Accession # 21485223). Davidson County, Tennessee. Alexander Fall and George W.
Cunningham seek the return of a slave named Stephen, whom they intend to free. Stephen was
previously owned by merchants Patterson West and John Scott. When their firm was dissolved,
Scott sold his interest in the slave “to said West, in consideration that said West would” satisfy
two notes the firm still owed. In order to pay these notes, West sold Stephen to the petitioners,
who had made a previous agreement with Stephen to buy him and then allow him to buy his
freedom with his own savings. Now, Barton W. Hall has won a judgment of debt against Scott.
Sheriff L. W. Fussell has taken Stephen into custody and will sell him to satisfy the debt. The
petitioners believe that they have a better claim to Stephen because they bought him from the
dissolved firm, whereas Hall is suing Scott individually. They further argue “that Stephen is a
faithfull, trusty, & intelligent man, is used by your Orators in & about their store” and he is “very
much confided in & largely trusted by them & his loss to your Orators could not be compensated
for in damages.” Therefore, the petitioners pray that the court decree “that Stephen is entitled to
fulfillment of his reasonable expectations” and that he be returned to them so they might free
him.
0270 (Accession # 21485224). Davidson County, Tennessee. Margaret R. Demoss asks the
court for a divorce from her abusive husband and for the return of her slaves and land. Demoss
married Silas D. Demoss when she was sixteen years old “against the advice and without the
consent of her mother.” Though the petitioner has shown her husband “love, devotion and
confidence ... the only return they have met, almost from the day of their marriage has been
cold neglect, violent abuse, and absolute tyranny.” Silas is “much addicted to intoxication and
gambling, and keeping low and lewd company,” including prostitutes. She further accuses him
of being abusive, once nearly choking her to death. She now finds it to be “unsafe and improper
for her longer to cohabit with him, or to be under his domination, or control.” Demoss also
informs the court that she is the owner of several slaves and multiple plots of land. The lands
are in the possession of her uncle, Dennis Dozier, and her legal guardian, Thomas Shearon.
The two men have been collecting money on the lands for her benefit; however, Demoss’s
husband has won judgment against Dozier and Shearon and the profits are now in his hands.
Demoss prays for a divorce from her husband and that her inherited property “be decreed to her
for alimony.”
0314 (Accession # 21485225). Warren County, Tennessee. Billey Kelley seeks his freedom.
Kelley states that he was the slave of Abner Kelley until 1829, when “he bought himself, or
purchased his Freedom from said Abner Kelly.” The petitioner lived as a free man until 1825, “a
period of nearly six years, when one Henry Trott Jr. took forceable possession of Your orator,
under a fraudulent and pretended purchase of Your Orator from said Abner Kelly, forced him
again into bondage and slavery, and took possession of the papers, evidencing Your Orator’s
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freedom, and destroyed the same.” The petitioner remained in Trott’s possession until 1841
when he was sold to Samuel H. Laughlin, “who continued to hold your Orator in slavery until his
death which took place sometime in the year 1850.” Kelley is now in the possession of Thomas
C. Smartt, Laughlin’s administrator and legatee, who “is deeply interested in retaining Your
Orator in Slavery.” Kelley prays that the court decree him free by virtue of his self-purchase and
that it enjoin all interested parties from removing him from the jurisdiction. Related documents
reveal that Kelley was a Methodist preacher, that Kelley’s wife was the slave of Laughlin, and
that they had at least three children.
0336 (Accession # 21485226). Washington County, Tennessee. Caroline M. R. Myers and her
nine children pray for the return of a slave named Billy. In 1844, Caroline’s husband, Henry,
executed a deed of trust with the intention of securing to her “a valuable consideration” of
several slaves “during her life & at her death to Yr other Complts.” Among these slaves “was a
valuable man called Billy,” then thirty-one years old. Two years later, Henry purchased some
$1,000 in merchandise on credit, with Jacob Myers and Frederick Ross acting as security.
When Myers neglected to pay the debt, his security sued him and received a judgment of
$1,272 “& upon this judgment execution was issued & levied upon five of the negroes conveyed
to Complts in sd deed,” including Billy. Caroline Myers, “being a feme covert, ignorant of her
rights,” was advised by lawyer Crawfard Hall “to make a private sale of part of sd negroes” and
thereby avoid sacrificing them all. She agreed and sold Billy to Jonathan Draper. She now
contends that her husband had other real property, which would have been sufficient to satisfy
his debt. Further, they “had no right to make any such disposition of sd slave” because he was
tied to the deed. The petitioners pray that Billy be restored to them and that Draper “account for
the hire of sd slave.” A supplemental petition contests the sale of an enslaved male named
Augustus.
0360 (Accession # 21485227). Bradley County, Tennessee. William McMillan seeks to collect
compensation from his brother, Joseph. In 1847, their mother died possessed of a slave named
Easter. In 1849, William, Joseph, and their siblings gathered to divide Easter and her family.
Easter had one daughter named Francis, who had a daughter named Mary Ann. The petitioner
avows that “the said Negro Easter was old, and the three could not be divided” evenly; further
the McMillans wanted to keep the slaves in their family. One of the McMillan sisters agreed to
take Easter, while Joseph McMillan got Francis and Mary Ann with the understanding that he
pay his other siblings a consideration of $180 each. Joseph did pay this consideration to all his
siblings except the petitioner, who held the title to the slaves. Joseph “wished your orator to
deliver up said negroes without ... said sum of $180. ... Your orator would not part with interest
and title in said two negroes without being paid.” The slaves stayed with William until 1852, by
which time Francis had two more children. In April 1852, Joseph secretly took the slaves away
from William. William claims he bore much expense caring for the slaves, for which he wishes to
be compensated. He prays that the slaves, worth now between $1,200 and $1,500, be sold and
that Joseph pay to him expenses plus the original consideration with interest.
0365 (Accession # 21485228). Bradley County, Tennessee. John C. Kennedy seeks to recover
a promissory note. In 1851, Kennedy purchased a slave named Hannah and her two children
from Thomas J. Park for $1,400. The three slaves “were the wife & children of a negro fellow”
belonging to Kennedy. In payment, Kennedy turned over several promissory notes; however,
Park refused to accept a note due by Wylie B. James and William Wiggins because “the
principal maker of the note lived in Georgia.” Upon purchasing the slaves, Kennedy “took them
with his other negro property to the state of Texas to where he expects shortly to move.” He left
the note of James and Wiggins with his agent, Thomas K. Chester, who went to Georgia on an
unsuccessful attempt to collect on it. On his way back to Tennessee, Chester realized he had
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“missed said paper.” He swore an affidavit saying he had lost the note but that it was due to
Kennedy. By this, he won judgment forcing payment of the note. However, Thomas Park now
claims that he has the note, stating that Kennedy signed it over to him. Kennedy avers that if his
signature is on the note “it is a base counterfeit & forgery.” He prays “that said note be decreed
to be delivered up to your orator or his agent to be delivered over to the said James” in order to
properly collect payment.
0375 (Accession # 21485229). Washington County, Tennessee. George Conley, a free man of
color, seeks a divorce from his sixteen-year-old wife, Josephine, a free woman of color. Conley
states that they were married in 1851 and that they lived together happily “for a short time.”
However, Josephine soon lost interest in the marriage and took an openly defiant step against
her husband when, one day, she refused to make his dinner. When Conley “insisted to know of
her what was the matter,” she responded that she did not love him. She asserted “that there
were men whose little fingers she cared more for than she did for complainants whole body.”
Josephine abandoned their home and since then “has been, almost perpetually keeping the
company of other men, married and single, gallanting with them day and night, receiving and
reciprocating love, in a most wanton and disgraceful manner.” He charges that she has
repeatedly committed adultery with a slave named Barney. Conley prays for a divorce “and that
his relations to her may for all future time be as though the said marriage had never taken
place.” In her answer, Josephine states that she left Conley because he and his family
physically and verbally abused her. She further accuses him of committing adultery “with a
woman of color named Ester who belongs to one Jeremiah Gibson & who is old enough to be
the mother of complainant.”
0388 (Accession # 21485230). Wilson County, Tennessee. William McIntire seeks an injunction
against the administrator and five heirs of the late John Knox. Calvin Kelly, the administrator,
and the heirs planned to sell Knox’s estate slaves; however, some days prior to the sale, “the
Defendants proposed to your Orator to purchase one of the slaves, named Smart, who was
quite old, and had a wife in the neighborhood.” McIntire thought ill of this purchase, but he was
“pressed” to do so by the heirs, who “did not want” Smart “separated from his wife.” McIntire and
the defendants struck an agreement whereby he would purchase Smart but, if he found that he
could not afford the slave, the heirs would take him back and discharge the purchase price. The
note of purchase is now past due, and Kelly and the heirs have won suit against McIntire for
payment. Though McIntire has repeatedly been assured that the defendants will uphold the
original agreement, he has reservations. McIntire now understands that the heirs “are entitled to
a distributive share of the estate ... and that their interests in the fund arising from the sale of the
slaves will exceed in amount the sum of the judgment against your Orator.” McIntire prays that
the defendants be perpetually enjoined from proceeding with their suit and that they be required
to take back Smart.
0398 (Accession # 21485231). Jackson County, Tennessee. Charles Goodall seeks the sale of
slaves belonging to his son, William W. Goodall, in order to satisfy a debt. In an earlier bill,
Alexander Williams sought to “set aside a bill of sale executed by the deft. Goodall, to complt on
the 14th of June 1848.” Williams charged that the bill of sale was an attempt to defraud him of
his right to collect a debt owed him by William Goodall. The petitioner asserts, however, that the
sale was made because “some 12 or 14 years ago the deft. Goodall collected about $250 of
money coming to complt. in the state of Virginia ... which he has never accounted for and paid
over—which with interest now amounts to near $500.” The defendant Goodall also sold several
years of tobacco crop for his father, but has yet to pay him for it. The petitioner also stood as
security for several of William’s debts, which Charles was eventually forced to pay. The
petitioner avers that he has “a just demand for $2613.83 against the said William.” He therefore
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prays that Alexander Williams’s claim be dismissed and that William Goodall’s slaves be sold to
satisfy his claims. In his supplemental petition, Charles Goodall prays that the Bank of
Tennessee be made a party defendant.
0406 (Accession # 21485233). Lincoln County, Tennessee. Sarah Jane Raines prays for
alimony from her husband, Bailey Raines. The couple married in March 1850 and for “about six
months” Raines treated the petitioner kindly; after that, “he began to not only neglect all
kindness to her, but began a series of cruel injustices & gross enormities and outrages, that was
intolerable to your complainant.” He repeatedly charged her with being a liar and claimed “that
he had no confidence whatever in her, for truth, honesty, & integrity.” In consequence of his
treatment, the petitioner left their home but was soon convinced to return when her husband
promised “he would change his conduct towards her.” Raines soon began abusing her again,
“calling her to her face a liar, repeatedly forbid her controuling any thing on the place or in or
about the house, & told her in the presence of the servant girl that she was to take no control
over her,” as the petitioner “was never worth as much as a negroes ‘toe nail.’” On another
occasion, Raines “tore her clothes off her,” threw her to the floor, and tried to suffocate her.
Before the marriage, the petitioner had little property, but what she had is now in Raines’s
possession. She asks that her husband’s property, which includes “six negroes worth from”
$4,000 to 4,500, be inventoried and that it be used to pay her alimony.
0412 (Accession # 21485234). Smith County, Tennessee. Elizabeth Cornwell seeks a divorce
from her husband of eleven years, Pleasant. Elizabeth now claims that “Pleasant F. has often
cursed and abused” her and “has called her a damned bitch.” On one occasion, when Elizabeth
was “conversing” with her husband about the “chastisement” of a slave named Jim, Pleasant
told her that “she might keep him (Jim) with her and sleep with him if she wanted to.” On
another occasion he threatened to throw a chair at her. Fearing for her life, the petitioner “fled
from their home, on foot and bareheaded, and with the aid of one of her negroes came to
Carthage.” Because of her hurry to leave, she left her “feeble” infant at the house. Elizabeth
further informs the court that her father made two gifts of trust estates to her, which included
slaves. Though they were meant “for her support and comfort,” Pleasant convinced her to
relinquish control of the trusts to him. Soon after, he purchased land, over which “he has had
direction and superintended the labor of said slaves”; however, his management has been poor
and Elizabeth and her three children have been denied necessities such as “bread and meat.”
Elizabeth asserts that “she cannot consent again to place herself in the situation where personal
safety is in such danger.” She prays for a divorce and custody of the children.
0428 (Accession # 21485235). Davidson County, Tennessee. John Anderson requests that the
court nullify his sale of a slave. Anderson and his five siblings jointly owned a twenty-year-old
slave named Jim, worth between $750 and $800. In January 1852, Anderson, “having only been
of age for a few months, and being thoughtless and imprudent, ... became intoxicated by the
use of spirituous liquors, and while in that situation, he was persuaded by Thomas Winfrey to
execute a bill of sale for his interest in said boy for the consideration of only $15.” Anderson
states that “he was in no condition to make a valid contract, and that said Winfrey wilfully and
knowingly succeeded in procuring the bill of sale under these circumstances.” Winfrey has since
sold the slave to Robert King. King and Winfrey “have been willing to re-sale said negro to your
orator upon his paying them fifty dollars, or some sum thereabouts, and allowing them to retain
the negro until a sale should be made for division. But your orator thinks that the proposition is
adding insult to injury, and altogether unjust.” Anderson also informs the court that Jim is a
family slave, who once belonged to his parents. He prays that the court return to him “his
interest in said boy” and that Winfrey and King be enjoined from removing Jim from the
jurisdiction.
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0436 (Accession # 21485236). Maury County, Tennessee. Littleberry and Martha Andrews seek
permission to use Martha’s slaves to pay two debts and to buy land. Recently, the court settled
two slaves, Mahaly [Mahala] and her child, on Martha and any future children “for their Sole &
separate use.” Martha also owns two other slaves, Marcilla [Marsilla] and her sixteen-month-old
child, inherited from her father, John S. Thurmond. They aver that Martha owes $185 to the
other heirs to equalize the shares, plus $25 to help pay the remaining debts of the estate. They
further avow that “they have no other means” to pay said debts other than the slaves. Noting
that her brother is willing to buy Marcilla’s child for $185 or the child’s assessed value, Martha
asserts that “by effecting this Sale—the child will be kept in the family—full value will be
obtained for it, and the debt hanging over said Slaves” will be paid. The petitioners also tell the
court that they want to “convert” part of the slave property into real property since “it is desirable
to secure to the feme covert a permanent house for herself & children she may have.” They
inform the court that they have found a small tract of land costing $1,300 and could pay part of
the price with Mahala and her child (worth about $900 together). The Andrewses ask that the
value of the slaves and land be assessed and that the two transactions be permitted.
0445 (Accession # 21485237). Smith County, Tennessee. Pleasant F. Cornwell seeks an
injunction in order to keep his former wife’s slaves in Tennessee. Cornwell married Elizabeth
Toney in 1841, and the couple had three children. In 1848, Elizabeth’s father, Elijah Toney,
conveyed to her and her children a trust containing nine slaves, by which “it is strictly provided
that the said negro slaves shall in no case be removed from the State of Tennessee.” Dr.
William Robinson was appointed trustee of this estate. Elizabeth has recently divorced the
petitioner, and her brother, James R. Toney, immediately afterwards had himself named trustee
in place of Dr. Robinson. Toney “went to work & collected up & is now getting together said
negros,” some of whom had been hired out for the year. Elizabeth now plans “to remove herself
& the said negros to the state of Arkansas.” Cornwell believes that “one of the leading motives &
the greatest incentive to this unholy scheme is to deprive his ... children ... innocent & guiltless
as they are of any wrong to their natural mother & uncle, of the benefits conferred on them by
the said Elijah Toney.” He prays that Elizabeth and her brother be “forever enjoined” from
removing the slaves from the state and that Dr. Robinson be reappointed as trustee.
0453 (Accession # 21485239). Robertson County, Tennessee. John K. Johnson, executor for
the estate of William S. Emerson, seeks the return of five estate slaves. Emerson died in June
or July of 1851, possessed of five slaves. Emerson had inherited the slaves from the estate of
his late wife, Rebecca. Johnson reports that, since he was appointed executor, Wesley W.
Pepper “has secretly, without the knowledge or consent of your Orator, obtained possession of
said slaves and refuses to deliver them up.” The petitioner asserts that “said negroes are family
negroes, having been with said Emerson and wife for many years, and several of them having
been raised by them. Their lose could not be compensated to your Orator by damages in
money.” He prays that the slaves be ordered returned to him in his capacity as executor and
that, in the meantime, a writ of attachment be issued to “hold them subject to the order of the
Court.” The court ruled against Johnson, stating in the decree that he was not necessarily
entitled to the slaves because William Emerson held only a life estate in said slaves.
0460 (Accession # 21485240). Davidson County, Tennessee. R. N. Williams, administrator of
the late Jane Craighead, asks that three of her former estate slaves be expelled from the state.
Craighead’s will directed that her slaves, Mary, Martha, and Martha’s son Henry, be
emancipated at her death and that they be given “one year of the rent” on her land. As
administrator, Williams petitioned for and was granted the slaves’ emancipation in 1850.
Understanding that their emancipation was contingent upon them leaving the state of
Tennessee, Williams attests that he “particularly and especially” informed them of this clause
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and that he even “offered to pay their expenses on board of a steamboat to enable them the
more easily to leave the state.” Nonetheless, the defendants continue to reside as free people in
Nashville. Williams prays that the defendants either “remove to another state or remain in this
state as slaves and in case of their electing to remain as slaves he further prays for an order of
your Hon Court to sell them as such.” In their answer, Martha and Mary aver that Williams did
not inform them that it was necessary for them to leave the state. They further assert that he
has not paid them the inheritance due to them from Craighead’s will. Martha and Mary also
inform the court that they are both married to enslaved men, by whom they each have children.
0476 (Accession # 21485241). Smith County, Tennessee. The administrator and seven heirs of
the late Lizza Gilliam seek the court’s permission to sell her estate slaves. Lizza Gilliam died
intestate in August 1852 possessed of four slaves valued in aggregate at $1,200–1,500. Gilliam
had four daughters and two sons. The sons left Tennessee some twenty years before their
mother’s death. They “took no care or interest in the support of their mother who was poor and
unable to support herself.” Gilliam’s slaves were all young and unable to care for her, therefore
the four sisters “for a great many years have been at much trouble and expense in maintaining
and supporting their mother.” Gilliam was “repeatedly heard to declare” that she intended for her
daughters to “have all her property at her death, but they show your Honor that she was called
away without making a will.” The petitioners state that their brother Harris now lives in Arkansas
but that their brother William died some years ago and has two or three heirs, whose names are
unknown. The sisters pray that the court order a sale of the slaves and a distribution of the
proceeds among themselves and their families, at the exclusion of the brothers and their heirs.
0483 (Accession # 21485242). Rutherford County, Tennessee. James B. and Jane W. Moore
sue by their guardian, James M. King, in order to distribute their late father’s slaves. The
Moores’s father, Walter O. Moore, died intestate seized and possessed of nineteen slaves. As
the Moore siblings were both minors at the time of their father’s death, the slaves were placed in
the possession of their guardian. Now, “your petitioner James B Moore having attained to the
age of twenty one years [desires] his share of said slaves set apart to him.” The petitioners pray
that commissioners “be appointed to value the whole of said slaves and allot and set apart to
each” of the heirs their rightful proportion.
0489 (Accession # 21485243). Sumner County, Tennessee. Priscilla Turner seeks the return of
a slave named Ancel. Turner claims that the slave was born into her possession and that, while
he was still an infant, she married Terry Turner. Turner died some few years after the marriage,
and Priscilla continued in possession of Ancel. In June 1846, her stepson, Sumpter Turner,
informed her that Ancel had actually been made part of his father’s estate. Sumpter told her that
he had purchased Ancel but that he would allow the slave to continue in her possession for the
remainder of her life, provided that she promise never to sell the slave or otherwise defeat
Sumpter in his ownership, to which she agreed. Turner avers that she received nothing from her
late husband’s estate, he having died much in debt, and that Ancel’s hire was her only means of
support. However, Sumpter has now brought suit against her and has had Ancel removed from
her possession. She fears that the slave will soon be removed to New Orleans and “would
never be returned to her.” She informs the court that she is much attached to Ancel and that she
“nursed and raised” him “at much trouble and difficulty, to enable him to contribute to her
support.” She prays that Sumpter Turner be enjoined from prosecuting his suit and that Ancel
be returned to her.
0504 (Accession # 21485244). Williamson County, Tennessee. The eight heirs of the late John
A. Holland seek a distribution of his estate property. James G. Holland and the minors Gustavus
A. and Franklin N. Holland and Mary O. Owen are the common owners of four slaves and two
tracts of land. James Holland “is desirous to have his interest in said slaves and said two tracts
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of land allotted and set apart to him.” In addition, the Hollands, Owen, Sarah J. Edmondson, and
Elizabeth Brooks are common owners of another tract of land, which they would also like
allotted and set apart. They pray that the court appoint commissioners for this purpose.
0511 (Accession # 21485245). Williamson County, Tennessee. The twelve heirs of the late
Alexander Holland seek the distribution of his estate slave. The petitioners inherited a slave
named Sarah from Holland’s estate. The heirs assert “that said slave cannot be divided among
those entitled to her without a sale thereof and that they desired to sell said slave.” They pray
that the court permit such a sale.
0517 (Accession # 21485246). Shelby County, Tennessee. Edward Cherry, a free man of color,
petitions to become a permanent resident of Shelby County. Cherry was emancipated in the
Arkansas Territory in 1827. In 1832 or 1833 he “removed to and became a resident of the
County of Shelby,” where he purchased real estate, which he still maintains. In the summer of
1836 he returned to Arkansas and has remained there ever since, but not with the intention of
abandoning his residence in Tennessee. Cherry states that “it is his desire to settle permanently
upon his place in said Shelby County.” His neighbors “are friendly disposed towards him and
urge no objections to the grant of this application.” Therefore, he prays that the court grant him
residency in the county.
0531 (Accession # 21485247). Sumner County, Tennessee. Elizabeth, Raymond, and John
Head seek a private sale of slaves belonging to the estate of the late Henry Head. In order to
pay the debts of Head’s estate, which amount to about $2,500, it is necessary that some of his
personal property be sold. Elizabeth Head, Henry’s widow, has chosen a group of five slaves to
sell, but she and the other petitioners, who are her sons and executors to their father’s will,
claim that these “are family Negroes—They have mothers and fathers in the family and
neighborhood.” Therefore, the petitioners wish to sell the slaves to the testator’s children and
grandchildren, thus allowing the slaves to remain in the county. The executors further assert
that they “feel assured that a public sale would be very unpleasant to their mother.” They pray
that the court order the slaves sold at private auction and that it appoint commissioners to
conduct such a sale.
0544 (Accession # 21485248). Sumner County, Tennessee. Abram, Robert, and William King
join Jacob Horn in seeking a proper distribution of their late grandmother’s slaves. In her
lifetime, Christiana Combs deeded “a parcel of slaves,” which had belonged to her previous to
marriage, to her two children, Jennett Hassel and Priscilla Horn, with the understanding that, at
her death, the slaves would be further divided among Jennett and Priscilla’s children. Priscilla,
the petitioners’ mother, died in 1822, and Christiana Combs, their grandmother, died in 1851.
Upon their grandmother’s death, the petitioners learned that their uncle Jennett had received his
share of the slaves and that he has already sold two male slaves for $600 and $700,
respectively. The petitioners avow that they “are willing to ratify said sale, but that the said
Jennett Hassel should account for the said 600 + 700.” They charge that the heirs, who have
already received their shares of the slaves as gifts, “are bound to bring said negroes and
increase into the estate, as part of the estate,” in order that the property may be redivided
among all the heirs as intended. Therefore, they pray that the court order “a construction be
placed upon said deed of gift and the rights of all parties adjusted.” The related testimonies
contain insight into the process of valuing slaves.
0595 (Accession # 21485249). Maury County, Tennessee. Siblings Ebenezer C. Alexander and
Rankin M. Alexander seek a construction of the will of their late father, Ebenezer Alexander,
who died in 1835. Their father’s will left Rankin, who is “of weak understanding,” $1,200 worth of
property and gave Ebenezer power as Rankin’s “guardian and agent to manage and control
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said property for him.” From 1835 until the present time, Ebenezer has managed the property,
which includes an eighteen-year-old “negro girl” and a “negro woman” and her five children,
estimated as being now worth $3,500. The petitioners inform the court that “the rapid increase in
the value of said estate is attributable in a good degree to several advantages trades made ...
by petitioner Ebenezer C. for petitioner Rankin M.” Recently Ebenezer has contracted to sell
Jane to Howard J. Kelly for $830 and arranged a private sale, which would enable him to sell
Caroline and her five children for $3,000. The brothers explain that they would like to invest a
portion of the proceeds from these sales in a tract of land for Rankin, who “is a man of family
and desires it for a home.” They ask permission to convert the slave property into land, citing
the empowerment intended by their late father’s will.
0605 (Accession # 21485250). Jackson County, Tennessee. William Nickins, “a free black man
in humble condition,” asks the court to recognize him as the owner of his enslaved wife and five
children. A freed slave himself, Nickins came to Tennessee “some years ago” and “settled in the
neighborhood of Sampson Williams” where he made cabinets and spinning machines. Nickins
married “a black girl a slave the property of said Williams” and later purchased his wife and
“accumulated some considerable funds besides.” He entered into a working relationship with
Silas C. Cornwell, who tricked the illiterate Nickins into loaning him $200, falsified their account,
and then obtained a judgment against him. With his wife and child under threat of levy, Nickins
exchanged a bill for their sale for “a sort of bond for a tract of Land” belonging to Andrew
McClelan. McClelan still permitted Nickins to retain his wife, child, and the four children born
after this time, and Nickins did “every thing” McClelan “said or told him to do as if he was his
slave,” including executing to McClelan notes for his family’s hire and allowing McClelan to pay
taxes on them in his own name. When Nickins approached McClelan on his sickbed to reconvey
his family to him, McClelan demurred, but assured him that “his wife Margaret would do it Like
one christian would for another” after his death. Now that McClelan has died, his brother and
administrator, who is “a great lover of wealth,” claims Nickins’s family as slaves in the estate.
Nickins asks the court to intervene and permanently deliver his family to him “just as was
intended by himself and Sampson Williams.” The court transcript contains a cross bill filed by
McClelan’s administrator asking the court to attach the family of slaves, whom he has continued
to hire out to Nickins like his brother did in his lifetime. The chancery court decree reveals that
Nickins died during the pendency of the suit, which concluded in the Tennessee Supreme Court
after it had been revived in the name of Nickins’s administrator, George W. McKinly [McKinley].
1853
0626 (Accession # 21485301). Bedford County, Tennessee. Mary Vance, a twenty-year-old
“person of Colour,” complains that she and her three-year-old son, Dock, are unjustly “held in
Slavery by one Nathaniel Porter.” Vance informs the court that her grandmother, Mary King
[Milly], a white woman “not having any blood of the Affrican race,” was kidnapped and sold into
slavery in the state of Maryland “when she was a child only some 8 or ten years old.” While held
in slavery, King gave birth to Vance’s mother, Rose, “who is also white,” and who was held in
slavery until her husband “purchased her from her master and set her free.” Mary King is still
enslaved, “though she is getting quite old.” Vance reports that she and Dock are “now in the
Common jail ... for safe keeping” until Porter can sell them. She asks the court to recognize their
right to freedom and to issue writs of attachment and injunction to “secure their rights” while they
await “further order of the court.” In his answer, Nathaniel Porter attests that he owns Milly “by
virtue of his marital rights.” Porter married S. A. Porter in 1838. Other related documents provide
details about Mary Vance’s extended family, some slaves and some free people of color, whose
genealogy spans four generations. A deposition from Rosana Porter, the petitioner’s free
mother, is particularly rich in information about family births, marriages, and legal statuses.
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0666 (Accession # 21485302). Franklin County, Tennessee. John P. Kennerly and Clarissa
Bennett Kennerly propose to sell two enslaved families in order to discharge certain debts owed
by the estate of the late Hutchinson K. Bennett. As administrator and administratrix of said
estate, the petitioners represent that “they have exhausted the personal estate of the intestate,
his slaves excepted, in the payment of debts of the intestate due & owed to others.” They cite
that the slave Eliza and her five children and the slave Esther and her two children still remain in
the estate. The petitioners therefore pray that “it may please your honor to decree the sale of
one or more of said slaves to pay said debts and charges.”
0672 (Accession # 21485303). Washington County, Tennessee. Slaveholder Evalina E. C.
Gillespie requests that defendant Alfred E. Jackson “be required to cause a good and valid title
to be made to her, to her sole and separate use, for all the land which formed the consideration”
of a power of attorney executed to him by Gillespie and her husband. She claims that Jackson
exercised the power of attorney to purchase a tract of land in Lauderdale County and “had
himself become the purchaser at his own sale.” Gillespie further attests that she “ought not to be
compelled to part with her title to the tract of land in Lauderdale County mentioned in said
Power of Attorney unless a valid title could be vested in her to her sole and separate use in the
one half of said furnace and lands in Johnson County.” Fearing that “Jackson will again attempt
to sell the said tract of land in Lauderdale County under the said Power of Attorney and that, in
all probability he will put the money in his pocket,” the petitioner seeks an injunction to restrain
Jackson “from selling or in any other manner whatever disposing of any other property, real or
personal, which he claims in virtue of any contract made in whole or in part with your Oratrix.”
0681 (Accession # 21485304). Franklin County, Tennessee. Edney Harrison accuses her
husband, Elijah Harrison, of years of abuse and neglect during their turbulent marriage. She
complains that Elijah has drawn a knife on her, deprived her of medical treatment “when he
thought She was actually dying,” and has not furnished her with “the necessaries of life.” She is
currently living with her children in Alabama and is fearful to return to Elijah “on account of his
said treatment.” She informs the court that Elijah Harrison has “valuable Property,” including
twelve slaves he purchased with money “which came to your petitioner upon the death of a
sister.” She confides that Elijah is now “living in open adultery,” and plans to sell off his property
with the intention of relocating to Texas. She asks the court to attach enough of Elijah’s property
“to support her liberally” and to decree her alimony. In an amended bill, Edney Harrison reveals
that her husband threatened to “‘white wash the wall with the brains of your Oratrix.’“ She also
asks the court to declare the “entire amount of monies received by her said husband in her
right” a trust fund, to be “decreed to her or vested in a trustee for her benefit.”
0700 (Accession # 21485305). Smith County, Tennessee. The heirs of William Trousdale, who
died in January 1834, seek a division of the slaves in his estate. They inform the court that the
late Trousdale’s will bequeathed a slave named Julia jointly to the heirs of his late son, William
Trousdale. Julia, who is still living, has had four children. The petitioners seek a construction of
the will to determine whether the testator’s minor grandson, William W. Trousdale, is entitled to
an interest in the slaves. They ask the court to appoint commissioners to divide the slaves after
ruling on the matter.
0705 (Accession # 21485306). Washington County, Tennessee. Montgomery Irvin,
administrator of the estate of the late William Irvin, requests the court “to examine into the
conduct of” William Baker, the guardian of Thomas and David Irvin, the minor heirs of the
deceased. The petitioner reports that Irvin died possessed of a very valuable estate, whose
aggregate value is “probably near $20000.” Irvin charges Baker with several counts of
mismanaging the estate, including the hiring of the “fifteen or twenty valuable slaves” who
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belong to the estate; Irvin insists that said slaves “ought by proper management to yield, about
double, what ... they have yielded.” In addition, Irvin “has reason to believe & charge that [the
wards’] education has been most shamefully neglected.” Desiring the wards to be “placed under
the care & control of some person who will in view of the means & income which they have, rear
them & educate them in a manner which will in some degree correspond with their means &
prospects in life,” Montgomery Irvin asks the court to appoint a new guardian for the children.
0717 (Accession # 21485308). Davidson County, Tennessee. John and Sarah Adams seek to
recover a slave named Gabriel, whom Sarah purchased from B. F. Moseley on the advice of her
brother-in-law, David Trimble. The “then run away” Gabriel was “believed to [be] lurking about in
the neighborhood,” but Trimble assured Sarah that Gabriel “would come in as soon as he could
hear through negroes or otherwise that your Oratrix had purchased him.” Sarah agreed to give
Moseley $400 for the slave, delivered her note to him, and expected Trimble to register the bill
of sale. She possessed the slave for about a month, when constable J. H. Manifee seized him
“for the debts of Mosely.” Sarah then discovered that Trimble had neglected to register the sale,
and Moseley subsequently “absolutely and peremptorily refused to acknowledge” the sale.
Gabriel has been jailed, Moseley has kept Sarah’s money, and Sarah suspects that Moseley
has transferred her note to a third party. Deeming Moseley “insolvent and bankrupt in both
property and character,” she seeks redress by the court’s interposition. She asks that Moseley
may be compelled to deliver up the note, that she “may be appointed receiver of the negro,” and
that she “may be allowed to sell him.”
0728 (Accession # 21485309). Williamson County, Tennessee. The heirs of the late Robert
Wilson ask the court to enjoin the executor of Wilson’s will, Charles Calhoun, from selling land
and an estate slave until the court can construct the will and ascertain “who are the persons
justly entitled to the proceeds of said sale.” Wilson died in 1819, leaving a will that bequeathed
to each of his three youngest daughters a “negro slave.” When his widow died, Wilson directed
that his plantation be sold and “equally divided between his five eldest daughters.” He also
specified that, if any of the slaves bequeathed to his daughters died before his widow’s death,
then said legatees should be entitled to a share in the proceeds of the sale. Several of the
slaves have predeceased Wilson’s widow, who died in 1853. The petitioners inform the court
that Calhoun has advertised the sale “without any order of court or without any adjudication of
the conflicting rights of the Heirs of Robert Wilson.” Insisting that Calhoun is “wholly incompetent
and unauthorized by the terms of said will to decide upon the rights and interest of the various
heirs,” they ask the court to intervene and establish “their respective rights under his will.”
0747 (Accession # 21485310). Bedford County, Tennessee. The executors of the estate of the
late John Chandler seek permission to sell an estate slave named Jeff. The petitioners point out
that the said slave “is of bad and vicious habits and cannot be controlled or managed by said
widow, and indeed he was so bad as to make it necessary for said Chandler himself in his
lifetime to get others to manage and control him.” Citing that “there is no authority for selling
said negro in the will,” Mullins and Young “pray your Honor for a decree to sell said negro,”
noting “they are satisfied & so charge that it is manifestly to the interest & advantage of the
devisees for said slave to be sold.”
0751 (Accession # 21485311). Coffee County, Tennessee. The children of Little Berry
[Littleberry] Bostick seek to protect their remainder interest in a slave named Sarah and her
three children. The petitioners explain that their grandfather, William Bostick, left their father a
life estate in Sarah and her “increase.” Some time after the estate’s division, Little Berry
“became embarrassed or at least in need of funds” and mortgaged Sarah to Joseph Willis as
security for an advancement of $360. Little Berry then conveyed Sarah’s title to his twenty-twoyear-old
son, John G. Bostick, “requiring” John to deliver Sarah to Willis. The petitioners assert
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that said conveyance is a “violation of the plainest provisions of said will” and that John Bostick
was “used as in an instrument by said Littleberry Bostick” for Littleberry’s profit. They also point
out that Willis had “full knowledge of all the facts” and knew he was “defrauding” the minor
petitioners out of their rights. Sarah in the meantime has had three children, all of whom are
currently in the possession of Willis’s widow, Betsey Ann Willis. They ask the court to attach the
slaves “in the hands of the sheriff” until they can be returned to them along with compensation
for their hire.
0763 (Accession # 21485312). Rutherford County, Tennessee. The children of the late James
Elliott seek to recover three slaves, who they assert are part of their rightful inheritance. The
petitioners refer the court to an 1837 bill filed by the executors of Elliott’s will, which sought
permission to sell three estate slaves—Edmund, Caty, and their child, Eliza[beth]. They “deny
the correctness” of the executors’ assertion that said slaves “would not hire for any thing” and
point out that they “have been hired out much of the time since at a fair rate and have not been
injured thereby.” Although the slaves have aged considerably since the sale, the children assert
that “all together” they are worth $1,000. The court sold them to Edward A. Cothern for $600 in
1837. The petitioners, who were minors at the time and not made parties thereto, now contend
that a sale was “not necessary to a distribution or a division amongst the legatees.” They
declare that “it was not to their interest to make sale thereof” and now ask the court to set the
sale aside. Calling the sale “unnecessary and improper ... irregular—illegal,” they assert that the
sale is “void” and that they are entitled to the slaves under their father’s will. They ask the court
to restrain Cothern from removing the slaves while their suit is pending and to decree that the
slaves be “surrendered up” for their benefit. They also seek an account of the slaves’ hire while
in Cothern’s possession.
0785 (Accession # 21485313). Williamson County, Tennessee. George Lavender requests that
a bill of sale for twelve slaves “be set aside and declared null and void” and that an injunction
issue restraining Isaac Wilson, Johnson Jordan, and John Bolerjack from selling and/or
removing the said slaves. Lavender declares that on 4 August 1853 he conveyed to the
defendants, “partners in buying and selling negroes,” twelve “likely healthy and valuable” slaves
for the sum of $5,500. The petitioner now regrets the sale and cites circumstances that should
render the transaction void. He claims that “previous to the sale of said negroes from
constitutional and other causes his mind became disordered and deranged rendering him totally
incapable in law of managing and controlling his property or selling or disposing of the same.” In
addition, he notes that his wife “suddenly abandoned his house ... involving your orator in
unspeakable misery and distress and adding much to the disorder and bewilderment of his
mind.” Lavender accuses the defendants of taking advantage of his diminished capacity and
seeks the recovery of the slaves not yet sold, “for whom he had much feeling and towards
whom he had that attachment existing between dutiful and obedient servants and a humane
and kind master.” He also asks that he be compensated for the slaves sold by the defendants.
0791 (Accession # 21485314). Davidson County, Tennessee. Nancy Greer seeks a divorce
from her husband of nine years, William Greer. She informs the court that, after a year of living
together, William “commenced abusing, ill-treating, and neglecting her, and has continued to do
so, more or less, up to the present time.” Examples of his threats and violence towards his wife
include “a severe blow with the sheep shears across the face” and an offer to “mash oratrix’
scull” with a press board. He has committed “acts of adultery,” refused to “send for a physician
in due time” when Nancy was “very low and sick,” and “cruelly beat oratrix’ daughter, by a
former husband” with a hickory. He also injured her seventy-four-year-old mother by “throwing
her against the floor, of which it is doubtful whether she will ever recover.” Nancy summarizes
his treatment towards her as “more like a negro slave than a wife,” alleging that he “makes her
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undergo all the hardships that none of his negroes are subject to.” Greer reports that her
husband, who was “worth near eight thousand dollars” at the time of their marriage, now owns
“near fifteen thousand dollars,” including nine slaves. She asks the court to attach William’s
property and award her “such alimony as may seem equitable.”
0800 (Accession # 21485316). Giles County, Tennessee. Archibald C. White charges William D.
Kneel with fraud in relation to the swapping and selling of a slave named Harriet. White argues
that “he Exchanged with William D Kneel ... a Negro girl by the Name of Harriet about Sixteen
years old for a Boy by the Name of Willis aged about Tenn years old.” Shortly thereafter, White
reveals that Kneel filed a suit for damages that alleged Harriet “had fits while in his possession
and was not worth anything.” Noting that “She was a sound girl and had never had fits” during
his four-year ownership, White states that he offered “to gite the girl and have her Examind by
Physians and that kneel refused to Let him have her.” The petitioner further alleges “that befour
the treal ... kneel Rane Said girl off to the state of Alabama and Solde hur to one William Lackey
for a Sound girl and got a sound price for hur.” White reports that he obtained a copy of Kneel’s
bill of sale to Lackey when Kneel’s suit yielded a judgment against him and that Lackey himself
attests that Harriet “is a sound girl has not bin Sick one day sence he purchased her from kneel
has never had a fit Sence he ow[ne]d hur and is worth Eight hundred dollars.” White asks that
the court issue an injunction against Kneel to prevent him from collecting any of the judgment
settlement against him.
0808 (Accession # 21485317). Williamson County, Tennessee. John W. Morton contends that
he “is entitled to the possession of” a twenty-four-year-old slave named Henry. He explains that
on 22 November 1852 the defendant, McNairy Waller, conveyed to him by deed of trust said
slave and “that by said conveyance he is entitled to a lien on said Slave Henry who is worth
about $900 or $1000.” Morton details that by a recent decree he “recovered against the said
McNairy Waller & others $3889.98.” Alleging “that no part of said decree has been paid & that
said deft is liable for the payment of the whole of said decree,” Morton argues his “powers of
sale have attached under said deed & he has accordingly advertised said slave for sale on 4
day of April 1853.” Complaining that Henry is “either run away or not in the control of anyone &
will not appear on the day of sale unless forced,” Morton asks that “said slave be attached by an
order from your honor,” thus preventing his removal from the court’s jurisdiction and ensuring
that “said slave & his value” will not be lost to the petitioner and the slave can be delivered into
his possession.
0817 (Accession # 21485318). Giles County, Tennessee. Mary Dicky complains that “neither
she nor her husband has received her share or interest in either of said slaves or in the estate of
her mother,” the late Elizabeth McCutchen. Mary explains that “many years ago,” her father,
James McCutchen, died having bequeathed a life estate in two male slaves named Joseph and
Harry to his widow; upon her death, the slaves would go to the couple’s children, thereby
entitling Mary to “one seventh part in said slaves & to one eighth part in the estate of said
Elizabeth.” Dicky’s mother has recently died and Gustavus Angus has administered her estate.
He sold McCutchen’s personal property, which yielded around $900 to $1,000, and gave the
two slaves to Nathaniel Hayes, who sold them “for about the sum of $1800.00.” Mary informs
the court, however, that Hamilton C. Campbell had attached her “interest in said slaves in the
hands of Hayes” for debts “owing to him by her husband.” Mary asks the court to rule that the
slaves “be settled & decreed to your oratrix as her separate property free from the control &
management of her said husband.”
0824 (Accession # 21485319). Maury County, Tennessee. Mary Ann, a thirty-two-year-old
“woman of color,” informs the court that she is “illegally held in slavery” by John Merril, “a negro
trader,” who is “preparing to take her to a Southern Market.” Mary Ann was born in Surry
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County, North Carolina, the daughter of Rachel Kennedy, “a free white woman,” and an
unnamed “black” man. Her grandfather, William Kennedy, “removed” the family from North
Carolina to Tazewell County, Virginia, when she was five years old. During this time, her
“relation to said Rachel was kept a secret in the neighborhood ... though well known in the
family.” About seven years later, her mother died. Her grandfather then “claimed her as a slave”
and sold her to John Tiffanny. This sale initiated a chain of transfers “from hand to hand till she
has fallen into the hands of one John Merril.” Mary Ann insists that “this illegality has been
perpetrated with greater impunity because of the secrecy attempted to be thrown around her
birth by the relatives of her mother.” She asserts with confidence, however, that her claim to
freedom can be substantiated “by persons residing in Surry County North Carolina.” Fearing
that her “pretended owner” will “tak[e] her off from the States,” she asks the court to attach both
her and her young daughter and “place” them in the court’s custody “untill her claim to freedom
can be tried.”
0835 (Accession # 21485320). Davidson County, Tennessee. John Thompson petitions for a
settlement of his trusteeship for minor Isora Lowe “under the orders of this Court.” Thompson
became Lowe’s trustee in 1846 when Isora’s grandfather, Michael C. Dunn, conveyed four
slaves, a mother and her three children, to him “for the sole and separate use of Isora during
her natural life.” When Dunn died in August 1853, he bequeathed another slave, named Ben, to
Isora and directed Thompson to “hold the same in trust” as Isora’s guardian. Thompson assures
the court that he has acted on Isora’s behalf as “he would have done had the property been his
own,” but he is now “ready and anxious to have a settlement of his trusteeship.” Isora Lowe’s
uncle, William D. Dunn of Mobile, Alabama, is currently in Tennessee and acting as his father’s
executor. Dunn proposes to “take charge of the person and property of his niece, and carry
them to Mobile.” Thompson approves of this plan, citing Dunn as Isora’s “nearest living relative”
and “a man of wealth and character.” He asks the court to decree “an account of your Orator’s
trusteeship, and [to] accept your Orator’s resignation.”
0845 (Accession # 21485322). Smith County, Tennessee. William Young requests that
Benjamin Motly be summoned to answer his questions concerning the sale of a slave named
Squire. He recounts that “about Jany 1851 he sold to Benj Motly three slaves one of which was
name Squire.” Young reports that he explained to Motly that Squire had been sick in 1849 “but
had got well,” whereupon the “said Motly striped sd boy to give him a full & thoro examination,
as he said it was his custom to do.” The petitioner points out that he believed “at that time said
Boy was perfectly sound, & he executed to said Motly a bill of sale warranting him to be sound.”
He recalls that he also informed Motly at the time of the sale that “the reason said slaves were
sold were that they were thought to be rogish & not in consequence of any unsoundness.”
Noting that Motly has “brought an action of covenant in said circuit court for damages upon said
bill of sale,” Young offers that “justice requ[ires] a discovery from said Motly” and submits
specific questions for the defendant to answer.
0848 (Accession # 21485323). Davidson County, Tennessee. Minor Marquis Breckenridge
Toney seeks permission to apply “the rents and hires” of his own property towards the debts of
the estate of his late father, William H. C. Toney, who died intestate in 1832 leaving Marquis his
sole heir. The estate is insolvent, but Marquis owns slaves and land, whose rents and hires
yield an annual income of $660. He conjectures that it should take only this and next year’s
assets to cover the debt in its entirety, but “even if the income of another year were required for
this purpose,” Toney thinks it would be “manifestly” to his interest and the interest of his father’s
creditors to “appropriate the income of said property to the satisfaction of said debts.” He is
joined by the estate’s administrator and his next friend, Herman Cox, in seeking the court’s
sanction.
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0854 (Accession # 21485324). Davidson County, Tennessee. Malinda, a woman of color,
informs the court that she and her daughter, Mary Ann, are “held as slaves by Elizabeth Smith”
and are entitled to their freedom. Malinda explains that Missourian Amos Bird sold her to
Joseph Smith of Nashville, Tennessee, in 1820 when she was eleven years old. She insists that
the transaction’s bill of sale, which is either “destroyed or lost,” conveyed her to Smith only until
she “should arrive at the age of twenty five or twenty eight years.” The transaction also included
“others, brothers and sisters of your Oratrix sold by Bird to Smith at the same time ... all of
whom were to be free ... the males at thirty years of age and the females at twenty five or twenty
eight.” Malinda claims that three witnesses can corroborate the terms of the sale and that “one
of them” actually declined to purchase her “on account of the high price asked by Smith and the
limited time of your Oratrixe’s service.” The forty-four-year-old Malinda declares that it has been
“sixteen or nineteen years since she was entitled to her freedom” and that she and Mary Ann,
who is now “about nineteen,” have “rendered faithful and valuable services” to the Smith family.
She has begun a suit to recover their freedom, for which she needs “free and unrestricted
access and correspondence to and with her counsel.” She asks the court to take her and Mary
Ann into custody during the pendency of the suit. She also seeks an account for “reasonable
hire” while they have been unjustly enslaved and asks that they “may be treated with humanity”
while in the court’s care.
0863 (Accession # 21485325). Williamson County, Tennessee. The Planters Bank of
Tennessee petitions that certain slaves conveyed to Allen Nolen by John P. Waller “be subject
to the payment of your orators judgment and costs.” The petitioner explains that “said Bank
recovered a judgment for the sum of three hundred and twenty six dollars debt and damages
with costs of suit against [S. S.] Mayfield” and others, “which judgment was recovered upon a
note executed by the said mayfield to the said John P Waller.” The bank contends that both
Mayfield and Waller are “insolvent or have no means liable to an execution at Law whereby they
can have said Judgment satisfied.” The petitioner points out that on 3 November 1852 “the said
John P Waller by his deed of that date conveyed to the said Nolen in trust” seven slaves worth
“some four or five thousand dollars more than sufficient to pay said Bill of Exchange and the
said judgment so recovered against them.” The petitioner therefore prays that “the said negroes
so conveyed to said Nolen or the proceeds of the sale thereof may be applied to the payment of
your Orators Judgment with interest.”
0869 (Accession # 21485327). Williamson County, Tennessee. Elizabeth McNary asks that
property secured by a deed of trust be “liable to the satisfaction of” a judgment for $224.19
returned in her favor on 8 March 1852, “which judgment was stayed by the said John P. Waller
on which judgment an execution has been duly issued against said ... Waller and returned no
property found.” She cites “that on the 22nd day of November 1852 the said John P Waller by
his deed of trust ... conveyed unto the said John W Morton and David Read a certain negro boy
named Daniel,” several horses, and sundry furniture “to secure certain debts therein specified
with power to sell the above described property if those debts should not be paid before the 1st
day of March 1853.” McNary confirms that the debts above mentioned have “been paid out of
other means than said trust fund and the property so conveyed which is still in the hands of said
John P. is greatly more than sufficient to discharge the other debts therby secured.” Noting that
Morton and Read “have wholly failed to close said deed of trust and suffered and still suffer the
said Waller to retain in possession of said property,” the petitioner prays “that the property so
conveyed by said deed ... be decreed to be sold and the surplus proceeds of such sale be
appropriated to the satisfaction of her said judgment interest and costs.”
0874 (Accession # 21485329). Davidson County, Tennessee. Mary Jane Clinard seeks a
divorce and alimony from her abusive husband of five years, Henderson Clinard. She reveals
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that, “less than three days after the marriage,” her husband “was intoxicated” and that he has
not been sober “as a general rule exceeding three or four days at a time” throughout their
marriage. He has acquired a habit “of bringing negro men, slaves of the neighbourhood, to his
house & drinking with them in your Oratrix’s room.” When Mary Jane “orders them to be gone,
they reply to her with insolent language, and her husband countenances them in this conduct.”
He often comes home drunk, “as late as” one in the morning, and behaves violently towards
her. He has seized and choked her, thrown a knife at her, and several times struck her “with the
tongs or shovel.” She has a scar on her face, “which is still remaining” from his abuse.
Henderson also treats their child “in the same way.” Mary Jane has fled with her child to a
neighbor’s house and now wishes to be divorced from him “absolutely.” She informs the court
that the only property Henderson brought to their marriage was a “negro boy,” whom he has
since sold and replaced with a “negro girl named Minerva.” She asks the court to attach his
property, so that she can derive alimony out of the same.
0886 (Accession # 21485330). Williamson County, Tennessee. Volney S. Stevenson seeks the
court’s assistance in recovering a judgment against William Hamer through writs of injunction
and attachment. Stevenson explains that a previous suit awarded William Hamer one-sixth of
the estate of the late Daniel H. Hamer. William Hamer later deeded “all his interest in said
estate” to two of his creditors “for the payment of certain debts.” Stevenson informs the court
that the balance from this transaction is now in the hands of the county’s clerk and master and
that Hamer also transferred his interest in nine estate slaves to another creditor, David A. Bell.
Stevenson recovered his judgment against Hamer in 1851, but the sheriff returned the
execution with the notation, “No property of the said W. R. Hamer to be found.” Stevenson has
recently learned that Hamer’s sister, Emily H. Hamer, who shared a sixth of Daniel’s estate with
her brother, has died intestate without a husband or children. He reasons that Hamer is now
entitled to one-fifth of her property, which could be subjected to the payment of the debt.
Stevenson asks the court to hold Hamer’s interest in the two estates subject to the satisfaction
of his judgment. If it is necessary, he asks the court to order a sale of the slaves in question.
0903 (Accession # 21485331). Knox County, Tennessee. Henry Chiles accuses Jesse Williams
and William Rodgers of the “grossest outrage and fraud” upon him and his slaves, whom Chiles
desires to emancipate “at his death if not before.” Chiles explains that, although he is “aged and
infirm,” illiterate, and “afflicted with bodily disease,” he has been able to acquire “a comfortable
little living, and among his property” are fourteen slaves, who have served him “with great
fidelity.” After being advised that the laws of Tennessee prevent him from freeing his slaves by
will, Chiles enlisted his neighbor, Jesse Williams, and his physician, William Rodgers, “for their
assistance in effecting this his permanent wish.” Under their “advice and persuasion,” Chiles
conveyed to Williams his slaves and sixty acres of his land. Chiles later sought “to make a more
certain and speedy arrangement for the manumission of his slaves” and began pressing
Williams to reconvey the slaves to him. Williams “studiously avoided” the subject and now
refuses to “face him in the presence of their mutual friends and neighbors.” Chiles contends that
it was Williams’s intention from the beginning “to set up a claim and title to the said land and
negroes.” Fearing that Williams will sell the slaves under his fraudulent title, Chiles asks the
court to enjoin him from selling or removing the slaves until the matter is resolved in court. He
also asks that property be returned to him so that he can then “consummate his long cherished
desire of conferring upon said slaves and their increase their freedom and emancipation from
bondage.”
0920 (Accession # 21485332). Giles County, Tennessee. William E. Eddins, administrator of the
estate of the late Asberry S. McWilliams, seeks permission to sell “some of” the slaves in
McWilliams’s estate in order to pay the estate’s debts. McWilliams died intestate in April 1852,
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leaving a widow, Mariah H. McWilliams, and two minor children, Walton S. and Nancy B.
McWilliams. The estate consisted of 129 acres of land, stock, furniture, and four slaves named
Wilkins, Polk, Bob, and George. Eddins informs the court that he has recently sold much of the
estate’s property, excluding the slaves, but estimates that the estate is still indebted between
$15,000 and $16,000. He insists that it is “absolutely necessary” to sell some of the slaves in
order to generate income to pay “the just & bonafide debts against said estate.”
0931 (Accession # 21485333). Davidson County, Tennessee. Thomas J. Anderson and Milton
Sharpe seek permission to resign “the trust reposed in them” by an 1847 deed executed by
Thomas A. H. Anderson in Virginia. Anderson conveyed land and slaves to them to hold “for the
use and benefit” of his wife, Martha Anderson, and two sons, George and John. Martha and her
children have recently petitioned the court “to recover an interest in the proceeds of certain
slaves secured to them by said deed.” The petitioners now inform the court that Thomas J.
Anderson “is too old & infirm to attend to the execution of said trust deed” and that Milton
Sharpe “resides in the Territory of Wisconsin and is too far removed to attend to said trust.”
They therefore wish to resign the trusteeship and ask the court “to appoint some suitable person
to execute said deed and to protect the rights, & interests of said Martha & her children, all of
whom, together with Thomas A. H. Anderson ... in their poverty & ignorance are well entitled to
the protection of your honor.”
0946 (Accession # 21485334). Washington County, Tennessee. James and Sarah Hale
Billingsley fear that they “are in a fair way of loosing the very slight and scanty pittance to which
they are rightfully entitled under said will” of Joseph Hale, Sarah’s late father. They report that
the said Hale died possessed of land, two slaves, sundry livestock and farming utensils, which
“was reasonably worth at least 4000$.” They further argue that a perusal of his will revealed
“that the provision made for your oratrix was but a scanty one compared with that made to some
of the other Heirs, notwithstanding she needed it greatly more than the rest and was always
assured by her deceasd father that she should be liberaly provided for.” They charge that
Benjamin Hale, Sarah’s brother, induced the said Joseph “to dispose of his property so as to
defeat his intended provision for your Oratrix.” Alleging that the said Benjamin “managed the
affairs of sd estate in a most loose, careless & fraudulent manner,” the Billingsleys pray, among
other things, that the other heirs be named defendants to their bill; that Benjamin Hale and
Isabella Hale, the widow, be restrained from selling or removing any estate property; and that
“an account be ordered.”
0961 (Accession # 21485335). Williamson County, Tennessee. John M. Smith seeks a divorce
from his estranged wife, Martha E. Swanson Smith, whom he accuses of adultery. Citing
Martha’s “want of chasticy,” John decries “the indiscriminate manner in which she lavished her
favours upon the young, the middle aged, and the old.” The couple is currently separated, and
John confides to the court that he “cannot admit” their four children “to be his.” Since their
separation, John has sent Martha a $450 note “by way of support,” which remains uncollected,
but is in the hands of a third party. In addition to the divorce, he asks the court to return the
money to him, because “she ought not to have one dollar of the earnings of his labour.” In both
Martha’s answer and her cross bill filed thereafter, she contends that John’s allegations are the
product of his “unsound state of mind.” She explains how he zealously spied upon her “ordinary
domestick affairs” and threatened to “cut out [the] heart” of Martha’s “negro woman,” when the
woman would “say nothing to confirm his unfounded suspicions” of Martha’s adultery. John later
“for no cause” sold “the said woman” and kept the money for himself. Martha confesses that she
had to promise to live with John in Texas in order to get “the proceeds of that slave for the
support of her children.” The court eventually granted a divorce to Martha and gave her the
$450 note as a portion of her alimony.
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0979 (Accession # 21485337). Davidson County, Tennessee. Joel A. Battle asks the court to
partition certain slaves in the estate of the late Benjamin W. Williams among the heirs of the late
William M. Battle and him. Battle informs the court that Williams’s will bequeathed thirty slaves
to his daughter, Ellen Williams. The slaves’ titles were to be held in trust for Ellen and were to
vest in her when she married; in the event that she die “without marriage or issue,” the slaves
were to be divided between the petitioner and William M. Battle, with William receiving one-third
and Joel two-thirds. William M. Battle, however, has recently died, leaving a widow, Sarah Jane
Battle, and eleven minor children. Joel A. Battle asks the court to divide the slaves among them
in the proportions directed by Williams’s will.
0989 (Accession # 21485338). Smith County, Tennessee. John W. Woodson and his wife, Mary
C. Lucas Woodson, seek to recover a slave named Fanny and her six-year-old daughter so that
the pair may be sold “& the proceeds divided amongst those entitled.” They explain that in 1820,
Mary’s father, George A. Lucas, and her uncle, Peter W. Lucas, gave their mother, Sarah C.
Simmons, “several negroes to be used by her during the time of her natural life”; upon her
death, the slaves were to be divided among their children. The petitioners inform the court that
“sometime before” their grandmother’s death in 1851, Martin W. Sloan obtained possession of
Fanny, a slave “belonging to the lot which had been loaned” to Simmons, and sold her to “some
person unknown.” Jeremiah Smith later bought Fanny, who now has a six-year-old daughter.
The petitioners assert that Sloan had “no authority” to sell Fanny, especially before “the death of
the old lady.” They insist that the slaves now “belong equally to the children of George A. Lucas”
and to Peter Lucas. They also ask the sheriff to take “immediate possession” of Fanny and her
daughter and to “have them forthcoming to abide the judgment of the court.” Jeremiah Smith’s
answer alleges that Martin Sloan gained possession of Fanny from Simmons after he “had
employed council & conducted the defence of said Fanny when [she was] charged with the
offence of house burning.”
1008 (Accession # 21485339). Davidson County, Tennessee. The widow and children of the
late John B. Crunk seek to protect their interest in several slaves in Crunk’s estate. They inform
the court that one of Crunk’s sons, John Crunk, became administrator of the estate and, in
1852, seized a “considerable amount of property” including ten slaves. Later that year he filed a
petition in his own name to sell some of the slaves in order to pay the estate’s debts. They
report that they have been “advised” that this sale is “an absolute nullity” and that the
purchasers acquired “no title under the sale.” They also allege that John retained one slave
named Jordan “by virtue of gift or sale” but later sold Jordan to a man named Isaac Cantrall,
who in turn sold Jordan to John James. Two slaves, a mother and daughter named Mary and
Jenny, are now in the possession of Mary Young “under some contract with decedent of hiring.”
They ask that all the slaves “be brought into the estate and distributed according to law.” They
also seek attachments for the slaves and injunctions against their sale or transfer if necessary. If
a division of the slaves among them is not “practicable,” they ask that the slaves be sold “in due
form of law for that purpose.”
1019 (Accession # 21485340). Smith County, Tennessee. Milton Haynie asks the court to enjoin
the collection of a claim, which he deems usurious. The petitioner reveals that in 1850 Thomas
Carman recovered a judgment against him on two notes. Five years earlier, Haynie borrowed
$400 from Henry Beasly and secured said debt by mortgaging three slaves to Beasly. Shortly
thereafter, Carman took Beasly’s place as Haynie’s creditor, and Haynie gave him a lien on the
same slaves and an additional one. At this time, Haynie agreed to pay Carman 12 percent
interest, which he paid “in the way of hire for the negroes.” Haynie now complains that the debt
has increased from $400 to $700 “in the space of eight years.” He informs the court that he has
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“punctually” paid the monthly rates, but now insists that Carman’s claim is “usurious to a great
extent.” He asks the court to order a revised account of the pair’s transactions.
1025 (Accession # 21485341). Maury County, Tennessee. John Brown, a free man of color,
seeks to settle his partnership account with Thomas Hodge, also a free man of color. The
former slaves formed a partnership “as barbers and hair dressers” in 1837 in Columbia,
Tennessee, which they eventually “dissolved by mutual consent” in 1853. Brown informs the
court that the men used his capital to purchase “small stocks of merchandize such as combs
hair brushes, walking canes, cravats gloves, and other fancy articles,” which they sold and
applied the proceeds to the business. According to Brown, Hodge owned no property at the
outset of the venture and “was in fact a slave,” who purchased his freedom for $920.20 out of
assets belonging to the firm. The firm did “a large and profitable business,” which enabled both
men to acquire “small parcels of real estate.” Neither man, however, had the “skill and
experience” to keep books “with great regularity and accuracy.” Brown now alleges that Hodge
falsified his records and appropriated partnership funds “to his individual use.” He also charges
Hodge with absconding with “all of the money belonging to said partnership that he could
collect” upon the firm’s dissolution. Deeming it “unsafe” for Hodge to have the management and
control of the material effects of the partnership, he insists that it is “absolutely necessary to
protect his rights that some suitable person should be appointed receiver to take charge of the
assets of said firm.” He prays for an account to be taken by the clerk and master, asserting that
Hodge “will be found to be ... largely indebted to said partnership.”
1073 (Accession # 21485343). Shelby County, Tennessee. David Currin seeks permission to
emancipate a thirty-six-year-old slave named Bob Price. He reveals that Price, “desirous of his
freedom, was purchased by his wife, one Milly Swan, a free woman of colour ... from his former
owner, for that purpose; and the said Milly Swan subsequently conveyed Bob to your Petitioner,
under a promise & in consideration that he would liberate him.” Currin contends that “Bob’s
many good qualities, moral and industrious habits, and obedient and submissive deportment”
make him “a fit subject for emancipation.” Confident that Bob “will give no trouble or offence to
white citizens of the County and state,” Currin prays “that an order be made emancipating said
slave.”
1090 (Accession # 21485344). Shelby County, Tennessee. Bob Price, a free man of color,
requests to remain in Shelby County, Tennessee. Explaining that he “has this day been
emancipated by your Worships,” Price submits that he “now desires to be allowed to remain in
this County and State where he has lived so long.” Price “promises, that if allowed to remain, he
will demean himself properly, as he has ever endeavored to do,” noting that he “had rather
remain a slave than be compelled to leave” his home.
1094 (Accession # 21485345). Sumner County, Tennessee. Thomas Walsh, guardian of his
minor son, Samuel M. Walsh, sues his former brothers-in-law, John and Abram Martin, to
recover Samuel’s interest in certain slaves. Walsh informs the court that his late wife, Lucinda
Martin Walsh, and her siblings share remainder interest in said slaves based on an 1832 deed
of gift from their grandfather, Abraham [Abram] Young, to his daughter and their mother, Sarah
[Sally] Martin. He explains that said deed directed that “if any child died having issue[,] the issue
should inherit the parents part.” Lucinda Martin Walsh died in 1840, and Sarah Martin died in
1852. The slaves, or “almost all of them,” are currently in the possession of John and Abram
Martin. Walsh now complains that his son has not received his portion of the slaves. He asks
the court to compel the Martins to “discover and show how many negroes have been sold or
hired” and to decree to Samuel Walsh his portion of the slaves, which should be “equal in value
to each of the shares of Abram and John F Martin.”
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1129 (Accession # 21485346). Williamson County, Tennessee. Thomas Scruggs asks that
property secured by a deed of trust be “liable to the satisfaction of” a judgment for $74.39
returned in his favor on 13 November 1851, “which judgment was stayed by John P. Waller; on
which judgement an execution has been issued & duly returned no property found.” The
petitioner cites “that on the 22 of November 1852 the said John P. Waller by his deed of trust ...
conveyed unto the said John W. Morton & David Read a certain negro slave named Daniel,”
several horses, and sundry furniture “to secure certain debts therein specified, with power to sell
the above described property if those debts should not be paid before the 1st day of March
1853.” Scruggs confirms that the debts above mentioned have “been paid out of other means
than said trust fund & the property so conveyed which is still in the hands of said Jno P Waller is
greatly more than sufficient to discharge the other debts thereby secured.” Noting that Morton
and Read “have wholly failed to close said deed of trust & suffered & still suffer the said Waller
to remain in possession of said property,” the petitioner prays “that the property so conveyed by
said deed ... be decreed to be sold & the surplus proceeds of such sale be appropriated to the
Satisfaction of his Said judgement interest & costs.”
Reel 19
Tennessee cont.
1854
0002 (Accession # 21485402). Dyer County, Tennessee. Margaret Mockabee, executrix of her
late husband’s estate, seeks the return of an estate slave. Mockabee explains that “her husband
in his lifetime was not very frugal ... and had contracted dissipated habits which brought upon
him and his family pecuniary trouble and indebtedness.” In 1849, he borrowed $300 from his
brother, Thomas Mockabee; as security, he gave Thomas a twelve-year-old slave named Peter.
“On its face,” the exchange was a bill of sale, but it was actually meant as a mortgage and Peter
was to be returned upon repayment of the loan. Thomas died intestate in 1842, a year after his
brother, and his widow and administrator now claim Peter as part of his estate. Peter, who is
now worth $1,000, “was assigned to John T. Mockabee an infant under the age of 21 years” and
is now held by John’s guardian, Robert Baxter, who has hired him out “at corrol furnace.”
Margaret Mockabee prays for the return of the slave and compensation for his lost hire; if he
cannot be returned, she prays to be compensated “for his reasonable value.” In addition,
Mockabee claims that she owns Peter’s “mother and sisters and on that account prays that the
family may not be seperated.”
0015 (Accession # 21485403). Williamson County, Tennessee. The heirs and representatives of
the late Sarah Nevels seek a division of five slaves jointly owned by them and three minor
Nevels children. They inform the court that “from the number of said slaves—and the number of
the owners in common,” the slaves cannot be divided “in the mode pointed out by law without a
sale thereof.” They ask the court to order that the slaves be sold “upon such terms as to your
worship may seem fit.” The decree notes that the slaves’ title is “in Robert B Beech trustee for
the late Sarah Nevels under the will of the late Lodwick B Beech.”
0023 (Accession # 21485404). Williamson County, Tennessee. The surviving children of
Richard and Cynthia Ogilvie seek a division of three slaves, in whom they have remainder
interest under their late father’s will. Richard Ogilvie died in July 1822 leaving the slaves in his
estate to his widow, Cynthia Ogilvie. The widow died in 1853 having never remarried. During
her lifetime, Cynthia Ogilvie surrendered her interest in several of the slaves to her children, all
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of whom were then living; several of her children, however, predeceased her, as did several of
the slaves named in the will. The petitioners inform the court that three slaves remain to be
divided. They ask that the said slaves be sold and that the proceeds be divided among them.
0030 (Accession # 21485405). Washington County, Tennessee. William B. Carter and James P.
T. Carter ask the court to enjoin Thomas C. Johnson from collecting an “unjust judgment”
against them. The brothers explain that, before their father’s death in 1850, they acted as his
agent and transacted business in the operation of “his forge near the town of Elizabethton.” The
men hired two male slaves, Ahab and Bob, from Johnson for the period of a year. They later
found out that the slaves belonged to the estate of the late Samuel Tipton. Tipton’s executor,
James J. Tipton, wanted to keep the slaves “employed in said forge,” but desired to hire them
out at public sale. James Carter attended the sale and served as Tipton’s security on a “joint
note” for Ahab’s hire at the rate of $100 per annum. Ahab was “then & there delivered” into
James’s possession and placed in their father’s employment at the forge. Tipton subsequently
obtained a judgment against them on the bond, and the brothers have satisfied all but $20 of it.
Johnson, however, recently filed suit against them to obtain payment for the slaves’ hire in the
original bogus transaction. The petitioners now assert that their late father was alone entitled to
Ahab’s services during 1850 and that Bob was hired out to another party. They insist that, if
Johnson is allowed to collect the judgment, then their father’s estate “will be twice onerated with
the payment” of Ahab’s hire. They seek the court’s protection against this injustice.
0041 (Accession # 21485406). Williamson County, Tennessee. Susan J. King asks that she be
decreed her interest in the estate of her late father, John Matthews, and that it be settled upon
her for “her sole and seperate use.” King informs the court that she is entitled “to an interest in
the residue of his personal estate subject to the life estate of her mother Martha W. Matthews
therein.” Although her father died in September 1851, the executor of his will, Thomas W.
Matthews, “has not as yet made a settlement touching the administration of the testator’s
estate.” Her father owned fifteen slaves “besides other personal property.” King explains that
her husband, Benjamin, is “much involved in debt” and, “if he should be allowed to reduce her
interest in her father’s estate into his possession, the same would be swept away from her and
her children,” who number seven. She asks the court to grant her sole possession of the
property in question.
0049 (Accession # 21485407). Smith County, Tennessee. Marmaduke Mason joins the children
of the late Josiah Whitley in seeking a division of six slaves they hold in common with their
minor siblings. The petitioners explain that, after the death of their father, they inherited jointly
“one share” of the estate of their grandfather, Exum Whitley [Whitly]. Mason, who is the
guardian of two of the minor children, purchased the interest belonging to Harriet Whitley and
her husband, Evan Williams. The tenants in common wish to keep a young “boy child” together
with “its mother an old woman” by requiring “those who may get a more valuable share to pay to
those who may get one of less value than an equal share.” They ask the court to appoint
commissioners to divide the slaves.
0053 (Accession # 21485408). Williamson County, Tennessee. Three children of the late
Samuel A. Hughes ask the court to “set aside” the “share or portion” of Hughes’s estate
belonging to his eldest son, Brice M. Hughes Jr., who has recently arrived at the age of twentyone.
The siblings explain through their guardian, Brice M. Hughes Sr., that they are “by
inheritance” the joint owners of three slaves, who are “unequal in value” and cannot be divided
or distributed. They ask the court to order a sale of one of the slaves and specify as their
preference a sale of Abe, whom they deem “ungovernable and unruly.” Revealing that Abe has
been “a great deal of trouble” to their guardian, they inform the court that the sale would be in
their interest “even if a division was not necessary.” They also point out that their other two
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slaves, Washington and Dick, are “family slaves and good and valuable servants.” They ask the
court to appoint commissioners to assign value to the slaves and to conduct the sale.
0058 (Accession # 21485411). Maury County, Tennessee. David F. and John J. Wilson,
executors of the will of the late Robert Wilson, are joined by Wilson’s widow, Charlotte, and his
daughter, Rachael, in seeking permission to sell a slave named Sam, “a likely boy about forty
five years of age.” The petitioners inform the court that Sam is “a prolific source of trouble” to
them, especially Charlotte, who exercises “immediate control” over him. In addition to being
“wild, ungovernable and of vicious habits,” he “has already run away once or twice and came
very near making it to a Free state.” When home, he is “about at night, gambles and loses much
time from his business.” The petitioners fear that Charlotte will lose her life interest in Sam by
his running away. They also suspect that he “is likely to be of little service” to them in the future.
Perhaps even more threatening, they fear that he will compromise their other slaves by the
“pernicious example he is constantly setting” before them. They ask the court to authorize his
sale and to order that the proceeds “be invested ... in some other better and more tractable
slave.”
0066 (Accession # 21485412). Maury County, Tennessee. William Everett seeks to secure the
payment of an $82.02 debt contracted by Josephus Whitaker. The court awarded Everett a
judgment on the debt in July 1852; however, the sheriff returned the execution as “no property
found.” Everett informs the court that Whitaker’s mother, Elizabeth Whitaker, recently died
intestate, “the owner of a number of slaves and other chattel property.” As one of her heirs and
distributees, Josephus is entitled to one-tenth of her estate. Everett “knows the name of but one
of said slaves to wit Orange, a valuable negro man.” Fearing that Whitaker has “already been
endeavouring to sell his interest in said estate to defeat the payment of his debts,” Everett seeks
an attachment and injunction to protect his investment. He also asks the court to subject
Whitaker’s interest in his mother’s estate to the payment of the debt.
0072 (Accession # 21485413). Williamson County, Tennessee. Narcissa Davis seeks a divorce
from her husband of fourteen years, James T. Davis. She informs the court that the couple has
been separated since July 1854, when James “threatened to take the life of your Oratrix with a
butchers knife,” forcing the pregnant Narcissa to flee their home. She and the couple’s five
children sought protection in the house of a sister. Narcissa took to her sister’s the property that
she had derived from her father’s estate, which included five slaves, a horse, and $368. James
Davis has formally conveyed this property to Nicholas Knight to hold in trust for Narcissa and
her children; even so, Narcissa asserts that “said deed is not more than a reasonable alimony
for the support of herself and children.” She asks the court to dissolve the bonds of their
matrimony, restore her “to all the rights and privileges of a feme sole” and to decree “suitable
Alimony” for her family’s support.
0084 (Accession # 21485414). Giles County, Tennessee. The “children & only heirs of Joseph
Luker deceased” ask the court to compel their guardian, Isaac Luker, to render “a true account
of said Guardianship.” The minors explain that they are entitled to a portion of the estate of their
late grandfather, Joseph Luker, who died in 1847. They inform the court that Isaac Luker
received $123.50 from the clerk and master of the court on 8 April 1852. They now allege that
he has “never paid over or disbursed any portion of said fund, nor has he made any settlement
of his accounts as such Guardian, or renewed his bond as required by Law.” In fact, Luker is
“greatly embarrassed” and, in order to “evade the payment of his debts & liabilities,” has “run off
his negroes & other personal property to parts unknown.” The petitioners have reason to believe
that he “has himself absconded,” leaving no property, “which may be subjected to his debts &
liabilities, save a negro woman ... & her child,” who are currently in jail under “sundry
executions.” The securities on his guardianship bond are “insolvent” or “embarrassed” as well.
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They ask the court to secure their estate in Luker’s hands “out of the negro woman & child” so it
will not become “lost” to them.
0092 (Accession # 21485415). Davidson County, Tennessee. Tolbert Fanning asks the court to
“perpetually” enjoin a suit at law brought against him by the administrator of the estate of the
late O. B. Smith. Fanning explains that he and Smith arranged to trade several slaves in April
1851. Smith had shown particular interest in acquiring Fanning’s slave named James, even
though there was a suit for “the freedom of the boy James” then pending in the circuit court.
Fanning insisted that if Smith wanted the slave he “must take him at the risk of the title,” as he
was willing to take Smith’s slaves at the risk of “their health or soundness.” Smith executed bills
of sale for the exchange, but “did not draw them up according to the contract.” Fanning
objected, but Smith assured him that “the parties understood the contract,” and they would “be
governed by the contract as it was & not as it appeared to be on the face of the bill of sale.” In
December of the same year, to Fanning’s surprise, Smith filed suit against him “for a breach of
warranty of title to said boy James”; after Smith’s death, his son and administrator, Charles P.
Smith, revived the suit. Believing now that Smith intended “to perpetrate a gross fraud” against
him from the transaction’s beginning, he asks the court to prevent Charles Smith from
prosecuting the suit.
0099 (Accession # 21485416). White County, Tennessee. William L. White and Jesse Walling,
administrators of the estate of the late Thomas Roberson [Robertson], seek to recover an estate
slave named Jinny and her six children. The petitioners explain that Roberson “seemed to have
a great fancy to set said slaves free” but that he was unwilling to do so unless they could remain
in Tennessee. Near the end of his life, Roberson was “of unsound mind ... and unfit to do his
own business.” The petitioners charge that Edward V. Pollard, who owned Jinny’s husband,
took advantage of Roberson by convincing him that he could execute a bill of sale to Pollard in
order to secure the slaves their freedom at his death. Pollard claims that he paid Roberson $500
on a note of $1,000, but the administrators can find no evidence of the money “amongst the
effects of Roberson.” Shortly after Roberson’s death, Pollard took the slaves without the
consent of Roberson’s heirs and now pretends that he owns them. They ask the court to nullify
the bill of sale, to order Pollard to return the slaves to the estate, and to decree a sale of the
estate’s slaves in order to make a distribution among the heirs. Pollard’s answer speculates that
Roberson’s attachment to Jinny and her family originated from his belief that “said woman Jinny
was the daughter of his decd. son Joseph Roberson.”
0122 (Accession # 21485417). Giles County, Tennessee. Robert N. Jones asks the court to
attach a slave named Miles and to subject the proceeds from his sale to the payment of a debt
owed him by Josiah Bostian and Edward Stratton. Jones explains that he hired out his slave
named Alston, a house carpenter, to Bostian and Stratton, who operated a partnership “as
house carpenters or joiners.” The firm agreed to pay Jones $156 for Alston’s services from
March 1853 until the end of the year. Jones now submits to the court that his money is due, but
Bostian and Stratton have “made assignments or transfers of their property ... with a view & for
the purpose of hindering delaying & defeating the collection of their just debts.” In particular,
Bostian conveyed a slave named Miles to Ananias Pitts in order “to keep off the creditors of said
Bostian.” Noting that Bostian and Stratton have no property “unencumbered & upon which an
Execution could be levied,” Jones asks the court to attach Miles and hold him subject to the
payment of his claim. He also asks the court to “set aside” the deed of trust, which he deems
fraudulent.
0130 (Accession # 21485418). Smith County, Tennessee. Joseph Bowman, “trustee for the
benefit of various parties,” seeks an injunction to prevent Samuel Allison, sheriff of Smith
County, from selling certain slaves. Bowman explains that Joseph Pickett mortgaged several
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slaves to him on 8 April 1854 “to make certain the payment of various debts owing to different
parties by Pickett.” Allison has recently levied various executions on three of the slaves in order
to satisfy claims against Andrew Pickett. While Joseph served as security for Andrew on the
claims, the petitioner assures the court that Andrew has “ample means in Smith County to pay
the same.” He also points out that the deed of trust “has a priority inasmuch as none of the
executions save one for a small amount was issued in Smith County.” Allison intends to sell the
slaves within the week. One of the slaves, Nancy Jane, has a child less than twenty days old,
who “requires good care and attention.” Bowman insists that he is “unwilling” to permit the
slaves to be appropriated “to the payment of the claims in Allison’s hands unless it is ordered by
the court.” In addition to the injunction, he asks the court to appoint a receiver to take charge of
the slaves “until a final hearing is had.”
0135 (Accession # 21485419). Franklin County, Tennessee. Pamelia Embry, a free woman of
color, seeks a settlement from Simpson J. Embry, the executor of the estate of Pamelia’s late
husband, Peter Embry. The petitioner charges that she is Peter’s “sole legatee and entitled to
the whole estate of her said husband.” She disputes a “pretended settlement” that Simpson
Embry has filed with the clerk of court, citing “erroneous” credits, in particular, those arising from
rents collected on her late husband’s real estate. She also accuses Embry of taking advantage
of her “distressed” situation by mismanaging a trust estate set up so that she could “remain in
the country and enjoy her property” after Peter’s death. She explains that Embry now “claims
the whole of said property and denies that your oratrix has any interest therein.” She “finds
herself stripped of every thing and has not even a friend in the person of said administrator who
is exceedingly unkind to her, and growlingly furnished her a few of the absolute necessaries of
life.” Confiding in the court that she “cannot stand the life she is now living,” she asks them to
“set aside” the trust deed and to compel Simpson to equitably settle with her. Peter Embry’s will
reveals that he purchased Pamelia and emancipated her after 1836 and that he desired that his
executor purchase the couple’s daughter, Margaret, from Thomas Howard in order to
emancipate her as well.
0160 (Accession # 21485421). Smith County, Tennessee. Marmaduke Mayson and Abner and
Temperance Rowland seek permission to sell a slave named Harriet and her infant son, whom
they own as tenants in common with the three minor children of the late Josiah Whitley. The
parties also own a “crippled” woman named Judy and her five children, whose ages range from
five months old to eleven years old. They propose selling Harriet because she is “a likely young
negro,” who is “so much more valuable than any of the others” and therefore will yield a balance
that “could be easily divided in kind.” They inform the court that they are “willing” to let the other
slaves “remain undivided as yet.” Marmaduke Mayson purchased his share in the slaves from
Evan J. Williams and his wife.
0166 (Accession # 21485422). Davidson County, Tennessee. Minor Sarah Frances Weaver
seeks permission to sell four slaves given to her in 1844 by her father, Dempsey Weaver.
Weaver informs the court that the slaves “are of great value, but comparatively useless to your
Oratrix, because she is of very tender years and unmarried.” Having “no personal use for their
services,” she is compelled to hire them out, which incurs expense “in their care, for medical
treatment, clothing &c.” She also fears that their habits “are liable to be corrupted, and their
health injured.” In fact, a couple of them have already become “insubordinate and
unmanageable.” She points out that the slaves are “also growing older and less valuable, as
[she] approaches the age when they would most likely be of greatest use to her.” She insists
that it would be to her advantage to have the slaves sold “and the proceeds invested for her
benefit.” The report of the clerk and master reveals that the four slaves were a family unit, who
were separated after the court decreed their sale.
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0173 (Accession # 21485423). Williamson County, Tennessee. Avarilla White, who sues
through her next friend, Isaac N. Haley, asks the court to vest the title to a tract of land in a
trustee “for her sole and seperate use.” White informs the court that her husband, Robert White,
conveyed four slaves to Nelson Lavender on 17 December 1850 to hold in trust for her benefit
and the benefit of her children. The deed intended to also convey a tract of land in the same
manner, but the draftsman “by mistake” conveyed the land directly to Avarilla White. She asks
the court to correct the mistake and to vest the title to the land in a trustee. She further asks the
court to replace Nelson Lavender, who has moved out of the county and “pays no attention to
the trusts,” with another trustee.
0178 (Accession # 21485424). Sumner County, Tennessee. Six relatives of the late Evalina A.
B. Anderson seek to “set up” and establish her will. The petitioners explain that, at a prior term
of the circuit court, a jury determined that “a paper purporting to be” Anderson’s last will and
testament was invalid. They now reveal to the court that Anderson made a “right & proper” will
several years prior to her death, but later destroyed it “in a fit of derangement.” In this will, she
disposed of her property amongst her relatives by “looking to their condition & circumstances in
life. To those, whom she regarded as independent in their circumstances, she gave nothing &
divided her estate amongst those who were more needy.” Said disposition of her estate
included several specific bequests of slaves and land to the petitioners. As “legatees mentioned
in said will,” they insist that they are entitled to the property “therein bequeathed or devised to
them ... just as fully & perfectly as if said will had never been destroyed.” Evalina’s sister, Sarah
H. Barry, and her husband ask that a slave named Laura & her children be “settled upon & set
apart forever” to Sarah as her “sole & seperate estate,” free from her husband’s “debts &
liabilities.”
0185 (Accession # 21485425). Davidson County, Tennessee. Minors Georgiana E. Foster and
Jane L. Foster petition through their father and next friend, William L. Foster, for permission to
sell a slave named Jenny, who “has become of little or of no value to Petitioners.” Elizabeth
Sanders, an “ancestor of Petitioners,” gave Jenny to the girls’ mother, Susan Cheatham Foster,
in 1840. Their mother recently died, and the slave descended to them. They ask that the
proceeds from her sale be “otherwise & better invested for the benefit of Petitioners.”
0192 (Accession # 21485426). Davidson County, Tennessee. Mary E. Claiborne, guardian of
her seven minor children, seeks permission to use a portion of the proceeds generated by a
sale of land in Arkansas “in the place and lieu of her dower in the same.” She informs the court
that, at the death of their father, her children became owners of slaves and lands in Tennessee
and Arkansas. She has sold that property, which yielded “somewhere about thirty thousand
dollars.” She expects no income for the year, however, and the debts against them “for
maintenance education &c amount to about eighteen hundred dollars.” She asks the court to
allow her to “use enough of the principal to pay this years debts.”
0202 (Accession # 21485427). Davidson County, Tennessee. Lavinia Moran, the widow of
Charles Moran, four of her children, and one grandchild seek to protect their interest in two
slaves named Bina and Ann. They inform the court that Charles Moran became the owner of the
slaves “under a decree of the Chancery Court at Franklin in the case of Moran against Walton &
others.” The petitioners state that, “shortly thereafter,” he transferred “all of his right title &
interest in the said slaves to James Park of Franklin in trust to and for the use of his wife ... and
children.” The petitioners charge that Lavinia’s son and their brother, Samuel H. McAlister
Moran, took possession of the slaves through “a paper writing pretending to assign said slaves
to him.” He now “has the controll of said slaves & increase” and threatens “to remove the same
and deprive them” of their property. They ask the court to interpret the terms and conditions of
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the trust deed. They also seek writs of attachment and injunction to prevent Samuel Moran from
removing the slaves from the court’s jurisdiction.
0213 (Accession # 21485428). Lincoln County, Tennessee. John A. Vance and his wife, Agnes
Gilmour Vance, are joined by Elizabeth Brown in asking the court to confirm a division of slaves
made with Agnes’s brother, James W. Gilmour. The siblings arranged the division with the
assent of their mother, Willa Brown Gilmour, and the approbation of her trustee, Elizabeth
Brown, after their father’s death in 1849. Before Willa Brown married Charles Gilmour in 1815,
the couple entered into an agreement whereby a slave named Pompey “and a legacy to which
said Willa was entitled by the will of her Father” were conveyed in trust to Elizabeth Brown. The
petitioner’s father would take possession of the property, but Willa would be able to dispose of it
at her death as she wished. In 1849 the legacy mentioned in the marriage settlement consisted
of five slaves. In said division James W. Gilmour received two slaves while the Vances received
four; John Vance paid Gilmour $87.14 to equalize the shares. The siblings retained possession
of the slaves in this manner until Willa Brown’s death in 1854. The petitioners now inform the
court that it is “not necessary” to divide the slaves “according to said Indenture.” They ask the
court to “quiet” their possession of the slaves per the 1849 agreement.
0221 (Accession # 21485429). Davidson County, Tennessee. Thomas R. Jennings asks the
court to give a “proper construction” of the wills of William C. and Amelia Shields, recently
deceased minor children of the late William Shields. The children were the only heirs to their
father’s considerable estate, which was managed by their guardian, Anthony W. Johnson.
Amelia Shields died in 1849 while visiting her relatives in Pennsylvania. Her will bequeathed half
of her property to her brother and the other half to her aunt, Mary Acheson; if William were to
die before he reached twenty-one years of age, all of her property would go to Acheson. William
died in 1854, one year shy of twenty-one. His will bequeathed two slaves to Martha Moore on
the condition that she not sell them and support them “comfortably” for life, and emancipated a
slave named Henry with the stipulation that he be “allowed three years to labor,” with the
proceeds applied “by the Executor, to his removal to Liberia in Africa.” As the siblings “owed few
debts,” Jennings informs the court that “there is no reason why said estates should not be at
one settled & disposed of, under said wills.” He seeks a distribution of the property “under the
sanction of the Court.”
0232 (Accession # 21485430). Davidson County, Tennessee. Jonathan McDonald seeks the
court’s assistance in recovering a debt. McDonald explains that he recovered a judgment in the
amount of $2,216.75 against Fountain E. Pitts on 5 October 1853; the execution issued upon
the judgment, however, was returned “no property found.” McDonald later learned that Pitts
owned ten slaves, whom he had subsequently mortgaged to Nicholas Hobson. Attempting to
recover his money, McDonald “paid off & satisfied” Hobson’s claims against Pitts “& took from
Hobson a conveyance of all of said negroes.” In exchange for $1,000, Pitts then convinced
McDonald to reconvey said slaves to Hobson “to be in the same plight & condition in his hand
as when he held them before.” McDonald now complains that Pitts has only paid a portion of the
money and that he “has a right to have the negroes sold, Hobson’s debt paid & the balance of
the sale paid over” to him. He points out that the slaves have never left Pitts’s possession,
except for Lucy Ann, who is in the possession of James Pitts. Because Pitts is “wholly
insolvent,” McDonald contends that “it will be necessary to have the hire of the slaves
appropriated to” his claim. He asks the court to attach the slaves and hire them out for this
purpose.
0240 (Accession # 21485431). Williamson County, Tennessee. Rebecca L. Bostick, executrix of
the will of the late Richard W. M. Bostick, seeks permission to sell the remaining three slaves in
Bostick’s estate. She informs the court that, “after exhausting the entire personal estate,” there
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yet remains debts “unpaid and chargeable” in the amount of $6,000 “or upwards.” She notes
that she has “the right notwithstanding her office as Executrix to bid for said slaves” if the
desired sale is ordered.
0246 (Accession # 21485432). Davidson County, Tennessee. The five sons of the late Edmund
and Christiana Hyde ask the court to appoint commissioners to partition the real estate and
slaves in their parents’ estate among them. They point out that two of the children are minors
and ask that the court appoint a guardian to represent their interest in the estate.
0257 (Accession # 21485433). Williamson County, Tennessee. Philip Chapman, administrator
of the estate of the late Elizabeth M. Chapman, seeks permission to sell six estate slaves “for
the purpose of distribution” among Elizabeth’s surviving next of kin. He informs the court that his
sister died “intestate, unmarried and without issue.” He further surmises that, “from the number
and character of said slaves, and the number of the said Elizabeth M’s next of kin,” the slaves
“cannot be divided among them without a sale of the same.” Noting that Elizabeth “was desirous
... that said slaves not be exposed to public sale,” he asks the court to order a private sale. He
assures the court that, if permitted to do so, “he can find suitable homes for said slaves.”
0265 (Accession # 21485434). Giles County, Tennessee. Annanias Pitts seeks to collect a debt
of $1,300 from architect Edward M. Stratton. Stratton’s security, Josiah Bostian, is a man of
“limited means” and would likely be “wholly unable to pay the same.” Pitts informs the court that
there is a “settlement pending between said Stratton and himself of one or two years standing”
and that a third party has obtained a judgment against Stratton, “which belongs to your Orator.”
Pitts now accuses Stratton of “converting his property into cash ... to prevent the same from
being made liable to & appropriated for the payment of his debts.” He avers that Stratton sold a
female slave and her children to John N. Pointer for $1,800 and “is now making arrangements,
fraudulently & secretly to dispose of, & remove all his property beyond the jurisdiction of this
Court.” Stratton owns three slaves, a woman and her two young children, as well as lumber,
glass, and furniture. Pitts asks the court to issue writs of attachment and injunction to prevent
Stratton from liquidating his property. He also prays that said property may be “sold, or
appropriated to the payment of his debts” and that he may be decreed “the balance due him.”
0272 (Accession # 21485435). Giles County, Tennessee. The legatees and distributees of the
late Joseph Braden Sr. ask the court to confirm a valuation and division of the slaves in
Braden’s estate according to his will. Braden’s 1825 will bequeathed a life estate in two slaves
named Jack and Pricilla to his widow, Elenor, and upon her death, to their children. By the time
of Elenor’s death in 1851, Pricilla had borne five children. The petitioners now inform the court
that the commissioners have made a “full, final & complete settlement between the Executors of
the said estate, & the children, hiers & legatees.” They therefore pray “that the title to the said
slaves Pricilla, Jack, Gilbert, & Caroline be decreed to Jacob G. Braden & the title to the slaves
Riley & Eli to the said Joseph Braden & the title to the said Mary to the said Patrick H. Braden.”
0280 (Accession # 21485436). Davidson County, Tennessee. Bartley M. Barnes, guardian of
minor Priscilla O’Neal [O’Neill], asks the court to “confirm & sanction” the sale of a slave named
Esther [Easter] to Hill & Foster. Barnes explains that Esther, who had long been “hired out from
year to year” in Nashville, began “behaving herself very badly” around January 1854. She “had
fallen into the habit of sexual intercourse & was injuring her health by such habits.” In fact, she
formed a “criminal intimacy with and was living with a white man of the City as his ‘mistress.’”
Barnes found her “unmanageable & in danger of running away, and of becoming a loss to his
said Ward.” After consulting with friends of his ward, he decided to “put her into the custody &
care of William H. Glover,” who sold her to Hill & Foster for $1,000, “in his opinion a full price.”
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Barnes maintains that the sale “was so manifestly for the interest of said Ward, that a Court of
Equity, would confirm & sanction the act.”
0291 (Accession # 21485437). Giles County, Tennessee. George W. Pitts and George W.
Woodring, accommodation securities on a judgment against the firm of Grubbs & Brown, ask
the court to attach a slave named Andrew and hold him subject to the judgment’s satisfaction.
Pitts and Woodring explain that they became “bound jointly as stayers at the special instance &
request of said Grubbs & Brown.” The stay is about to expire and the petitioners fear that they
will be compelled to pay “the whole of the judgment.” They inform the court that Brown and
Grubbs “are wholly insolvent” and that neither of them has “any property which is liable or
subject to seizure by Execution.” Grubbs “was the owner of a negro boy ... but he has run said
boy off beyond the limits of this state and pretended to sell him to one John J. Ducker.”
Charging that the sale was “fraudulent & void & made with the view & for the purpose of
hindering & delaying & defeating the collection” of his debts, they also ask the court to invalidate
the sale. If Ducker has subsequently sold “said boy,” they ask the court to attach the proceeds
of the sale.
0300 (Accession # 21485438). Giles County, Tennessee. Benjamin M. Davis, “stayor” on an
execution for Isaac Luker, asks the court to attach and sell a tract of land belonging to Luker.
Davis informs the court that he became bound for the payment of nearly $307 in August 1854.
About a month later, Luker removed from Giles County, taking five slaves with him and leaving
no other personal property in the state. Luker owns a tract of land in Giles County, however,
containing about 160 acres. Although the stay has “not yet expired,” Davis confides that he is
“apprehensive” that Luker will dispose of the tract “so as to defeat the collection of said
judgments.” In order to prevent this “entire loss,” Davis asks the court to sell the land “for the
satisfaction of said judgments.”
0307 (Accession # 21485439). Davidson County, Tennessee. Mary G. Binns, who sues through
her next friend, Samuel McKay, asks the court to sell a slave named Alex and to divide the
proceeds among her and her sister and brother. Binns explains that her grandfather, George
Ridley, bequeathed Alex and three other slaves to her mother, Winnifred Ridley Garrett
Richmond, by his 1836 will. At his daughter’s death, he instructed that the slaves and their
increase be divided among Winnifred’s children from her two marriages. Winnifred Richmond
died in June 1854, thereby entitling Mary, her sister, Sarah V. Mullin, and their brother, Thomas
Garrett, to Alex. Binns informs the court that her husband, William A. Binns, “by unfortunate
trades, pecuniary misfortunes, and otherwise has wasted” all the money that she brought to
their marriage. She therefore asks the court to settle one-third part of the proceeds from Alex’s
sale upon her and her six children “to her sole and seperate use.” Thomas Garrett is “non
compos mentis,” and Mary Binns therefore makes his guardian a party to the suit.
0315 (Accession # 21485440). Wilson County, Tennessee. Phoebe Butcher Turner seeks to
“ascertain her rights” to the estate of her late husband, Washington Turner, “a free man of
color.” Turner informs the court that she married her husband “about twenty years ago” after
Washington was emancipated. Her husband had never been married before and left no lawful
children at his death. Turner informs the court that her husband left “a paper writing ...
purporting to be a will,” in which he divided his estate between her and “five slaves without
denoting them by name”; however, she disputes said will, asserting that her husband died
intestate. The petitioner now asks the court to “give the proper directions & instructions” to Philip
Fisher, the executor named in the document, regarding the distribution of the estate. Two
related depositions discuss the couple’s marriage license and how the minister who married
them questioned whether Phoebe was of “mixed blood.”
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0329 (Accession # 21485441). Smith County, Tennessee. Henry House, administrator of the
estate of the late William House, seeks to settle the estate of his late grandfather, William
House, who died in April 1834 without a will. House explains that William’s estate has been
twice administered upon, but never officially settled, and that he and his siblings, who were
minors during this time, “never received ... anything from the estate.” At the time of his death,
William House owned twelve slaves, who have been “used” and hired out over the subsequent
twenty-year period by his children. The slaves “have increased by births” during this time, and
some have been moved to Arkansas by William’s children. Henry now insists that he is “entitled
to the possession of all of said slaves in this state for the purpose of making distribution.” He
asks the court to charge the children, who have taken slaves from the state, with their “present
value.” He further “insists that said parties who have had the possession of said slaves shall be
charged with a reasonable hire for them and also for hire of those now dead up to the time they
died.” He finally asks the court to attach the slaves still in Tennessee to protect his interests
while the suit is pending.
0338 (Accession # 21485442). Washington County, Tennessee. Jane Fitzgerald seeks a
divorce from James Fitzgerald, her husband of forty-four years. She informs the court that she
has not cohabited with her husband “for several years” and that, “within that period, he has been
in the constant habit of frequenting and remaining at the house” of his mistress, Susannah
Millburn. In fact, James has “almost totally abandoned his family,” taking with him “nearly all his
stock of every description,” including his slaves, to “the house in which he & his concubine live,”
which is a “mile distant” from Jane’s house. Jane complains that her husband “has not bought
her a pound of coffee in twelve months,” yet “the object of his illicit attachment & her mother &
her children are all fed upon the bounty of a man, who neglects & has abandoned his own
household.” She charges James with “gradually wasting his estate on his adulteress &
otherwise” and fears that he will dispose of the ten slaves he now owns, who are “the offspring
of the negro girl given to her by her father” before their marriage. She seeks alimony out of
James’s estate as well as possession of these slaves “which came by her.”
0360 (Accession # 21485443). Smith County, Tennessee. The children of the late Wilson
Boulton seek to protect their remainder interest in a slave named Lucy. The petitioners explain
that Lucy was one of several slaves whom their grandfather, Charles Boulton, conveyed to their
father after an “unhappy separation” occurred between Charles and his wife, Elizabeth. Their
grandfather eventually moved to Shelby County, Tennessee, where he “raised another family of
children by another woman.” Despite his new family, he remembered Wilson’s children when he
made a “definite disposition” of his property in 1829. “Knowing” Wilson’s “improvident habits,”
Charles gave the slaves to his son as a “mere use for life.” Even so, around the year 1837 or
1838, their father sold Lucy to his brother, James, “for a sum greatly below her value.” James
afterwards sold her to his brother, Lent, who took her to Arkansas where she was sold again
and removed to Texas. The petitioners inform the court that Lucy is “a valuable slave,” who
“may have now valuable children.” Insisting that their uncle knew of their right “under said
instrument,” they ask the court to require him to either “produce said slave Lucy and deliver her
up to them,” or to compensate them for her value.
0369 (Accession # 21485444). Bradley County, Tennessee. Eliza Graves seeks a divorce from
her second husband, Simeon Graves, whom she married in 1844. She informs the court that
“her happiness has been destroyed by the unnatural and adulterous practices of” her husband.
She accuses Simeon of having an “improper intimacy” with his seventeen-year-old mulatto
slave named Grace, who is “of quite seemly appearance.” Grace “delivered a child, still or deadborn
which was white,” and whom Grace believes was “begotten by her said husband.” Eliza
has “ceased to recognize his rights as a husband since” and no longer cohabits with Simeon.
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She owns “in right of her first husband” four slaves, whom she fears Simeon intends to “transfer
convey or encumber ... in some way.” She asks the court to enjoin him from interfering with the
slaves and to vest their title in her. She finally asks to be “restored to all the rights of a single
woman.”
0383 (Accession # 21485445). Shelby County, Tennessee. “Your Petitioner Eliza Kennedy a
free woman of color by her next friend John White now residing in Shelby County Tennessee
would represent unto your honorable worships that she has been emancipated by her late
Master and owner O G Kennedy and that she prays your honorable worships to grant her
permission to remain in said County and State—That she would if compelled to remove from
said County and State be thrown among strangers alone and unprotected; that she would be
deprived of all facilities of making for herself an honorable livelihood which she has now around
her through the kindness of friends—And she will ever pray &c.” [Transcription of petition.]
0388 (Accession # 21485446). Smith County, Tennessee. Harriet Lancaster petitions through
her brother and next friend, Harrison Feagans, for permission to hold her interest in her father’s
estate separate from her husband, Samuel Lancaster. Her late father, John Feagans, died in
1839, leaving an estate consisting of land and slaves to his wife, Lucy Feagans; after her death,
the estate was to fall to their children. Many of the slaves are still in her mother’s possession,
but Lucy “has placed a part of them amongst her children to be held & used as a common stock
and to be returned to her at any time she chooses to call them in.” Harriet “regrets to have to
say” that her husband “has shown by word & act a determination if possible to get possession of
her interest in said property with the intent of preventing her from the enjoyment of the same
and also to deprive her said children of it and so manage that it may go to his own children by
his said former wives.” She therefore asks that “a decree be pronounced settling her interest in
said property upon her for her separate use not to be subject to the debts contracts or control
of” her husband.
0397 (Accession # 21485448). Sumner County, Tennessee. “Your petitioners John Franklin Jr
and Benjamin S Martin would Shew Your Honor that they qualified as the administrators of
Josiah Anthony Decd at the February term of the County Court of Sumner that he left the
following children Susan E Jane H Mary E and Patsey all infants that he died possessed of a
handsome real and personal estate among others of his negroes he owned a negro man by the
name of Mack and under the circumstances surrounding him they have placed said negro in the
Jail of this county they will show that the Epperson Springs have been lately burned down and
that this boy was hired at those Springs and the owners thereof has some suspicions that said
boy had some hand in burning said Springs though proof is not satisfactory fixing the guilt upon
him and the owners and the neighbours require his removal from the County Petitioners are
satisfied that is manifestly to the interest of said estate to have said negro sold out of the
Country and the proceeds divided among the legatees of said estate but Petitioners does not
feel themselves authorised to sell said negro without the action of the court therefore they pray
your honor to authorise them to sell said slave either privately or publicly fixing a minimum price
Petitioners think the said minimum price should be put at $700 cash and if they can sell him for
more of course they will do so.” [Transcription of petition.]
0404 (Accession # 21485449). Sumner County, Tennessee. Albert and E. W. Brinkly,
administrators of the estate of the late Henry A. Brinkly, seek permission to sell two estate
slaves in order to pay debts and “make up” advancements to heirs. Brinkly died in 1853, leaving
eight heirs and an estate consisting primarily of land and fourteen slaves. The administrators
and heirs previously petitioned and received permission to sell the land in the estate to pay its
debts. There remains about $300 outstanding, in addition to costs of administration and
attorney’s fees. Some of the heirs were also advanced land and slaves, but the administrators
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are unable to “equalize” the shares with the funds currently in their hands. In addition to the
sale, they also ask the court to appoint commissioners to divide the remaining slaves among the
heirs.
1855
0417 (Accession # 21485501). Stewart County, Tennessee. John May seeks to collect a debt
from the former ironworks firm of Stanfill and Kimble. May asserts that he has previously
received two judgments against the firm for $348.50 and $340, respectively. “They are further
indebted to him for extra labour of his Boys Mack Abe and Willie at their Furnace during the
year 1854 in the sum of about $70.” Stanfill and Kimble’s partnership was greatly indebted at
the time of its dissolution and now there is “no visible unincumbered means out of which” the
petitioner can collect his debt. However, in December 1854, just prior to the end of the
partnership, George Stanfill “made a conveyance by bill of sale of three certain slaves Peggy
and her children Henry and George Ann to his brother Jno M Stanfill for the specified
consideration of $1,200.” May concedes “that there might have been some small sum due from
said George W to said Jno M as his guardian prior to his arriving at lawful age but” it would not
have been as much as $1200, therefore causing May to suspect that it “was only a pretended
sale” made in order to “hinder delay and defeat the just and bonefide creditors of said Stanfill
and Kimble.” May prays that the sale of the slaves be declared fraudulent and void and that the
slaves be sold in order to satisfy his debts.
0433 (Accession # 21485502). Davidson County, Tennessee. W. K. Turner and his wife, E. L.
Turner, ask that her nephew, William A. Cheatham, be appointed E. L. Turner’s trustee. The
Turners point out that “E. L. Turner is the owner of certain negroes conveyed to her by deed
duly executed & registered in the County of Davidson.” They report that the present trustee,
George A. Washington, “has expressed a disposition to resign said Trust & has resigned the
same.” The petitioners pray “the resignation of said Washington as Trustee” be received and
that the court appoint “in his stead William A. Cheatham who lives in the immediate
neighbourhood of petitioners and is in all respects qualified ... to discharge the duties.”
0439 (Accession # 21485503). Davidson County, Tennessee. Samuella Fussell seeks a divorce
from her husband, Littleberry Fussell, on the grounds that he “has cruelly abused your Oratrix
by word and deed.” Samuella alleges that Littleberry “has beat her repeatedly with his fist; he
has pulled her hair; he has kicked her; he has thrown water on her when lying in bed; he has
forbidden and prevented her own servants from waiting on her when sick, not allowing them to
hand her even a drop of water.” She contends that “he has violently driven her out of bed at
night into the cold, obliging her, for safety, to hide herself in lofts or negro houses.” Confessing
that “she was raised delicately, was unused to labor or hardship, or accustomed to verbal or
other abuse,” Samuella cites that “her health, always delicate, has now, from the causes above
stated, become very infirm.” Of the opinion “that it is no longer safe to cohabit with the
defendant, and be under his dominion and control,” Samuella asks that she “may be divorced
from” her husband and “that proper and due care may be taken of her children.”
0446 (Accession # 21485504). Davidson County, Tennessee. Thomas A. and Martha Anderson
seek an accounting from Samuel Winfrey, trustee of land and slaves set aside “for the use &
benefit of said Martha & her said children.” The Andersons assert that Thomas executed a deed
of trust to convey “certain property therein named” to Thomas J. Anderson and William Sharp
whereby he “was to be supported ... out of said property during his life, and at his death said
property to vest absolutely in said Martha & her children.” The petitioners point out that the initial
trustees are no longer serving and that Winfrey “pretended to be the trustee by appointment.”
They contend that Winfrey has sold slaves belonging to the trust estate, has failed to collect
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funds owed the trust estate, and “has used the means for his own purposes.” Charging that he
“has groosely neglected and is neglecting his duty as such trustee,” the Andersons pray that
Winfrey justify every “part and particle of property, money or effects he has received, by virtue of
said deed of trust” and “that he be held to a strict account of his management of said trust
property,” paying to the petitioners “such sum as they are entitled to.”
0455 (Accession # 21485505). Davidson County, Tennessee. The five heirs of Drury Vaughan
seek possession of six slaves. In April 1840, the petitioners’ uncle, Peter R. Vaughan, conveyed
to them a slave named Nelly and her son, Jim, by deed of gift. The slaves have remained in the
possession of the petitioners’ father, Drury Vaughan, and Nelly has subsequently had four other
children. Vaughan has sold two of these slave children, one to W. W. Turner and the other to
the firm of Glover and Boyd. All of these parties were aware of the Vaughan children’s claims to
the slaves. The petitioners fear that their father will sell more of the slaves, thereby further
depriving them of their property. They pray that they be declared the rightful owners of the
slaves and that all of the slaves, including the two previously sold, be put in their possession “or
that their value be accounted for if they cannot be produced.” In the decree it is revealed that
Drury Vaughan owned a slave in 1836 named “Jane who was levied upon ... & sold” to his
father, Peter Vaughan. Peter then returned the slave to his son “perhaps by verbal gift & the
said Jane was afterwards exchanged for the negro Nelly.” In 1839, Nelly was levied upon by
W. S. Wilkins and sold at public auction, where she was purchased by Drury’s brother, Peter R.
Vaughan.
0469 (Accession # 21485506). Washington County, Tennessee. William Henry Maxwell,
executor of the estate of the late Samuel Maxwell, submits his bill of discovery in order to settle
debts owed to the estate. Maxwell alleges that John Ryland was indebted to his testator “for one
years hire of a male slave named Wesley” as well as other materials. Since he “has no means
of proving the time of service of said boy Wesley or the delivery of the said articles other than
herein indicated,” William Maxwell prays that Ryland “be made a party defendant to this Bill” and
“compelled by a decree ... to account for the value of said hire,” as well as the value of the
articles mentioned in his petition.
0474 (Accession # 21485507). Davidson County, Tennessee. Henry B. McDonald seeks to
have the title to a sixteen-year-old slave named Eliza “divested out of said Joseph W Bell and
Mary H Davis and vested in your orator.” He recounts that on 27 January 1853 he paid Mary H.
Davis “six hundred dollars for said slave Eliza and took the Joint bill of sale of said Mary H Davis
& her husband, the said Henry L Davis in which they warranted the health and title of said slave,
to your orator.” McDonald maintains that Mary represented that she was Eliza’s sole owner,
having “entered into a written contract” with Henry Davis prior to their marriage “by which she
reserved the right & use of” her slaves “to her sole use and benefit.” He explains that further
“examination of the marriage agreement” yielded the discovery that the contract was “composed
of three parties” and “by the terms of said contract it required the consent of the said trustee to
enable the said Mary H to make a perfect title to said property therein described.” McDonald
reports that “the said Bell as trustee has instituted his suit ... against your orator to recover said
slave Eliza or her value.” Charging that “the said Mary H did fraudulently misrepresent the
facts,” McDonald asks that the defendants be required to answer his allegations and that “the
suit of law of said Joseph Bell against your orator for said slave now pending ... may be
enjoined.”
0489 (Accession # 21485508). Robertson County, Tennessee. “Humbly complaining your
Petitioner William of color by his next friend L Pepper would Show your Worships that his
master departed this life in the year 1842 and made his will at that time and gave the body of his
Estate to his wife Elizabeth his widow during her life, and at her death to his Son Sampson
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Johnson except by William who he directed to be Set free upon the death of his widow, Your
petitioner States that he is free by said Will, that it vested him with a present right to future
freedom, and that by the verry Terms of the Act of 1842 which was the law when the Will was
made and continued, so he has a right to his freedom with permission to remain in the State and
prays the Court to give him the Same, Petitioner States that he has made his application to this
Court time and again, but has been hindered and delayed by Said Sampson Johnson upon
Some feigned pretext, he now hopes & prays the Court will give him a hearing and decree him
free with permission to remain in the State &c.” [Transcription of petition.]
0499 (Accession # 21485510). Sumner County, Tennessee. James and Martha Hibbitts and
Louisa Martin pray for a division of three slaves that they now hold in common. Martha Hibbitts
and Louisa Martin are the tenants in common of slaves named William, Kit, and Martha. Martha
Hibbitts and her husband, James, “are desirous of having their share of the slaves set apart to
them.” All three slaves are young; hence, there is “not a great difference in their value.” Louisa
Martin “is desirous of having the girl Kit set-apart to her,” and the Hibbittses wish to have
William. All the parties request that the slave Martha be sold and that the profits from her sale
be divided equally among them. The petitioners pray that the court authorize this division of
property.
0506 (Accession # 21485511). Davidson County, Tennessee. Caroline Demoss seeks to sell a
tract of land willed to her and her children by her late father, William W. Mays. Mays left his
daughter and grandchildren “five named slaves” and a tract of land, which Demoss reports to be
“poor and nearly all timbered land and will not rent for any thing.” Demoss, her husband, and
their three children have no other land and, therefore, no other source of income. Demoss
believes that it is “manifestly to her and her said children[’s] interest to have said land sold” and
to invest the proceeds in slaves. Demoss prays that the court authorize such a sale.
0519 (Accession # 21485512). Washington County, Tennessee. Clarissa Jones seeks a divorce
and alimony from her husband, William Jones. The petitioner asserts that she and her husband
were married some five years ago and that, about two years ago, he “began to treat her badly,
and even so inhumanly, as even to beat her, &, on one occasion to so ill-use, & mistreat her, as
to drive her from her own home at night, & in her night clothes.” Admitting that “they are now
separated, by his desertion,” the petitioner purports that her husband “has been guilty of
adultry—not only with white women, but with persons of a different color,” stating that she “does
not wish, in this connexion, to mention names, or dates, but she charges the fact so to be.” She
prays that the court grant her a divorce, alimony, and the right to continue in possession of “a
small farm & some property,” which she holds “in her own right.”
0526 (Accession # 21485513). Williamson County, Tennessee. Susan Jarrette Littleton seeks a
divorce from her husband, Joseph Lewis Littleton. The petitioner claims that, since her marriage
to the defendant in 1837, his behavior “has been cruel, and inhuman towards her in every sense
of the term; by word, blows, and action.” He is “addicted to intoxication,” continually abuses her,
and has, on multiple occasions, accused her of adultery. She argues that “he has recently, in
the last five days, drove your Oratrix and their daughter—their only child—from his house, and
cruelly and inhumanly beat and bruised your Oratrix with his fists, threatening her life with his
knife.” She declares that her husband is a shoemaker with an established shop and owns “a
comfortable dwelling house” and “a likely slave, about 8 or 10 years of age.” The petitioner
believes that this property would be sufficient to continue supporting her and their child, but he
“has consigned away all of his property” to his trustee, Isaac G. Neely, with “the express
purpose of depriving and defrauding your Oratrix of support.” In consequence, the petitioner
prays for a divorce, the restoration of her status as a feme sole, and alimony. In order to collect
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the alimony, Littleton prays that Neely be enjoined from selling any of her husband’s property
until this cause is heard in court.
0537 (Accession # 21485514). Dickson County, Tennessee. Jacob Leech and T. W. Hendrick
seek a writ of attachment on three slaves. In December 1854, the petitioners agreed to become
security for John Luther, “who was indicted in two cases, one for perjury and one for harboring a
slave.” They claim that “they were induced to go on said Bond” on the condition that George and
Mary Luther “would make & Execute to your Orators a Deed of Trust on” three slaves; the
slaves were to be sold if John Luther did not appear at the February Term of the court. When
Luther failed to appear in court, a forfeiture was taken against the petitioners. Leech and
Hendrick now fear “that the said negroes in the Deed of Trust aforesaid will be concealed or
taken out of the reach of your orators.” They pray for a writ of attachment and that the slaves be
taken into the court’s possession. In an amended bill, Leech and Hendrick reveal that John
Luther was captured in Arkansas after they “expended a large sum of money” on bounty. They
expect now to be cleared of the judgment of forfeiture; however, George and Mary Luther claim
that they have complied with the terms of the deed “and refuse to permit that expenses ... be
paid out of the Trust property.” The petitioners pray that the slaves be sold and that they be
given the proceeds as compensation.
0548 (Accession # 21485515). Maury County, Tennessee. James Witherspoon, a resident of
Alabama, seeks a division of his sister’s estate. Some time ago, his grandmother died and left
two slaves named Lucy and Bob to his four sisters. In 1844, one sister, Mary, sold her interest in
the slaves to the petitioner. Two other sisters, Martha and Elizabeth, retained possession of the
slaves until 1846 “when they gave the said Negro Bob by a bill of sale to the children of Your
Orator.” Lucy and her children remained in the sisters’ possession until they removed to
Tennessee; then, Elizabeth took possession of Lucy and her young child and Martha took
Lucy’s two other daughters. Elizabeth soon died, and her will disposed of her slaves. Martha
then died intestate, and her estate administrator, James Adkins, petitioned a Tennessee court to
sell the two slaves. This was confirmed and, in 1854, the petitioner purchased the slaves. The
payment on this purchase is now due but Witherspoon asserts that, due to his purchase of
Mary’s interest in said slave and because he is an heir to the estate, he should not pay the full
purchase price. Instead, he believes he is due one-fourth of the estate, on account of
purchasing his sister Mary’s interest in it and another one-sixth by his own account. He prays
that Adkins account for his administration of the estate and “that the court declare and settle the
rights of all the parties.”
0557 (Accession # 21485516). Davidson County, Tennessee. Mary Jane Horton, a mulatto
slave, seeks emancipation from her current master. Horton is the child of a slave named Mary
and a white man named Craven Horton. In 1833, her mother’s owner, Ann Lowry, died. Lowry’s
will directed that Mary Jane and her sister be held in trust for the benefit of their father “for and
during his natural life, and after his death ... they shall be sent to the state of Ohio, or some
other state, where they can enjoy their freedom.” Some years later, Craven Horton became
indebted to George W. Millan. In order to satisfy said debt, Horton hired his daughters to Millan
“at seventy five dollars each, and agreed to work for him at one hundred and twenty five dollars
a year,” until the children were redeemed. Once the debt was repaid, Millan “pretended to
become displeased with Horton, and, with the aid of the defendant, Edmond D. Richards, took
your Oratrix to Washington City, and offered her for sale there.” The petitioner filed a freedom
suit in Washington but, before it could be resolved, Richards brought her back to Tennessee
“where he has ever since kept her in slavery.” The petitioner reminds the court that, by the
dictates of Lowry’s will, she should still be held in trust by her father. She prays that she be
released from Richards’s control and that he be made to pay her reasonable hire for her labor.
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0568 (Accession # 21485517). Davidson County, Tennessee. Joel B. Arendale, a resident of
Alabama, seeks the return of a slave fraudulently exchanged for a stolen slave. In 1854, James
Vickhouse offered to sell the petitioner a slave named Sam for $1,200. “After some
conversation,” Arendale agreed to exchange an eleven-year-old mulatto slave named Frank and
a promissory note for $550 for Sam. In March 1855, Daniel Palmer, a resident of Georgia,
informed Arendale that Sam was actually named Peter and that Vickhouse had stolen him from
Stephen Smith of Georgia in 1844. Arendale returned the stolen slave to Palmer and, “in order
to endeavor to get back his note & the slave Frank,” he found Vickhouse, who was in the Atlanta
jail. Vickhouse stated that he had left the slave in Nashville with Morgan & Co., and he informed
the merchants of his connection to the slave and hoped to settle the issue in arbitration. Before
this could be done, the merchants placed a lien on the slave “as the property of said
Vickhouse.” The petitioner argues that, as Vickhouse’s ownership of Sam was fraudulent, he
has no claim to Frank, and therefore the slave cannot be attached for his debts. Arendale prays
that the slave be returned to his possession and that Morgan & Co. account for his hire.
0588 (Accession # 21485518). Maury County, Tennessee. Sucky and her four adult children,
former slaves, seek permission to remain in Tennessee as free people of color. Their late
owner, Nancy Sanderson, died in 1851 and by her will they were freed. Sanderson “was
childless and died at an advanced old age. She ... felt almost maternal solicitude for their
welfare and happiness.” Sanderson only required that the petitioners be hired out after her
death until her estate’s debts were paid, which has been done. Sanderson’s administrator, A. M.
Hughes, has recently filed a petition seeking to have the petitioners removed to Liberia, in
compliance with a recent act of state legislation. The petitioners assert that they all have strong
ties to Tennessee, having both family and friends in the state; further, Sucky is elderly, sick with
dropsy, and in need of constant care. In addition, they “do not wish to go to Liberia. It is a
strange and heathen land. They wish to die among Christians.” The petitioners “insist that the
bequest and the steps taken under it for their emancipation gave them a vested right to be
manumitted under the laws of Tennessee as they then stood, and that subsequent legislation
cannot deprive them of it.” They pray for an injunction against Hughes’s petition and that they be
allowed to remain in Tennessee, or, at least, that they only be removed to a free state.
0599 (Accession # 21485519). Maury County, Tennessee. Roger, a sixty-two-year-old “infirm”
man of color, asks the court to uphold his right to freedom. He claims that “25 or 30 years ago
he contracted for his freedom with his owner, John R. Hill, and has long since paid the contract
price.” The petitioner then married Martha Mitchell, born a free woman of color, by whom he had
several children. Roger asserts that “altho he had his right to be free yet he had never been
emancipated, and he prevailed on his former owner to convey the title to his said wife—who
being her self free could hold property.” Martha died several years since leaving a will and “from
the scope of this will it is Manifest that he is not bequeathed into a state of slavery.” However,
Martha’s executor, John Scribner, treats the petitioner as such and has even “hired him for the
benefit of his own children as their slave.” Roger avers that he has a right to his freedom, having
long since paid for it. He prays that Scribner be enjoined from hiring him out as a slave and that
the court protect his right to freedom. He further prays that, if granted the rights of a free man,
he be allowed to remain in Tennessee and not be removed to Liberia, fearing that “to remove
him to Liberia—would be to send him a great journey among strangers to find a grave.”
0611 (Accession # 21485520). Davidson County, Tennessee. Laura J. Wynne seeks a divorce
from her husband, Augustus. The couple married in April 1850 and, after six months, he “began
to show signs of an irritable and unpleasant temper, and to indulge habits, which began to make
the life of your Oratrix very anxious and far from happy.” During arguments, Augustus pointed a
pistol at her “with the intention ... of killing or wounding her” and, on several occasions, he
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pointed a knife at her. In August 1853, he attempted to take their infant daughter away and,
when the petitioner’s relative tried to intervene, he “struck at her with a knife” as well; on that
day, he also attempted “to kill one of the servants about the house.” Augustus has now returned
to his home state of Georgia, thus abandoning his wife and child. In consequence of his
“intolerable” actions, the petitioner prays for a divorce, custody of their child, and feme sole
status. Wynne further informs the court that her husband “was possessed of a number of
valuable negros: But the most of these have been sold, and the proceeds devoted to his habits
of intemperance and extravagance.” She has in her possession one of his slaves named
Melinda. Wynne prays that the court grant her ownership of the slave as alimony.
0623 (Accession # 21485521). Bedford County, Tennessee. Elizabeth Tune prays for a divorce
and the reinstatement of her property rights. Since her marriage to John Tune in 1853, he “has
rendered her life Exceedingly unhappy, and made her condition intolerable.” The petitioner
claims that, on multiple occasions, he forcibly prevented her from leaving their home and that he
did not allow her to speak to her neighbors or relatives unless he was present. Some ten days
before filing her bill, Elizabeth claims that he denied her the use of a horse to carry her “to go to
preaching in her old neighborhood, and at the Church of which she was a member.” The
petitioner states that she set out to walk to the church, but, “when she had got some two or
three hundred yards from the house, defendant came after her and forced her back, by pulling
and dragging her along and threatening ... to whip her if she did not return to the house.” Greatly
injured by his actions and requiring a doctor, Elizabeth charges that a doctor was not
summoned until some five days later. Elizabeth Tune therefore seeks a divorce and prays that
the two slaves and the land that she inherited from her first husband be restored to her and that
Tune be made to repay her the value of the property that he sold.
0645 (Accession # 21485522). Wilson County, Tennessee. Lucy Pruitt, a feme sole, seeks the
return of her slave. Her father died in 1850 leaving her a seven-year-old slave named George.
The next year, Pruitt married Thomas H. Berry, and her property became his. Shortly thereafter,
she filed for divorce on account of his “unkindness & gross misconduct”; however, her husband
convinced her to drop the suit. In 1852, she again applied for divorce and alimony, but once
again Berry convinced her to drop the bill, by promising that they could “live apart” and that he
would give up all claims to her father’s estate. By deed of gift, he claimed to return the slave
George to her possession. Despite this deed, Berry had the slave sold to pay for his debts in
July 1852. George was first sold to Charles Compton for $427.25 and was later purchased by
Nathan Lannum; George’s current value is $700. Pruitt believes George did not initially sell at
full price because “the condition of his title was well known to the purchaser”; therefore, the sale
was knowingly fraudulent. Pruitt has recently been divorced from Berry and has been restored
to feme sole status. She now prays that George be attached to protect against further sale and
that he be returned to her possession or she be compensated for his loss.
0664 (Accession # 21485523). Washington County, Tennessee. Catharine Rhea, a free woman
of color, seeks “the assent of the State to her emancipation & that of her sd two children.” Rhea
recounts that her husband, Harry Rhea, “was liberated by his late master Robert P. Rhea,”
whereupon he “contracted with one Joel C. Gillenwaters for the freedom of your Petitioner
Catharine.” The petitioner declares that, on 29 May 1853, Gillenwaters “executed to Hon. Seth
J. W. Lucky a bill of sale conveying yr Petitioner to sd Lucky in trust for the purpose of obtaining
her freedom.” She details that by said “deed it will further appear that her two children Joe who
is now aged about 7 years & Sarah aged about Six years were also to be free.” Cognizant that
they must “remove without the limits of the State,” Rhea reports that, once “yr worships ... make
such order,” she and “her children & husband expect & intend to leave the State for liberia upon
the Western Coast of Africa.”
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0669 (Accession # 21485524). Davidson County, Tennessee. Sarah A. C. Baker seeks a
divorce from Wade Baker, her husband of six years. She informs the court that “she was forced
by the cruel & inhuman treatment of her husband & by her fears from his violent & brutal temper
to flee to the roof of her father,” where she has remained since November 1853. Wade’s “acts of
violence” include whipping Sarah with “the leather strap, with which he was in the habit of
chastising his negroes” and once slapping her jaws “with such violence as to jostle the sets of
her ear rings out of her ears.” Sarah describes her life with Wade as “intolerable” and asserts
that she has “no assurance that she would be safe under his roof in her person” if she were to
return to him. Wade Baker owns several tracts of land and a number of slaves. Sarah asks for
“a reasonable part of the property or a suitable allowance out of the property” as alimony for
herself and her two children. She also seeks an injunction to prevent Wade from “otherwise
disposing of his property” until the suit is settled. Wade Baker’s answer acknowledges that he
whipped his wife in the context of punishing a “little negro” girl, but claims he did so “solely to
show the negro that he was to be obeyed.”
0690 (Accession # 21485525). Sumner County, Tennessee. The next of kin of Reuben and
Polly Bracken Searcy seek to protect their right as remaindermen to certain slaves, in whom the
Searcys hold a life estate. They aver that William Bracken devised certain slaves “unto my
brother in law and friend Reuben Searcy & his wife Polly ... during their natural lifes & at their
decease to be equally divided among the children of him the said Reuben Searcy.” They further
submit that said Reuben “has sold and disposed of all of said negroes, except Clement, who is
now old and worth but little.” Declaring that “they are entitled to the negroes and all the
descendants ... upon the termination of the life estate,” the petitioners “charge and believe that
all of said negroes and their descendants ... are now in the possession of and owned by the
respondents.” They note that “said Searcy & wife are old and infirm and may not live long” and
that “most of said respondents live within a few miles of the Kentucky line and that all of said
negroes might in a few hours be removed out of the state where the rights of your complainants
would be defeated or they would be put to great trouble and expense in enforcing their rights
and interests.” They ask that rights be “protected by this Honorable Court.” [The petition is
missing pages.]
0698 (Accession # 21485526). White County, Tennessee. Sarah Jane Menafee asks the court
to enjoin her husband’s creditors from selling slaves, whom she inherited from her first husband.
When Sarah married Joseph Menafee in Alabama shortly after her first husband’s death, she
owned eight slaves and “a dower in a tract of Land,” on which Sarah expected that she and
Joseph would live, as she was “in a good country and well to do.” Joseph, however, moved the
family to Tennessee, where he told her that he had a “valuable farm” and thought “he could do
better.” Soon after their arrival, she learned that the farm was “incumbered with six hundred
dollars near its worth.” To pay his debts, Joseph sold her land in Alabama and a slave named
Milly to Samuel Parker. He then began mortgaging her other slave property. Having received
“not one cent of the money,” Sarah now complains that it “has been all appropriated to the
separate debts of her said husband.” She fears that she “will be wholy ruined and come to suffer
unless releaved by your Honor.” James Cook has recently levied an attachment on her property,
which has been seized and will be sold. She asks the court to take custody of her slaves and to
enjoin the defendants from selling them, and she further prays that “all of said property be
settled and fixed to her” and her three children.
0715 (Accession # 21485527). Giles County, Tennessee. Samuel Cox asks the court to
recognize his one-half interest in three slaves, whom he and F. G. Webb jointly purchased on
21 October 1853. Cox explains that he and Webb purchased a slave named Rany and her son,
Henry, from Samuel C. Hogan for $1,300. The men paid a portion of the purchase price with a
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note that was later lost. Cox and Webb delivered another note to Hogan, which was later “paid
off equally by your Orator & said Webb.” The draftsman, however, drew up the bill of sale
incorrectly and listed Webb alone as Rany and Henry’s purchaser. Rany has since had another
child named Coly. F. G. Webb died in October 1854, and his widow, Louisa, now claims said
slaves as the property of her late husband’s estate. Cox asks that “the title to one half of said
slaves be decreed to your Orator.” A related decree reveals that Cox died before the suit was
settled, but his suit was revived by the administrator of his estate, Albert B. Hammond.
0721 (Accession # 21485528). Overton County, Tennessee. Robert C. Hill, administrator of the
estate of the late Sells McDonald, joins Margarett McDonald, the widow and administratrix, in
seeking to establish the estate’s remainder right to a slave named Martha and her three
children. They inform the court that Sells’s father, Allen McDonald, died in 1842 and “left a
negro girl named Martha amongst other property to his heirs at law.” Before his death, Sells
purchased of his brothers, Isaac, Jason, and Thomas McDonald, “their shares or interest in the
said negro girl Martha and her children.” The slaves are currently in the possession of Allen’s
widow, Susan McDonald, who is “perfectly under” the control of her sons, who are “unfriendly
towards complainant Margarett.” The petitioners assert that Susan, Isaac, Jason, and Thomas
“are trying fraudulently to deprive her of her estate and right in said negroes and striving to
defeat your orators of their rights.” They fear “their rights and interest will be lost” without the
court’s intervention. They therefore seek an injunction forbidding the McDonalds from selling the
slaves before “the expiration” of Susan’s life estate.
0739 (Accession # 21485529). Davidson County, Tennessee. Elizabeth Lyon seeks a divorce
from James Lyon, her husband of twenty-two years. She married James in Cincinnati, Ohio,
“against the will of her parents,” and, since the couple has lived in Tennessee, Elizabeth
confides that she has “had reason to repent the step.” James’s “jealous disposition” has led her
parents to advise her to separate from him, but Elizabeth has despaired of “the disgrace of such
a course.” Recently, however, James purports to be “a spiritualist, and professes to have
learned by means of communications from the invisible world” that she is “as unfaithful as he
has so long suspected her to be.” He now proposes that they separate, that she return to
Cincinnati “and find shelter there with her brothers,” and that she take with her $1,500 from the
proceeds of a sale of their house and lot and all her children except her eldest son. His jealousy,
which he claims is “fortified by the revelations of invisible correspondents,” has culminated in
“violent blows, kicks, and threats” and the “setting of traps such as streaching threads across
the stairs, to be broken by her in passing.” She now considers herself “unsafe” in their home. In
addition to the divorce, she also asks that James be enjoined from selling their property, which
includes a thirty-year-old enslaved woman named Eliza worth $800, and that she be granted
alimony.
0749 (Accession # 21485530). Davidson County, Tennessee. James Jenkens seeks to recover
his purchase money for two slaves, whom he bought from Reese W. Porter and William A. Bush
on 14 June 1855. Jenkens explains that he approached Porter, who “has been for many years
engaged in the city of Nashville in the traffic and trade of buying & selling negroes,” to purchase
“such property for his own use.” Porter “conducted him into the negro Cell and shewed him
several negroes,” among whom were two slaves named Caleb and Jordan, purported by Porter
to belong to Bush. Jenkens agreed to give $1,200 to Porter, who “was acting as agent for the
said Bush,” and Porter and Bush executed a bill of sale for the slaves and delivered them to
Jenkens. Jenkens, however, soon learned that Bush “clandestinely ran” the slaves “from
Kentucky to this place for sale” and that Porter had “full knowledge” of Bush’s “want of title to
said negroes.” Believing that the two men intended “to cheat and impose upon him,” he returned
the slaves to Porter and went “in search of the said Bush to have said trade recinded.” Bush
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“either conceals himself or has secretly left for parts unknown.” Jenkens asks the court to
compel the men to refund his money “with interest.” In May of the next year, Porter and Bush
filed a bill of review to overturn the earlier verdict in Jenkens’s favor.
0765 (Accession # 21485531). Giles County, Tennessee. The heirs at law of the late Josephine
C. Lane ask the court to order a sale of her estate for division among them. Lane owned a tract
of land jointly with two of the petitioners and two slaves in her own right. Her administrator,
Benjamin F. Maxwell, is in current possession of her property, but he is “willing and anxious that
it be surrendered & sold for division among petitioners.”
0772 (Accession # 21485532). Maury County, Tennessee. Elizabeth Covington seeks a divorce
from her husband, Eldrige A. Covington. Claiming that she “has done all in her power to make
him a kind, affectionate and dutiful wife,” the petitioner contends that the said Eldrige is “a
hopeless sot,” whose “demeanor towards petitioner has become overbearing, tyrannical and
systematically cruel.” She cites that “she has upon her face unmistakable evidences of his
inhumanity and brutality—scars and bruises ‘that may be seen and read of all men.’” Insisting
“forbearance has ceased to be a virtue,” Covington “comes to a Temple of Justice asking
protection from the violence of him who had solemnly vowed to ‘love, honor and protect’ her.”
She “appeals to your Honor to free her from her tormentor,” asking that “she be put in
possession of said slaves and tract or parcel of land” to which she has claim from her former
husband’s estate and that “she be restored to all the rights, privileges and immunities of a feme
sole.” In a supplemental petition, Covington alleges that her husband “threatens to dispose of” a
crop growing on a tract of land designated as her dower. She also claims that he “is possessed
of an amount of Bacon and Corn ... that he is constantly disposing of said Bacon & corn to
procure ardent spirits.” Elizabeth prays an injunction may issue “to attach said growing crop and
said ten Barrels ... of Bacon and to injoin said Eldridge from interfering with petitioner in the use,
possession & enjoyment of said tract of land.”
0787 (Accession # 21485533). Williamson County, Tennessee. Siblings Mary E. King Baugh
and Edward H. King join Mary’s husband, William A. Baugh, in seeking a partition of nine
slaves, whom they jointly own. They report that their late mother, Elizabeth King, bequeathed a
life estate in two male slaves to her husband, James King, and then specified that her remaining
slaves “be equally divided among her three children.” Her son, John L. King, has already
received his portion of the property through a prior court decree. The petitioners ask the court to
appoint commissioners to divide the slaves into equal shares to be distributed to them.
0793 (Accession # 21485534). White County, Tennessee. Mary Lane seeks title to “25 acres of
land where she now lives,” promised to her by William Burden, the defendant. Lane contends
that “she bought by verbal purchase of the defendant about 25 acres of land ... in consideration
that she would take and cure a dirt eating slave of the defendants then about three years and
six months old.” She asserts that “she did take said child & kept it eighty weeks and did
effectually cure it at a great trouble and expense to her”; she estimates that “the services
rendered in and about said child is worth at least the sum of one hundred and sixty dollars.” In
addition, Lane cites “that by reason of said verbal contract she has made valuable betterment
upon said tract of land by making fences building houses and planting valuable fruittrees.” Lane
notes that Burden, her brother-in-law, has in the past “always agreed to make her a title to said
tract of land,” but now he “says he has sold said land and now threatens to have her thrown out
of doors notwithstanding she has a small crop of corn her garden and various vegetables
growing upon the same.” The petitioner prays that “an account be taken for the services
rendered the said defendant in and about the keeping the slave aforesaid and also for all
betterments put upon the said land aforesaid by this complainant, and that said defendant be
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enjoined from interfering with her possession upon the same until the final hearing of this
cause.”
0799 (Accession # 21485535). Bedford County, Tennessee. Eighty-one-year-old Mary Lorance
asks the court to invalidate a bill of sale that conveyed her property, including a slave named
John Solomon, to her neighbor, Joseph Burnett. Lorance explains that, when her husband died
in 1853, she owned only John Solomon and $400. Having “no near relations,” Lorance lived in
this “almost helpless condition” alone, except for “her Boy John,” whom she intended to
emancipate by will at her death. Burnett proposed that she move in with his family, which she
“consented to do, until she could get her money from the Clerk of the Court.” While there, he
convinced her that one of her husband’s business relations intended to sue her for “a little negro
girl” in Mississippi, in whom her husband’s estate purportedly had “an interest.” Burnett
persuaded Lorance to let him act as her “special friend ... in this emergency” and induced her to
temporarily convey the money and John Solomon to him. Lorance later learned that she
executed documents that conveyed her property to Burnett absolutely and bound him in return
to support her during her life. Charging that Burnett’s conduct “from first to last was fraudulent &
designed to deceive & impose on & defraud” her, the petitioner seeks the court’s assistance in
regaining her property.
0816 (Accession # 21485536). Davidson County, Tennessee. Washington and Elizabeth Jones
ask the court to order the sale of two slaves “for distribution” among the heirs of Elizabeth’s late
uncle, William B. Newsom. The petitioners recently married and share ownership of said slaves
with Elizabeth’s four minor siblings. William B. Newsom’s 1846 will bequeathed all his property
“real and personal or mixed” to his sister’s five youngest children. The slaves in question,
Solomon and Alfred, have been hired out by the children’s guardian, James E. Newsom, “since
his said qualification” in 1847. Their hires along with the sales of other estate property have
yielded “about $1500,” which Newsom has used for the children’s support. The Joneses point
out that the slaves cannot be “equally divided between those entitled thereto without a sale.”
Avowing that a sale is “manifestly to the interest of said heirs,” they ask the court to refer their
request to the clerk and master “to take proof and report upon the propriety of selling said
slaves for distribution among said heirs.” They then ask that their portion of the proceeds be
“paid over to them.”
0846 (Accession # 21485537). Knox County, Tennessee. James C. McIntosh asks the court to
order a settlement of accounts between him and his business partner, Donald Campbell.
McIntosh and Campbell formed a partnership to carry on the “grocery and general agency
business” in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1853. The pair recently dissolved the partnership “by
mutual consent,” and, for a time, submitted the settlement of their business to two arbitrators.
No definite settlement was reached, however, and now McIntosh “despairs of ever obtaining a
fair settlement of the business of said partnership except through a court of chancery.” He
charges that Campbell purchased five slaves with the firm’s money during the firm’s operation.
They later bought another woman named Esther, who was also considered “partnership
property.” Since the dissolution, Campbell has “never paid any hire for them, although he has
solely had the benefit of their service at such times.” He asks the court to ascertain the debts
owed by the firm “and that after the debts are satisfied the balance due your Orator may be paid
him.”
0858 (Accession # 21485538). Maury County, Tennessee. Minor siblings Thomas J. and Sarah
E. Maddin, who petition through their father and next friend, Court A. Maddin, join their trustee,
W. S. Rainey, in seeking permission to sell a slave named James. Maddin gave James and two
other slaves, who have since died, to his wife, Mahala Maddin, in October 1838; James
descended to them upon their mother’s death. The deed of conveyance gave the trustee
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permission to sell the slaves at Mahala’s death “if he deem[ed] it advisable.” The petitioners now
charge that James “has a bad temperament and loose habits—That he is hard to control—that
he is roguish, drunken, & vicious.” They ask the court to allow them to sell James. [The petition
is missing page(s).]
0867 (Accession # 21485539). Davidson County, Tennessee. Ann Spain petitions through her
trustee and next friend, Dela F. Thompson, for permission to sell a slave named Eliza. Ann
inherited Eliza from her deceased first husband; before her second marriage to Henry Spain in
1841, the court settled Eliza and other property to Ann’s “separate use.” Ann informs the court
that Eliza “is very impudent and that it is extremely difficult to control her”; in fact, she has
become a “great annoyance to her.” Noting that Eliza has a two-year-old child named Rachel
and that she “does not wish to see them separated,” the petitioner asks the court to “decree that
the said slaves be sold.” She assures the court that she is “willing either to purchase another
slave or land to be held upon the same trusts as mentioned in the deed of settlement.”
0875 (Accession # 21485540). Washington County, Tennessee. Thirty-nine-year-old Isaac,
“formerly the slave of Henry Sliger,” by his next friend, Jacob Lamon, seeks an injunction “in
order to prevent the sale of him as advertized on the 11 Oct 1855.” Lamon avows that, prior to
his death, the said Sliger agreed that “the sd Isaac was to be entitled to his freedom,” provided
he “faithfully ... serve and take care of his sd wife during her life.” Isaac insists that the widow
Elizabeth “was comfortably maintained and supported during her life,” in large part by his “care
and industry and good conduct.” Noting that the said Elizabeth died in August 1855, Isaac
relates that Henry’s son and executor, William Sliger, “has pretended to claim him as a slave ...
has advertized him, with other property of sd Sliger dec’d.” He states that “two of the heirs at law
and distributees believe he is entitled to his freedom, under sd contract with his late master and
desire that his freedom be secured to him.” Lamon prays that the sheriff take Isaac into custody
and “hold him as Receiver ... and hire him out until the next term”; that William Sliger “be
enjoined from proceeding to sell the said Isaac or removing, or disposing of him in any manner”;
and that “a decree be pronounced by your Honor establishing and declaring the right of the sd
Isaac to his freedom.”
0882 (Accession # 21485541). Davidson County, Tennessee. Sixteen heirs of the late James
Demoss file an amended bill presenting “further testimony” in a suit begun in May 1833 to settle
Demoss’s estate. James Demoss died “possessed of land, slaves, and other property” in 1818.
His widow, Zaney Demoss, permitted two of her sons to control the estate slaves “for the
purpose of appropriating their hire and labor in the purchase of lands agreeable to the trust of
said James will.” Thomas hired out three slaves for about ten years, and Henry used the
proceeds to buy land. In the intervening years between the suit for settlement and Zaney’s 1855
death, she also “loaned or gave out” various estate slaves; the recipients have sold some of
these slaves, and some of them have died. Many of the estate’s original heirs have also died,
leaving heirs and representatives now entitled to their portions of the estate. The petitioners ask
the court to require the defendants in the original case to complete the account ordered by the
court in 1837. They further ask the court to order a sale of the land and slaves in Zaney’s
possession at her death so that the same may be divided among the heirs.
0898 (Accession # 21485542). Davidson County, Tennessee. Nancy Greer prays for a divorce
and alimony from William Greer. In a previous bill, she sought to divorce her abusive husband.
After she filed said bill, “mutual friends and the repeated assurances of her husband” persuaded
her to cohabit with William again and to dismiss her bill if he promised to treat her “as a wife
ought to be treated.” Upon returning to his home, however, William resorted to verbal and
physical abuse. The petitioner purports that he was “conscious that his conduct would force
your oratrix” to resume her suit and that he “has been attempting to cover up his property by
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sham sales” in order to deprive her of “reasonable alimony.” She has recently learned that
William has “pretended to sell” eight slaves to William Jones and William L. Greer, “from whom
he pretends to hire them at only $400.” Nancy fears that William will “run off these negroes” and
a slave named Charles “still held by him,” whom she brought with her to the marriage. She asks
the court to attach Greer’s property and to enjoin the defendants from “disposing of any of it.” In
his answer, William Greer refutes all charges and informs the court that he sold the slaves at the
behest of the complainant, who “did not wish the trouble of raising small negro children for other
people.”
0937 (Accession # 21485543). Williamson County, Tennessee. Daniel and Mary Robison
[Robeson] ask the court to allot and “set appart to them” their portion of slaves and lands that
are jointly held with Mary’s three minor siblings.
0945 (Accession # 21485545). Rutherford County, Tennessee. The administrators of the estate
of the late Erastus J. Clark are joined by Clark’s widow, Milly, and his four minor children in
seeking a sale of the land and two slaves in his estate. They inform the court that “it will be
necessary to resort to one of said slaves for the Payment of debt due & owing against said
Intestate which also makes it Clearly necessary to sell the other one for distribution, and in fact
without selling either one of said slaves they could not be advantageously divided into five
shares there being five distributions including said widow, who wishes her share of said slaves
allotted, or in some manner set apart to her.” They also ask the court to assign the widow’s
dower in her late husband’s lands.
0952 (Accession # 21485546). Giles County, Tennessee. The children of Isaac B. Nelson seek
permission to sell a slave named Jessee in Nelson’s estate. They inform the court that their
father owned land and eleven slaves at his death in November 1854. His son, James, who is
administrator of the estate, sold “all the personal property except the slaves” and has been
collecting rents on the land and hire for the slaves. He still finds there “will not be sufficient
assets to pay off the debts owing by said Estate, by about four Hundred Dollars.” The petitioners
charge that an estate slave named Jessee “is in the habit of running away, & lying out in the
woods at all seasons & in every kind of weather.” Citing that he has run away five times during
the present year “& has exposed himself a great deal,” they further fear he “may be wholly lost
to said Estate, if not sold,” as his character is “so bad” that he cannot be hired out “for anything
like a fair or adequate price.” Since he “is not & cannot be valuable to said Estate,” they “desire
his sale” and ask that “a sufficient amount of the proceeds as may be necessary” be
appropriated to the payment of the outstanding debts.
0961 (Accession # 21485547). Giles County, Tennessee. The children of the late George D.
Scruggs seek a division of the slaves in his estate. They explain that Scruggs’s widow has
already been assigned her dower, and their sister, Margaret Scruggs Mason, has received her
share of the personalty. Another sister, Sarah Scruggs Butler, has recently “intermarried” with
Jerome D. Butler and “now desires her distributive share of said Estate.” The Butlers “do not
wish any part” of Scruggs’s land, but rather “an equivalent in cash” of their one-fifth share. They
ask the court to appoint commissioners to divide the fourteen slaves in the estate, “allotting &
setting apart the share of the said Sarah H. Butler.”
0968 (Accession # 21485548). Williamson County, Tennessee. The executors of the estate of
the late Tristram Patton join his widow, two children, and three grandchildren in seeking a
division of the land and slaves in his estate. Patton died on 21 August 1855. In his will, he made
specific bequests of four slaves and land, and he directed that his remaining slaves, who
numbered eighteen, be divided into four lots of equal value and distributed among the
petitioners. In addition, he stipulated that his widow, Susannah, “have her choice of the women
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at valuation & that the same slaves be divided in families as well as can be done.” The
petitioners ask the court to aid them in executing Tristram Patton’s wishes.
0981 (Accession # 21485549). Davidson County, Tennessee. Benjamin D. Harris asks the court
to settle “all matters of controversy in regard” to a slave named Irvin. Harris recounts “that on 11
March 1854 he purchased of James Glover a negro slave named Irvin for the price of $750.” He
also states that, prior to the sale, he was an endorser for the said Glover on a bill of exchange
then owned by the Bank of Tennessee. Realizing that he was liable for said bill of exchange,
Harris “applied to Glover to buy the negro himself but upon the express condition that the
proceeds of the sale should be paid on the bill of exchange; & your orator expressly refused to
buy him on any other condition.” Glover agreed and issued Harris “a bill of sale for the negro
with warranty of soundness, health, sense & title.” Harris confesses that he “failed to have his
said bill of sale registered in due time,” resulting in an attachment being “levied upon said negro
as Glover’s property.” He took the case to court, and it is now on appeal, whereby “he is under
bond to deliver up said negro should this Court so order.” Harris now reports that “one Hamilton
Murray” claims “that the negro belongs to him & not to Glover or your Orator & that Glover never
had any title to him.” He prays the court to determine who has rightful title to the slave and, if by
decree “your orator has no title, then he prays for a decree against said Glover & Williams for
the $750 & interest.” The 1857 decree noted that Irvin’s hire for the years 1856–1857 amounted
to $177.75.
0992 (Accession # 21485550). Smith County, Tennessee. Frances Ann Barrett seeks a divorce
from her estranged husband, James Barrett, with whom she has an infant child named Laura.
Frances informs the court that James has been “cold, neglectful, disagreeable and unkind” for a
large portion of their marriage, and especially since she became pregnant; in fact, he “would not
wait upon” her as “her afflicted condition required.” After their child was born, he told her that
“nothing would afford him more pleasure” than her leaving him. He has threatened to choke her
and “made his hand filthy and then angrily struck her three times with his fist on her head.” She
also has reason to believe that James intends to commit “adulterous practices” with a slave
named Dilcy, who belongs to a neighbor. Frances herself brought to the marriage two slaves,
whom she inherited from her grandfather, Nehemiah Dowell. The eldest slave, Linda, has
recently given birth to another child. The slaves are currently “under the care of her uncle,”
Anderson Paschal. She fears, however, that James, who has possibly moved to Texas, may
“remove” them “and thus leave her distressed and pennyless.” She asks the court to issue writs
of attachment and injunction to protect her property. Finally, she seeks custody of their daughter
and asks “that her name be changed to her maiden name.”
1005 (Accession # 21485551). Shelby County, Tennessee. William Wheatley requests that
freedom papers be issued to Thomas Rachford, the former slave of Joseph Rachford
[Ratchford]. Wheatley informs the court that, on 29 December 1852, “Thomas Rachford, now a
freeman of color, contracted for his freedom, with his master Joseph Rachford who is now
deceased.” The petitioner “prays that the said Thomas Rachford may be Emancipated and that
he may have issued to him ... a certificate of such Emancipation.”
1012 (Accession # 21485552). Sumner County, Tennessee. William Sanders and Wilkinson
Yates file a bill of interpleader, asking the court to restrain James Alexander and William Dodd
from collecting a judgment and execution. In 1854, John Moss, now deceased, rented the
Washington Hall, “a house of public entertainment,” for $300. Soon after he took possession,
Moss rented the stables to Jacob Rutledge for $100; Rutledge then rented the stables to the
petitioners at the rate of $75 for the remainder of the year. Moss then executed a deed of trust
“for the purpose of securing and saving harmless the said William Dodd and Jacob Rutledge in
their surityship for him upon the said rent notes.” By the terms of the deed, Moss “bound himself
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to carry on the business of the Hotel,” applying the profits to the rent and the hiring of the slaves
employed in the hotel. Shortly thereafter, Dodd, one of Moss’s securities, served a written notice
to the petitioners ordering them “not to pay to the said Rutledge or any other person any part of
said rent, that he would look to them for the payment of the same” because Rutledge was
indebted to Dodd. Then Moss died insolvent, having neglected to pay the rent or the hire of the
slaves. After Moss’s death, Rutledge transferred the $75 note to James Alexander, one of the
defendants, who has brought suit against the petitioners for payment. Now, both Dodd and
Alexander are demanding $75 from the petitioners. The petitioners “are at a loss to know to
whom they ought to pay said rent,” and they ask the court make a determination of the same.
1031 (Accession # 21485553). Smith County, Tennessee. Harriet Lancaster asks the court to
settle upon her “for her sole & separate use” the interest coming to her from her parents’
estates. Lancaster reminds the court that it had ruled the year before against her husband,
Samuel Lancaster, preventing him from appropriating the property that she had inherited from
her father, John Feagans. She further notes that most of her father’s property was used by her
mother, Lucy Feagans, until her recent death. The said Lucy allowed her children “to have the
use of a portion of the negroes with the agreement that at her death they were again all to be
brought together & divided.” Citing that the slaves now number twenty-five, Harriet is “not
certain whether she is entitled to an interest in said property as a legatee under the will of her
father or as a distributee & heir to her mother.” Harriet insists that “said property is necessary for
her own comfortable & safe support.” She asks the court to determine the property’s proper
disposition and that “the same may be secured to her & her children free from the claims, debts
or contracts of her said husband.” She further asks that the property be “vested in her own
children at her death.”
1046 (Accession # 21485555). Williamson County, Tennessee. The minor petitioners attest that
they are “owners in common” of eight slaves. They reveal that “Petitioner Ann A Boyd has
nearly attained to the age of twenty one years and that she is desirous of having her share in
said slaves allotted and set apart to her in severalty ... by the 1st day of January next which will
be the best time to divide them as they are now hired out and cannot be got together without
trouble and expenses.” They therefore pray “that commissioners be appointed to make said
division.”
Reel 20
1856
Tennessee cont.
0002 (Accession # 21485601). Giles County, Tennessee. Griffin L. King asks the court to attach
a crop, a horse, and some furniture that he loaned to his son-in-law, Samuel H. Tucker, during
the year 1856. King explains to the court that Tucker was “doing but little towards the support &
maintenance of himself and wife,” so King intervened by extending “some inducements to him to
engage in business.” He set up Tucker on a portion of a farm that he rented, allowed him to
occupy one of the houses, and gave him the use of a “valuable horse,” seed for the land, and a
hired slave to help him cultivate a crop. King hoped that he would be able to “reform the habits
of said Tucker” and thereby ensure his daughter’s “comfort, welfare & hapiness.” Instead, the
couple separated, Tucker left the farm “& the growing crop,” and took with him King’s horse.
King fears that Tucker will “remove himself beyond the limits of this State” and that he will try to
“sell and dispose of said crop.” The hired slave is currently in King’s possession, and King seeks
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the court’s permission to use him and gather the crop himself. Reiterating that the horse, the
use of the land, and the hire of the slave “was not a gift,” he asks the court to intervene and
protect his investment by holding the crop “subject to your Orators claims & liabilities.”
0009 (Accession # 21485602). Bradley County, Tennessee. Albert Swafford seeks
compensation from the administrators of the estate of the late Nehemiah H. Roberts for “the
negro hire and rents” belonging to the estate. Swafford explains that he purchased from heir
Louisa Roberts Riggs and her husband, Samuel, their interest in land and seven slaves in
Nehemiah’s estate in 1853. Since Nehemiah’s death, the administrators have controlled and
cultivated the land, and the slaves have “remained their upon the premises under hire.”
Swafford complains that Nehemiah’s widow, Elizabeth Roberts, “in connexion with said
administrators,” has never “accounted to your orator for any portion their of but has kept all the
negro hire and rents” for herself. He also charges that Elizabeth Roberts has profited from the
rents of lands that were not assigned to her as part of her dower. He prays for a “full and clear
discovery” from Elizabeth of the lands owned by Nehemiah at his death. He asks the court to
order the administrators to “pay over ... his proportionable part” of the rent and hire and asks
that the land and slaves be partitioned and divided, with the Riggses’ part “set apart” to him.
0018 (Accession # 21485603). Smith County, Tennessee. Eason P. Lowe, administrator of the
estate of the late Hickerson Barksdale Sr., seeks the court’s assistance in identifying which
slaves belong to Barksdale’s estate. Lowe explains that Barksdale’s widow, Brunette Brooks
Barksdale, brought ten slaves to their marriage as part of her inheritance from her former
husband, Henry Brooks. Hickerson loaned several slaves to his son, Richard, the year before
his death. Lowe presumes that one of these slaves, Eliza, who is included on the receipt
documenting the loan, should now reside in the estate. Richard, however, claims that his
grandfather, G. B. Lowe, gave Eliza to him as a gift. Lowe asks the court “for such decree as he
may be entitled to in relation to said Brooks slaves & said girl Eliza.”
0026 (Accession # 21485604). Davidson County, Tennessee. Laticia Henley asks the court to
“dissolve the bonds of matrimony” between her and her husband, Richard L. Henley. Laticia
explains to the court that “soon after” their marriage in 1855, her husband “pretended to remove
to the state of Texas, taking with him all his property.” Along the way, he stopped in Memphis
and “hired out his negroes.” After the couple settled in Texas, Richard left “under pretence of
going to Memphis for his negroes” and never returned. “Wholy destitute” in Texas, a pregnant
Laticia has relied on “the kindness of strangers” for the “necessaries of life.” Richard has
declared that he will not again live with her and now “refuses to provide” for her. She believes
that Richard has spent “most of the money he had when he left drinking and Gambling.” She
fears that he will “dispose of” the four slaves in Memphis “unless prevented by order of your
Honor.” She asks the court to appoint Richard’s brother, Isaac Henley, as receiver of the slaves
while the suit is pending. She also seeks “such settlement upon her out of the estate of the
defendant as shall appear to your Honor reasonable.”
0032 (Accession # 21485605). Wilson County, Tennessee. Martha Green and her orphaned
niece and nephew, Lelia and Erastus Harris, ask the court to protect their remainder interest in
several slaves. Green explains that her mother, Sally Harris Goodall, conveyed Easter “& her
increase” to Martha and her late brother, Eli R. Harris, in 1824; Goodall reserved to herself a life
estate in the slave. When Sally remarried in 1827, her husband, John T. Goodall, took
possession of the slaves, whose “increase” then numbered nine. The petitioners fear that
Goodall “is threatening to sell said slaves, for the purpose of defeating ... their remainder
interest in them under said deed of gift.” The petitioners cite that, a few years ago, he offered to
sell them “to a trader” and now wants to “place them beyond the jurisdiction of the court.” They
seek writs of attachment and injunction to “safely keep” the slaves until the further order of the
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court and ask that the court require the Goodalls to give bond “to have said slaves forthcoming”
at Sally’s death. In an amended bill, Green asks the court to hire out the slaves while they are in
custody. She complains that John Goodall came to her house and whipped “severely” a slave
named Ritter, who had given birth four weeks earlier.
0063 (Accession # 21485606). Knox County, Tennessee. The administrators of the estate of the
late Samuel Martin ask the court to compel Holland Osborn to repay the purchase price for an
“idiotic” slave named Sarah. They inform the court that Martin purchased Sarah from Osborn on
7 February 1855 under the impression that she was “entirely sound and healthy and clear of any
impediment whatever.” Martin later realized that Sarah was “quite idiotic and nearly or quite
worthless.” The Martins charge that Osborn was “well acquainted with her condition” when the
sale took place and that Sarah’s “mental incapacity was a matter of notoriety to all the
neighborhood where she lived.” They allege that Osborn had “started off an expedition out of
the country for the purpose of cheating and deceiving the unwary” when he came upon Martin
and arranged the sale. Calling Sarah’s sale “a deliberate and wilful fraud on the intestate of your
Orators,” they ask the court to compel Osborn to take back Sarah, to refund Martin’s money
“with interest,” and to rescind the contract “entirely.”
0068 (Accession # 21485609). Sumner County, Tennessee. “Your petitioners would show your
Honor that Isaac Baker the father of petitioner of Mary Howard by his will gave to petitioner
Mary & a life remainder to her two children petitioners Daniel & Mary Ann a negroe girl named
Magaret about Fourteen or Fifteen years old. petitioner B R would show your Honor that being
about to remove from the State and having a valuable family servant who had a negroe the
property of petitioner Douglass for a wife and not being willing to part with him or seperate him
from his wife he made an exchange with the said Douglass giving him the girl Magaret for Jane
now about 30 years old and her two children to wit Sally & Alice giving to the said Douglass
$500 the difference in the value and he is now willing that the title of the said Jane Sally & Alice
shall be setled upon petitioner Mary for life & remainder over to Daniel & Mary Ann in lieu of the
girl Margaret. All the petitioners join in the prayer that said sale be confirmed and that the title of
Magaret be vested in petitioner T C Douglass and the Title of Jane be setled upon petitioner
Mary for life remainder over to petitioners Mary Ann & Daniel And as in duty bound they will
ever pray &c.” [Transcription of petition.]
0073 (Accession # 21485610). Maury County, Tennessee. William Galloway, administrator of
the estate of the late James M. Caruthers, seeks to recover several slaves currently in the
possession of Samuel Caruthers. Galloway explains that his intestate mortgaged the slaves to
Caruthers in 1843. Retaining possession of the slaves, James Caruthers later moved with them
to Mississippi, where he lived until his death in January 1848. After James’s death, Samuel went
to Mississippi, took possession of the slaves, and has since sold one of them. Galloway alleges
that Caruthers has “announced his determination” to sell the remaining slaves, “which is
contrary to the rights of your Orator.” He asks the court to enjoin Caruthers from “selling or
disposing of said slaves” and to order Caruthers to compensate him for the slaves’ “reasonable
hire” for the time that they have been in his possession.
0089 (Accession # 21485612). Knox County, Tennessee. Siblings Margaret Helms and
Rebecca Kidd are joined by their respective husbands, John E. Helms and Leroy Kidd, in
seeking an account of the estate of their late grandfather, John Hillsman, who died in December
1850 when the girls were orphaned minors. The sisters inform the court that neither of them has
received “one cent from said estate,” which includes a substantial amount of land and five
slaves. They charge their grandfather’s administrator, Gordon Mynatt, and the estate’s other
heirs with excluding them “from all participation in the benefits of said estate.” Mynatt has sold a
“portion of the land” and one of the slaves, a sixteen-year-old girl named Mira, to Richard
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Hillsman for $630; they now “reserve the right” to dissent from said sales “if they should think
their interest requires it.” They also complain that there has been no division of said estate and
assert “that said land and negroes should be sold by a decree of your Honor’s honorable court.”
They acknowledge that their mother received advancements from her father during her lifetime
and insist that they are “willing” to account for them “but for nothing beyond.” They ask the court
to determine their rightful inheritance and that “the sum due them may be decreed them.”
0099 (Accession # 21485613). Montgomery County, Tennessee. Jane Dennis seeks to secure
an equitable portion of her late husband’s estate, which has been valued at over $60,000. In
particular, Jane asks the court to invalidate two deeds Marmaduke Dennis executed with James
Riggs; the first conveyed his “personal property of every description” to his twelve-year-old son,
Zebedia Dennis, while the other conveyed a tavern and lot to Riggs in trust for Riggs’s wife and
children. Riggs also drafted Dennis’s will, which Jane has dissented from, “being dissatisfied
with the provision made for her.” She charges that Riggs “acquired an entire control and
absolute ascendancy” over her husband, who drank alcohol to such excess as to make himself
“incapable of making any intelligent agreement or doing any intelligent act.” As Marmaduke’s
executor, Riggs has taken possession of “all said real and personal estate,” has refused to
assign her “dower or a years provision,” and claims to hold the property as Zebedia’s guardian.
Jane insists that the deed of gift to Zebedia is “inoperative” and that its contents “still belong to
the estate of Dennis.” She asks the court to compel Riggs to exhibit a schedule of the estate
property. She requests that her distributive portion be “set apart and allotted to her” and that she
be compensated for “damages for detention of dower.”
0114 (Accession # 21485614). Smith County, Tennessee. Several heirs of the late Joseph
Reasonover [Reasnover] seek a fair distribution of his estate. Reasonover made his will in 1835
and died in 1854. His son, Jeremiah Reasonover, proved the will by a jury trial shortly
thereafter. The testator made special bequests of slaves and land to his children. Several of the
slaves, however, have borne children since the will was executed. The petitioners assert that
Reasonover “died intestate as to” these slaves, and they “have a right by the laws of
distribution, to secure all the property and effects of which he died intestate subject to the
colation of all the advancements made by the Testator within his life time.” Two of Reasonover’s
sons, Jeremiah and George, have subsequently sold the slaves advanced them by their father.
The petitioners ask the court for writs of attachment and injunction to prevent other heirs from
removing any of the slaves from the court’s jurisdiction. They also seek an account of the
estate’s administration and ask the court to “settle” and “declare” the rights of the heirs “touching
said property.”
0128 (Accession # 21485615). Lincoln County, Tennessee. Samuel Talley asks the court to
cancel the note that he used to purchase an “unsound” slave named George from William S.
Buchanan. Talley explains that, when he and Buchanan arranged the purchase, Buchanan
knew that Talley’s “business was of such a character that he could not look after said George
much if he was to buy him” and that he “wanted a boy that would be willing and competent to
carry on or work his farm without” much supervision. Buchanan assured him that George “would
be competent to act as complainant desired him,” and Talley gave Buchanan a note for $1,160.
Since then, Buchanan has died without making a bill of sale for George, “in which he was to
warrant the title and the soundness” of George. After Talley took George home, he found him
“unable to work or to do anything like reasonable labor because of both mental weakness and
bodily disease.” Talley charges that Buchanan “concealed” George’s infirmities and knew that
the slave was “worthless” at the time of the sale. He asks the court to compel Buchanan’s
administrator, Samuel S. Buchanan, to surrender the note and to compensate him for “all
reasonable medical bills” that he incurred “in consequence of the unsoundness of said George.”
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0143 (Accession # 21485616). Davidson County, Tennessee. Mary H. Davis seeks a divorce
from Henry L. Davis, her husband of four years. Mary explains to the court that she brought
three slaves to her marriage, whom she inherited from a former husband; the slaves belonged
to Mary as her “sole and separate estate.” Henry, who helped run a restaurant in Nashville,
convinced his new wife to sell two of her slaves to make payments on the business. The
restaurant, however, was eventually sold “for the defendants debts, and it produced nothing for
the support of the family whatever.” Henry later asked Mary for permission to sell her third slave
in order to “refit” the business and “supply it with liquors.” When Mary refused his proposal,
Henry “was greatly provoked” and began to mistreat her. Finally, “when he could get nothing
more” from her, Henry “withdrew from her house and has absented himself for more than twelve
months.” Mary believes that he is “sauntering about Nashville,” that he has “no means,” and that
his “habits of intemperance and debauchery generally render his company intolerable.” With
four children to support, Mary now wishes to start her own business. However, “because her
earnings would be subject to his debts,” Mary asks that the “bonds of matrimony subsisting
between them may be dissolved.”
0151 (Accession # 21485617). Smith County, Tennessee. Benjamin Vaden, administrator of the
estate of the late Lodwick Vaden, seeks to secure sixteen slaves, whom he insists are part of
Vaden’s estate. Lodwick’s widow, Ann, currently holds the slaves and refuses to surrender
them, “denying they constitue any part of the estate of her deceased husband.” Calling her
claim “invalid,” the petitioner “brings this suit to get possession of said slaves [so] that they may
be distributed according to law.” He informs the court that Vaden owned thirteen additional
slaves, whom he has hired out until “the 25th of next December.” Once the hiring term has
expired, he desires to divide them among the heirs “as your orator is well satisfied that the
slaves will not be needed to pay debts.”
0164 (Accession # 21485618). Davidson County, Tennessee. The “children and heirs at Law of
William W Gee deceased” seek “to have an account of the administration of the said Joseph C.
Gee, and of the Guardianship of the said Norvell P. Gee.” They point out that William Gee died
“about the month of May, 1839” possessed of slaves, a tract of land, and sundry “Household
and Kitchen furniture, and his Barouche and mare.” Joseph Gee “was made Executor of said
Will by the Testator” and as such “took possession of all of said property, but never returned an
Inventory, or made any settlement of his management of said property or disposition thereof.”
They further note that Joseph sold “a very valuable negro man” named George “upon the
ground alleged, of its necessity to pay debts,” as well as a slave named Harriet, and little
accounting accompanied either sale. The petitioners report that Joseph Gee died in October
1847; that his wife, Sarah A. B. Gee, was “appointed his sole Executrix”; and that the court
appointed Norvell Gee to be their guardian at the January Term 1848. Acknowledging that they
“have been kindly treated,” the complainants seek to discover “what property, rents, issues and
profits of your Orators have come to their [defendants’] hands; and that they be held to account
for the same.”
0176 (Accession # 21485619). White County, Tennessee. Vance Loury, James Dykes, and
Jessee Walling, heirs and administrators to the estate of the late Thomas Robeson, seek to
distribute his land and slaves. Thomas Robeson died intestate in 1854, possessed of land and
slaves. Robeson had no children, but he did have several siblings, who have descendants. The
petitioners have “rented out the Land, the negroes have been hired out and it now become
necessary and proper that they should be discharged of their Trust.” They pray that Robeson’s
other “numerous” relatives be made parties to this suit, that any currently unknown relatives be
added as party defendants when they are discovered, and that the estate be equally distributed
among them. The petitioners further request compensation for their work as administrators.
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0188 (Accession # 21485620). Davidson County, Tennessee. Reese Porter, John Bayne, and
James Webb seek “writs of attachment and injunction to attach” certain slaves, whom Alexander
Williams mortgaged to secure sundry debts. They aver that said Williams conveyed seven
slaves to Samuel R. Anderson “in trust for certain creditors” in 1855. They further represent that
they are endorsers of a note, which said Williams executed to the Bank of Tennessee, that is
secured by a deed of trust on a twenty-four-year-old slave named Stephen. The petitioners state
that the deed of trust “provides that if the note secured thereby is not paid at maturity ... the
trustee shall sell the negro for cash to the highest bidder and apply the proceeds ... to the
satisfaction of said note.” Citing that the note is overdue, Webb reveals that he “has advertized
the sale with that view, but the said Williams has refused to produce and deliver the negro for
the purpose of sale.” The petitioners fear that Williams will “run off” the mortgaged slaves,
“unless prevented by the injunction process of this court.” They therefore pray that writs issue to
enjoin said Williams “from meddling with the boy Stephen in any way” and that “your Honor
declare your Orators rights under the deeds and subject the property therein mentioned to the
satisfaction of their debt.”
0204 (Accession # 21485622). Davidson County, Tennessee. William and Ralph Shelton, both
from Virginia and heirs of the late Joshua Shelton, seek the return of his estate slaves. Joshua
died in 1819, leaving a slave couple named Bacchus and Lyddy and their children to his widow,
Polly. At her death, the slaves were to revert to the estate and be redistributed among Joshua’s
siblings. Polly attempted to defraud the estate by passing the slaves off as the property of
Jonathan Bell and Edmund Woodruff. Joshua’s heirs entered a petition against Polly at a
Virginia court, which granted an attachment; however, before it could be executed, Bell “had
removed with said slaves beyond the limits of the State of Virginia.”After Polly’s death, the
Virginia court ruled that the slaves should revert to Joshua’s estate. In 1856, the court further
ruled that the petitioners could “pursue the parties having moved said slaves.” The petitioners
found that Bell had brought the slaves to Tennessee but, finding himself in debt, he fraudulently
conveyed the slaves to his own son and others. A slave named Matilda and her three children
are now in the possession of Robert Allford, and another slave named Wesley is held by Bailey
Johnson. The petitioners pray that the slaves be attached and “that your orators may be
declared to have a right to said slaves.”
0230 (Accession # 21485624). Davidson County, Tennessee. William Watkins and Oliver
McRoberts, executors to the estate of the late Montgomery Bell, seek to distribute the remainder
of his property. Bell died in 1855 and, in February 1856, the petitioners and their co-executor,
James L. Bell, advertised and sold “a large amount of negroes and other property.” The slave
property was worth $106,105, and the other property $3,666.15. One of the heirs, “Montgomery
Bell a son of James L. Bell became a purchaser of a large number of the negro slaves
amounting in value to” $50,675. All of the estate’s intended legacies and gifts, including one to
the University of Nashville, are to be paid shortly; therefore, “the residuary estate of the Testator
will remain to be divided according to the will among his nieces and nephews, and Grand
Nieces and Grand Nephews.” The petitioners wish to distribute the property, but they do not
know the names or locations of all the heirs. They name fifty-six heirs in their petition and
request the court’s assistance in finding any others. They pray that all the heirs, known and
unknown, be made parties to this suit, “that an account may be taken of the assets of
Montgomery Bell & of his whole estate ... and that the same may be distributed according to the
will.” A related document includes a detailed genealogy of Montgomery Bell’s descendants.
0253 (Accession # 21485625). Davidson County, Tennessee. Walter Liles wishes to void the
sale of a slave. In July 1856, Liles purchased a slave named Maria from Franklin Pearce,
trustee of Adeline and Wellington Pearce. Pearce warranted the slave “sound healthy sensible
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and a slave for life.” Soon after the sale, Liles discovered that Maria was “addicted to
[Periodical] Fitz rendering her wholly valuless, to complt. and of which defts well knew at the
time of the sale.” Liles seeks the court’s assistance in voiding the sale but as the Pearces are all
nonresidents of Tennessee, “the ordinary process of law cannot be served on them.” The
Pearces hold no known property in the state, but Liles knows of several debts owed to them. He
prays that the Pearces be enjoined from collecting these debts and that the court order a writ of
attachment against any of their known property. Finally, he prays that the sale of Maria be
“recended and his money paid to him” with interest and damages.
0263 (Accession # 21485626). Bedford County, Tennessee. Mary Frances McLean and her
minor children seek to void the sale of four slaves from her late husband’s estate. Martin Oakley
and Nathaniel Porter, the administrators of the late Thomas Porter, petitioned the court during
the March 1849 Term, stating that Thomas had contracted to sell the said slaves to their father,
George Porter, a free man of color. The petitioners “positively deny that there was any such
Contract,” but the court granted the petition; the slaves were sold at auction to their father in
May 1849. The petitioners show that the slaves “did not sell for one half thier value.” McLean
and her children assert that the sale was fraudulent because they, as heirs, were not made
parties to the administrators’ petition. They pray that George Porter be enjoined from disposing
of the four slaves and that the court order the slaves resold at their fair market value to pay the
debts of the estate. The administrators’ petition, which is included as a related document, states
that George Porter is a “prudent, discret, and money makeing Negro,” who previously
purchased himself, his wife, and one of their children. Of the four children in question, they
“have always resided with their father and mother; seperate and apart from the ownership of
white persons; acting and treated as free people of Colour.”
0278 (Accession # 21485628). Maury County, Tennessee. The heirs of Elijah and Elizabeth
Hunter declare that they are entitled to an interest in two slaves. They recount that the will of
their grandfather, Elijah Hunter, “gave to his wife Elizabeth Hunter a negro woman named Dolly
aged then about 29 years of age and her child during her natural life.” At Elizabeth’s death, the
slaves were “bequeathed to his daughters Elizabeth Foster and Celine Hunter and his son
George Hunter Jointly.” The petitioners report that “they are the only children of said Elizabeth
Foster now deceased and as such are entitled to her interest in said slaves or the one third part
thereof.” Noting that “said slaves cannot be divided without a sale,” they “pray that said slaves
may be sold for division.”
0288 (Accession # 21485629). Davidson County, Tennessee. Delia Larkins, a term slave, asks
that the defendants be “enjoined from removing your Oratrix out of the city of Nashville ... that
she may be hired out under the control of this court till the expiration of her term of service.”
Larkins recounts that “she is bound to service for about four years, which service she owes to
the above named defendant, Mary B. Devough.” She charges that Devough sent her to
Campbell, “a slave dealer in Baltimore,” who proceeded to sell her for $300 as a term slave to
Summerhill, who fraudulently “sold her to Doctor William A. Cheatham, Physician of the Lunatic
Assylum of Tennessee, for the sum of one thousand dollars ... as a slave for life.” Cheatham
returned Delia to Summerhill, who “placed her in the hands of Reese W. Porter, a dealer in
Slaves in Nashville Tennessee, with orders to sell your Oratrix.” Porter complied and sold Delia
to Harrison “for the sum of one thousand dollars, Summerhill again representing her to be a
slave for life.” Discovering the fraud, Harrison returned Delia to Porter. Delia is fearful of falling
into Summerhill’s possession as “he will carry her away, where it will be still more difficult than it
is here, to make out her case.” She therefore prays “that she may not be placed again in hands
of said Summerhill, who has already once, cruelly beaten her, because he suspected her of
communicating the above facts to the persons concerned.”
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0301 (Accession # 21485630). Davidson County, Tennessee. George E. Dismukes seeks an
attachment on a slave. In September 1855, Dismukes received a judgment against William L.
Brown and Alexander Williams for $442. Prior to the judgment, Williams conveyed seven of his
slaves in trust to Samuel R. Anderson. This “deed purported to be made to secure” a number of
debts. Dismukes’s judgment was paid, in part, by Reese Porter and John Bayne for Williams; as
security, Williams “conveyed to James G. Webb in trust the slave Stephen, with authority to sell
him, and apply the proceeds to the satisfaction of the said note.” Williams never repaid Porter
and Bayne and, in May 1856, they and Webb petitioned the court seeking to collect their debt
from Williams. The case is still pending, but it requests that the court attach all seven slaves and
then sell them to satisfy only the debt owed to Porter, Bayne, and Webb. The petitioner “is
advised that he has the right to subject the said property to the satisfaction of his debt, after
satisfying prior bona fide liens.” Dismukes prays that the slaves be attached and that the court
“subject the said negroes, or so much thereof as may be necessary to the satisfaction of your
Orator’s debt.”
0321 (Accession # 21485631). Davidson County, Tennessee. Jane D. Allen asks the court to
confirm her sale of two slaves from her late husband’s estate. Thomas J. Allen died in 1843,
leaving to the petitioner all of his property “for the better support of herself and for the raising
and educating of her children during her natural life.” The Allens’ three children are entitled to
their shares of the estate when they come of age or marry. A slave named Esther and her son,
Henry, were part of the estate, but Allen asserts that “said slaves became verry dishonest, of
bad habits, and verry imprudent, and often threatened to run off and go to a free state.” Esther
is of “a verry high temper” and even once “attempted to cut another servant ... with an ax.”
Finding that “she could not manage them at all,” the petitioner sold the slaves for $1,900 to N.
G. Rousseau of Mississippi and purchased two other slaves. These slaves were not as valuable
as Esther and Henry, and Allen states that “she has the residue of the money to purchase
another when ... it is necessary.” Allen desires that the two newly purchased slaves and the
residue “may be held just as the said Esther and Henry were under said will.” She prays that the
court confirm her sale of the slaves. In his deposition, Robert Hart reveals that the slave Henry
“can read and perhaps write.”
0340 (Accession # 21485633). Davidson County, Tennessee. Hiram Vaughn and his siblings
seek a distribution of their late mother’s estate. Sarah Vaughn died intestate in 1856, possessed
of eighteen slaves. As the administrator, Hiram Vaughn asserts that most of the estate’s debts
have been paid and that the five heirs “are desirous that the said negro slaves should be divided
among the next of kin by a sale under a Decree of this Court, and that the proceeds should be
distributed according to law.” Vaughn further informs the court that his brother Joshua, “being
indebted to your orator Hiram and the defendant Michael in a large sum of money, much more
than his interest in the value of said estate of his mother, transferred & assigned ... his interest
in said negroes to the said Hiram and Michael.”
0353 (Accession # 21485634). Davidson County, Tennessee. William Prince, trustee for Mary
Rutherford, seeks to sell a trust slave. By her late father’s will, Mary inherited four slaves, all of
whom were ordered to be held in trust by Prince until she married. Mary is now married to
Benjamin Rutherford, and the couple wishes to remove from Tennessee to Illinois. Prince
asserts that “it would be manifestly to the interest of” the Rutherfords if the slave named Jane
were sold and the proceeds “vested in real estate” in Illinois. The petitioners wish to sell Jane
within Davidson County, as “they would dislike to part ... Jane from her husband.” Prince and
the Rutherfords pray that the court allow the sale and the reinvestment of the proceeds. In an
amended petition, Prince confesses that he neglected to make the Rutherfords’ infant daughter,
May, a party to the original petition. It is necessary that she be a party because the inheritance
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settled “not only upon the said MB Rutherford but upon her children.” Prince further informs the
court that the slave Jane was sold for $1,050 to Alexander Fall. The petitioners pray that the
sale be confirmed.
0376 (Accession # 21485636). Maury County, Tennessee. Sophronia A. Perry, a minor, seeks
the court’s aid in constructing her grandparents’ wills. Perry’s grandfather died in 1840, leaving
his slaves to his widow, Burchett Macon, in trust for their three daughters. His will further
stipulated that, if one of the daughters were to die, her portion of the slaves should be divided
between her surviving sisters. One of the daughters died in 1842 or 1843 and Burchett Macon
died in 1851. The trust slaves were divided between the surviving children, Martha Ann Perry,
mother of the petitioner, and Mary Macon. Burchett Macon also owned a number of slaves in
her own right, and her will provided for their distribution between her daughters, to be held “in
trust for their own children.” Her mother having died, Sophronia believes that she is entitled to
slaves from both of her grandparents’ estates. She further explains that her father, William Perry
Jr., is currently “exercising act of ownership over said slaves.” The petitioner fears that her
father will dispose of the slaves, thus depriving “her of the same and the income thereof.” She
prays that her father be enjoined from further disposing of the slaves, that the court decree a
construction of her grandparents’ wills, and that it “protect her rights to said slaves.”
0391 (Accession # 21485637). Davidson County, Tennessee. Edward, Charles, and Tabitha
Gowin, represented by their grandfather, Edward East, seek to sell a slave from their father’s
estate. When John Gowin [Gowen] died, “they became entitled to and did recieve, their portion
of a number of negroes, of whom was a girl named Ellen.” The petitioners assert that Ellen “has
been of late, accused of various crimes, once of an attempt to poison the person to whom she
was hired.” She has been accused of various other offenses and, “whether the same be true or
not,” they have made it “almost impossible to hire her out.” The Gowins further relate “that the
whole neighborhood has become excited and apprehensive and demand that she be
immediately sold, or sent out of the county and some even threaten violence to her.” In
consequence, the petitioners pray that Ellen be sold. George W. McMurry avows in his
deposition that it was his wife who charged that Ellen tried to poison her. Ellen apparently gave
his wife a roasted apple that, when cut open, was found to be laced with mercury. He estimates
Ellen’s value to be between $700 and $800.
0403 (Accession # 21485638). Williamson County, Tennessee. William Y. Bennett and others
“bring this their Petition for the sale of negroe slaves” to the court. Noting that “they are the
owners of in common of” seven slaves and “the said seven slaves cannot be divided into nine
shares,” the petitioners deem “that a sale of said slaves is necessary for the purpose of a
division of same among them.” They therefore “pray that a sale of said slaves be decreed ... and
a division of the proceeds of said sale among them be decreed.”
0411 (Accession # 21485639). Knox County, Tennessee. Thomas Powell seeks compensation
from William Lount and Samuel Morow. He states that “at the urged solicitations of William R.
Lount he agreed to remove with his father from Fairfield District, South Carolina to Knoxville” in
early 1855. Unable to pay to move his twenty-one young slaves to Tennessee, Powell had
Lount sell a slave named Clarra and designated the proceeds from said sale to cover the
expenses of moving the remaining slaves. Powell asserts that the slaves were moved by “Rail
Road” and by boat and that the price of such a journey would not have cost as much as Clara,
yet Lount has not accounted for the balance. Powell further relates that, once in Knoxville, he
“entered into a verbal agreement” with Lount by which he and his slaves would work on Lount’s
farm. The petitioner represents that “the said Lount furnished the land four mules and one field
hand, and was to board your Orator and his negroes free of Charges and allow your Orator one
half of the crop they would make.” Powell and his slaves worked under this agreement for two
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seasons, yet he has not received his share of the profits. He prays that Lount account for the
sale of Clarra, moving the other slaves to Tennessee, and the value of the crops. Additionally,
Powell prays that Samuel Morow, to whom Lount has transferred “a large amount of either
money or cash notes,” be made a party to this bill.
0424 (Accession # 21485640). Williamson County, Tennessee. Jesse W. Johnson seeks a
divorce from his estranged wife, Naomy Johnson, whom he claims “maliciously deserted” him
and their children. Johnson asserts that his wife originally left him “taking with her their infant
child and leaving with him their two older daughters.” A few years later, she returned the child
and left Tennessee for the state of Texas. The petitioner went to Texas “often” and “entreated
and begged her to return to her home & children.” Naomy “absolutely refused,” and Jesse “has
been informed” that she has “intermarried with an other man.” Five years earlier, Mrs. Johnson
filed a petition for divorce where she also sought to secure four slaves, whom she inherited from
her father as her sole and separate property.
0432 (Accession # 21485641). Shelby County, Tennessee. Jane Daugherty, a free woman of
color, states that “at the July term 1848 of your honorable Court permission was granted her to
remain within the state of Tennessee—She having satisfied your honorable Court that she was
one of that class of free persons of colour who could be permitted so to do.” The petitioner
further states that she provided proof of good character and “gave bond & security according to
Law.” She prays to “be allowed to produce evidence of her good character at this time & be
permitted to renew her bond.”
0441 (Accession # 21485642). Shelby County, Tennessee. John Stephenson, a citizen of
Shelby County, petitions the court to subpoena Robert Price, a free man of color, to appear
before the court to “show cause why said privilege [of state residency] should not be revoked.”
He alleges that “the character and conduct of said Bob have not been and are not such as make
it consistent with the interest of the public and the public peace and morals, that he should be
further permited to remain or reside in said State or county, his said character and conduct
being bad, and himself offensive to the public peace and dignity and good order of the State.”
Citing that Price “hath not renewed his bond as such free person since April 4, 1856 ... although
required by the Statute to do so every 3 years,” the petitioner requests that the court “institute
inquiry into the character and conduct of said Price.”
0453 (Accession # 21485643). Shelby County, Tennessee. One hundred and thirty-seven
“Citizens of the City of Memphis and County of Shelby” petition the court in response to the bill
of John Stephenson that required Bob Price, a free man of color, “to show cause why the
privaledges heretofore granted to him to reside and remain in said County and State should not
be revoked.” These residents declare that “we have known said Bob Price for many years that
he is in our opinions honest, industrious and a valuable man in our Community.” Citing “that we
have seen and heard of no cause to change the good opinion we have heretofore entertained of
him,” the petitioners “ask your Worshipful Court to permit said Bob Price [to] renew his Bond
and continue to remain & reside ... in the County of Shelby & State of Tennessee.” [The names
of four petitioners were not entered due to ink blots on the petition and difficulty in deciphering
the handwriting.]
0467 (Accession # 21485644). Bradley County, Tennessee. John M. Miller, administrator, seeks
to settle the estate of William W. Cowan. Cowan died leaving a widow and six children, five of
whom were minors. One child, Eveline, has died since her father’s death. Another daughter
married William Hammonds in 1848 or 1849 and, upon her marriage, Cowan gave the couple a
slave named Maria and her child, which Miller believes should suffice as their share of the
estate. Cowan also owned seven other slaves at the time of his death. Miller relates that “it is
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the will and desire of all the distributees of said estate that said slaves be sold.” He informs the
court that this sale is not necessary to pay the estate’s debts but in order to achieve an equal
distribution of the property. Miller also avers that Eveline Cowan’s interest in the estate has not
been determined. He asks the court to administer her interest in the estate and to grant a sale of
the slaves. In a cross bill, Cowan’s widow, her new husband, and the minor children sue Miller
and the Hammonds, claiming that the slave Maria and her child were part of the personal estate
of William Cowan. They pray that Maria and her children, now four in number, be claimed as
part of the estate and sold with the other slaves.
0503 (Accession # 21485645). Bradley County, Tennessee. Thomas and Alexander Tillery, as
executors, and Alexander and John Rodgers, as heirs, wish to sell land from the estate of the
late John Rodgers. By his will, Rodgers bequeathed a life estate of most of his land and slaves
to his widow. He also established legacies of slaves and cash for his children and
grandchildren. Further, Rodgers ordered that, upon his wife’s death, his sons Alexander and
John were to receive all of the life estate property, provided that they care for their mother
during her lifetime. The widow has now died, and Rodgers’s sons have received their
inheritance. The estate has accrued many debts, as well as now being required to pay the
legacies. The petitioners have already “sold all the personal property belonging to said Estate
except the negroes,” but the proceeds are not enough to satisfy the debts. The Rodgers
brothers now propose to sell the land that they have inherited in order “to pay and satisfy not
only the debts of said Estate but all of said Legacies.” Therefore, the petitioners pray that an
account be taken of all the debts and legacies and that the court order a sale of the property in
order to satisfy the same.
0522 (Accession # 21485646). Bradley County, Tennessee. Betsey Jane, a twelve-year-old girl
of color, seeks her freedom. In 1843, Archibald Turk died leaving a will that bequeathed
freedom to his slaves named Nicy, Malinda, George, and Betsey after the death or remarriage
of his widow. The widow died some years ago as has the slave Nicy, who was the mother of the
petitioner. The petitioner believes that she was born after Turk’s death and, therefore, “by the
laws of the state of Tennessee, was born free.” However, Turk’s administrator, Samuel
Workman, continues to hold her in slavery. Betsey Jane is now in the possession of Jesse Mer,
and she fears that he and Workman plan to “sell or in some way dispose” of her beyond the
reach of the court. She prays that any sale be enjoined and asks that she be attached and
placed in the care of her next friend. Finally, she prays that the court uphold her right to
freedom. In his answer, Workman argues that Betsey Jane was born before Turk’s death and
that her mother actually died before his death. He also relates that he has not freed the other
three slaves: George and his wife Betsey live “under the care and protection of John L.
McCarty” and Malinda lives in Polk County. He contends that living as virtually free slaves is
better for them because, if they were freed, “they would not be permitted to remain ... in the
state.”
0544 (Accession # 21485648). Sumner County, Tennessee. John Franklin, guardian of John
Cage Jr., petitions for permission to sell a slave named Jack, “the only property which the Said
Cage has.” Franklin asserts that Jack, “aged about nineteen years, likely and Stout,” has
caused him “more or less trouble” on account of his being a habitual runaway. While Franklin
has “done everything in his power to reform said slave,” his efforts have been for naught; when
confronted regarding his conduct Jack responds that “Some old negro ‘had tricked him in the leg
and he could not help it.’“ Of the opinion “that no kind of punishment will produce reformation,”
Franklin believes “it manifestly to the interest of” his ward “that the slave be sold, and the money
revested in other slaves or put at interest.” The guardian submits that Cage concurs that a
private sale would be beneficial to his advantage.
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0555 (Accession # 21485650). Williamson County, Tennessee. Robert Hamer and others
declare “that they are equal Owners of a negro slave named Maria” and that they “have arrived
to the age of twenty One years, and are entitled to have their share in said slave allotted and set
apart to them.” They further argue “that it is impossible to make a division of said slave Maria
without a sale.” Of the opinion “that it would be for the interest of all persons concerned to sell
said Slave,” the petitioners point out that Maria “is liable at any time to die and thus deprive
them of their interest in said slave.” They therefore “pray the court to decree a sale of this slave
Maria.”
1857
0562 (Accession # 21485701). Davidson County, Tennessee. Harvey Tucker requests that
Jesse Collins and John McCann be enjoined “from selling or disposing of” a slave named
Jacob. Tucker declares that he became indebted to Collins for $668 in 1854 and secured said
debt by conveying “a certain negro man slave named Jacob about 23 years old.” Tucker
maintains that “on various & divers occasion he has made payments upon said note to Collins
until he has reduced the same to something under one hundred dollars.” He further submits that
he “has always & is now ready & willing & has offered to pay to said Collins But which said
Collins utterly refuses to accept in discharge of said note.” Noting that McCann “has advertised
said negro boy Jacob for sale” and “the value of said negro is greatly above the amount your
Orator owes to said Collins,” Tucker prays “your Honor will interpose the timely succor of your
Honors Court.”
0570 (Accession # 21485702). Knox County, Tennessee. Elizabeth Trout seeks an injunction to
protect an unnamed female slave, whom she insists she holds “free from the marital rights of
her husband,” John Trout. She explains that her parents, William and Nancy Luttrell, gave her
the slave when they were “very much in need of a hundred dollars”; Elizabeth procured said
$100 from her son-in-law, Gordon Mynatt. Either through “negligence, or in all probability
through ignorance of the requirements of law for the transfer of this species of property,” her
parents neglected to formalize the gift by a “written conveyance.” They corrected the omission
on 4 November 1857, by conveying the slave to William F. Trout in trust for Elizabeth. Soon
thereafter, her husband’s “judgment creditors” caused executions to issue against John, and the
constable, W. C. Bailey, proceeded to levy them “upon this negroe girl.” Elizabeth points out that
the “girl” is worth “from eight hundred to one thousand dollars, and as she is now in childbirth
this will add to her value.” She asks that Bailey be enjoined from selling the slave, that “some
suitable person be appointed receiver to take charge” of her, and that the slave “be decreed to
her.”
0580 (Accession # 21485703). Davidson County, Tennessee. Madison Taylor seeks to divorce
his wife Nancy and to recover property that he put in trust for her. Taylor confides that his wife
“apparently became discontented and dissatisfied” after their 1839 marriage. In 1842 she
“artfully and designedly, as the means to produce tranquillity at home and reformation of
conduct,” convinced him to put some of his real and personal estate into a trust for her; in
January 1853, Nancy used “stratagem, art and design” to persuade Taylor to put the rest of his
property—including a slave named Esther—into another trust for her. The petitioner charges
that she then had him judged insane and committed to an asylum, whereupon she deserted
him. Released from the asylum, Madison “has been for a long time back attending to and
transacting his own business, being sufficiently able so to do.” The trusts, however, have left
him “without home or any means of subsistence save his labor.” Taylor urges the court to
declare the trusts fraudulent and void and to return his property to him. Fearing that his wife will
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“run or remove” Esther from the area, he asks that Esther be seized by the court. The petitioner
also prays that “the bonds of matrimony ... be dissolved.”
0602 (Accession # 21485704). Giles County, Tennessee. Richard W. Harwood and Robert H.
Laird, executors of the estate of Martin Laird, ask the court to sanction agreements with two of
the heirs. Laird left a life estate in ten slaves and two tracts of land to his widow Margarette.
They aver that she “is incapable of managing said property to advantage” and that she wants to
leave the property in the estate for the benefit of her children, six of whom are still minors. She
and the executors have agreed to exchange the property for a yearly allowance and other
support. Daughter Ann Laird, now twenty-one, wishes to remain with the family and has offered
to accept an agreement like her mother’s. The executors believe that “it will be necessary for
her to remain in the family to assist her mother in managing & taking care of the other children &
that her services & the services of her slave will be worth more to the estate than her support &
maintenance.” They ask the court to approve these arrangements and to oversee their
administration of the estate until the final settlement and division of the property.
0618 (Accession # 21485705). Williamson County, Tennessee. Richard H. Edmondson and his
wife, Martha J. Edmondson, ask that he be awarded Martha’s share of five slaves in her late
father’s estate. The Edmondsons aver that William McMurray died intestate, leaving behind a
widow and three minor children—Martha, Mary, and William. McMurray’s estate includes five
slaves—forty-five-year-old Fanny, thirty-three-year-old Fed, twenty-one-year-old Fayett, fifteenyear-old
Manda, and twelve-year-old Frances—who are held in trust for the McMurray children
by their guardian. Martha and Richard married in December 1856, and Richard “is entitled, in
right of his said wife, to the one third in value” of the slaves. The Edmondsons request that
court-appointed commissioners value the slaves and “divide and set apart unto the said
petitioner Richard H. Edmondson” his wife’s share.
0625 (Accession # 21485706). Davidson County, Tennessee. Charles Nichol and James
Peacock seek to recover a debt owed to them by Benjamin Stones. The petitioners hold a note
executed by Stones for $225.89, “due 30 days from 2nd October 1855.” Nichol and Peacock
assert that “said note was duly protested for non payment ... that said note is still due and
unpaid.” They inform the court that Stones does not live in Tennessee and that his only known
property in the state is a slave named Simeon, who is about to be sold or has been sold. Nichol
and Peacock ask the court to halt all proceedings involving Simeon until their case is heard. If
he has been sold, the petitioners ask the court to award them a portion of the proceeds to settle
their claim. Otherwise, they request that Simeon be sold to pay Stones’s debt to them.
0634 (Accession # 21485707). Davidson County, Tennessee. Pleasant McCutchen, a free man
of color, prays that Robert L. Weakley III be forced to return McCutchen’s wife and daughter. On
7 March 1854, McCutchen bought his wife Tempe [Temperance] from Weakley for $600, of
which he paid $280 cash and executed a promissory note for the rest. He and his wife then
moved to Stewart County, “where he rented some land,” and they lived there until Christmas
1856. At that time, “he was ordered away by a committee of the citizens ... under apprehension
of an insurrection of the slaves.” McCutchen brought his wife and daughter Mary Anna to
Nashville, but discovered that “excitement was also prevailing here, in regard to the prevalent
rumor of insurrection.” He appealed to Weakley for protection, but Weakley seized his wife and
daughter and refused to return them or let him finish paying for Tempe. McCutchen asks that
Weakley be compelled to accept the rest of the purchase money, to comply with the contract,
and to return his wife and child. In his answer, Weakley maintains that he sold Tempe to her
husband for $400 less than her true value, because he wanted her freed. He charges that he
retrieved Tempe and Mary Anna from Stewart County because Pleasant “tried to sell and
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mortgage his wife.” Weakley states his willingness to carry out the contract as long as “the rights
of the said Temperance may be fully protected.”
0646 (Accession # 21485708). Davidson County, Tennessee. Daniel S. Tucker, administrator of
the estate of the late Nancy Cherry Tucker, seeks a partition of the slaves belonging to the
estate of Pierce W. Cherry, the former husband of his deceased wife. Tucker reports that “in the
years 1848 or 9, the said Pierce W Cherry departed this life” possessed of nine slaves and that
the “said negroes ... remained wholy undivided up to the time of his Intestate’s death which
occured in October 1856.” He asserts that, “as Administrator of his dearest wife,” he is “entitled
to one third of said negroes.” He therefore asks that Pierce and Francis Cherry, the minor
children of Pierce W. Cherry, be made “Defendants to this bill” and that the slaves “may be
divided beteen your orator and defendants.”
0654 (Accession # 21485709). Davidson County, Tennessee. “The children and heirs at law ...
of William W. Gee” claim ownership of a slave woman and her children. William W. Gee died in
1839. His will left everything to his children and appointed his brother, Joseph C. Gee, as
executor. The petitioners complain that Joseph Gee sold one of the estate slaves, Harriet, to
William Harris “without any authority whatever, and the same amounted to a conversion of said
slave by him and Harris to their own use.” Joseph Gee died in 1847, having left no proper
records of their father’s estate. William Harris died in 1848, leaving Harriet to his daughter
Susan. The Graveses still hold Harriet and her children: Houston, Hagar, Lydia, and Laura. The
petitioners seek to recover Harriet and her children, plus hire “from the time she came into the
hands of the defendants, Graves and wife down to the trial of this case.” They also ask for an
injunction to prevent the Graveses from removing the slaves pending trial.
0687 (Accession # 21485710). Davidson County, Tennessee. Benjamin Hurt prays for an
injunction to stop the seizure of his property. Hurt explains that he served as a security when
Isaac Rutland became the guardian of a minor named Peyton Woodward. Rutland “appropriated
to his own use and benefit” the hire of “severil valuable Slaves” and the rents from Woodward’s
real estate. Rutland then “sold and disposed of all of said negroes” in Alabama. In 1850,
Woodward sued Rutland and his sureties for fraud and eventually won a judgment for $3,000
plus interest. Since Rutland died insolvent, the burden of repayment fell on the securities.
Rutland’s brothers reportedly paid the entire amount and sued Hurt in 1856 to recover his share.
They won, and a court execution “is about to be levyed upon your Orator’s property.” Hurt
charges that the Rutland brothers knew about and participated in Isaac’s fraudulent actions in
order to recover money owed to them. He asks the court to stop any action involving his
property until his allegations are investigated and to make the injunction permanent “upon the
final hearing of the cause.”
0701 (Accession # 21485711). Washington County, Tennessee. Evelina Gillespie seeks a
divorce from Charles K. Gillespie. She charges that “her said husband has wilfully and
maliciously deserted and absented himself from her,” having gone to California, “from whence
he was never returned, having been absent nearly seven years.” Daughter of prominent
parents, Evelina reports that “at the time of her marriage, your Oratrix was the owner of a large
real and personal estate, or entitled to the same under the last will and testament of her
deceased father.” She adds that said estate has increased “by the deaths of her mother and
sister.” Evelina submits that there are several suits pending against her husband and “that no
final partition of the entire real and personal estate of her deceased father and mother has been
made.” Among her many prayers, Evelina requests that she be “restored to all the rights and
privileges of a feme sole; that all of the property, real and personal, remaining on hand which
was devised or otherwise accrued to her before or during her marriage be settled upon her; ...
that alimony be allowed; ... and that the custody of her children be secured to her.”
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0768 (Accession # 21485712). Williamson County, Tennessee. Julia Scott, a free woman of
color, requests permission to remain in Tennessee. She reveals “that she has been
Emancipated at the present term of this worshipful court on condition that she leave the state of
Tennessee in thirty days.” She declares “that she desires and is anxious to remain” in said state
because she “has been raised in the state and her only child is here and a slave.” Noting that
“she is growing old,” Julia “asks your worship to grant her the privilege of remaining in the
county.”
0774 (Accession # 21485713). Davidson County, Tennessee. D. B. Hicks asks that a slave
named Stephen be attached. He cites that, in 1856, a petition was filed against Alexander
Williams concerning said Stephen, whom Williams had mortgaged to creditors, and that he
acted as one of Williams’s securities in that case. The petitioner states that the court granted the
petition, and, “as soon as he heard of the decree,” Hicks “took possession of the negro boy
Stephen, who is a valuable slave worth more than the decree.” Fearing that Williams will try to
remove Stephen from the jurisdiction in order to defeat the decree, the petitioner prays that the
slave be attached and placed in the court’s custody.
0778 (Accession # 21485715). Davidson County, Tennessee. Gilbert Marshall seeks to stop the
confiscation of his property by the sheriff. In 1854 or 1855, Thomas T. Smiley gave Thomas H.
Johnson a note for $2,200, secured by Marshall and three others. When Smiley did not repay all
of the note, he persuaded his sureties “to confess judgment.” The sheriff seized two slaves
belonging to one of the other sureties. Smiley and others executed a new bond to Johnson “for
the delivery of said negroes ... to be sold ... on the 12th of January 1857.” Marshall refused to
sign the second bond, though “requested to join.” The owner never delivered the slaves, and the
sureties forfeited on the bond. Recently, the court ordered the sheriff to levy on the property of
Smiley and his original sureties. Marshall complains that “said Sheriff has been directed by
some of the parties to collect said money of your petitioner.” He asserts that he is no longer
liable for the money, “being discharged by the execution of said delivery bond, and the previous
levy on the property of said Hayes sufficient to pay the debt.” Marshall prays for a writ of
supersedeas and for a ruling that relieves him of financial responsibility in this case.
0786 (Accession # 21485716). Davidson County, Tennessee. In this intrafamily suit, some of
the late Delilah Bosley’s heirs sue their relatives for their share of Bosley’s estate, which
includes eight slaves, their hires, and various other money and personal property. The
petitioners assert that, when Delilah Bosley died in 1857, she was “upwards of 83 years of age,
& had been for several years in a weak state of body & mind.” Bosley lived with her daughter
Lavinia Newell’s family for the last three years of her life. The petitioners charge that the
Newells would not let Bosley see any other family members unless they were present and that
they used manipulation and fraud to obtain deeds of gift from Mrs. Bosley in 1854 and 1855,
giving them all her property. The petitioners ask the court to confiscate the disputed property,
void the deeds of gift, and redistribute the estate among all the heirs “according to their
respective interests.”
0803 (Accession # 21485717). Davidson County, Tennessee. P. W. Lucas seeks payment of a
debt owed him by the defendant, Mary T. Barksdale. Lucas argues that Barksdale executed a
promissory note for $500 on 3 March 1854 to one P. T. Scruggs, “who afterwards, indorsed &
delivered the same to your orator.” He reveals that Barksdale “has an interest in certain Slaves
in the possession of the Defendant Alexander Ledbetter ... which interest ought to be subjected
to the payment of your Orators said debt.” Lucas prays “that the writ of Attachment be issued,
and all the interest of said Mary Barksdale in the said Slaves be attached, and the same be
sold, and the proceeds thereof” be applied to his debt.
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0812 (Accession # 21485718). Williamson County, Tennessee. James M. Carsey prays that his
brother Francis be declared “a person of unsound mind.” The petitioner reveals that his twentytwo-year-old
brother “in his infancy had a spell of sickness & that from that time his mind has
been continually & still is, very week & imbecile.” The petitioner confides that Francis believes
“that there are persons—who wish to take his life by assassination or violence” and that he
recently tried to kill himself. Carsey maintains that his brother is “mentally incapable of taking
care of & managing himself & his property.” The petitioner informs the court that Francis owns
no land, but does own a twenty-two-year-old slave named Henry, worth about $1,400, plus
$1,580 in cash and choses in action. He asks that a jury be ordered to determine Francis’s
competence and that a guardian be appointed for Francis and his property, if he is declared
mentally incompetent “under the act of 1851 Chapter 163.”
0820 (Accession # 21485719). Davidson County, Tennessee. The heirs of John Cross seek to
prevent Cross’s widow and one of his sons from disposing of estate slaves. John Cross died
“many years ago” in Virginia. He left his estate, which consisted mostly of slaves, to his widow
Ann “during her life or widowhood,” with the remainder to be divided equally among their
children after her death. The Crosses brought the slaves with them when they moved to
Tennessee. Over the years, most of these slaves “have by agreement among the parties been
divided,” except for five slaves still held by Ann Cross. The petitioners charge, however, that
Mrs. Cross and her son John F. Cross sold those slaves a few days ago to a slave trade firm
without their knowledge or consent. The petitioners beseech the court to impound the slaves
and to void the sale, fearing that the slaves “will be sent out of the reach of your orators, so that
... your orators will not be able to enforce or recover their rights.” Since several petitioners have
sold their future claims to the slaves, they also ask the court to determine the legality of those
sales.
0831 (Accession # 21485720). Davidson County, Tennessee. W. W. Berry and John F.
Demoville file their cross bill in the case of Wortham et al. v. Cross et al., seeking to recover
judgments against John F. and Shelton H. Cross. The petitioners inform the court that they won
two judgments in Maury County against John Cross “for the sum of $156.52 & ... $32.75 & costs
of suit.” Shelton Cross, John’s brother, obtained a stay, but “after the Stay was out, executions
issued ... & have been returned no property found.” The petitioners “know of no means out of
which they can make said debts” except the slaves now in dispute. Berry and Demoville ask the
court to attach and sell John’s and Shelton’s interests in the slaves to satisfy these claims. They
also ask the court to appoint a receiver to hire out the slaves, who are currently held by the
slave traders involved in the case “at a heavy expense to the owners.”
0842 (Accession # 21485721). Dickson County, Tennessee. William C. Napier seeks payment
of a $2,200 promissory note that he holds against one of the defendants. The petitioner alleges
that William H., Richard S., and John B. Napier “are all in very embarrassed circumstances and
in fact are believed to be entirely insolvent.” He contends that Richard and John Napier
fraudulently conveyed eleven slaves and two tracts of land to William H. Napier in order to
prevent their creditors from seizing the property. The creditors, however, have filed suit and
obtained attachments on the slaves and land. Fearing that his claim against William H. Napier
will be overlooked, the petitioner asks that the property be seized and sold to pay the
promissory note he holds. He also requests an injunction to prevent anyone from removing the
slaves from the court’s jurisdiction.
0848 (Accession # 21485722). Giles County, Tennessee. John T. Steele prays that his actions
as the guardian of minor Joseph Y. Hobson be ratified. In 1855, the court appointed Steele the
third guardian to Joseph Hobson and his brother John (now deceased). Steele informs the court
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that he never received any money from their late father’s estate administrator or their previous
guardians and that he is suing them to settle their accounts. He maintains that Steele took
control of the 300- to 350-acre Hobson farm and the “25 or 30” estate slaves. Only 110 acres of
land were cleared and cultivable, an acreage “wholly inadequate for the slave force.” He admits
that, “while the policy of hiring out the slaves of his ward may be a bad one, yet he is compelled
to hire them out or permit them to be wholly useless & of no value.” He asks the court’s
permission to use the income generated to purchase more land for his ward so that all the
slaves can work on the estate. Steele also asks the court to allow him to present his annual
settlements “free from & unembarassed by” the settlements still pending in the suits.
0853 (Accession # 21485723). Giles County, Tennessee. Margaret J. Mason, administratrix of
her late husband’s estate, prays for permission to sell a slave. She informs the court that her
husband, William T. Mason, died in 1855, leaving an estate that includes slaves, stock in the
Richland Manufactory Company, cash, and other assets. Mason asserts that “most of said
slaves are very valuable, & productively employed in the Richland Cotton Mills.” She is
concerned, however, about a slave named Green, “who is white & could easily pass himself for
a white man anywhere.” She confides that she “has good reason to believe that said slave is
restless & dissatisfied with the condition of slavery, and contemplates an escape.” She admits
that should Green try to run away, he would probably succeed, “both from his color and general
appearance as from his intelligence & shrewdness.” Requesting that the slave be sold, Mason
maintains that she would receive a better price for Green if she could take him to Nashville and
put him “in the hands of a trader” rather than sell him “at public outcry in this market.”
0866 (Accession # 21485724). Rutherford County, Tennessee. The four children of the late
Marmon Spence pray for permission to distribute the eight estate slaves among themselves. Mr.
Spence and his wife are both dead, leaving behind three daughters and one son, “all being of
age.” The Spence heirs report that they have agreed among themselves to divide the slaves
between the three daughters, Mary, Susan, and Sarah Spence. Their brother, David H. C.
Spence, has agreed to take “the value of his Share or Interest in said Slaves out of the other
estate in his hands to which they are entitled.” The Spences ask the court to permit this division
and to appoint commissioners to allot the slaves and other property.
0873 (Accession # 21485725). Davidson County, Tennessee. Isaac Jackson seeks to recover a
slave. Jackson had to surrender various property, including a male slave named Horace, to
secure his debts. In 1849, Horace “was sold under the deed of Trust” to S. S. Norfleet. Jackson
avers that he was “much attached” to Horace and that Horace “seemed much attached to
Complainant and his family.” In addition, Jackson’s father-in-law owned Horace’s wife. Horace
persuaded Norfleet to promise Jackson the right of first refusal if Norfleet ever decided to sell
him. In September 1852, Norfleet decided to sell Horace, but Jackson did not have the money
to buy him. Thompson Anderson offered to loan the money to Jackson if he would repay it the
following March. The men listed Anderson as the purchaser on the bill of sale so that Horace
would not be seized to pay Jackson’s remaining debts. When Jackson could not repay the
money on time, Anderson claimed Horace as his. Jackson argues that Horace’s hiring value
during the time Anderson held him would have repaid most or all of the loan. He asks the court
to offset the debt with Horace’s hire. If Jackson still owes money to Anderson, he asks the court
to declare the bill of sale a mortgage to secure the repayment of the balance.
0888 (Accession # 21485726). Davidson County, Tennessee. Mary A. Gilbert seeks a divorce
from her husband James. She recounts that, three weeks after their marriage, James “forsook
and abandoned your Oratrix, leaving her to support herself.” Gilbert charges “since that time
said James has never furnished your Oratrix with any of the necessary of life.” Furthermore, she
claims that James “has frequently denied that your Oratrix was his wife, & said that their
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marriage was all a mockery and sham.” The petitioner also maintains that “James was taken ill
with a venerial disease; but this charge your Oratrix is not able to establish ... owing to the fact
that he employed a negro physician to attend him while he was sick with the disease.” Mary
Gilbert prays the court “to decree the bonds of matrimony now subsisting between your Oratrix
and said James null and void” and that she “be restored to all the rights and privileges of a feme
sole.”
0894 (Accession # 21485727). Davidson County, Tennessee. Hester M. Dodd prays for a
divorce from her husband, Robert C. Dodd. Hester married Robert in 1841 and lived with him
“without any disagreement or disturbance” until 1845, when they moved to Nashville. The
couple have five children, ranging in age from two to fifteen years old. The petitioner laments
that her husband for the last two years “has failed ... to give your Oratrix and her children his
company, assistance, and countenance, or to provide them with necessaries, except at
uncertain intervals.” She confides that her husband has not even come home for the past seven
weeks, spending his time instead “amongst women of ill fame” engaging in “adulterous
intercourse.” Hester further charges that he “is fast disposing of all the little property they have
had” and that only a slave girl, “a couple of horses, a wagon and carryall” remain. Hester asks
the court to grant her a divorce and to award her husband’s remaining property to her and her
children. She also requests custody of the children, “whom she will attempt to shelter and raise
to the best of her ability.” The petitioner also prays for injunctions against Dodd to prevent him
from removing any of the property or taking the children.
0914 (Accession # 21485728). Washington County, Tennessee. The legatees of the late James
Ellis charge that the last will and testament of the deceased “is fraudulently withheld and
suppressed” or “was fraudulently and improperly destroyed by the combined influence of the
said William & Elizabeth Ellis unduly and unlawfully operating upon the feeble mind of a
helpless and palsied old man.” The petitioners point out that the ninety-year-old Ellis died
possessed of a slave named Isaac and “the ordinary utensils necessary to a farm of Two
hundred and fifty three acres ... household & kitchen furniture and stock sufficient for such a
farm.” The aforementioned property “was devised to his widow the defendant Elizabeth Ellis
during her life or widowhood off which she was to have her support.” Upon her death, the
property “was to be sold and the proceeds divided equally among his five daughters.” The
petitioners state that William Ellis “seeks to sell said tract of land for partition” and that the
inventory he returned is “false.” They pray the court to enjoin William Ellis from selling the land,
and they request “that said Will be produced by the said defendants,” with the property devised
therein to be “distributed according to the provisions of said Will.”
0924 (Accession # 21485729). Williamson County, Tennessee. George and Abner Boyd are
“equal owners and tenants in common of six negro slaves.” George declares that he “has nearly
attained to the age of twenty one years and will be of age on the 29th day of April next” and will
thus be eligible “to receive his share of the said slaves.” He explains that the slaves are at
present not “hired out and will be at home on or by the 1st day of January AD 1858 ... but that if
the division be postponed” until his birthday “said slaves cannot be hired out for the ensuing
year and if hired it will be a loss and disadvantage to your Orator who is anxious to receive his
share ... without them being hired out for the ensuing year.” Because he is “needing them
himself” and believing “that it will be manifestly for the advantage of all the parties concerned,”
George Boyd prays that the slaves may be divided “in January or as soon as they can be got
together for that purpose.”
0930 (Accession # 21485730). Williamson County, Tennessee. Twelve slaves formerly owned
by the late Ann Evans ask the court to appoint a trustee “to take charge of their interest and to
receive the money or other property belonging to them” under the will of their late mistress.
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Evans’s 1844 will gave specific instructions to her executor, Gilbert Marshall, with regard to her
slaves. She bequeathed her “faithful old servant woman Celia and her son Bob who has been
disabled by a white swelling” to James Marshall, who owned two other slaves in their family,
and directed him to free them all at her death. She also asked that Tom, Lucy, and Lucy’s
children be sold “to masters of their own choosing.” Finally, she bequeathed the “residue and
remainder” of her estate to Gilbert Marshall to hold in trust “for all my slaves.” Gilbert Marshall
sold the slaves as directed to James Marshall for $1,000 and later used the proceeds to
purchase two town lots; he received their rents and profits for several years, and then sold the
property to Sumner Helm, who gave him a note for $1,000. This note was in Gilbert Marshall’s
personal effects at his death. The petitioners now fear that his administrators will appropriate
said note to the estate’s debts or, “when the time arrives,” distribute it among the legatees. They
assert that they are entitled to this money as part of “their fund.” They seek a trustee “to demand
and receive the fund” and ask that the court order an account of the rents and profits arising
from the property.
0948 (Accession # 21485731). Smith County, Tennessee. Fifty-three-year-old Francis McMurry,
suing by her next friend John McMurry, seeks to protect her inheritance from her husband’s
creditors. The petitioner informs the court that her mother Elizabeth Blackwell died intestate on
27 November 1857, leaving five children and various property, including eighty-seven acres of
land and six slaves. She confides that her husband Charles “through misfortune has become
embarrassed and in debt” and that she has already lost seven slaves inherited from her father
because of his debts. With two children to consider, Francis “feels it to be her duty to herself
and them” to request the court to set aside her interest in her mother’s estate “for her sole and
separate use, free from the contracts and liabilities of her said husband and at her death to go
to her children.”
0966 (Accession # 21485732). Knox County, Tennessee. Lavicy Hall asks the court to award
her the title to two young slaves, Martha and Evaline. The petitioner informs the court that she
married Albert T. Hall in 1853 and that both brought significant property to the marriage. Mrs.
Hall’s land in Union County was “a considerable distance” from her husband’s land in Knox
County, making it “both inconvenient and somewhat troubelsome” for her husband to manage it
“without in some degree at least neglecting his own property.” Agreeing to sell some of her land,
they used some of the money to buy the slave girls for her. The bill of sale for the slaves,
however, incorrectly named Albert Hall as the owner. Mrs. Hall maintains that her husband
frequently stated that she was the real owner. She asks the court to uphold her claim to the
slaves and to vest the title in her when she finishes paying for them.
0977 (Accession # 21485733). Davidson County, Tennessee. Delia Larkins, a term slave, seeks
the protection of the court in preventing her removal from the jurisdiction of the court. Larkins
explains that, “under the decree pronounced by your Honor” in a previous petition, she was sold
to Reese W. Porter, who “by the said decree was required to give bond that your petitioner
should not be removed out of the County of Davidson.” Larkins charges that Porter “has not
given the security required; and she is now well advised that he is about to sell your petitioner to
a person who ... resides in the state of Georgia, and who himself informed her, this evening, that
he was about to buy her to carry her away.” Reminding the court that the previous decree
“authorizes her, upon any emergency in her case, to apply to your Honor for protection,” she
prays that “she may be taken into the custody of the sheriff of Davidson County for the present,
and placed in the hands of a receiver, with power to hire her.”
0981 (Accession # 21485734). Davidson County, Tennessee. R. J. Meigs, attorney for Delia
Larkins, seeks an attachment for contempt issued against Thomas Smith and H. H. Haynes.
Meigs alleges that Smith attempted “to carry off” Larkins in violation of a decree rendered in her
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petition. In an affidavit, Meigs avers that Smith “wheedled the complainant into the belief that he
would carry her to the South somewhere, and bring her back.” Noting Larkins’s absence, Meigs
gave the sheriff “an order to seize her, and he accordingly did so in the cars of the Nashville &
Chattanooga Railroad, where Smith had inveigled her, and was in the act of carrying her off,
doubtless with her own consent.” The sheriff “placed complainant in custody of the jailer of
Davidson County” but Meigs notes that Larkins “had been taken from the jail, and placed in the
Sales house of Haynes, Lyle and Morton.” The petitioner asks that Smith and Haynes be
attached for contempt and that Larkins’s “time may be sold by an order of this court, and that
the proceeds may be applied to pay this affiant his fees and the costs of the case.”
0990 (Accession # 21485735). Davidson County, Tennessee. William Prince, trustee for Mary
Rutherford, seeks to sell slaves in her trust estate. By her late father’s will, Mary inherited four
slaves, all of whom were ordered to be held in trust by Prince until she married. Mary is now
married, and she and her husband, Benjamin Rutherford, have removed from Tennessee to
Illinois. By a previous suit, Prince was permitted to sell a trust slave named Jane, and he
purchased the Rutherfords’ land in Illinois with the proceeds of the sale. However, the price of
the land was somewhat more than the selling price of the slave, and now neither Prince nor the
Rutherfords are able to pay the balance price for the property. Prince argues that it would be
advantageous to sell the three remaining slaves and to invest the proceeds of the sale into
paying the debt. Furthermore, as the Rutherfords have removed to a free state, “the settlement
of negro property upon her & her children could not, now, be to their advantage.” Prince prays
that the court permit a sale of the slaves and a reinvestment of the proceeds.
0998 (Accession # 21485736). Lincoln County, Tennessee. Charles B. Carty, administrator of
the estate of the late Benjamin W. D. Carty, seeks to sell five estate slaves in order to discharge
“the indebtedness of said estate.” Carty represents that his father “died seized and possessed
of some improved lots in the Town of Fayetteville ... and was the owner of several valuable
slaves.” In addition, the petitioner points out “that said decedent was much indebted at the time
of his decease” and that many of the estate’s assets “have been exhausted in paying the debts
of said estate.” Still facing debts totaling $3,300, Carty “would show that the indebtedness of
said estate cannot be paid off and discharged without making sale of either a portion of said real
estate or of some of the slaves.” The petitioner cites “that it would be least prejudicial to said
estate” to sell a fifty-year-old slave named Ben and a twenty-seven-year-old slave named Sally
and her three children and that “from the present high price of slaves the proceeds of the sale ...
will be sufficient to releive the indebtedness of said estate.” He therefore prays that “your Honor
will decree said slaves Ben, Sally, Ellen, Bob and Bogardis be sold upon such terms as may
seem meet and proper.”
1015 (Accession # 21485738). Davidson County, Tennessee. Mary B. Rutherford asks that her
husband be appointed trustee of her estate. By her late father’s will, Mary inherited four slaves,
all of whom were ordered to be held in trust by William Prince until Mary married. Mary married
Benjamin Rutherford, and the couple has removed from Tennessee to Illinois. Now, Mary
Rutherford “has chosen elected and appointed Benjamin O Rutherford her husband to be her
trustee of all her property held in trust by said William Prince.” She prays that the court approve
this change. Rutherford further informs the court that she wishes to sell the remaining three
slaves in her trust and to apply the proceeds of their sales to pay for her land in Illinois. She
prays that the court allow said sale.
1019 (Accession # 21485739). Washington County, Tennessee. Mark Pennybacker requests
that Lawrence Bowers, the defendant, be required to “give security as is required by Law”
before proceeding with a sale of slaves. The petitioner reports that on 28 April 1848 “a
compromise or family settlement was entered into ... between your petitioner” and members of
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the Krotzer family whereby “a large amount in value of property consisting of Real Estate and
personal property the latter consisting principally in negroes” was conveyed in trust to Bowers
for the benefit of the aforesaid parties. Pennybacker cites that “said instrument ... stipulated that
said negroes after the death of the said Joseph & Barbara Krotzer should be divided that one
third of them should be the property of your petitioner.” He further notes that Bowers has not
“ever executed any Bond for the faithful performance of [his] duty” and is now “in very
embarrassed if not, in desperate circumstances, and said property in his hands without security
is wholly unsafe and insecure.” Pennybacker has agreed that Bowers “might sell said slaves for
partition, and for the relinquishment of some claims,” but “he prays that before he is permitted to
do that he be required ... to give security.”
1027 (Accession # 21485740). Sumner County, Tennessee. Twelve heirs of the late William
Goodall seek to collect and sell slaves from the estate of the late Charles Goodall. The
petitioners represent that William Goodall was sheriff of Jackson County in March 1854. As
sheriff, he “failed and neglected to do his official duty by means of which your orators have
become liable to pay large amounts of money ... on account of the defaults of said sheriff.”
William’s estate “is much embarrassed,” and there are several judgments outstanding against it;
however, there is not enough property left in the estate to satisfy all the creditors. The heirs
assert that, in an effort to hinder his creditors during his lifetime, William “fraudulently conveyed
by bill of sale several likely negroes, to his father, Charles Goodall.” In 1852, Charles filed a bill
that represented said conveyance to be a mortgage, made to “secure a large debt.” The
petitioners “are informed and believe [these charges] are untrue.” Eight of the slaves conveyed
remain in Charles Goodall’s estate. His executor has revived the 1852 suit and seeks to sell the
slaves for the benefit of that estate. The petitioners pray that Charles’s executor be enjoined
from proceeding with his reviver, that the bill of sale be declared fraudulent, and that “the
negroes be subjected to the payment of your orators’ claims and debts.”
1038 (Accession # 21485742). Bradley County, Tennessee. The Parks family seeks to remove
Ezekiel Spriggs from his trusteeship of certain property “settled upon” Louisa Parks and her
children. Louisa Parks received a life estate in two slaves named Airy and Hannah, with a
remainder interest to her children after her death. Louisa’s father, Ezekiel, however, sold the two
slaves for $1,100 and persuaded the chancery court to confirm the sale. The court decreed that
the money “be laid out in another Negro Woman or Woman & children to be settled upon your
oratrix Louisa Parks” and her children. The petitioners cite that Spriggs has yet to buy the slaves
for Louisa, because he is “advanced in years” and finds it “Inconvenient to him to travel hunt up
and purchase a suitable family servant.” Fearing that Spriggs “might die and leave the money
outstanding on precarious security,” the Parkses urge the court to appoint a new trustee, who
will purchase the slaves as decreed. An outside source reveals that George Parks was a
member of the Cherokee Nation.
1048 (Accession # 21485743). Smith County, Tennessee. Hiram Lyles informs the court that he
recently purchased a “small negro boy” from James B. Schooler for $550. Schooler warranted
five-year-old William as sound and healthy, and Lyles himself thought the boy looked “sprightly.”
After the purchase, however, Lyles discovered that William was “affected with Scrofula, a very
dangerous disease.” Revealing that William had “lumps under his jaws” and “soor eyes,” Lyles
asserts that Schooler was aware of the boy’s “long standing” disease, but concealed his
condition as best he could by washing William’s eyes so that they “might look as well as
possible” before Lyles arrived at the house. Schooler also “represented” that he purchased
William in Virginia, but lived himself in East Tennessee. Fearing that Schooler is a “mere passer
through the country” with “no effects within the jurisdiction of the Court,” the petitioner worries
that he will be “without remedy or effectual means to collect any damages he might recover in
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an action at Law upon the warranty in his said Bill of sale.” He asks the court’s permission to
“rescind said trade” and return William to Schooler; otherwise, he seeks writs of injunction and
attachment to prevent Schooler from collecting the note or assigning it to anyone else.
1063 (Accession # 21485744). Smith County, Tennessee. Burton Underwood solicits the court
to appoint a new trustee. He points out that in 1855 he “executed a deed of conveyance of
certain real and personal property to F. F. Montgomery trustee settling said property upon”
Burton and his family. The deed stipulated that if the trustee “should die, resign, or remove from
the country, his successor is to be appointed by application to the Chancery Court.” Reporting
that Montgomery has moved to Louisiana, the petitioners “pray that a trustee be appointed in
the place of said F. F. Montgomery.” In addition, the Underwoods believe that it would be “to the
interest and enjoyment of the parties concerned to sell and convert some of the property
mentioned in said deed into some other property either land lots or slaves,” and they “therefore
pray that your Honors decree may provide for such sale, exchange or convertion.”
1072 (Accession # 21485745). Smith County, Tennessee. Benjamin Rucks, son of the late
Josiah Rucks and executor of his will, petitions for aid in dividing portions of his father’s estate.
Josiah Rucks died in 1836, leaving a widow and ten children and an estate consisting primarily
of land and slaves. Rucks left his estate to his widow, Elizabeth, to be divided among his
children after her death. During the lifetime of Elizabeth, much of Josiah Rucks’s estate was
divided among their children. Elizabeth has since died and several tracts of land and eight
slaves remain yet to be divided, two of whom, Betty and Nanny, are elderly. Josiah Rucks
requested in his will that Nanny and four other elderly slaves be allowed to choose with which of
his children they would like to live. Several of the ten children have also died, leaving a total of
thirty-five heirs. Noting that “from the number of slaves & the number of legatees it well be seen
that it is impossible to divide them without a sale,” Rucks asks that the remaining property be
sold and divided among those heirs and that the court aid in making an equitable distribution.
1110 (Accession # 21485746). Davidson County, Tennessee. Delia Larkins, a term slave,
requests that a decree rendered in her behalf “be vacated & anuled.” She explains that her
previous petition accused William Summerhill of fraudulently selling her as a slave for life and
that the court ruled in her favor. She informs the court that “Mr. Summerhill has since died & she
has no cause now to fear”; that “Mr Thos R. Smith, now owns her said term”; and that “she is
not afraid of being run off & sold by him.” Larkins states that “she understands that decree was
for her benefit & for no other” and that being the case, she would like said decree set aside. In
addition, she declares that “she does not want Mr Meiss [Meigs] any further to interfere &
consern himself about her.”
Reel 21
1858
Tennessee cont.
0002 (Accession # 21485801). Smith County, Tennessee. Francis Boulton asks the court to
recognize his purchase of an interest in a slave named Lucy. The petitioner reminds the court
“that on the 6th day of October 1852 he purchase from his brother William T. Boulton ... all the
interest of said William T. Boulton in said negro Lucy.” He further avers that he and his siblings
filed suit in 1854 to safeguard their remainder interest in said Lucy. Boulton asserts that “at the
February term 1856 of your honorable Court a decree was pronounced in Complts favor ... for
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the value of said slave & interest thereon to the date of the decree.” Citing that he has not
received his share of the decree, Boulton charges that the defendants, “with a view to defeat
your orator in the collection of the interest in said decree due him,” sued for a judgment against
William T. Boulton, “seeking to attach & have applied to his claim ... a portion of said decree in
favor of said William T.” The petitioner therefore “prays for a decree ... for the amount of said
decree due him by virtue of his purchase aforesaid & interest thereon from the 13th February
1856 the date of said decree” and that the decree in the defendants’ case against him “be set
aside.”
0010 (Accession # 21485802). Lincoln County, Tennessee. The heirs and distributees of the
late Benjamin W. D. Carty seek a sale of the estate’s property in order that “an equitable
division be made among the parties entitled to the same.” They report that the widow Catharine
“appeared in open court and dissented from said will,” whereupon “she became entitled to be
endowed during her natural life in one third of the real estate said testator died seized &
possessed of and that she became entitled absolutely to a child’s part in the personal estate of
said testator.” Charles Carty, as administrator, attests that “the available assets in his hands &
the proceeds arising from the [recent] sale of said slaves will be sufficient to discharge all the
debts owing by said testator,” allowing the remaining assets to be settled upon the distributees.
The petitioners pray “that upon a hearing of the cause your Honor will decree a sale of said land
(subject to allotment of Dower) and said slaves to the end that an equitable division be made.”
0023 (Accession # 21485803). Knox County, Tennessee. William W. Greer asks that E. N.
Parham and William Moody be enjoined from collecting the proceeds from a note that he issued
them as partial payment in the purchase of three slaves. He accuses Parham and Moody of
perpetrating “a gross fraud” against him by misrepresenting the soundness of a slave named
Kizzy and the ages of both Kizzy and another slave named William. Greer admits that Parham
told him that “at her monthly periods ... [Kizzy] ... seemed in some way afflicted for a few
minutes only, lying like she was asleep,” but he now charges that she is “seriously diseased, so
much so as greatly to impair her value and her usefulness as a servant.” He also complains that
Kizzy and William are at least a decade older than he was led to believe and therefore “worth
much less than” he paid for them. Decrying their “concerted scheme to cheat and defraud him,”
the petitioner insists that the slaves ought to be revalued and that he should “have a deduction
for the same from said note.” Greer later filed an amended bill alleging that Kizzy’s daughter,
Celia, was also unsound and “afflicted with Hernia, or rupture of the abdomen, to an extent
which greatly impaired its value.” The bill seeks an “abatement, by way of damages, from the
amount still due” Parham and Moody.
0036 (Accession # 21485804). Giles County, Tennessee. The children of the late Priscilla
Buford McConico seek permission to sell four slaves, whom they inherited from the estate of
their late grandfather, Charles Buford. The siblings are tenants in common of four slaves allotted
to them as their share of Buford’s estate. “Owing to the great disparity in the value of the
negroes & their ages,” the heirs find it “impossible” to divide the slaves equally. They ask the
court to refer their bill to the clerk and master “to take proof & report as to the facts stated in this
Bill.” The report of sale states that forty-nine-year-old Randle sold for $500; that ten-year-old
Ephraim sold for $1,020; that seventy-year-old Tom sold for $165; and that eighty-year-old
Esther sold “at the price of ten cents—that being the highest & best bids that were offered or
that could be obtained.”
0043 (Accession # 21485805). Coffee County, Tennessee. The children and grandchildren of
the late Hugh and Jane Davidson seek to divide their estate. Hugh Davidson died in 1841,
leaving a life estate in his substantial property to his widow, Jane. Jane has recently died,
leaving twenty-one slaves, the progeny of Ann and Mary, whose division is subject to the
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provisions in Hugh’s will. The heirs contend that “it is perfectly practicable to divide said slaves
amongst the owners.” They ask the court to direct commissioners “to divide them to value each
slave and then add to their aggregate value the aggregate amount of advancements, and then
assign to each legatee slaves enough to make his share less his advancements.” The
petitioners also point out that certain family members have sold their interests in the estate to
other members of the family, and they ask the court to take this into account in the division.
0056 (Accession # 21485806). Maury County, Tennessee. Susan M. Alderson accuses her
trustee and son-in-law, William M. Collier, of mismanaging the estate that she inherited from her
late father, William Alderson. Alderson explains that, when the court constructed her late
father’s will, she became entitled to “the profits and proceeds, rents and hire of all the property
conveyed therein and thereby, during her natural life”; her children “had no use and benefit”
thereof, except for “their support and maintenance while they remained unmarried and members
of the complainants family.” She now argues that Collier has not “either by himself or any other
person accounted for and paid to complainant one cent of the proceeds of hire of said slaves for
the years 1855, 1856, & 1857.” She insists that Collier is “an unfit and improper person to act as
said trustee” and that he has “grossly violated and neglected his duties.” She also contends that
he has “abused and mistreated said slaves” and that he intends to hire out said slaves “for the
present year at reduced prices for cash that he may apply to his own use and benefit.” She asks
the court to prevent him from this course by attaching said slaves and enjoining him from
“intermeddling” with them and finally by removing him as trustee and appointing “some suitable
person” in his stead.
0079 (Accession # 21485807). Williamson County, Tennessee. Sandy G. Owen asserts that his
father, Everett Owen, “should of right be found by a proper inquisition to be a person of unsound
mind.” Owen informs the court that his sixty-five-year-old father “cannot now walk without
assistance” and is “indeed physically helpless.” His memory has become “at times extinct,” and
he is “frequently the subject of mental delusions & has not the intellect to be relieved from these
delusions by any proof or reasoning presented to him however obvious.” Owen assures the
court that he is prepared to present the testimony of “neighbours & relations” to establish his
allegation. He asks the court “to summon a jury of twelve freeholders ... to enquire & ascertain”
whether his father “is a person of unsound mind.” He further requests that the jury “ascertain the
value” of his father’s estate, which includes 240 acres of land and thirteen slaves, and that a
guardian be appointed to take control of the property.
0087 (Accession # 21485808). Davidson County, Tennessee. Anthony Dibbrell asks the court to
sell certain slaves belonging to Fountain E. Pitts in order to satisfy a judgment that he holds
against Pitts. Dibbrell informs the court that he recovered a judgment against Pitts in January
1853, but the execution was returned as “no property to be found.” Since that time, Pitts has
twice-mortgaged nine slaves to Nicholas Hobson and B. B. Britt in an effort “to hinder and delay
the creditors of said Pitts in the collection of their just debts.” In a separate case, William D. Neal
sued Pitts to recover a debt, and the court ordered that the slaves be sold to discharge the debt.
The sale, however, has not yet occurred. Dibbrell contends that “said slaves are worth far more
than the amount due by said Pitts to said Hobson and if sold,” he believes there would still
remain a surplus. Reminding the court that “this is the only property of said Pitts out of which he
can make his debt,” he asks the court to ensure “that enough of the balance be attached in the
hands of the clerk & master ... to satisfy the debt of your Orator.”
0095 (Accession # 21485810). Giles County, Tennessee. David T. Reynolds, administrator of
the estate of the late Richard Suttle, is joined by Suttle’s widow and his adult children in seeking
a settlement of the estate. Suttle died in November 1857 leaving 760 acres of land and forty-one
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slaves. The petitioners seek a division of the slaves and ask that the court order a sale of the
land “if necessary.”
0104 (Accession # 21485811). Williamson County, Tennessee. Jeremiah Stephenson and his
wife, Susannah Winstead Stephenson, ask the court to “construe” the will of Susannah’s late
husband, Samuel Winstead, and “declare, decree and settle” her rights “under said will.” In
particular, they ask the court to determine the right of possession to a slave named Bill
mentioned in the will. In an amended bill filed two months later, the Stephensons complain that
Winstead’s executors have mismanaged a fund generated from the proceeds of a sale of a tract
of land. Winstead’s will directed that the money yielded from the sale be put in “the Planters
Bank at Franklin” and, after Susannah’s death, be divided among his eighty-plus slaves. The will
further stipulated that the fund be used to pay the expense of transporting the slaves to Liberia;
any slave “unwilling to go there” should “have the liberty of chosing their master in Williamson
County,” with the “amount of money that it would take to carry them to Liberia to be paid over to
each of them by my Executor.” Four years later, after Susannah Stephenson’s death,
Winstead’s slaves brought their suit for freedom before the court in a related case.
0132 (Accession # 21485812). Smith County, Tennessee. The administrator of the late James
Boulton joins Boulton’s widow, Martha, and three of her children in seeking a sale of the slaves
in Boulton’s estate “for the purpose of distribution.” Boulton died in January 1858, leaving a
widow and eight children, four of whom are minors. The petitioners inform the court that the
“demands against the estate and its liabilities” exceed the estate’s available assets. They also
report that Boulton “gave off verbally” four slaves to four of his children before he died. Noting
that “some of the complainants think intestate was mistaken as to the comparative value” of
these four slaves, they therefore ask that the slaves be “valued once again” and included in the
sale with the estate’s thirteen slaves. The petitioners finally ask the court to assign dower to
Martha Boulton.
0140 (Accession # 21485814). Maury County, Tennessee. Samuel Caruthers complains that his
two nephews, Samuel and Thomas Love, “have taken advantage of his weakness of mind to
perpetrate a gross & flagrant fraud upon him.” Sixty-year-old Caruthers, a bachelor suffering
from “frequent and long intervals of mental aberation,” found himself incapable of attending to
his business. He confides that he “fell a victim to the cupidity & avarice of a set of persons who
beset him on all sides” and asserts that these “shylocks” “preyed upon his substance” like
“vultures,” reducing him “from a state of opulence to that of comparative poverty.” Forced to
“appeal to his kindred to protect him,” Caruthers turned to the Loves, who came to his house
and “manifested a strong desire to see him righted.” The brothers “suggested” that they had, or
could raise, enough money to pay Samuel’s debts “& save his slaves from Executions.” The
latter point was Samuel’s “most cherished desire,” as he was “greatly attached” to his slaves
and intended to emancipate them at his death. Instead, his nephews have made “a speculation
out of your Orator,” violated their agreement to support him, and “converted his property into
money.” They have sold most of the slaves and now refuse to supply him with the “necessaries
of life” as they promised. Caruthers asks the court to take charge of any property his nephews
have not yet squandered and “to manage the same for the Benefit of your orator.” He further
seeks writs of attachment and injunction to prevent them from selling said property and prays
that he be “restored to all the rights he had” in his property before the Loves entered his home.
0161 (Accession # 21485815). Davidson County, Tennessee. Charles Bosley, guardian for his
granddaughter, Gertrude Bosley, asks the court to direct the sale of a forty-nine-year-old slave
named Phillis, who is a “cripple and infirm in health.” Bosley contends that it is “manifestly to the
interest of said Gertrude that the sale” take place as Phillis will likely “become a charge” to his
ward. Gertrude received the slave as a result of the case of L. P. Black v. John S. Park, wherein
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Phillis was valued at $100. Bosley argues that that price “is more than she would command in
the market if exposed to sale.” He informs the court that John S. Park, who owns other
members of Phillis’s family, has agreed to “to take said woman Phillis and pay for her one
hundred dollars if this Hon court will direct a sale of her.”
0168 (Accession # 21485816). Davidson County, Tennessee. The children of M. C. Napier seek
to secure their inheritance from their great-grandmother, Elizabeth Sansom. Samson’s will
directed that Ophelia Napier Claiborne, Eugenia Napier, and Mary Eliza Napier each receive a
female slave. She also bequeathed two slaves to the three girls jointly and three more slaves
jointly to them and a granddaughter, Jennet W. Sansom. The petitioners inform the court that
Sansom’s executors sold the last three slaves under an order from the court “for the purpose of
a division.” Jennet Sansom and Mary Eliza Napier received their portion of the proceeds from
said sale, but the petitioners, Ophelia and Eugenia, have not. The surviving executor, Samuel
D. Frierson, currently holds possession of the other slaves specifically bequeathed to them and
has them hired out. They ask the court to order an account of the slaves’ hire, to compel
Frierson to deliver their slaves to them, and to order the sale of the two slaves, whom the three
sisters own jointly.
0178 (Accession # 21485817). Bradley County, Tennessee. Pleasant J. R. Edwards seeks a
settlement and an account of his partnership with James Lowry. The men entered into a
partnership in May 1857 “for the purpose of buying and selling cattle.” Lowry was to “put in all
his time and labor in purchasing cattle for the firm for which he was to charge nothing, and your
orator was to furnish land in the mountains upon which to graze the cattle.” That fall the men
agreed that a portion of the cattle should be driven out of the mountains “and the same be
butchered and sold for beef”; the butcher employed was a “free negro” named Jack, and the
effort yielded the firm about $300. Edwards now charges that Lowry has used “partnership
effects for his private purposes” and refuses to come to a settlement with him “for the same.” He
also complains that Lowry “leaves your orator to pay the outstanding debts of over one hundred
dollars yet against the firm without any indemnity.” Edwards asks the court to attach a tract of
land Lowry purchased with partnership funds and to enjoin Lowry from selling the same. If
necessary, he asks that the land be sold to compensate him for his portion of the partnership’s
assets.
0186 (Accession # 21485818). Washington County, Tennessee. Isaac Roraback asks the court
to restore to his possession several notes he lost to R. J. Lyle in “a game of hazard and address
at cards.” Calling Lyle a “regular blackleg,” Roraback accuses Lyle and his “partners” of
encouraging him to drink so that “he might be more easily swindled at cards.” During the game,
Lyle “managed to make complt drink twice or thrice to his once.” Using the “most dishonest and
unfair practices,” Lyle won two notes from Roraback, which total $3,000. Lyle “pretended to be
and perhaps was buying negroes and had a good deal to do with one William L. Crockett ... and
one Reuben Roddie,” to whom he transferred the notes. Roraback now charges that neither
Crockett nor Roddie “paid one cent consideration” for the notes and that the two men actually
“combined and confederated with the said Lyle in the transfer of said notes to hinder embarass
and defraud” him. He finally prays that the notes be “delivered up to him,” and, in the meantime,
that Roddie and Crockett be “compelled to deposit the same with the Clerk & Master to await
the final issue of this suit.”
0198 (Accession # 21485819). Bradley County, Tennessee. William L. Brown asks the court to
attach and sell a town lot in order to satisfy a debt owed him by Loyd Y. Womble for the hire of a
female slave during the years 1856 and 1857. Brown claims that Womble owes him $36 for said
hire and another dollar for “bacon, flour & meal.” The petitioner cites that one George S.
Anderson has also transferred a judgment that he recovered against Womble, which has been
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levied on a town lot that Womble purchased from James S. Robertson. The title for the lot “is yet
in said Robertson,” as Womble only paid him a portion of the purchase price before he left his
wife and “went off with another women,” absconding from the state of Tennessee. Brown insists
that he is “entitled” to recover his debt and points out that the town lot “is the only property out of
which your orator can make the same.” He asks that the lot be sold and that “the proceeds be
applied to the payment of the balance of said purchase due the said Robertson” with the
remainder applied to his “debt for negro hire” and the transferred judgment.
0205 (Accession # 21485821). Franklin County, Tennessee. Benjamin and Elizabeth Gover
Elliot seek to secure Elizabeth’s interest in the estates of her former husband, the late Banks B.
Gover, and her late son, Anthony Gover. Anthony died intestate “without wife or children” in
1849 or 1850. Elizabeth’s former father-in-law, Samuel Gover, administrated upon his
grandson’s estate and “with the means derived from the estate of his said son he purchased a
good many years ago, a negro woman named Eveline.” Eveline has since had three “likely and
valuable children.” Elizabeth’s surviving son, Samuel B. Gover, retrieved Eveline and her
children from his grandfather in Alabama in 1854. The Elliots charge that he later sold three of
the slaves and that he “used and appropriated to his own use” the proceeds of said sales. They
further assert that he kept the remaining slave Celia to assist his family and that Celia was in his
possession at the time his death in 1857. Elizabeth Elliot now claims that she is entitled to “one
half of the whole of sd slaves” and that her son, Samuel, “constituted himself a trustee for the
benefit of all interested in the property” when he went to Alabama to retrieve the slaves. She
asks the court to order Samuel’s administrator, Joseph Holden, to account with her for “all the
benefits derived by his intestate from the use and services of the slaves aforesaid and the
proceeds of such as he has sold.”
0221 (Accession # 21485822). Davidson County, Tennessee. The administrator of the estate of
the late Ellena Johnson is joined by Johnson’s daughter, Celia Johnson Alford, and her husband
in asking the court to order a sale of the two slaves in her estate. The petitioners explain that “in
order to secure an equitable division of said estate among the said representatives of intestate it
is necessary to sell the said two negroes.” The slaves in the estate are a “woman aged about
fifty & ... a boy about thirteen years old.”
0230 (Accession # 21485824). Smith County, Tennessee. William Tunstall petitions to have his
title to a slave named John “quieted and perfected.” Tunstall explains that he acquired John by
trading his slave named Eliza to Robert H. Brooks. He later learned that Brooks had only a life
estate in John under the will of his late father, Dr. Henry Brooks. Tunstall informs the court that
he has not executed a bill of sale to Brooks because he is concerned that “some difficulty” may
arise in reference to John’s title. He asks the court to determine the issue, and, if his title cannot
be “perfected,” he requests that the trade be rescinded.
0237 (Accession # 21485825). Davidson County, Tennessee. Thomas J. Whitfield amends a bill
for the recovery of certain slaves by naming his brother, George W. Whitfield, as co-defendant
to his original 1856 bill. The original bill alleged that James L. Greer refused to return five
mortgaged slaves, whom Whitfield had used as security for the repayment of two monetary
loans. Whitfield contended that he had “long since paid off said liabilities” to Greer, yet Greer
claimed the slaves as his own property, pretending that the mortgage contracts were, in fact,
absolute bills of sale. The petitioner now informs the court that, prior to the aforesaid mortgages
with Greer, he sold the same slaves to his brother, George, as partial payment for a tract of
land. The men later rescinded the contract, George retained the land, and he surrendered the
slaves to Thomas. One of the mortgages used in the transaction with Greer, however, was
recorded in the joint names of both brothers. The petitioner insists that the slave under
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controversy in the mortgage “did then” and does now belong solely to him. He asks the court to
require his brother to answer the charges and to grant “such relief as in and by his Original Bill.”
0245 (Accession # 21485826). Davidson County, Tennessee. The executors of the will of the
late M. Bell seek to collect a debt owed their testator by Robert L. Dismukes. The petitioners
inform the court that they won a judgment “in the Circuit Court of Davidson County on the 31st
day of May 1858” against Dismukes for the sum of $2,307.57. The sheriff of Davidson County,
however, was unable to levy the execution because he could find no property belonging to
Dismukes. The petitioners charge that, months earlier, Dismukes had conveyed eight slaves
worth $4,000 and a tract of land worth $16,000 to his brother, Thomas. He also sold his interest
in some of his wife’s real estate to S. McGuire. The petitioners assert that “said transfers have
been made by the said R L for the purpose of hindering, delaying & defrauding his creditors.”
Insisting that no money changed hands in the said transactions, they ask the court to attach the
slaves, “or sufficient of them” as necessary, “to satisfy your orators debt.” They also ask the
court to declare the transactions between the men “void, and decree that said negroes & other
property be subjected to the payment of your orators debt.”
0254 (Accession # 21485827). Maury County, Tennessee. William D. and Lucy W. Gilbreath
Kirby seek permission to sell a slave named George in the estate of Lucy’s former husband,
John B. Gilbreath, who died intestate in October 1855. The petitioners hold George as tenants
in common with Lucy and John’s two minor daughters, Mary and Lucy Ann Gilbreath. George is
currently hired out for the present year. They “pray that said George may be sold for partition
upon such terms as your Honor may direct.” In a related petition, the Kirbys join Mary and Lucy
Ann Gilbreath in seeking a settlement of John B. Gilbreath’s estate. They accuse Gilbreath of
being a “dealer in shaving notes,” including notes due the estate for George’s hire for the years
1856 and 1857.
0268 (Accession # 21485828). Davidson County, Tennessee. Samuel D. Whitsitt seeks an
injunction to prevent either the clerk and master of the court or the sheriff of Davidson County
from collecting a judgment against him. He informs the court that, on 5 January 1856, Reese W.
Porter purchased a slave from the estate of the late Henry Dickinson, using two notes for the
purchase price of $950. The office of the clerk and master, however, burned shortly thereafter,
and the notes were destroyed. When the clerk and master reissued the notes, he represented
Whitsitt as Porter’s security. The court has issued an execution now in the sheriff’s hands that
will soon be enforced against Whitsitt. Attesting that he “never signed any such notes ... nor was
he ever aware of the fact of the purchase,” Whitsitt denies any liability in the transaction. He
asks that the court enjoin its officers from collecting the judgment “and that the same may be
superseded until the final hearing of this bill.”
0279 (Accession # 21485829). Washington County, Tennessee. Sarah and her descendants
ask the court to recognize a deed of manumission executed by her former master, Samuel
Robinson, on 24 May 1803, “wherein & whereby he liberated Yr Oratrix Sarah ... at the
expiration of Seventeen Years from the date of Sd deed.” Sarah contends that by the terms of
said deed all her children born after 24 May 1820 are “entitled to their freedom without being
subject to any term of servitude whatever.” She confesses, however, that the “benefit intended
& provided for her by her old master, she has been deprived up to the present time, on account
of her ignorance of her rights.” Sarah reports that she and her family are currently claimed by
“the heirs at law & distributees” of the late Jane Robinson Fitzgerald, the divorced wife of James
Fitzgerald, due to “the decree of Yr Hon. Court in Sd divorce case [which] vested the title to sd
Complts in the Sd Jane Fitzgerald dec.” Stating that said heirs “are threatening & intending to
divide them amongst themselves as slaves without the aid or intervention of a Court,” the
petitioners pray that an injunction issue “restraining & prohibiting the sd Defts ... from selling,
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removing, or disposing of any of the sd Complts”; that the court “will make a decree declaring
their right to freedom & emancipating them”; and that they be compensated “for their services
during the time for which they have been wrongfully held in bondage.”
0318 (Accession # 21485830). Knox County, Tennessee. Minor Isabella E. W. King seeks a
divorce from her estranged husband, David King, who has left the state of Tennessee “with the
intention of entirely abandoning her altogether.” After their marriage in 1856, David “became
rude and ill natured” toward Isabella. On one occasion, he “severely whiped” her with a “large
and heavy waggon whip” when she tried to prevent him from “unhumanly beating a negro for
some supposed dereliction of duty.” Isabella was forced to seek “shelter and protection in the
home of her widowed mother.” David followed her, and there “tore from her embraces” their
infant child and carried her off with him only later to leave the child in the custody of his father’s
family. Isabella now informs the court that her late father, James Duncan, has left her between
$1,200 and $1,500 of his “considerable personal estate.” The property has not yet been reduced
into her husband’s possession, a move which Isabella now seeks to circumvent. She fears her
husband, who is “utterly insolvent,” will remove the property from the court’s jurisdiction. She
seeks an injunction and also asks that her inheritance be settled upon her “free and discharged”
from David’s claim.
0328 (Accession # 21485831). Giles County, Tennessee. William McDonald and John
Esselman, guardians for Harriet McLure Esselman and Margaret and James Esselman, ask the
court to confirm the sale of a slave named Dave belonging to “the joint estate of their said
wards.” The petitioners inform the court that Dave was “taken up upon a States Warrant for
arson, or burning the Barn of Hampton Phillips in said County of Giles.” He was jailed after he
“admitted his guilt of said crime, & would in all probability, have been indicted, & convicted of
said crime, & suffered the penalty of death therefor.” Recognizing that Dave would then be “a
dead loss” to the children, the petitioners “agreed with said Phillips to take said negro slave out
of the State,” compensate Phillips for the barn, and pay the prosecution’s court costs, thereby
avoiding a lengthy trial. Dave was released from jail and “immediately” carried off and sold for
$900, “the highest price they could get for him under the circumstances.” They now ask the
court’s permission to use the proceeds from the sale to pay the fees of Dave’s defense
attorneys. They also ask to be “released from all liability & responsibility as guardians
aforesaid.”
0336 (Accession # 21485832). Giles County, Tennessee. The minor children of the late Noah
Hancock join their guardian in seeking permission to sell a slave named Big Ike, whom they
inherited, along with eight or nine other slaves, from the estate of their late father. The children
inform the court that Ike has become “very turbulent & ungovernable” and that he is “so addicted
to drinking to excess that complainants believe that it will seriously injure his health.” He also
threatens to run away, whereby he will “become entirely lost to them.” They pray that “said slave
Ike be sold & the proceeds invested in an other slave or in such property as your Honor shall
deem most to the interest of said minors.” A decree from a different case involving Noah
Hancock’s estate mentions a slave named Virinda and her children.
0344 (Accession # 21485833). Sumner County, Tennessee. Elizabeth Link, the guardian and
mother of five children, claims that the income generated by the assets of the family are “wholy
inadequate to clothe feed and educate” her children, whose ages range from sixteen to eight
years old. Link cites that the children own a $339 note that produces $20 in interest and “about
19 acres of land not covered by the dower of the Petitioner.” She points out that she and her
children jointly own “one negroe man age about 48,” whose hire amounts to $100. Desiring “to
keep her children together,” Link asks to be “permitted to have the ten of the 19 acres of Land
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and the negroe man and the interest of the $339,” believing “that she can with the assistance of
her children raise and support them decently and give them a moderate education.”
0349 (Accession # 21485834). Dickson County, Tennessee. Thomas Overton asks the court to
attach one of several slaves belonging to James M. Holt in order to pay a debt Holt owes him.
Overton explains that Holt owes him the outstanding balance on several notes “amounting over
one hundred Dollars.” Holt also was largely encumbered in debt as a partner in two firms
engaged in the iron business in Dickson County. In 1855, the members of the firm began to
make assignments of their property in “quick succession.” Holt, who owned ten or twelve slaves
who were not part of said partnership, went to Nashville and “procured a considerable sum of
money, probably over $2,000.” He then fraudulently conveyed “all his negroes” to Solomon
Marsh in order to “hinder & delay his creditors.” Overton insists that, even though Marsh was
“fully cognizant of the failing condition of said firms,” he “pretended to pay a large sum of say 6
or 7 thousand dollars for said negroes.” Overton alleges that said money was actually Holt’s and
that Marsh “knew and believed that Holt would not pay any or a portion of the debts of the
firms.” He asks that the conveyance be invalidated and that a slave be sold “to pay your orators
debt.”
0356 (Accession # 21485835). Cannon County, Tennessee. The “legal heirs and distributees” of
the late William Travis ask the court to compel certain parties to “surrender up” a family of
slaves, whom they insist belong to Travis’s estate. William Travis “died suddenly” in 1854,
leaving neither wife nor children to inherit his estate, which consisted of a two hundred-acre
tract of land and six slaves. The petitioners charge that his nephew, David Travis, took
advantage of the “weak old imbecile man, when intoxicated,” by inducing him to mortgage his
property to him in order to secure a loan of $200. David Travis later mortgaged three slaves and
the land to his mother-in-law, Margret Earthman, in 1854; the deed of mortgage incorrectly
named the slaves as “Hannah and her two children.” After Travis’s death, David and Margret
sold the slaves “for about $3000” to William Smartt, “who knew all about the situation of said
slaves.” Smartt actually had the condition stipulated in the contract “that if suit was brought for
said slaves they were to refund this money.” Calling their actions “a gross fraud” and the
conveyances “voidable if not absolutely void,” they ask that the land and slaves be sold, that
David be repaid his $200, “and that the balance be distributed amongst those entitled according
to the laws of distrabution in this State.”
0372 (Accession # 21485836). Washington County, Tennessee. Walter Chase and his wife,
Mary McRay Chase, seek an equitable distribution of a slave family given by Henry Taylor to
Hannah McRay, Mary’s mother. The petitioners cite that “on the 15th day of February 1836
Henry Taylor made and executed a deed of gift of a certain negro girl named Ami to the heirs of
Hannah McRay.” Noting that thirty-five-year old Ami has had seven children, the Chases pray
“that the negros mentioned in the bill be equitably partitioned among the heirs according to the
purport of the deed of gift and that the interest of Walter J Chase and his wife Mary in and to
said negros be settled exclusively upon his wife Mary for her sole use and benefit not subject to
the marital rights of her husband.”
0378 (Accession # 21485837). Davidson County, Tennessee. Samuel Moran seeks the court’s
assistance in compelling his brother, Thomas B. Moran, “to stand up to his contracts.” Samuel
relates that “some two or three years ago,” the court resolved their slave title dispute concerning
a slave and her two children by declaring the slaves to be “joint property” and “ordering them to
be sold, and the proceeds divided among the parties entitled.” The petitioner reports that he
purchased the slaves for $2,267 and all parties received their share, except Thomas Moran,
whose share “was ordered to be retained until further action of the court.” Samuel cites that
Thomas has “expressed himself dissatisfied with the trade,” whereby Samuel paid him
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additional money “in order to prevent all difficulty and further family quarrel.” Still unconvinced
that he has quieted Thomas’s claim to the slaves, Samuel Moran “is compelled to resort to the
aid of this court” to resolve his conflict.
0384 (Accession # 21485838). Bedford County, Tennessee. The children and distributees of the
late Moses A. Morgan seek to recover their interest in several slaves belonging to the estate of
their late father. They complain that the estate’s administrators “have never distributed the same
or any part of it amongst those entitled.” In fact, the administrators obtained a court decree
authorizing the sale of Morgan’s two slaves in 1845, without making any of the petitioners
parties thereto. Robert Reed purchased Mary and her son, Jeff, and has held them and Mary’s
five additional children born since the purchase. The petitioners assert “that they have a right to
recover said slaves or at least five sevenths of them, and their hire since the death of the said
Moses A. Morgan.” They note that “the labor and hire of the woman and her oldest children for
the time is worth a large sum of money, and much more than the expense of raising the
children.” They ask that they be compensated for “reasonable hire” and that the slaves “be
delivered up for the purpose of division between your orators & oratrixes, and the said Robt
Reed,” if he be adjudged the owner of the other two-sevenths interest.
0398 (Accession # 21485839). Williamson County, Tennessee. Sarah Cheatham, a free woman
of color, “represents unto your Honor that she desires to go into slavery.” Eighteen-year-old
Cheatham declares that she has chosen a resident of Williamson County “to be her Owner.”
She prays “your Honor to grant this petition.”
0402 (Accession # 21485840). Davidson County, Tennessee. The children of the late William
W. Gee seek compensation for the hire of a slave named Harriet from the executors of the
estate of the late William Harris. The petitioners explain that their father’s brother and executor,
Joseph Gee, sold Harriet to William Harris in September 1840 “without any lawful authority.”
The petitioners have already successfully sued Harris’s heir, Henry Graves, for Harriet’s
recovery. They have also obtained compensation from Joseph Gee’s widow for Harriet’s hire
before Gee sold her to Harris. They now seek to hold Harris’s executors “responsible” for
Harriet’s hire from the 11th of September 1840 until the day in 1851 “when they delivered
Harriet to Graves and wife.” They ask the court to compel an account of the same.
0416 (Accession # 21485841). Williamson County, Tennessee. Joshua W. Owen declares that
his sister, Sarah E. Owen, “is a person of unsound mind and mentally incapable of taking care
of her person & estate.” Claiming that twenty-four-year-old Sarah has “been of unsound mind
from her birth,” Owen reports that she owns both land and slaves, “worth greatly more than five
hundred Dollars.” Under these circumstances, the petitioner requests that an inquest be held
whereby “a Jury of twelve free holders ... enquire and ascertain by their verdicts, whether the
said Sarah E. Owen be a person of unsound mind.” If the jury determines that to be the case,
Owen asks that they assess the value of her estate and designate “who would be her heirs and
next of kin, where she to die intestate.” He also requests that “a suitable person be appointed
Guardian, for the said Sarah E. Owen.”
0426 (Accession # 21485842). Davidson County, Tennessee. Samuel Baker and his wife,
Sarah Louisa McCance Baker, ask the court to compel Sarah’s former guardian, George W.
Walker, to account with them for “all rents and profits of the land and hire of the negroes and all
monies coming to his hands and for which he is responsible.” Sarah inherited land and five
slaves from her late father, E. M. McCance, who died in 1852. Since she was a minor, the court
appointed a guardian, who took possession of the property, and “continued to rent out said land
& hire out said negroes until sometime in the year 1856.” At this time, Walker replaced Sarah’s
original guardian and received “all monies then due and belonging to the said ward.” He has
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rented the land and hired out the slaves and “pretends to have made some settlements before
the county court.” Since the Bakers’ marriage in 1857, however, Walker has “refused” to
relinquish Sarah’s property to the couple. Asserting that Walker’s guardianship “ceased upon
marriage of said ward,” the Bakers seek to reduce Sarah’s inheritance into their possession.
0434 (Accession # 21485843). Knox County, Tennessee. Thomas L. Powell seeks to secure the
payment of a debt owed him by Henry Smith. Powell explains that he obtained a judgment
against Smith for $1,077.80 in 1858 but that the sheriff found no property belonging to Smith
upon which to levy the execution. Powell informs the court that, shortly before he obtained his
judgment, Smith made multiple conveyances of at least sixteen slaves to various associates,
sometimes mortgaging the same slaves more than once. He points out that the value of the
sixteen slaves conveyed, whom he supposes are worth $10,000 or $11,000, exceeds the debts
secured by the various transactions. As far as Powell knows, “all of the slaves are under the
control of the said Smith in Knox County.” He asks the court to sell the slaves in question so that
“any surplus remaining of the proceeds of sale of said slaves may be applied to the payment of
said judgement of your Orator against the said Smith.”
0442 (Accession # 21485845). Davidson County, Tennessee. Isaiah Stull and five others
petition the court to dismiss petitions filed against them in 1851 by William Scruggs and Mary
Scruggs Barksdale. Scruggs and Barksdale filed their complaints against each of the petitioners
in order to protect their remainder interest in the considerable progeny of a slave named
Jemima, who was owned by their father, Finch Scruggs, prior to 13 March 1811. Mary Mathias
[Matthews], the owner of Jemima’s husband, arranged to trade her female slave, Ailsey, to
Finch Scruggs in exchange for Jemima and her child, Caroline, in order to prevent “the
separation of her man from his wife and child.” Scruggs accepted Ailsey and $200 and then
moved with Ailsey to Alabama or Mississippi, where he “raised a large family of negroes from
said girl Ailsey.” The younger Scruggs and Barksdale filed their bills to ensure their recovery of
Jemima’s children at Finch Scruggs’s death in fulfillment of the provisions of their greatgrandfather’s
1798 will. Stull and the others, however, inform the court that they became owners
of at least twenty of Jemima’s descendants “for a full and valuable consideration, paid by them
or their ancestors.” They share with the slaves a “mutual attachment, perhaps as much so as
should exist between Master and Servant.” They now assert that Finch Scruggs “perpetrated a
most disgraceful fraud upon Mrs. Mathias” and that Finch’s children are now compounding that
fraud, especially “since they have been raised and educated by their father out of the proceeds
of said slaves.” They also accuse Phineas T. Scruggs, a brother of William Scruggs and Mary
Barksdale, of violating the laws of champerty by acting as his siblings’ agent in the suits with the
intention of profiting from the case. They insist that Finch Scruggs sold Jemima and Caroline
absolutely, without “any limitation whatever.” They ask the court to nullify “all orders and
decrees” in the previous causes and enjoin the defendants from further prosecution in the
matter.
0464 (Accession # 21485846). Dickson County, Tennessee. The petitioners, “merchants and
partners trading under the firm name & Style of L. B. Fite & Co,” ask the court to subject certain
slaves to the satisfaction of a debt owed them by Napier Holt & Co., iron manufacturers. The
petitioners recovered a judgment against the company for $118.40 on 21 June 1856, but there
was no “partnership property or effects ... out of which orators debts & costs could be satisfied
by an Execution at Law.” Napier Holt & Co. was in “failing circumstances,” and its various
members had “made many joint and individual conveyances of their partnership and individual
property.” In particular, the petitioners cite a “pretended” conveyance of ten slaves that James
M. Holt made to his father-in-law, Solomon Marsh. They charge that said conveyance was
made to “hinder delay and defraud the creditors of James M. Holt, and without any real bonafide
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considerations passing” between the men. They ask the court to nullify said conveyance, which
they contend “has been attached for fraud by sundry creditors of Napier Holt & Co.” They also
ask the court to issue writs of attachment and injunction and to “subject said negroes to the
satisfaction of your Orators debts & costs.”
0471 (Accession # 21485847). Sumner County, Tennessee. John M. Wilson, administrator of
the estate of the late Jane Taylor, “prays for a sale of a negro woman” belonging to her estate.
Wilson reports “that the whole estate of said Jane Taylor consits in one negro woman named
Sylvia, and that there is no other property belonging to said estate.” In addition, Wilson points
out “that there are debts existing against said Jane Taylor” that have not been paid. Noting that
“said Sylvia is getting old being now upwards of fifty years old, and that she does not hire for
much,” Wilson seeks the court’s permission to sell “said negro Sylvia in order to pay the debts of
the said Jane Taylor there being nothing else out of which to pay the same.” He also explains
“that the heirs and relatives of said Jane Taylor are illiterate persons,” and that they “are unable
to give your Orator any satisfactory information” as to the whereabouts of other heirs.
0479 (Accession # 21485848). Smith County, Tennessee. Burton Underwood seeks permission
to sell a fifteen-year-old slave named Adam, who is part of a trust estate created by Underwood
in 1855. The petitioner confirms that the deed of conveyance “was not affected to defeat the
collecting of existing debt.” However, he admits that he is currently indebted to various
individuals for services rendered and for seventeen acres of land purchased and that “he has no
means of paying them except out of the property conveyed by Said deed.” Burton and his wife
declare that they “are of the opinion, that the proceeds of the sale of one of the slaves conveyed
in said deed would be judiciously invested in the payment of the balance of the land.” They
therefore “pray that your Honor decree the trustee ... to sell one of the slaves.”
0502 (Accession # 21485849). Maury County, Tennessee. Ethelbert Kirby, administrator of the
estate of his late son-in-law, Robert B. Campbell, seeks the court’s permission to sell an estate
slave named Green. Kirby informs the court that Campbell died in 1856, leaving his widow,
Naomi Campbell, and six minor children. Although Green is a slave “of great value,” he has
recently “been charged with a crime which makes it unsafe and improper for said slave to
remain in Maury County, and under the control of said widow.” They ask that Green either be
sold “for cash or credit,” and that the proceeds of said sale “may be invested in another slave,
the title to which will belong to said widow & children as said slave Green now does.” In a
related petition, Ethelbert Kirby, Naomi Campbell, and the six minor Campbell children seek the
sale of the aforementioned slave Green.
1859
0522 (Accession # 21485901). Davidson County, Tennessee. Augusta Worley asks that her
separate property in Mississippi be secured from the possession of her husband. Worley states
that she married E. E. Worley in 1858 “in the state of Mississippi which was her domicile and
place of Residence at the time of said marriage.” She declares “that prior to her said marriage
she was the owner” of seven slaves and about $3,000, all of which are in the possession of
Charles Martin, “who held and still holds the same in trust for Complainant.” Stating that
Mississippi law protects her property “from the debts liabilities, or any marital rights of her said
husband,” she admits that she is wary to bring her property to Tennessee, where “his marrital
rights would attach and the same would be vested in him.” Worley argues that “her said
husband is indebted to insolvency, and that if he were to get possession of said estate that it
would probly be absorbed in the payment of his said debts.” She therefore prays that her
husband be enjoined “from receiving or taking into his possession any of said slaves money or
choses in action” and that Martin be barred “from delivering” the same to her husband. Worley
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also requests that the court “declare her rights to said property &C in the first place under the
laws of Mississippi” and that “under the laws of this state the whole of said property be settled
upon her for her sole and seperate use.”
0533 (Accession # 21485902). Davidson County, Tennessee. A. C. Carter seeks the
attachment and sale of a twelve-year-old enslaved female named Sophia. He informs the court
that “heretofore he indorsed two notes for about $3500 each” for one David B. Hicks. He further
reports that said “Hicks conveyed by deed ... certain slaves to John A. McEwen as trustee to
secure him from loss on account of his said indorsements.” Carter now charges “that said notes
matured and Hicks was not able to meet them.” He also contends that “said Hicks has sold all of
said slaves except a girl about 12 years of age named Sophia.” The petitioner cites that the
“notes are wholly unpaid” and that he “is apprehensive that said girl may be removed although it
was expressly understood between Hicks and himself that she was to stand pledged for his
indemnity.” Of the opinion that “he has a right to have said slave attached,” the petitioner prays
that the child Sophia “be attached and placed in the hands of a receiver and that she be sold
and the proceeds applied to the payment of said notes.”
0546 (Accession # 21485903). Smith County, Tennessee. Ebenezer Stowe and his two
securities seek to set aside the sale of a diseased slave woman named Mariah. Stowe informs
the court that he purchased Mariah and her two children, all slaves belonging to the estate of
the late Henry Massey, for the sum of $1,055 in February 1855. The petitioner “avers said
woman [Mariah] was badly diseased and worthless at the time of the sale, that before the sale
she was afflicted with scrofula and other diseases.” Stowe opines that Mariah’s condition
rendered her incapable of “any service” while constituting “a heavy expense to your orator.” The
petitioner insists that “said slave was diseased, badly diseased with the diseases before
mentioned prior to 2nd Feb 1855, and your orator charges her diseased condition was known to
a portion if not all of her owners at that time” and that “no information was given to your orator
about the diseased condition of said slave.” Noting that the defendants recovered a judgment
against them for the purchase price of Mariah and her family, the petitioners pray that the sheriff
be restrained “from proceeding further in selling said slaves or in collecting the aforesaid
execution” and that Mariah’s sale “be set aside and annuled.”
0564 (Accession # 21485904). Robertson County, Tennessee. The next of kin of the late Jacob
F. Young ask the court to “set up the will” of the said Young. They aver that Young, “a man of
great excentricity,” died seized and possessed of 350 acres of land, nine slaves, and $6,000 in
cash, which he kept “locked up in a chest.” They avow that he “made and published his last will
and testament” on 4 March 1858; that “said last will was never changed, altered or destroyed”
by Young “from the time it was made ... till his death,” on 6 December 1858; and that said will
was kept in the locked chest with his other valuables, with the keys to said chest entrusted to
Moses, one of Young’s “kind and attentive and obedient” slaves. They charge that Benjamin
Roney, “immediately after” his uncle’s death, demanded that Moses turn over the keys to him.
They report that when Roney “delivered up the keys, $3500 and the will were missing.” They
assert that Roney has filed a petition “to have all the property of every kind sold ... and he is
exerting himself most powerfully to prevent said will from being set up.” Noting that Young’s will
directed that three favored slaves be “given the privilege of selecting their homes or masters,”
they reveal that Roney “is advising the parties that by selling the three ... slaves and dividing
everything equally, that all will be benefitted rather than set up the will.” They therefore pray that
a will “be set up by the Court ... and probated as the last will and testament of Jacob A. Young”
and that “a sale of the property be enjoined for the present.”
0592 (Accession # 21485905). Davidson County, Tennessee. Samuel Kimbro, executor of his
late father’s estate, requests “that writs of attachment & Injunction issue attaching said
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Judgments against your Orator & that they be applied to the payment of the judgment” he
expects from a case pending in the court. Kimbro argues that his mother, Tabitha Kimbro,
received “a man named Peter & a hundred acres of land” when her husband John died. Kimbro
contends that his mother and her current husband, Nathaniel Bonds, have “committed great
waste upon the aforesaid one hundred acres” and that the court ordered “an account to
accertain the amount of damages & wastes Committed upon the land by the said Nathaniel &
Tabitha Bonds.” Citing that such a “judgment against them would be entirely worthless as they
are wholy insolvent,” Kimbro asks that his debt of $125 for the hire of Peter be deducted from
the amount due him in the pending judgment.
0598 (Accession # 21485906). Davidson County, Tennessee. Isaac Hiett seeks to redeem a
mortgaged slave by the name of Martha Jane. He informs the court that he borrowed $250 from
one Elizabeth Wells in 1850 and that he secured said loan by conveying “a valuable negro girl
named Martha Jane 7 years old” to John McEwen, the trustee of Mrs. Wells. Hiett represents
“that the conveyance by him of the negro was only a mortgage for the money loaned by Mrs
Wells” and that he never intended “that an absolute & unconditional sale was by him made.”
Reporting that Mrs. Wells and her trustee have died, the petitioner attests that Thomas Wells,
the widower, now claims “the absolute property in the said Martha Jane” and her newborn
infant, who have a purported value of $1,000 to $1,500. Hiett therefore prays that Thomas Wells
and the executor of the late John McEwen be summoned to answer his charges and that “the sd
Wells ... be decreed to deliver up to said Complainant said slave Martha Jane & her increase
upon payment of the said two hundred & fifty Dollars with interest.” He also requests that “Wells
be charged with reasonable hire for said slave.”
0608 (Accession # 21485907). Davidson County, Tennessee. Charles H. Walden, as security
for Bartley Zachery, seeks an attachment on funds due to be paid to Zachery and his wife,
Sarah Kimbro Zachery. Walden recounts that he became security for Zachery’s purchase of a
slave named Henry and other personal property, “which sales in the aggregate amounted to
about $1166.” The petitioner reports that there is “a balance in said purchases for which your
Orator is security yet unpaid and which Said Zachery refuses to pay.” Walden notes that
Zachery and his wife are due $1,000 from the estate of Sarah Zachery’s deceased father, John
Kimbro. Of the opinion that “this is the only fund ... of which he knows, that said money can be
collected and believes that it is the only property owned in this State by Said Zachery,” Walden
prays “that said funds be attached ... and be appropriated to the payment of the balance due in
the said purchase money.”
0614 (Accession # 21485908). Davidson County, Tennessee. Elizabeth Childress asks that she
receive the full price for which her slave Sally, “of about the age of 15 & very valuable,” sold.
Childress, a minor, maintains that “she was the owner in her own right” of said slave and that
she “held her in her own name & exercised all the rights & authority of a person of full age.” She
further asserts that Sally was her “only property ... of much value” and that she decided “to sell
said girl & convert her into money.” The petitioner purports that she contracted with William
Boyd, “who was a negro trader by occupation & kept a negro yard” in Nashville, to sell Sally.
She reports that said Boyd sold the slave for $900 to the defendants, Whitworth and/or Taylor.
The petitioner charges that “one or all of the defendants in a very short time sold said slave for
$1160 & that they made a profit of $260.” She further contends that Whitworth and Taylor were
partners of Boyd and that “they all or two of them conspired to defraud & Cheat your Oratrix in
the sale of said slave.” Childress therefore prays that the defendants “be made to account for
the amount said slave was sold for & also for what she should have brought with interest.”
0625 (Accession # 21485909). Giles County, Tennessee. Elias, a person of color, “desires, that
his freedom be declared in this Hon. Court, & the assent of the State be thus given to complete
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& perfect his freedom under laws of this state.” The petitioner informs the court that Joseph and
the late John Inman “became the owners of your orator under the last will & testament of Maj.
Joseph Inman.” He further avows that the said Inmans “executed & delivered a written
instrument under seal, of the date of 13th September 1855, by which they gave to your orator
his freedom.” Elias reports that “ever since the execution of said instrument, your orator has
been claiming his freedom & has been acting entirely for himself as a free person of color.” He
charges, however, that the said Joseph Inman “has been endeavoring to get possession of your
orator & he supposes, that it is for the purpose of claiming him as a slave.” The petitioner
therefore prays that the defendant be enjoined “from taking possession of or in any manner
interfering with your Orator; & that upon final hearing your Orator be declared free.”
0635 (Accession # 21485910). Williamson County, Tennessee. Mary Owen seeks “a competent
support” from the property of her husband, Everett Owen, who was formerly declared by the
court as being “of unsound mind.” When the couple married “some years ago,” Mary and
Everett were both widowed and had grown children. Mary’s personal property was “absorbed” in
Everett’s estate of “land, negroes and other property worth in aggregate largely over one
hundred thousand dollars.” Recently Everett has been “struck down by paralysis, and his
physical and mental faculties irretrievably ruined thereby.” Mary now charges that Everett’s
children, who assumed control of his affairs, have since “interfered with your Oratrix’ domestic
relations” and “parcelled out” his property among themselves, leaving him “only a remnant of his
large estate.” These transfers of property have been formalized by “fraudulent” conveyances
intended to deprive Mary “of any claim she might have upon the property in the event she
survived her said husband.” The family’s strained personal relations recently culminated in “a
collision between the Owen children and [Mary’s] own which ended in the violent death of one of
the said Owens.” Everett is currently living with his son John, and his son Joshua has taken
possession of his property. Insisting that she is “still willing to take charge of [Everett], and share
his bed and board,” Mary seeks alimony and permission to reside at the family homestead, and
asks that she be “supplied with negroes, stock and other things necessary to enable her to
make a support.”
0643 (Accession # 21485911). Williamson County, Tennessee. Margaret Scruggs, the widow of
William Scruggs, seeks a partition of the land and slaves belonging to her late husband’s estate.
She represents that the said William died seized and possessed of 725 acres of land and over
sixty slaves, a third of whom are under twelve years old. The petitioner declares that “under the
provisions of Testators said will she is entitled to have the one half in value of said lands allotted
and set apart to her for life ... and to have the one half in value of said slaves allotted and set
apart to her absolutely.” Margaret cites that William’s will also stated that “in dividing the
negroes I wish my Executor to have them so divided that will give as much Satisfaction to the
negroes as can be.” She further reveals that the executor “is willing that said lands be
partitioned and said slaves divided and that your Oratrix thereupon enter into the possession
and enjoyment of the same.” The petitioner therefore prays that “your Honor shall grant a
decree to partition said lands and divide said slaves to the end that your Oratrix may hold her
shares therein not as a tenant in common but in severalty.”
0655 (Accession # 21485912). Davidson County, Tennessee. Charles Wallace “insists that he
should get the boy George,” a slave bequeathed to him by his late grandfather, Mark Young,
and currently withheld from him by James and Jacob Young, administrators of his grandfather’s
estate. Although the inventory includes “the said boy George as part of the estate,” Wallace
alleges that “James H. Young claims George by virtue of three years possession of him before
the death of the testator.” The petitioner contends “that there never was a gift of George to Jas
H and also that he never held three years adverse possession of him anterior to the death of the
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testator.” Wallace asks that the Youngs “be compelled to deliver over the said boy George to
your orator and if the Court should be of opinion that Jas H Young is entitled to him that an
account be decreed if necessary to ascertain his value and that the said James H. be charged
with it as an advancement.”
0662 (Accession # 21485913). Davidson County, Tennessee. Benjamin Evans, the guardian of
his three minor daughters, seeks to sell “a lot of ground situated” in the city of Nashville that
belongs to his wards, “estimated to be worth some four thousand dollars, derived from the
estate of their grandfather Robert Whyte.” He represents that his daughters “are the owners of
thirteen negroes, twelve of them being field hands; and the same are now in your Orator’s
possession as guardian, and are employed in the cultivation of cotton on a farm” in Louisiana,
where he and his family reside. Evans notes that his wards “have no income except what will
proceed from the cultivation of the aforesaid plantation.” The petitioner confesses that he
“himself has not the means of maintaining and educating said children, but is devoting his life to
their advancement in the world.” He therefore “proposes to sell the lot in Nashville above
mentioned, and to vest the proceeds in slaves in the names of the defendants, to be placed on
said plantation to aid in its cultivation.” Evans prays “that the court order an enquiry to be made
to ascertain whether it is or not manifestly for the interest of the defendants that said sale should
be made, and the proceeds invested as above suggested; and it be so found, that your Honor
may decree accordingly.”
0674 (Accession # 21485914). Davidson County, Tennessee. The family of Nancy W. Dortch
seeks to sell “a young and able bodied negro” named Maria. They report that one John Adams
“transfered and assigned” a life estate in a female slave named Franky to the said Nancy in
1843. They further recount that they received the court’s permission to sell said Franky and her
daughter Maria in 1856. The petitioners declare that “the proceeds of sale of said Franky were
sufficient to liquidate the debts sought to be paid by said sale” so they “did not think it necessary
to dispose of Maria.” However, the family now feels “it is manifestly to their interest” to sell
Maria. They insist that Nancy “raised said negro in her family and indulged and petted her too
much.” They state that “one of the most reliable men in Nashville” has hired Maria “for
sometime” and that she “is unwilling to leave his home to come to live with petitioner said Nancy
W.” Maintaining that Maria “would be very valuable to any one who can properly manage and
control her,” the petitioners reveal that her current hirer has offered $1,300 for her. They pray
that Maria be sold for $1,300 and that $800 to $900 of the proceeds be reinvested in another
“younger negro, who can and will perform for your petitioner Nancy W the services required of
said Maria.”
0686 (Accession # 21485915). Davidson County, Tennessee. Isarel Hasbrook charges that
John W. Martin “knowingly and designedly committed a fraud upon your orator.” The petitioner
recounts that he and the defendant “made a partial verbal agreement for the purchase of a
house and lot by your Orator” and that he also “agreed to purchase a negro woman from the
defendant.” When Martin required him “to give security upon the purchase,” Hasbrook “declined
then doing so whereupon said partial contract remained unclosed or ended.” Hasbrook does
admit that he “executed his note for the hire of said negro woman for the year 1858 at the sum
of $100.00 and delivered the same to defendant.” The petitioner contends that shortly thereafter
Martin “by connivance inveigled your Orator” to execute another note that blended “a valid
consideration (being the $100, together with the taxes &c for the hire of sd negro) with a void
and fraudulent, or pretended consideration.” Hasbrook therefore prays that Martin “be
perpetually enjoined from collecting the consideration in said note ... and to grant such other
and further relief as in equity & good conscience your orator may be entitled to.”
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0696 (Accession # 21485916). Davidson County, Tennessee. Thomas Fuqua seeks to have a
deed of trust decreed “void.” He petitions on behalf of his ward, John McMurry, who was “duly
found and declared to be a Lunatic or person of unsound mind.” Fuqua states that the said John
was “regarded by the courts of the state” as a lunatic from 1840 to 1853 and that he served as
John’s guardian during that period. He further recounts that the said John “was released from
his said guardianship” in 1853, whereupon he “immediately ... commenced such a reckless and
desperate course of trading, and evincing such other signs of mental derangement, as induced
his friends and relations at three distinct times to take out against him commissions of lunacy.”
Fuqua charges that William C. McMurry “purports to be the general agent of said John” and that
he has “made contracts, verbal, and written, whereby he designs to bind said John and his
estate.” The petitioner cites a particular note executed to James Young for $618, which was
secured by a deed of trust that authorized the sale of four slaves if said note were not paid.
Citing John’s “great mental imbecility, and insanity,” Fuqua charges that his ward was “wholly
unable to make that or any other contract.” He therefore asks that the note and deed of trust be
cancelled.
0709 (Accession # 21485917). Davidson County, Tennessee. William Briggs asks that his
partnership with Harvey Tucker be dissolved. Briggs states that he and Tucker “formed a
copartnership for the purpose of buying and selling slaves” in 1849 and that their firm purchased
an enslaved mother and her four children that November. The petitioner avows “these slaves
have never been sold, or in any way been disposed of by said partnership firm, and still belong
to the same.” He further asserts that said Tucker agreed to perfect the firm’s title to said slaves
if it were found to be invalid. Briggs cites that his partner instead kept the five slaves until 1856
when he “conveyed these negroes to one R. B. Castleman in trust for his (def’ts) wife Amelia
Tucker.” The petitioner charges that said conveyance was made “with the fraudulent purpose of
deft to cheat and defraud him out of his just rights.” Briggs therefore prays that the defendants
“be enjoined from selling, removing, or otherwise disposing of said slaves”; that Fanny and her
children be delivered into the custody of a receiver so as to be hired out; that the conveyance to
Amelia Tucker “be declared fraudulent and void”; and that the “partnership be dissolved and all
proper accounts ordered between Complainant and defendant Harvey Tucker.”
0724 (Accession # 21485918). Franklin County, Tennessee. The siblings of Mary E. Embry
Nuckles seek to protect their interest in “a negro girl named Betsey.” They inform the court that
their father conveyed said Betsey “to B. G. Nuckles in trust for the sole and separate use for life
of the wife of said B. G. Nuckles,” their sister; the trust stipulated that Betsey was “then in trust
for the children of said Mary E and in default of which the negro girl by said deed goes to
Complainants.” They charge that “Nuckles accepted the trust and took the negro girl in
possession and kept her until a short time ago when he sold her to one Arch W Collins a citizen
of Alabama in payment of a debt he owed said Collins.” The petitioners relate that their sister
went to Alabama and “took the girl with her and made a bill of sale to said Collins.” They argue,
however, that their brother-in-law “is now justifying his unaccountable conduct in this matter by
saying his wife made the sale.” Charging that “the negro girl was not intended to pass out of the
family,” the siblings pray that Nuckles “be held accountable in money for his flagrant violation of
the trust” and that Collins and Nuckles “be required to bring said negro back within the
jurisdiction of the Court.”
0733 (Accession # 21485919). Davidson County, Tennessee. Sydney McLemore and Eunice
Hobbs McLemore seek to protect Eunice’s remainder interest in an enslaved family. They
submit that Harriet Hobbs, the mother of Eunice, received a life estate in “a certain slave named
Thyrza & her increase” in 1845. They charge that said Harriet “sold said slaves Thyrza & her
child Eugenia” in 1852 “to one Smith who is and was a fictitious person, or if not a fictitious
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person, he merely suffered his name to be used and the defendant Simeon Venable was the
real purchaser.” The McLemores argue that said Venable “was fully advised that defendant
Harreit E. Hobbs, owned only an interest during her natural life” and that the said Eunice “owned
the remainder interest in them.” They believe that Venable, “since he has had possession of
said slaves, has several times removed them to the state of Ohio and once or twice to the state
of Missouri and that they are in great danger of losing their interest in said slaves.” Noting that
twelve-year-old Eugenia is now in Missouri, the petitioners pray that Thyrza’s entire family be
attached and held in the sheriff’s custody, that Venable “be ordered to deliver up” said slaves to
Harriet Hobbs, or that he give sufficient bond “to have them and their increase forthcoming” at
Harriet’s death to be delivered to them.
0742 (Accession # 21485921). Giles County, Tennessee. Elijah Holt and Peter Mays ask that
they be “fully protected” from satisfying the debts of the defendants. They represent that various
creditors recovered judgments from both Benjamin and William Simpson and that they, “at the
special instance & request of” said Simpsons, each “became stayor” to the judgments. They
allege that William Simpson “is entirely insolvent & has no property of any desciption upon
which an attachment could be levied.” They charge that Benjamin Simpson’s sole property
consisted of two slaves, whom he “pretended to sell” to his son, Thomas. Insisting that said sale
“was all a sham & not in good faith,” the petitioners argue that the slaves were sold “for the
purpose of delaying, defeating, & defrauding your orators & to force them to pay said judgments
at the expiration of said stay.” They fear “unless restrained by the fiat of your Honor said
negroes will be removed beyond the jurisdiction of this Court.” Holt and May therefore pray that
the slaves, the purchase money and the note for the same be attached and that the slaves “be
sold to pay said Judgment.” If the sale of said slaves to Thomas Simpson be deemed valid, the
petitioners ask that said “money & note be held subject to the payment of said judgments &
costs at the expiration of said stay.”
0750 (Accession # 21485922). Giles County, Tennessee. George F. Phelps, the executor of the
late Mary Vance, “desires to make a final settlement of his Executorship.” The petitioner
represents that “all the indebtedness against said Estate has been discharged” and that he has
“sold all the estate, except that specifically devised in said will.” Phelps particularly notes that
there was one slave “not named in said will” and that he sold said slave Ruffin “to the highest
bidder for the sum of $678.50.” He points out that “he has delivered the other slaves & property,
specifically willed, according to terms & provisions of said will.” The petitioner asks that Vance’s
heirs be named party defendants and that “all necessary orders & decrees be made for a full &
final settlement of said Estate.” He also asks that “proper allowance be made to your orator for
his services & he be fully & finally discharged.”
0758 (Accession # 21485923). Franklin County, Tennessee. Barnard Kendige, a citizen of New
Orleans, seeks to attach the property of Alexander Hale, who is currently jailed “upon a charge
of Negro stealing.” Kendige informs the court that he purchased a male slave “called William”
from one James Seaton, who signed a “paper purporting to be a bill of Sale purporting to be
signed by Isaac Harvey ... by which name said Seaton was representing himself.” He alleges
that the said defendants stole a slave named Levi [alias William] from one A. D. Trimble, to
whom Levi was hired. He further charges that the defendants then “sent the defendant Seaton
... to the South to sell said slave.” The petitioner contends “that the Said Defts are indebted to
Complainant for said slave and damages he has sustained by the wrongful & false waronty
made by said Defendants.” Noting that defendant Hale has interests in several tracts of land,
two slaves, and sundry livestock, the petitioner prays that said property be attached and
protected from sale or disposal.
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0773 (Accession # 21485924). Davidson County, Tennessee. Mathew Johnson seeks “a
settlement of his guardianship” and a reimbursement of $2,500, which he spent on a “lot in West
Nashville ... on which is situated, a neat & comfortable little dwelling house.” He represents that
he is the guardian of his thirty-seven-year-old son-in-law, Thomas B. Craighead Jr., “who had
been previously found & declared to be a lunatic or person of unsound mind.” He further reports
that Thomas’s wife, Tennessee, and his twelve-year-old daughter, Virginia, “are the only
persons entitled to the estate of the said Thomas B. Craighead, which estate is quite large
consisting chiefly of a large sugar plantation & negroes in the state of Louisiana,” which has an
annual income of $10,000 or more. Purporting that his daughter and granddaughter had “no
suitable house or residence & no good position in which the child could properly be educated,”
the petitioner “deemed it best to purchase a house for them.” Johnson cites that he “paid for the
property out of his own means, intending to have the same allowed in his settlements as
guardian,” but he reveals that “said Court has no power ... to allow said purchase money ... &
give him credit therefor in his settlements.” He prays that “he be allowed as guardian ... $2500 &
interest & credited in his settlements with the same & he be allowed to retain that sum out of
said estate to re-imburse him.”
0784 (Accession # 21485925). Giles County, Tennessee. William B. Huff asks that two slaves
be attached and sold “to pay the said debts due your orator” from William and Benjamin
Simpson. He avers that he recovered a judgment against the Simpsons, whereby two slaves
were levied upon. He reports that he served as an endorser for William Simpson on another
debt and that he “has been compelled to pay the same with all interest and costs thereon.” Huff
avows that the Simpsons “are wholly insolvent and have no property subject to an Execution.”
He charges that Benjamin owned two slaves “a short time before the levy of said Execution” and
that he “pretended to sell and convey them to the said Thomas W. Simpson” for $1,500. Huff
argues that “said sale and conveyance were made to hinder delay and defeat the just creditors
of the said Benj S and were wholly fraudulent and void.” He notes that Elijah Holt and Peter
Mays have successfully sued the Simpsons, asserting that their status as “stayors” entitles them
to relief. Believing that his lien “is prior and superior to that set up by said Mays and Holt,” the
petitioner prays that “the prior lien of your orator be declared,” that the sale of slaves to Thomas
Simpson be decreed “fraudulent and void as to creditors,” and that the slaves be sold to
discharge the debts owed to him.
0797 (Accession # 21485926). Giles County, Tennessee. Albert Buford, the guardian of the
minor heirs of the late William Buford, is “desirous of withdrawing the settlement of his accounts
... & making his annual settlements in this Court.” Buford represents that William Buford died in
1854, leaving a widow and four daughters “as his only Legatees & Devisees.” The petitioner
reports that the widow selected five slaves from Buford’s estate and that he “received the
property of said minors which is ... to wit twenty eight slaves” and assorted livestock. Buford
believes that his wards’ estate “is large & increasing in value, & their board, clothing, &
education expensive” and that its management warrants “the aid & advice & direction of this
Court.” He therefore prays that he “be permitted to make his annual settlements in this Court
from year to year, & the same be passed upon” and that “your Honor advise & direct him in the
management of estate, & the government & control of his said wards, as you may deem best for
their interest & the interest of their estate.”
0804 (Accession # 21485927). Davidson County, Tennessee. Hansel T. Wilkinson, executor of
the will of the late Daniel Young, seeks a construction of the will from the court. Wilkinson
reports that Young died “deeply in debt,” making it necessary “to sell the real estate for the
payment of the debts, and the performance of the trusts in said will.” One of the will’s provisions
gave Young’s widow, Ellen, “certain Slaves derived to her from her fathers estate.” Young also
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directed that his “just debts,” which Wilkinson estimates as “not ... less than fifty thousand
dollars,” be paid through a sale of his property if necessary. Wilkinson seeks an account of the
assets and property in the estate “of every kind” and also of the debts “due from said estate.” He
asks the court to compel Young’s considerable creditors “to file their claims” and asks that they
be enjoined “from suing on said debts.”
0816 (Accession # 21485928). Williamson County, Tennessee. David Gray seeks an injunction
against Samuel Edmundson, who has “brought Suit against your Orator” for $3,564 and whom
“your Orator fears ... will obtain judgment against him.” Gray represents that he “entered into
Copartnership in the business of buying and selling slaves” with Edmundson in the fall of 1852.
He reports that he made two trips “to the South” for the express purpose of selling the firm’s
slaves and mules. Gray reveals that he “is a man of small education and without any knowledge
whatever of keeping accounts and managing money—all this he entrusted to his partner.” The
petitioner notes that he and the defendant “dissolved their partnership by mutual consent” about
December 1854. Charging that “no settlement took place between your Orator and said
Edmundson,” Gray submits that his former partner asked him to execute a note to him for
$3,564, “meaning at the time to endeavor to collect it and to forestall your Orator from making
any investigation into the state of the accounts between them and to estop your Orator from
making any demands against him for his just rights.” The petitioner therefore prays that an
account of the partnership business be taken and that “your Orators said note be delivered up to
him and cancelled.”
0831 (Accession # 21485929). Washington County, Tennessee. Edward West, administrator for
the estate of the late Henderson Clark, believes “it will be necessary to sell a portion” of the
fifteen slaves that belong to the estate in order “to pay the bona fide debts” of said estate. West
reports that the deceased left a widow, ten children, three tracts of land, a corn crop, and “debts
to the amount between twenty six hundred & three thousand dollars.” Noting that he has “sold
all the personal property except the negroes,” West prays “that he may be allowed to sell said
slaves at private sale or public outcry or so many of them, as will raise a fund sufficient to pay
said bona fide debts.” The petitioner also cites that “dower has not as yet been assigned to the
widow”; he requests that commissioners be appointed “to lay off and assign dower to her as the
law directs.”
0841 (Accession # 21485930). Smith County, Tennessee. Robert Oldham seeks compensation
from James Williams, his partner in a livery stable. Oldham charges that he owned two slaves,
two horses, and sundry other property, “all of which by the fraud and chicanery of defendant
Williams ... has been swept from your Orator and is now being enjoyed by defendant without
giving your orator any compensation for his losses.” He insists that, “while under the influence of
ardent spirits,” he “was induced to place his name to an instrument of writing ... purporting to be
a deed of trust,” which stated that he owed $300 to said Williams and which conveyed his said
property to Thomas Brooks “for the use and benefit of the said Williams.” Citing that he only
owes $150 to said Williams, the petitioner charges that Williams took possession of one of his
slaves and “shaved” a note worth $420, which Oldham received from the sale of his eight-yearold
slave girl named Lucy. Oldham prays that Williams “be compelled by decree to account to
your Orator ... for your Orators share of the profits of the said business taken and appropriated
... by him to his own use” and that the defendants be enjoined “from selling any of said
property.” He also asks that the said deed of trust “be declared fraudulent.”
0848 (Accession # 21485931). Franklin County, Tennessee. The executors of the late John P.
Kennerly seek the sale of 230 acres of land and ten slaves that still remain in Kennerly’s estate.
They represent that the “Testator died Seized and possessed of a large Estate consisting of
land and negroes.” They further maintain that they proceeded “to Sell perishable property
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Sufficient to pay all the Testators debts.” The petitioners argue that “it is manifestly for the
interest of all concerned that the Land & negroes above mentioned be Sold—as the property
cannot be equally & Equitably divided into So many Shares.” They therefore pray that the court
will “upon the final hearing grant a Decree to Sell the above described property.”
0860 (Accession # 21485932). Lincoln County, Tennessee. John Ashby, the administrator of the
late Nathan A. Ashby [Ashly] [Ashley], seeks to sell a twenty-one-year-old slave named
Caroline, of whom Nathan “died seized and possessed” and who “descended to the
defendants.” Ashby attests that the personal property in said estate “amounts to the sum of
about $2600.” He further reports that “there are yet unpaid debts presented against the Estate
to the amount of about $3600,” which leaves “outstanding after paying out all of the assets on
hand the sum of about $1000.” The petitioner therefore prays that the defendant relatives of
said Nathan Ashby be summoned, that guardians ad litem be assigned to the minor defendants,
and that “said negro girl be sold to pay debts outstanding against the said intestates Estate.”
William Moores [Morris] files two cross bills, in which he charges that the slave Caroline “was
unsound and in fact she became entirely crazy or insane so much so she had to be confined,
during which spell she had several fits, and in fact said slave became so boisterous & frantic the
Petitioner, who was then a tavern keeper in the town of Fayetteville, was compelled to send her
to the calaboose in order to keep her from being declared a public nuisance.”
0894 (Accession # 21485933). Smith County, Tennessee. James W. Grissim, accommodation
endorser on two notes for James A. Crutcher, seeks the court’s assistance in collecting a debt.
Grissim informs the court that Crutcher is “wholly insolvent and nothing can be made off him by
execution at law.” He further reports that Crutcher conveyed six slaves among other property to
George D. Dillard in a deed of trust on 5 February 1858. The deed was “ostensibly” for the
benefit of “certain creditors.” Several of Crutcher’s creditors, who did not profit from the trust
deed, later sued Crutcher and Grissim causing the court to levy upon and sell several of the
slaves. They also charged that Crutcher had his “near relative,” Washington R. Lucas, purchase
the slaves at auction with money “furnished by said Crutcher.” Grissim now makes “the same
charges of fraud in relation to said deed of trust and sales” and is particularly concerned that
Crutcher and his confederates will “run said negroes off so as to defeat the collection” of his
debts. He asks the court to declare the deed and sales fraudulent, to attach the property in the
deed, and to order that “any surplus remaining of said property” be appropriated to his claim. In
an amended bill, he points out that Crutcher has recently inherited an interest in a slave named
Stephen through marital rights. He asks the court to enjoin Crutcher from “disposing” of the
slave.
0904 (Accession # 21485935). Giles County, Tennessee. Charles Ordway, James Campbell
and Neill McNair Smith, the son of the late Margaret Smith, seek to sell two enslaved families.
They inform the court that two slaves in the estate of the late Roderick Smith “were set apart to
the children of the said Margarette Smith” and that said slaves were “to remain in the hands of
his widow ... until Margarets youngest child became of lawful age to transact business.” The
petitioners inform the court that Mary L. Smith, the youngest child of said Margaret, died in 1858
and “that all of the children of the said Margaret Smith living are now 21 years of age & entitled
to their shares or interest in said slaves.” Petitioners Ordway and Campbell represent that the
late James Inman “purchased all the interest of the said Henry W. Smith in & to said slaves” and
that they recovered a judgment against said Inman before he died. They further attest that the
sheriff “levied upon the undivided interest of the said James R. Inman in all of said slaves.” Of
the opinion that “said slaves cannot be divided among the parties entitled to the same without a
sale,” the petitioners pray the two female slaves and their four children be sold and that “the
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share or interest of sd Jas. R. Inman in said slaves be applied to the payment of said Execution
levied on the same.”
0912 (Accession # 21485936). Washington County, Tennessee. William Sliger, the son and
executor of the late Henry Sliger, seeks permission to sell “a negro man named Isaac about 42
to 44 years of age.” Sliger informs the court that his father died in December 1834 and that by
his will “he disposed of all his real and personal estate to his wife Elizabeth Sliger during her life
or widowhood.” Noting that the said Elizabeth died in August 1855, the petitioner represents that
“said Henry Sliger left a considerable real & personal estate” and that Isaac is one of the said
“items of personal property.” Sliger maintains that “said boy is a slave for life and cannot be
partitioned among the distributees of said estate and it will be necessary to have him sold for
the purpose of partition among the distributees.” The petitioner points out that the said Isaac
instituted a suit for his freedom and that the Lamons and the Kikers disclaimed “any interest” in
said Isaac. Sliger prays “your worships to make an order authorising the sale of said slave on
such terms as shall seem best to your worships.” The Lamons reveal in their answer that the
chancery court ruled that Isaac was “entitled to his freedom, but this decree upon appeal was
reversed by the Supreme Court at its last Term & sd Isaac was declared, not to be entitled to his
freedom.”
0932 (Accession # 21485937). Knox County, Tennessee. About May 1858, S. C. N. Doak,
Samuel Galbreath, and Thomas R. Crookshanks paid $250 for a stud horse named Turk.
Galbreath later sold his interest to Doak and Crookshanks. Crookshanks told Doak that he
wanted to sell Turk and that Alexander Simmons had offered $250 for the horse. Doak agreed
to sell, and Crookshanks wrote a receipt on 14 January 1859, which relieved Doak of further
responsibility. Doak alleges that Crookshanks had a secret agreement with Simmons, “carefully
concealed from your orator,” to take the horse south and sell him. He submits that Simmons
“took said Horse south and sold him for a negro woman .... worth some $800 or $900.” The
petitioner further “charges that he has applied to said Crookshanks ... to be informed of the facts
connected with this transaction,” and he insists Crookshanks, “as your orators partner, was
bound to account to your orator for a moiety of the profits realized.” Doak therefore prays that
Crookshanks and Simmons be summoned to answer his charges and that “said Crookshanks
account with and pay to your orator whatever sum may be justly due him on account of the
partnership aforesaid.”
0943 (Accession # 21485938). Knox County, Tennessee. James W. Campbell informs the court
that he “became liable as security” of Joseph L. King “for a large amount, and he has since had
to pay in discharge of the same about $3,935”; he notes that King has only repaid $160. He
further recounts that, on 11 October 1856, King “made & delivered a deed,” which mentioned six
slaves and other property, to Joseph Parsons for $5 and that said deed stipulated that the
creditors could sell the property if King defaulted on certain debts. Campbell “charges that said
deed was made for the purpose of hindering and delaying creditors in the collection of their
debts owing by said King.” He further argues that all but one of the creditors are King’s relatives
and that no one has enforced the terms. In fact, Campbell contends that the property has
remained in King’s possession and “has been used & enjoyed by him in the same manner and
to the same extent as tho’ no such deed had ever been executed.” Believing that said deed
“ought to be declared null and void by a decree of this Honorable Court,” the petitioner prays
that the defendants be summoned, that the “property mentioned in said deed” be attached, and
that said property be “sold for the satisfaction of your orators demand.”
0957 (Accession # 21485939). Knox County, Tennessee. On 2 July 1859, Thomas D. Ethridge
obtained a judgment for $30.25 and costs against D. N. Jordan, a feme covert, and her
daughter, N. H. Jordan McPherrin, a feme covert. On 12 July 1859, Ethridge and John W. Titlow
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obtained a judgment for $19.82 and costs against “your Oratrixes alone, without their said
husbands being made parties to the action.” Asserting that the said judgment is “void,” the
female petitioners represent that “the note upon which the said judgment was predicated was
executed” by them when they both enjoyed the status of “feme covert.” They further avow that
an officer of the law has levied the judgments on a male slave given in trust to D. N. Jordan and
her children. McPherrin and the Jordans argue that the judgments, if valid, cannot be levied on
the slave, because “the legal title of the said negro-man, being vested in the said Trustee, it
cannot be reached by an Execution at Law.” The petitioners ask that an injunction be issued to
stop the sale of the slave and any further legal proceedings until the case is settled. They also
ask that the judgments be “cancelled, and for nothing held.”
0973 (Accession # 21485940). Knox County, Tennessee. Mary J. Reynolds Helms is “solicitous
to secure her own property for her own separate use and benefit and for that of her child.” She
informs the court that she married William T. Helms in 1853 and that he had contracted a great
deal of debt “prior to her marriage.” She reports that court-appointed commissioners, on 2
November 1859, “set apart as her share” of her late father’s estate two slaves named Fanny
and Charley, who have a joint value of $1,450; in addition, she relates that she inherited eighty
acres “of her Father’s old homestead.” The petitioner confides that her husband owes “a very
considerable sum” to many creditors within and without Tennessee and that none of said debts
were “contracted for her use or benefit.” She reveals that “there is a disposition on the part of
some of the creditors fraudulently to subject her small estate to the satisfaction of the debts due
them from her husband.” The petitioner therefore prays that her husband’s creditors be
perpetually enjoined “from molesting her in the use and enjoyment of her own property” and that
the court will “vest her land and slaves aforesaid in her brother & next friend as Trustee for the
purpose of managing and conducting it.”
0986 (Accession # 21485941). Smith County, Tennessee. Attorney Andrew McClain petitions
for payment of fees owed him by Elias Dowell and his family. McClain explains that he “was
employed as counsel in [a] suit in behalf of the said Complainants” and that he “performed a
great amount of labor for which he charges he is justly entitled to three hundred dollars.” The
petitioner admits that Elias Dowell Jr. has paid him $100 “heretofore in part payment for his
services in said suit.” The petitioner asserts that the children of Elias Dowell Sr. “have an
interest in three negroes, Viz, Bob Dan & Polly who are now in the custody of this Court being
hired out by the Clerk & Master as receiver, and also in the notes given for their hire”; he cites
that said defendants “are entitled to said negroes & hire under the provisions of the will of their
grandfather Nehemiah Dowell who died in 1842.” Charging that the Dowell children “are justly
entitled to the whole of said hire in the hands of the Clerk & Master ... as well as interest in
remainder in the negroes themselves,” the petitioner prays that the court attach said notes and
“also the entire interest of said children of Elias Sr in the said negroes themselves and let said
notes & negroes be made liable by decree to the satisfaction of your orators said debt.”
1025 (Accession # 21485942). Knox County, Tennessee. John Glenn and Robert McMullen
seek to attach any surplus funds that may arise from the sale of mortgaged property. They
represent that Henry Smith executed three deeds of trust to secure sundry debts, thereby
mortgaging a total of nineteen slaves. They further avow that said deeds of trust have expired
and that the property therein has been advertised for sale. The petitioners purport “that the
property conveyed in the said Deeds ... is greatly more than sufficient to meet the demands of
said Deeds, and that there will be a large amount of surplus fund remaining in the hands of the
Trustees.” The petitioners inform the court that they each hold a judgment in their favor and that
executions issued “upon the same, and returned nulla bona.” They therefore pray that the said
trustees be enjoined “from disposing of any of said surplus, or so much thereof, as may be
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necessary to pay your Orators’ said demands” and that the court will “direct a satisfaction of
your Orators’ Claims out of the said surplus fund.”
1041 (Accession # 21485943). Knox County, Tennessee. In May 1857 and October 1858,
William C. Kain mortgaged property, including four slaves, to Samuel Morrow to secure various
debts. Morrow had the authority to sell the property if the mortgages expired and the debts were
not repaid. James W. Campbell avows that the mortgages expired 1–3 April 1858 and 8
February 1859, that only part of the claims has been paid, “and yet no sale has been made or
attempted.” On 30 October 1858, the Knox County Circuit Court decreed that Kain owed
$1,125.76 to Campbell. The court confiscated and sold Kain’s real estate, because it was Kain’s
“only unencumbered property.” The sale raised $340 for Campbell. The petitioner therefore
prays that “said trust property be sold by decree of this Court” and that the surplus be applied to
his claim and that “in the mean time Complt: prays that sd Kain & Morrow be enjoined from in
any manner disposing of said property, and for an attachment as to the surplus of the property
over the mortgage debts.”
1060 (Accession # 21485944). Knox County, Tennessee. L. F. Ragsdale seeks to attach any
surplus funds that may arise from the sale of mortgaged property. He represents that Henry
Smith executed three deeds of trust to secure sundry debts, thereby mortgaging a total of
nineteen slaves. The petitioner purports “that the property conveyed to the ... Trustees, in said
Deeds of Trust, is largely more than sufficient to meet the requirements of said Deeds, and that
there will be a large amount of surplus fund remaining in the hands of the Trustees.” Ragsdale
reveals that various creditors have obtained three judgments against him and the said Henry
Smith; that executions have issued on the same and have been returned “nulla bona” in regards
to said Smith; and that “your orator was forced to pay the entire debt, costs, and commissions.”
The petitioner therefore prays that the said trustees be enjoined “from disposing of any of the
said surplus, or so much thereof, as may be required to satisfy your Orators said debt against
the said Henry Smith” and that the court will “direct a satisfaction out of the said surplus fund.”
1076 (Accession # 21485945). Knox County, Tennessee. Henry Smith accuses his former
landlords of fraud. He states that he leased a Knoxville hotel from John H. Crozier and Thomas
W. Humes about 1 June 1856. He further relates that he agreed to renew his lease in 1858 if
Crozier made certain improvements to the property. Charging that Crozier’s “promises have
remained unfulfilled,” Smith argues that he executed two deeds of trust “to secure the rent.” He
reports that he conveyed three slaves to Joseph Mabry as trustee in the first said deed; in the
second said deed, he conveyed “all the household and kitchen furniture ... and five negroes” to
W. Y. C. Humes as trustee. Smith states that he decided to move in early 1859 and that he
procured a suitable tenant for his landlords, on the condition that said hotel would be furnished
“in a suitable manner.” The petitioner charges that Crozier then “contracted to buy from your
orator all of his furniture ... and to take the same in payment of the balance of rent due them,”
thus being enough “to discharge said trust deeds.” Smith now contends that Crozier has
“cunningly attempted to throw Your Orator off his gard,” by persuading the trustees “to advertise
to sell the same for the satisfaction & payment of” the debts owed “in said trust deeds.” Smith
asks that the sale of his property be enjoined, that his earlier contract regarding the furniture be
upheld, and that “the said deeds in trust be canceled & discharged.”
1095 (Accession # 21485946). Knox County, Tennessee. Absalom Rutherford bequeathed all of
his slaves to his wife Mary “during her life or widowhood.” Upon her remarriage or death, the
slaves were to be divided between his four daughters. Rutherford later gave one slave each to
his daughters, Mary Peterson and Ceny Ledgerwood, and “they acknowledged said negroes to
be their part of said negro property.” When Mary Rutherford died about 6 July 1859, she still had
two of the slaves named in her husband’s will, “namely Sallie aged about thirty five years and
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Welbon aged about twenty-two.” Upon the widow’s death, Sarah Rutherford Clapp immediately
“took into her exclusive possession the said two negroes in violation and disregard of the rights
of your Orator and Oratrix.” Anne Graves and her husband George ask the court to issue an
injunction restraining Clapp from selling or removing the slaves from the court’s jurisdiction and
to require an accounting from her of their hire while in her possession. The Graveses also ask
the court to award them a one-half interest in the two slaves, to sell the slaves, and to divide the
proceeds between Clapp and the Graveses. They ask that the two slaves be hired out until the
case is settled.
1119 (Accession # 21485947). Williamson County, Tennessee. Thomas T. and Mary L. Davis
ask the court to “set apart to them” Mary’s interest in three slaves, whom she holds as “tenants
in common” with her minor sister, Sarah D. Caldwell. The Davises ask the court to order a sale
of Dicey and her two children, aged five and three years, so that the proceeds from the sale
may be distributed between the two sisters.
1130 (Accession # 21485948). Maury County, Tennessee. Fanny Caldwell seeks a divorce from
her estranged husband, David A. Caldwell, whose conduct towards her she deems “almost
indurable and outrageous.” In this amended bill, she informs the court that David has “again
renewed his abuses and cruelties towards her” and that she has been forced to seek shelter
“under her Mother’s roof.” She describes her life with David as one of “constant dread of
personal violence,” confiding that “she really lived with him more through fear than love.” On one
occasion, “he poured out his vials of wrath upon her head,” turned an axe upon her brother, and
then threatened “to split her head open and beat her brains out.” She characterizes him as an
“infuriated lunatic” during such episodes and confesses her fear that she will be “deprived of life”
if she remains with him. She seeks alimony and asks to be restored to “all her rights as a feme
sole.” A deposition from Hugh C. Harrison gives an eyewitness account of David’s conduct
towards his wife, gleaned when Harrison returned a runaway slave to the Caldwell plantation.
Also included is Fanny Caldwell’s third bill for divorce, which reports that David has “wilfully or
maliciously deserted her for more than two whole years.”
Reel 22
1860
Tennessee cont.
0002 (Accession # 21486001). Giles County, Tennessee. Jane B. Smith, widow of Samuel
Smith, seeks the sale of a twenty-year-old estate slave named Jim. The petitioner points out
that her late husband desired his estate “to be kept together under the control & management of
your Oratrix, until the children [named as defendants] respectively arrived at majority.” Smith
notes that the estate has been settled, that she has received her dower, and that the children
over twenty-one years old have received their shares. She further reveals that four hundred
acres and thirty slaves have been set aside as the joint property of her three minor daughters.
The petitioner asserts that Jim, one of the slaves so set aside, is troublesome, insubordinate,
and “of turbulent disposition.” She further charges that he “is thievish, and has become
annoying to the neighbors in various ways and in fact, it is impossible for your Oratrix to control
him.” Fearful that Jim will “commit some depredation or crime, that will cause her said wards &
children to loose his value entirely,” Smith prays that “on final hearing that said slave be sold.”
The petitioner also voices concern that Jim “exercises a bad influence upon other negroes,
especially the younger slaves.”
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0014 (Accession # 21486002). Washington County, Tennessee. W. S. Riddick and Laura Clem
Riddick petition the court for their share of the slaves belonging to the estate of the late Nancy
Clem. They contend “that they are entitled to a portion of said Negroes or their proceeds, as
your complainant Laura ... is the Lawful daughter of the said Nancy Clem.” The Riddicks reveal
that the said Clem received a slave family from her father “by his Deed of Gift” on 30 March
1848. The deed stipulated that upon her death the trustee, Peter Miller, “was to convey the said
Negroes, and their increase to the Children of the said Nancy Clem.” The petitioners point out
that Nancy Clem died about 17 May 1854 and that “the said Peter Miller has not yet conveyed
to your Complainants the said Negroes, or any part of them.” The Riddicks request that the
court “will direct and decree a division of said Negroes and that the same be sold to the highest
bidders, so as to give all an equal portion.”
0024 (Accession # 21486003). Bradley County, Tennessee. A group of the heirs and
distributees of the late Simion Eldridge ask that the property in his estate be sold and that the
proceeds be divided among the interested parties. They point out that the chancery court ruled
in their favor on a bill filed by a portion of the petitioners on 30 July 1850 and that the estate
slaves “were all ordered to be delivered up to Complainants Rice & Ballew as administrators of
Simion Eldridge deceased.” They further cite that the 1859 supreme court affirmed this decision
and set aside and “declared fraudulent” certain deeds and bills of sale submitted by other heirs.
The petitioners submit that the cost of said suit amounts to several hundred dollars, which the
supreme court ordered “to be paid out of the estate.” They represent “that it will be necessary to
sell some of said negroes to pay up the cost of the suit, and attorney fees, and in case it turns
out that the raising of young negroes exceeds the hire of the other negroes, then the difference
will have to be paid and in that case some negroes will have to be sold for that purpose.” They
therefore believe “that it will be manifestly to the interest of all said heirs to have all said negroes
sold and divide the proceeds thereof amongst those entitled to receive it.” Twenty-two of the
thirty-four slaves belonging to said estate are twelve years old or younger.
0033 (Accession # 21486004). Knox County, Tennessee. Jim Hickey, a man of color, prays that
“an injunction may issue restraining the Sheriff of Knox County from selling your Orator” to
satisfy certain judgments. Hickey, by his next friend, Charles J. McClung, recounts that he and
his wife were once the property of the late Cornelius Hickey, and, as such, the clerk and master
of the chancery court “sold your Orator and his said wife at public sale for the sum of two
hundred dollars” to one M. W. Williams. The petitioner asserts, however, that “this purchase was
in appearance only, for by the kindness and generosity of a number of gentlemen in Knox
County, your Orator had been presented with the sum of two hundred dollars, with which to
purchase his freedom and that of his said wife,” and he avows that said Williams “did not
advance one cent out of his own means towards” the said purchase. He further alleges that
Williams “always admitted that he had no right to hold your Orator and his wife as slaves, but
that said purchase was made upon an express agreement to afterwards emancipate them.”
With Williams insolvent and no longer in the state, Hickey states that he has been levied upon
for Williams’s said debts. He therefore seeks a perpetual injunction restraining said executions
and a decree “declaring and establishing your Orator’s freedom.”
0045 (Accession # 21486005). Giles County, Tennessee. Malcolm McDonald, executor of the
estate of the late James C. Esselman and former guardian of his minor children, seeks to enjoin
a judgment in favor of William McClure, the husband of Esselman’s daughter, Harriet, and the
children’s current guardian. McDonald reminds the court that McClure won a decree against him
in September 1860 for the value of certain notes he received on the children’s behalf. McDonald
now informs the court that he “claims a credit” on one of the notes for “the loss of service of
Dave one of said hired negroes, for the balance of the year 1858 from April.” A related petition
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reveals that Dave was sold under the court’s authorization after he was convicted of arson in
1858. McClure refused to accept this note when McDonald “offered” it to him, “with all the other
effects belonging to said estate in his hands.” McDonald now insists that it is “manifestly wrong
& unjust for him to be compelled to pay the whole of said decree against him, when in all
probability he can not be able to collect the whole of said note.” He asks the court to set aside
the earlier decree “for a rehearing” and that he be “entitled to either deliver up said note & have
a credit for the same, or else that he be allowed a credit” for the amount he considers
uncollectible.
0051 (Accession # 21486006). Giles County, Tennessee. The heirs of the late Lewis G. Upshaw
are desirous of having his estate settled. They inform the court that the said Upshaw owned
land and thirty-seven slaves at the time of his death and that said assets “will be more than
enough” to discharge any estate debts. The petitioners represent that the widow has not
received her dower and that “she desires the same to be laid off to her, so as to include the
dwelling house & the improvements.” The heirs point out that “when the dower of the widow is
set apart to her ... the balance cannot be divided among the parties entitled to the same, without
damage to the value of the same.” They do believe, however, that “said slaves can be divided
among the parties.” The petitioners therefore pray “that the widows dower be laid off to her, &
the balance of said land sold & the proceeds divided & said slaves be also divided.” In her
deposition, defendant Ellenor Upshaw claims that her father-in-law, Lewis Upshaw, gave her
and her husband, the late James Upshaw, a slave named Mary and that “the girl has been
under my control” from 1843 until 1858.
0065 (Accession # 21486007). Giles County, Tennessee. Edgar Cox asks that “an attachment
issue and be levied on the property” of William Daugherty in order to secure payment of his
debts. Cox contends that the defendant Daugherty “is indebted to him in a large sum of money”
and “all of said sums with interest thereon are justly due and wholly unpaid.” He reports that
“three days past” Daugherty, who is “now indebted to insolvency,” conveyed twelve slaves to
David Maxwell, the other defendant, as a way “to hinder & delay Creditors” and that said slaves
“have since been run off or have been concealed.” Cox claims that Daugherty owns several
hundred acres of land, fifteen more slaves, sundry household and farming goods, as well as
“$6000.00 or $8000.00 worth of Stock in the Central Southern Rail Road Company.” Fearful that
“if said property is not attached & held to the satisfaction of said debts, that he will loose them,”
the petitioner prays that Daugherty and Maxwell be made party defendants to his bill and “that a
sufficiency of said property be sold to satisfy said debts” and “that the conveyance to Maxwell
be annulled, declared void & set aside.”
0072 (Accession # 21486008). Giles County, Tennessee. R. W. Harwood requests that “an
attachment issue & be levied upon all the property” of William Daugherty in order to secure
payment of his debts. Harwood cites that he is “the first accommodation Endorser for William C.
Daugherty” on a bill of exchange and that said debt is “due and wholly unpaid.” The petitioner
alleges that the defendant Daugherty “is very intemperate & is giving no attention to his
business ... and now conceals himself, so as to prevent the service of an ordinary process of
law upon him.” He contends that Daugherty “conveyed twelve of his slaves to his father-in-law
David Maxwell” and that “said conveyance was to hinder & delay creditors.” He notes that
Daugherty owns several hundred acres of land, “several slaves besides those conveyed to said
Maxwell,” and “a large amount of stock in the Southern Central Rail Road Company.” Harwood
fears that without an attachment he “will have said Bill of Exchange to pay & loose it entirely as
well as loose the debt aforesaid due him.’’ He therefore prays that said property be attached;
the defendants be “enjoined from removing, selling or disposing of any of said property”; and
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that “the debt for which your Orator is bound as well as that due him be paid out of the proceeds
of said property.”
0077 (Accession # 21486009). Giles County, Tennessee. William Lane and others request that
“an attachment issue to attach the property” of William Daugherty in order to secure payment of
their note. The petitioners cite “that said note is now justly due & owing to your orators by the
said Daugherty, no part of the same ever having been paid.” They allege that the defendant
Daugherty “is concealing himself ... so that the ordinary process of law cannot be served upon
him.” They further charge that the defendant fraudulently conveyed twelve slaves to David
Maxwell with the intent “to defraud creditors.” The petitioners note that Daugherty owns several
hundred acres of land, “about 15 other slaves,” and “about $8000.00 or $9000.00 of stock in the
Central Southern Rail Road Company.” Advised “that their only remidy to secure payment of
their said debt is to have the property of said Daugherty, both real & personal attached by
process from this Court,” the petitioners pray that said property be “held to pay said debt.”
0083 (Accession # 21486010). Giles County, Tennessee. John C. Johnson, an “accommodation
security” of William C. Daugherty, seeks a writ of attachment on the property of said Daugherty.
Noting that “the said Daugherty is justly indebted to him,” Johnson states that he obtained
judgments and “upon all of said judgments Executions have been issued,” resulting in a levy
upon Daugherty’s property. He asserts, however, that said property “had been before ... levied
upon & attached at the instance of other creditors of said Daugherty & for amounts as your
Orator is informed & believes sufficient to exhaust said personal property.” Johnson further
charges that Daugherty “made a fraudulent transfer of a portion of his slaves to the said David
Maxwell for the purpose ... to defeat the collection of his debts.” Of the opinion that Daugherty’s
property “will be insufficient to pay his debts unless the slaves conveyed to the said Maxwell can
be ... made liable to said debts,” the petitioner prays that “the personal property of the said
Daugherty, be also attached, together with all his slaves, both those pretended to be conveyed
to the said Maxwell & those not conveyed—that his Rail Road stock also be attached.” Johnson
also asks that a tract of land be sold and that “the lien priority of your Orator on the same be
enforced.”
0094 (Accession # 21486011). Davidson County, Tennessee. Jackson White, the trustee and
next friend of Jonathan and Foster Lucas, seeks an injunction to prevent the sale of a slave
named Henry. He explains that the father of the petitioners conveyed “several negroes, and
among others a boy named Henry then aged about 9 years, in trust for the benefit of Martha M.
Lucas ... for life, and after her death to her children.” White reports that the said Martha has died
and her children, including Jonathan and Foster, are “entitled to the negroes mentioned in said
conveyance and among others to the said boy Henry, as tenants in common.” Noting that other
Lucas children, the defendants, have mortgaged Henry “to secure certain debts,” White reveals
that a judgment has been recovered against them and “an execution has been issued upon this
judgment and placed in the hands of K. Branch deputy sheriff, who has levied it upon the negro
Henry above named.” Contending that the petitioners “have an undivided interest in said negro
which cannot be sold for the debt of the defendants, and that a sale of the entire interest in said
negro ... would be in violation of their rights,” White requests the court to enjoin said sale.
0103 (Accession # 21486012). Maury County, Tennessee. Samuel Frierson seeks “an
injunction to restrain” the sheriff from “collecting” an execution issued on an enslaved female
named Susan. Frierson asserts that he purchased the said Susan from Absalom Thompson,
trustee of Elijah Thompson, for $1,050 on 16 August 1858, for which he executed a note
payable on 1 January 1859. The petitioner further recounts that “said Trustee recovered
Judgmet ... [against] him & his securities on said note” on 3 January 1860 and that “Execution
has issued theron & is now in the hands of Samuel H Jones Sheriff of Maury County.”
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Contending that the Thompsons “were both present at the sale and distinctly stated &
represented then & there that said slave was sound,” Frierson charges fraud, alleging that Elijah
“well knew that she was not sound & had not been for a long time previous to the day of said
sale.” The petitioner notes that at the time of the execution he did not have sufficient proof
“necessary to a successful defence,” but he now attests that “he has discovered proof by which
he believes he will be able to shew that the slave was unsound at the time.” He therefore prays
that the Thompsons be summoned and that “upon final hearing the Injunction prayed for in this
cause be made perpetual.”
0111 (Accession # 21486013). Giles County, Tennessee. The partners of A. G. Adams & Co.
ask that the property of William C. Daugherty be attached for payment of the debts owed to said
company. The petitioners purport that Daugherty “is indebted to them in the sum of $529.67/00
by accounts for goods &c sold & delivered to him.” They further charge that the said Daugherty
“is concealing himself so that the ordinary process of law cannot be served upon him & that he
has made a fraudulent disposition of 12 slaves ... to the said Maxwell to defeat the collection of
his debts.” Noting that “a good many attachments issued from this Court have already been
levied upon the property of said Daugherty for a large amount,” the petitioners insist that “it will
be necessary to attach all of his property to secure the debt of your Orators.” They therefore
pray that “an attachment issue to attach all the property of said Daugherty, both real &
personal—& said slaves conveyed to the said Maxwell ... that said Rail Road stock be also
attached & said stock of goods & accounts.”
0118 (Accession # 21486014). Davidson County, Tennessee. Shelton Demoss requests that he
be relieved of his duties as trustee for the trust estate established by Lemuel McConnico “for the
use and benefit of his daughter Angelina B. Cloud and her husband Edwin T. Cloud.” At the
Clouds’ behest, Demoss sold and/or exchanged the five slaves in the estate several times
during the years 1855 and 1856 and “that after all of these purchases and sales there remains
for the trust estate but the woman Malinda and the $2500 due.” In addition, Demoss reports that
a judgment was recovered against Edwin for a debt “created for necessaries for the family.” He
also notes that he personally “gave his note as trustee” for the purchase of two mules “at the
price of $200 for the benefit of the family.” Noting that Edwin “died insolvent and intestate in the
fall of 1858,” Demoss asks that his note “be paid out of the trust funds” and that “he be
discharged from his trusteeship” and another trustee “be appointed in his stead.”
0134 (Accession # 21486016). Lincoln County, Tennessee. The heirs of the late John H. Allen
seek the distribution or sale of the estate property once dower is assigned to the widow. They
report that the intestate died possessed of several tracts of land and sixteen slaves. The
administrator of said estate represents that “he has disposed of the perishable property
belonging to said estate” and asserts that “there is more than a sufficiency of assets in his
hands to pay off and discharge all the just debts owing by said intestates estate.” Noting the
“number of heirs,” the petitioners “pray that if said land and slaves [be] susceptible of an
advantageous division among the parties that by a decree of your Honorable Court the same
shall be divided [but] if not susceptible of an advantageous division they pray that the [same] be
sold for division and that your Honor will decree the rights of the respective parties in said
estate.”
0149 (Accession # 21486017). Giles County, Tennessee. Stith Harwell seeks to attach William
Simpson’s interest in two slaves. He informs the court that he recovered a judgment against
said Simpson in August 1859. Harwell affirms that he “does not know of any property belonging
to said Wm. Simpson,” with the exception of “an interest in two negroes one a woman named
Ally & a boy named Mac, or a part of the purchase money from Thos W Simpson who lately
purchased or pretended to purchase the same from Benjamin S. Simpson the father of said Wm
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F Simpson.” The petitioner prays that William Simpson’s interest “in said negroes or in the
purchase money” be attached and that “the same by a Decree of this Court be applied to the
satisfaction of said Judgment.”
0154 (Accession # 21486018). Sumner County, Tennessee. The children and heirs of law of the
late Willis and Malinda Bush desire to sell a forty-year-old slave named Eliza, who is “of infirm
and delicate health, and of but little value.” They explain that the said Eliza is one of two slaves
in the estate, rendering it “impracticable to make a division between them.” The petitioners
inform the court that Eliza has a husband, and “the parties desire if possible to sell her, so that
she might remain with her husband.” They therefore pray that “your Honor upon final hearing
will decree the sale of the said Eliza for purpose of partition” and that the commissioner so
appointed “be authorized to sell privately if possible, that the said Eliza be kept in the
neighborhood of her husband—if the same can be done without detriment to the interests of the
minors.”
0159 (Accession # 21486019). Giles County, Tennessee. The partners of Irby Morgan & Co.
seek an attachment on the property of William C. Daugherty in order to secure payment on a
debt of $1,982.66 owed to the said company. The petitioners represent that the said Daugherty
“is indebted to them by account, for goods sold and delivered ... also by notes, as the partner of
Daugherty & Wagstaff.” They assert that Daugherty has become “dissipated and negligent of his
business” and that “he is also squandering and conveying his property, with the view and intent
as orators believe and charge, to hinder and delay, if not to defraud his creditors.” The partners
particularly cite that Daugherty “made privately and secretly, a fraudulent conveyance of about
twelve of his most valuable slaves to David Maxwell ... for the pretended consideration of
$11861,” relating that “this deed was made in great haste ... in the night.” They further allege
“that said twelve negroes were immediately concealed or removed and cannot now be found by
the sheriff, instead of being openly removed to Maxwell’s as they should ... have been.” The
petitioners therefore pray that “all said land & negroes, stock of goods, &c ... including the
negroes conveyed to Maxwell, be attached and held in custody of the law.”
0169 (Accession # 21486020). Smith County, Tennessee. Benjamin Vaden and Henry Perkins,
“partners in the purchase and sale of Tobacco,” seek the court’s assistance in collecting $800 to
$850 owed to them by James D. Bennett. They inform the court that the said Bennett bought
tobacco from them several months ago. They further reveal that “Bennett has been engaged
pretty largely in speculating in Tobacco the present and some past seasons and he admits has
lost money largely.” The petitioners declare that Bennett conveyed all his property, including
three slaves, in a deed of trust to one Henry Hart and that “said deed provides for the payment
of several debts specified therein.” Vaden and Perkins charge that Bennett “has no property
subject to execution” and that they must resort “to any remainder they may be after the debts
specified in the deed are satisfied out of the proceeds of the sales of the property therein
contained.” Claiming that the value of the property specified in said deed exceeds “the debts
therein provided for,” they pray that “your Honor decree that their debts be paid,” that the
property in said deed of trust be sold to satisfy the debts therein specified, and that the trustee
be “directed to pay the surplus if any towards the satisfaction of your orators debts.”
0181 (Accession # 21486021). Knox County, Tennessee. William Mountcastle and James
Mitchell charge that Thomas Crookshanks and A. A. Simmons fraudulently concealed the
diseased condition of a slave named Caroline. The petitioners report that Crookshanks
represented the said Caroline “to be a very good cook” and that “she had done all the cooking
for the family of one A. A. Simmons, had worked his garden and done other work such as is
necessary about a farm.” Crookshanks did confess to the petitioners that Caroline “was not
perfectly sound, but that at times she could not hold her water.” Mitchell and Mountcastle
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recount that they “went to said A. A. Simmons to see her, and said Simmons had her dressed
up in clean clothes, her hair combed &c and there brought out for complts to look at.” Finding
nothing amiss, they “agreed to take her at the price of $350.” Once home, the petitioners allege
that Caroline “was in fact not able to do cooking or anything else” and that “she is considerably
worse than nothing and is not only a dead expense, but an object of a loathsome filthness that
is indescribable.” They contend that “she cannot keep herself from stinking, and no person of
ordinary sensibilities can bear her in the cooking department if she were even able to do the
cooking.” Charging that Caroline is “diseased to such an extent that she was worthless,” the
petitioners pray that, among other things, “said defendants be compelled to take her back & that
the note for the purchase price thereof be cancelled & given up, & that said defendants be held
to account to complainants for the nursing, care, attention & medical service rendered said
woman by complts.”
0190 (Accession # 21486022). Davidson County, Tennessee. John Johns, a free man of color,
charges that the defendant, C. D. Jackson, defrauded him of his “property and effects of every
description and kind” by intimidating him to make “a will in favor of defendant.” Due to Jackson
“often exibiting passons and anger so as to put your orator in fear becoming volent and cursing
and swaring about the mater of the will,” Johns “did consent to make a will in said Jacksons
favor but had no Idea of making him a deed of gift and thus placing his property out of his own
controle.” The petitioner, “being greatly agreaved an old man of color that can neather read nor
write and having been overreached and a fraud comited upon him that involves his tittle estate
the fruits of many years hard labor ... Pray, that said C D Jackson be reguired to answer all the
allegations in this bill and that said Deed of gift be decreed by the court to be void and of no
effect.”
0207 (Accession # 21486023). Giles County, Tennessee. The heirs of the late Merrill Simmons
ask that the slaves and land belonging to the said Simmons be sold or divided “amongst those
entitled.” They report that the intestate “was the owner of an Estate in Giles County consisting of
Slaves & other personal property, and a tract of land in Giles County containing about four
hundred & forty five acres.” Believing that the “value of Said Estate amounts to about Seven
thousand Dollars,” the petitioners report, however, that there are only three estate slaves,
thereby necessitating “that Said Slaves will have to be Sold for division.” They further submit
that the widow is entitled to her dower. The petitioners therefore pray “your honor order &
decree the Sale of Said Slaves, & land, if the land can not be divided after the dower is Set
apart, that Said dower be laid off, that your orator as Such administrator Settle Said Estate,
under the direction of this Court.”
0214 (Accession # 21486024). Davidson County, Tennessee. Elmira McKay Hudson joins her
husband, William D. Hudson, and her daughter, Corrine, in seeking clarification on her
inheritance from her grandmother, the late Mary McKay. The petitioners point out that McKay’s
will devised seventeen slaves and a tract of land “together with fifteen hundred dollars” to Elmira
and the two defendants, Felix and Silas McKay. Anticipating that other parties might “commence
suit against Silas H. & Felix G. McKay for a portion of the land devised by her to them,” McKay
drew up a codicil to address such a contingency. The Hudsons declare that they “have no idea
of suing either at law or in Equity for this land or any portion of it”; they seek only “an exact
meaning of the testatrix.” The petitioners therefore pray the court to “construct said will of Mary
McKay & declare the rights of complainants” and to determine “whether your oratrix Elmira has
an absolute right to said slaves & money or to either, or whether she has only a life estate with
remainder to her children.”
0233 (Accession # 21486025). Smith County, Tennessee. Robert Knight, the administrator of
the late John High, seeks to sell the remainder of his intestate’s estate, which includes a fifty-
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six-year-old slave named Daniel and a three hundred-acre tract of land. Knight “is of the belief
that all the realizable effects of the estate ... excluding slave Daniel and the land will not be
sufficient to meet & discharge” the debts of said estate. He further cites that “slave Daniel could
not be divided among the heirs & distributees without sale for this purpose, even if the accounts
should show that he will not be needed to pay debts &c against the estate.” Knight also submits
that “the lands belonging to the Estate of John High decd. cannot be partitioned amongst
Complainant and Defendants, his heirs at law, ... without great injury to their interests &
manifest injustice to them.” He therefore prays to “let slave Daniel be sold to aid in paying debts
&c against the estate—if this should not be necessary let him be sold for distribution—and let
said land be sold for distribution, upon such terms as you may deem mete & fit.”
0243 (Accession # 21486026). Giles County, Tennessee. James S. Jones asks the court “to
immediately attach the property” of Daniel G. Ussery, the security of one George E. McClure.
Jones informs the court that he received four judgments totaling more than $1,100 against the
said McClure, but McClure “obtained writs of Injunction enjoining all further proceedings under
said Executions, and the same are still wholy unpaid.” The petitioner further alleges that “the
said Geo E. has fraudulently conveyed and removed his property” and that McClure’s other
security “is insolvent and has no property known to your orator subject to an Execution at law.”
Jones believes that McClure’s other security, the said Ussery, owns several tracts of land as
well as “ten or Fifteen slaves, horses, mules, hogs, and other stock.” However, he fears that the
“pecuniary embarrassment of the said Daniel G. and the pressure of security debts upon him”
will cause him “fraudulently to convey, or remove his property.” In an effort “to save his said
debts,” the petitioner prays that writs of attachment issue against the estates and property of the
defendants and that “the property so attached be sold and the proceeds applied to the payment
of the said Judgments and Executions now justly due to your orator.”
0250 (Accession # 21486027). Giles County, Tennessee. Daniel Kosier seeks to have a
“fraudulent” judgment set aside. He informs the court that he “became bound” upon a judgment
for $437.59 and that “he has lately been compelled to pay said judgment,” whereupon “he
obtained a judgment by motion against” William Dougherty and James Ham on 12 November
1860 “for the said sum & costs.” Kosier contends that the said Dougherty fraudulently conveyed
twelve slaves to his father-in-law, David Maxwell, on 1 April 1860, “for the purpose of hindering
& delaying the creditors of said Dougherty in the collection of their just debts.” Noting that
Dougherty owns a tract of land and “$6,000 or $8,000 of Stock in the Central Southern Railroad
Company,” the petitioner prays that “attachments may issue attaching all of the property of the
said Dougherty, as well that conveyed to David Maxwell as all other property belonging to him,
said Railroad stock &c & that said conveyances to said Maxwell be set aside.”
0256 (Accession # 21486028). Giles County, Tennessee. Nathan Angus and J. W. Strickland
ask that two enslaved males be attached and sold for payment of debts owed to them. Angus
represents that he recovered judgments against one T. W. R. Cannon and that executions were
issued and “placed in the hands” of the sheriff, “who levied the same ... upon a negro man
named Jerry.” Strickland, the “accommodation surity” of said Cannon, recounts that he also
“filed his attachment & Injunction Bill” against Cannon, noting that he believed that “Cannon was
broke or in a failing condition & that he was about to make a fraudulent transfer of his property.”
Reporting that Cannon “did run off his personal property” before it could be levied upon, the
petitioners cite that Cannon “pretended to sell” two slaves to Coleman McCloud and his wife.
The petitioners therefore pray that writs of attachment and injunction issue and that the two
slaves be attached and held or sold with the proceeds being “applied to the payment of your
Orators said debts & liabilities.”
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0265 (Accession # 21486029). Maury County, Tennessee. Rebecca Dew, trustee for Mrs.
M. A. E. Johnston, seeks “to attach the remainder interest of ... James S. Perry in estate of his
deceased father,” the late Simpson Perry. Dew declares that said Perry “is justly indebted to her
as said trustee in the sum of thirteen hundred dollars.” She further asserts that Perry is entitled
to “a remainder interest of one thirteenth part” of his father’s estate, upon the death of his
mother, Elizabeth Perry. The petitioner reports that “said Estate consists of lands & slaves” and
that ten slaves are currently in the possession of the widow Elizabeth. Dew alleges that Perry “is
deeply involved in debt” and that he has sold most of his property, leaving him “little property in
Tennessee excepting his remainder interest in his fathers estate.” She charges that said Perry
“is about to dispose fraudulently of his property for the purpose of defrauding his creditors &
specially to defraud complainant & hinder & delay her in collection of her said debt.” The
petitioner therefore prays that Perry’s said remainder interest be attached, that Perry be
enjoined “from selling or in any way disposing of his said remainder interest,” and that “said
remainder interest ... may be sold & proceeds applied to payment of Complainants said debt.”
0282 (Accession # 21486030). Giles County, Tennessee. John C. Brown asks the court to
attach the property of William C. Daugherty and the other defendants so that he may collect on
the debts that he is justly owed. Brown contends that “the said Daugherty has transfered a
portion of his property to the said David Maxwell, & he charges that said conveyance is
fraudulent & made to hinder & delay the collection of his debts.” The petitioner points out that
the pretended conveyance consisted of twelve slaves. Noting “that there are a large number of
attachment bill filed against the said Daugherty & they are now pending in this Court,” Brown
insists “that he has the right to come into this Court to make his said debt & fears he will loose
the same unless the property of said Daugherty & Roberson is attached & held to pay the
same.” He therefore prays “that the interest of said Roberson in said 30 or 40 acres of land & in
said 6 or 8 acres be attached” and that “said slaves conveyed to said Maxwell be attached & the
conveyance to said Maxwell be set aside—& that any other property of said Daugherty be
attached both his slaves & other property & his Rail Road Stock in said Rail Road company.”
0291 (Accession # 21486031). Giles County, Tennessee. John C. Brown seeks to attach a note
made payable to George E. McClure in order to collect on a judgment recovered against the
said McClure. Brown explains that he obtained a judgment for $228 against McClure and “had
the same levied upon a slave, as the property of said McClure.” He informs the court, however,
that “there is a large amount levied upon the same slave, which, as your Orator is informed &
believes creates a superior lien upon him for an amount equal to, or greater than his value.”
Noting that McClure and his securities are all insolvent, the petitioner cites that McClure is the
owner of a note worth about $1,300 or $1,400. Brown “charges that he is entitled to have said
note attached,” and he “fears & believes that unless he is thus secured by Attachment and the
Injunctive process of this Court that said note will be transfered & your Orator be thereby
defeated in the collection of his debt & the same will be wholly lost to him.” He therefore prays
that said note be attached “to pay Complainant’s debt, interest & costs.”
0298 (Accession # 21486032). Smith County, Tennessee. The heirs of the late Robert J.
Douglass ask that the three slaves in their father’s estate be divided among them. The
petitioners represent that “they hold the three negroes Tom, Aaron & David in common and that
they are all the slaves they so hold.” Noting that two of the petitioners are minors, the Douglass
children ask that commissioners “be appointed to divide the said three negroes between your
petitioners ... equally, letting the one who gets the most valuable negro make up in money to the
one who gets the less valuable one so as to equalise the division.”
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0303 (Accession # 21486033). Washington County, Tennessee. Jacob and Catherine Sliger
Lamon seek a portion of the proceeds from the sale of a slave named Isaac. They remind the
court that the said Isaac filed a freedom suit in 1855 and that they “believing he was entitled to
his freedom, desired he should have it.” The petitioners aver that “on appeal to the Supreme
Court the sd Isaac was declared not entitled to his freedom” and that William Sliger, the
executor of Henry Sliger, “obtained a decree to sell sd slave.” They further declare that J. F.
Deaderick purchased Isaac for $955 and that the said Sliger “is now here to collect the
purchase money & threatens to disburse it without allowing yr. Orator or Oratrix any portion of
it,” claiming that they “had disclaimed all interest in the slave in his suit for freedom.” The
Lamons insist that they merely sought “to carry out the Testator’s wishes” that Isaac be
emancipated and that they had no intention of divesting their right to the said slave. Of the
opinion that they “are entitled to one seventh part of sd proceeds of sale & hire,” the petitioners
pray that “their rights may be declared & their portion of sd sale money & hire decreed to them.”
The Lamons estimate their portion to be about $200.
0311 (Accession # 21486034). Davidson County, Tennessee. N. D. Cross asks the court to
make John Reid “account for and pay over to your orator any and all Effects belonging” to the
estate of the late Peter Winston. He informs the court that Reid resigned “his trust” at the
January 1860 court term and that “your orator was appointed in his stead.” Cross contends that
Reid “has in his possession and under his control certain negroes and some money belonging
to said estate,” and he requests that Reid be made a party defendant to his bill. The petitioner
also notes that Reid’s bill against Kitty Ailstock “is still pending in this Court, and your orator
prays that he may become a party thereto in the place of said Reid.” Cross returns to court in
1867 to ask that “Eliza and her children, who are now free persons” be brought before the court
in order that he may “safely pass his accounts.” He notes that he “has no interest in the
premises except to do his duty under the order of the court,” and he is of the opinion that
“whatever questions may arise between Eliza and her children, and the admr of Kitty Faulkner,
as to the proper disposition of the assets of the estate, should properly be settled between
them, not between either of them alone and your orator.”
0332 (Accession # 21486035). Davidson County, Tennessee. James Winston, the brother of the
late Peter M. Winston, seeks to have his late brother declared “intestate” since it is “a moral
impossibility” to execute the devises stipulated in his said last will and testament. James
recounts that the said Peter desired his executor to purchase a family of slaves for the purpose
of emancipating them and settling them “comfortably” in a free state. He further reveals that
Peter’s will directed that a certain Kitty Ailstock be settled “in a comfortable & respectable
manner” during her life. Noting that the supreme court ruled James’s will to be “valid,” the
petitioner argues that there are no funds with which to carry out the ruling. He particularly cites
that Eliza and her children commanded a price of $7,000 in 1851 and that they “could not now
be purchased for three times that amount.” The petitioner therefore prays that “on final hearing it
be decreed that the charities designed by the Will of the said Peter M. Winston except the
devise to Kitty Ailstock are void for impossibility & that therefore the said Peter M. Winston died
intestate.”
0353 (Accession # 21486036). Smith County, Tennessee. James L. Thompson, trustee for
Harriett, Clarissa, and Lafayette Underwood, seeks to sell property held in trust for the
Underwoods. He states that Johnson Underwood, Harriett’s husband and the father of Clarissa
and Lafayette, conveyed several lots and houses as well as a fifty-year-old slave named Alick
“to him as Trustee ... for the benefit of his wife and children.” Thompson attests that the houses
are in no condition to be rented and “consequently be of no service to his wards.” He also avers
that the said Alick “has become very refractory and is doing the said Defendants ... but little
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good,” pointing out that Alick has run away several times “during the present year.” Revealing
that he has sold some of the property to one S. O. McDonald, the petitioner prays that the sale
to McDonald be confirmed and that “a part of the proceeds be applied in the purchase of
another negro man younger and of better habits.” In his trustee’s report, Thompson states “that
in his opinion (the office of the Government being rendered so uncertain and the uncertainty
attending Slave property at this particular crisis) it would not be to the interest of his wards to
purchase the Slave for them as decreed at the last term of your honorable court.”
0389 (Accession # 21486037). Smith County, Tennessee. Jehu Timberlake and the partners of
J. M. Nichols & Co. seek payment of debts owed to them by Robert Mann. Each of the
petitioners has previously recovered judgments against Mann, “all of which are still unpaid.”
They report that Mann “has no other tangible means or effects out of which to collect said
Judgments except some property and effects conveyed to Defendant Hart by Mann in trust for
the payment of certain debts mentioned in the said deed of Trust.” The creditors note that the
conveyed property includes a slave named Milly and her two children, a wagon, sundry
livestock, and “a certain debt of about Eight hundred and Sixty dollars coming to him for working
on or building two bridges on a Certain Turnpike Road.” Noting that Hart, as Trustee, plans to
sell the property soon for the purpose of paying debts, the petitioners pray that he “be enjoined
from paying over any monies or proceeds that may heretofore have come or may hereafter
come into his hands as said Trustee & the same be attached in his hands & subject to the debts
of these complainants.”
0403 (Accession # 21486038). Smith County, Tennessee. Asa Parham, “a citizen of North
Carolina attorney in fact for Charles C Johnson administrator of Samuel J. Jackson, a citizen of
Texas,” petitions for Samuel Jackson’s portion of the estate of his late grandfather, Josiah
Rucks. Rucks died in 1836, leaving ten children and a widow, and an estate consisting primarily
of land and slaves. Rucks left the estate to his widow, Elizabeth, to be divided among his
children after her death. Samuel Jackson’s mother, Francis Jackson, was the daughter of
Josiah and Elizabeth Rucks. Furthermore, Samuel Jackson purchased from three of his
brothers their portions of the estate of Josiah Rucks. Elizabeth Rucks has died, and the estate is
currently being divided among the heirs. Parham claims that A. Moore, the clerk and master of
the Smith County Chancery Court, “sold the land and negroes and now has in his possession
the proceeds of the same for distribution.” Noting that Moore “has some doubts as to whether
he would be safe in passing to your petitioner the funds in his hand,” the petitioner prays that
Moore “be ordered to pay the funds” due Jackson’s estate.
1861
0409 (Accession # 21486101). Giles County, Tennessee. The heirs of the late John Abernathy
ask that the slaves and land belonging to the intestate’s estate be sold “for distribution among
all of said heirs.” They inform the court that the said Abernathy “died seized & possessed of a
tract of land ... containing 150 acres more or less.” They also declare that he owned seven
slaves, a few shares of commercial stock, and “other personalty” at the time of his death. Noting
that “said heirs are too numerous for said land & slaves to be divided amongst them,” the
petitioners attest that “it would be manifestly to the interest of all concerned to have the same
sold for partition & distribution.” They therefore pray that the many minor heirs be named as
defendants and be assigned a guardian and that the said land and slaves be sold. Six years
later, Abernathy’s heirs return to court, asking that “the estate [be] settled under the directions of
your honour.”
0422 (Accession # 21486102). Davidson County, Tennessee. Major J. Major seeks to reverse
an execution levied upon his slave named Moses. He explains that two judgments were
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recovered against him on 26 May 1860 and “Executions issued upon the same.” Major
successfully stayed the executions and offered to give the constable “a Delivery Bond for the
delivery of the property levyed upon, which was his family slave a boy named Moses.” The
constable, however, “distroyed the Bond already taken” and informed Major that Moses would
be sold the next day “for the purpose of paying said Judgment.” Major confesses that the sale of
Moses “will do him an irreparable injury & damage. For the said boy, moses ... is a family slave
of his, to whom he is much attached and his family and children are much attached.” Noting that
“it is the ‘peculiar province’ of your Honors court to protect this peculiar institution,” Majors
“avers that he had & now has, other personal property, which could be levyed upon to pay such
Execution, and if said slave is sold at the present time, when money is hard & all property is
bringing less than half Its value, it will be sacrifised and lost to your Orator.” The petitioner
therefore insists “that he is entitled to the delay untill December next & thus It is with your
Honors Court to protect him in his slave property.”
0430 (Accession # 21486103). Franklin County, Tennessee. Mary M. Clarke seeks an end to
her fourteen-year-marriage. She informs the court that she married William Clarke on 5 August
1847 when she “was only Seventeen years of age” and when she “was the owner by inheritance
from her father & brother of eleven likely negroes ... and a large amount of money.” Clarke
charges that the said William “has Squandered all of said money and sold & had taken off
twelve likely negroes a portion, the increase & a portion a part of said eleven negroes
aforesaid.” She further laments “that he has been for years running about drinking, gambling, &
neglecting his family.” Pointing out that she and William “have not lived together” for some time,
the petitioner reveals that “she has been informed that in addition to his bad treatment of your
Oratrix that he has been guilty of Adultery with Some woman or women.” Clarke therefore prays
that “the bonds of matrimony now subsisting between said Clarke & your Oratrix be dissolved ...
and that she be restored to all the rights & priviledges of a single woman.” She also requests
that “upon the final hearing that the negroes be decreed to your Oratrix or some other Trustee
for her & her children.” Clarke returns to court in August 1861 to report that her husband tried to
take “by force one of Complts children a little girl 6 years old” and to amend her earlier petition
by requesting an injunction “injoining and prohibiting the Deft or any one else from disturbing her
in the peacable & quiet possession of her little children.”
0441 (Accession # 21486104). Washington County, Tennessee. James Johnson, a free man of
color, “‘desires to go into slavery and choose an owner’ and chooses hereby as such owner the
said Edward H West.” Johnson recounts that West “set your petitioners mother one Cynthia free
after which your petitioner was born free.” Believing that said emancipation “was legally begun &
perfected in the County court of said county,” the petitioner asks that publication of his request
“be made, that process issue and this proceeding be perfected as required by Law.”
0445 (Accession # 21486105). Maury County, Tennessee. Robert Bell seeks to collect a
judgment that he recovered from C. Fletcher Barnes on 22 May 1860. Bell reports that “Said
judgt with interest & costs to this time amounts to the sum of $460.” Explaining that said
“execution was stayed ... in due form by one Robert Smith,” the petitioner points out that said
stay has expired and “execution has been issued upon said judgt” but “said execution has been
returned no property found,” since Barnes “has become wholly insolvent.” Bell informs the court
that said Smith “at the time of said stay” sold Jarell Patterson three slaves “for the consideration
of some $3400 & took his notes for the same.” He further charges that “said Patterson is still
indebted to said Smith for said slaves.” Bell asserts “that he has a right to enjoin the payment of
so much thereof in the hands of said Patterson ... as will satisfy his debt by said Patterson to
said Smith & to have the same applied to the satisfaction of his debt.” The petitioner therefore
prays “that writs of attachment & injunction issue to attach said notes in the hands of said Smith
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& to enjoin him from selling, transferring or disposing of the same” and that “the Court would
decree so much of said purchase money or other means ... be applied to the payt of your
orators debt.”
0455 (Accession # 21486108). Sumner County, Tennessee. Charles Boddic seeks to foreclose
on a mortgage “upon Sundry Slaves” that was executed by Alexander Barnes to secure “a
promissory note for one thousand and eighty dollars, dated Feby 9 1856.” Boddic informs the
court that “said note remains unpaid and said mortgage in full force and effect.” He therefore
prays “your Honor to order the foreclosure of said mortgage and to decree a sale of said Slaves
for the payment of Compts debt and interest.”
0462 (Accession # 21486109). Sumner County, Tennessee. Thomas Gregory, trustee and
guardian of James Gregory, seeks to recover $295 that is owed to his son by James Darnell,
the former trustee of James, for the hire of a slave. The petitioner represents that “by the last
will & testament of Elizabeth Darnell decd. ... two slaves named Sarah & Jacob were devised to
the sd. James Gregory, a son of your orator who was then and still is a minor.” He further
reports that the will stipulated that the trustee “was to take charge of sd. boy & the girl after she
arrives at the age of 10 years & hire them out for the benefit of sd. James.” Gregory asserts that
his son successfully petitioned at the November 1860 Term to have him “appointed to take
charge of his property & become his general guardian.” He acknowledges that the said Darnell
“has given up to him as Trustee, the negroe boy Jacob belonging to the sd. James Gregory but
has failed & refuses to account & pay over to him the hires whilst he had sd boy Jacob in
possession.” The petitioner therefore prays that “an account be ordered & the deft be compelled
to pay over to him what may be in his hands due the sd. James Gregory.”
1862
0476 (Accession # 21486201). Smith County, Tennessee. Luiza Page, widow of the late John
Page, seeks her share of the personal property in her husband’s estate. She informs the court
that her husband “owned & left at his death considerable property real and personal” and that
she “elected to take & claim such of said deceased property as the law gave her and authorized
her to take” as her dower. Page further reports that her husband, a confirmed lunatic, “owned at
his death chattel property, money effects &c and some sixteen slaves.” She states that there is
a “suit among the children & grand children of the old man about his Will” that “commenced
soon after his death & is still pending.” Revealing that she is “poor & feeble,” the petitioner
asserts that she “needs her share in the estate of her deceased property, it being a childs part
of the personalty and one twelfth.” Page therefore prays that the interested parties, within and
without Tennessee, be summoned; that the administrator of the estate “disclose fully the
condition of the estate, specifying every kind of property”; and that “your Honorable Court
decree to her, her distributive share of her said husbands personal estate.”
0482 (Accession # 21486202). Smith County, Tennessee. Evelin McMurry, mother of the late
Archibald [Archy] McMurry, seeks to have her son’s will “set up and carried out.” She informs
the court that her son, an infantry volunteer, wrote out his will “previous to his leaving ... about
the 25th day of July 1861.” The petitioner purports that the “said Archy in said will gave all his
property of every kind and description to his mother, which is your Oratrix” and that she “was to
have it to dispose of as she pleased.” McMurry now asserts that the clerk of court has lost the
will and that he “has searched through all his papers and in his office but cannot find the said
will anywhere.” Noting that her son left ten slaves and three head of horses “as all the property
he had,” McMurry prays that “what has been set forth in this bill as the will of Archibald McMurry
be declared the will of ... said ... Archibald McMurry deceased and be set up and carried out as
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his will.” The petitioner also requests that her son’s brothers and sisters “of the half blood” be
made defendants and that an administrator “be appointed to wind up said estate.”
0489 (Accession # 21486203). Giles County, Tennessee. James McCallum, executor of the will
of his late father, Daniel McCallum, “desires your Honor to construe said will & settle the rights
of the parties under the same.” The petitioner points out that the slaves in said estate have been
“given” to various family members at different times over the past thirty years. Noting that he
“has no interest in said estate,” McCallum “desires said estate fully & finally settled, up in this
Court & he discharged, as such Executor.” The petitioner also seeks “the direction of the Court
as to the disposition of” two elderly slaves, sixty-six-year-old Jack and sixty-three-year-old
Marinda.
0502 (Accession # 21486204). Washington County, Tennessee. Jacob Stuart, administrator of
the late Montgomery Stuart, seeks an accounting of his late father’s estate. Stuart informs the
court that his father died possessed of three slaves and perhaps twenty-five acres of land,
which “is supposed to be the residue of his part of a 450 acre tract conveyed by the said
Montgomery and Stephen D Stuart to Seth J W Luckey Trustee on the 30th day of August
1845.” The petitioner points out that the estate’s debts make it “apparent that it will be
indispensably necessary [to] sell the said slaves, and possibly the said real estate, for the
payment of debts.” Averring “that he is equitably entitled to whatever may remain after paying
the debts of the estate, as the said Montgomery Stuart made advancements to each of his
children in real and personal to a much larger amount than any advancements which he made
to your Orator,” the petitioner prays that an account of the estate, its debts, and the
advancements made to the heirs be taken; that the slaves be sold; and “that if no claim for
partition or distribution is set up, your Orator’s right to the residue of the estate, if there be any,
may be declared.”
0513 (Accession # 21486205). Williamson County, Tennessee. Seventy-six slaves belonging to
the estate of the late Samuel Winstead file a bill of revivor in response to the death of
Winstead’s widow, Susannah Winstead Stephenson. The petitioners assert that “by the death of
said Susannah their freedom given to them by the will of Samuel Winstead deceased becomes
complete and consumated.” Finding themselves now “in an unprotected condition,” they seek
“the protection and aid of the court in the execution of” Winstead’s will. In particular, they desire
the benefit of “the fund or money given to your orators in and by said will,” which is now
“deposited in the office of the Planters Bank of Tennessee at Franklin.” Insisting that it would be
“to their interest to be placed” in the custody of a receiver, they ask the court to ensure their
“safety control and management” until they can be “sent with their property to Liberia on the
west coast of Africa as provided and directed by” Winstead’s will. Related documents include
the court receiver’s report, which gives names and ages for eighty-one slaves in his custody,
records the births and deaths of these slaves between 1862 and 1865, and reports the income
generated by their hire and the money expended in their support during the same period. The
report also reveals nineteen discrepancies in name between the petitioners in the bill and the
slaves taken into custody by the court.
1863
0543 (Accession # 21486301). Lincoln County, Tennessee. Pleasant Halbert, the administrator
of the estate of the late Mary Buchanan, joins other “heirs and distributees at law” in seeking a
division of the slave property belonging to the deceased. Halbert confirms that “the assets which
have come into his hands and will come into his hands from the perishable property choses in
action, funds on hand &c will be more than sufficient to pay the debts owing by said intestate.”
Noting that Buchanan “was the owner at the time of her death of Eight valuable slaves,” the
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petitioners point out that “by said laws of descent and distribution they are entitled to a division
of said slaves according to their relative interests.” They pray “the court to order a division of
said slaves among said parties if susceptible of an advantageous division without making sale,
but if not they pray for sale of said slaves for division among said parties.” They also request
that the numerous relatives of the intestate, many of whom live outside the state and are
minors, be “made parties defendants to this Bill.”
1865
0561 (Accession # 21486501). Smith County, Tennessee. Sampson McClellan “appeals to your
Honorable Court to aid him in collecting” a debt from the heirs of the late Abraham Caruthers.
The petitioner recounts that said Caruthers executed a note to him for $1,426.97 on 14
February 1860. McClellan reports that said Caruthers died in Georgia in 1862, leaving a will and
ten surviving children. He further asserts that “there is no personal property known to Complt
belonging either to the estate of said Ab Caruthers deceased or to deft Robert L. Caruthers Sr
liable at the present time to executions or to the payment of the claims against them.” He
charges, however, that the decedent owned several tracts of land in Tennessee and that Robert
L. Caruthers Sr. owns land as well. He therefore prays that the defendants answer his
allegations in detail, that they show what property remains in the estate of Abraham Caruthers,
that writs of attachment issue upon said real estate, and that “a decree be pronounced ... to
recover his claims with interest and cost against the estates of said deceased and Robert L. Sr.”
The defendants’ answer alleges “that the personal property of the said Abraham Caruthers, at
the time of his death consisted, principally, of negroe slaves, and horses and mules” and that
“the negroes have all been made free by an amendment to the constitution in February last.”
0581 (Accession # 21486502). Shelby County, Tennessee. Henry Lake, “one of the Executors
of Bob Price (free man of color) deceased,” informs the court that “none of the assets of said
Estate ever came into the possession of the undersigned, but were exclusively controlled by the
said D. M Currin,” who is now deceased. Believing that “there may be necessity for the further
services of an Executor ... and being in very infirm health which disqualifies him from the
transaction of business,” the petitioner “tenders his resignation to the Court.”
1866
0597 (Accession # 21486601). Giles County, Tennessee. The heirs of the late John and
Pamella W. Goode seek an account of their parents’ estates. In particular, they assert that
neither the late Calvin J. Clack “in his lifetime, nor his administrator since his death, has
rendered any account of his actings and doings as the agent of P. W. Goode in her lifetime, nor
has he rendered any account of the monies or property which has come into his hands, nor the
hires of any of the slaves belonging to said estate.” The heirs also allege that Clack took “large
sums of money and property ... belonging to the estate of Jno. W. Goode,” which included “a
house and lot in the town of Pulaski, horses, barouche, wagon, household, and kitchen
furniture.” The petitioners further list the hiring activities of eighteen estate slaves from 1855 to
1864, and the heirs “insist that they have a right to recover from his said estate all such property
and sums of money as came to his hands ... as well as the hires of the slaves mentioned.” They
therefore pray that Clack’s administrator, the individuals who hired said slaves, and their
brother, William S. Goode, be made defendants and that “a decree in favor of your
complainants and against the defendants respectively, for the amounts ascertained to be due by
them ... be rendered.”
0601 (Accession # 21486602). Smith County, Tennessee. The Prides, a family of emancipated
mulatto slaves, seek to recover money they should have received according to their late
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master’s will. The petitioners remind the court that Francis Pride’s 1847 will freed his slaves—
particularly them, their relative Nancy, and their mother Kizziah—if they could stay in Tennessee
or move to Illinois. After Francis Pride died in 1850, several lawsuits resulted in various
chancery and state supreme court decrees. The Prides maintain that some of the chancery
decrees contradicted the will’s directions and the supreme court’s rulings. As a result, the
executor wrongfully received the proceeds of their hire, and the executor and heirs received
money that should have been used to pay the emancipation expenses. The petitioners complain
that none of the money left to Kizziah “has ever been applied to the use of your Complainants or
of said Nancy or Kizziah.” The Prides seek to recover the money, especially the funds left to
their mother and the proceeds of their own hires. “Said funds were all the fruit of the labor of
complainants; wherefore they think they have a higher Equity to them than any one else ... they
feel that they have a right in law and conscience to this fund, the proceeds of their labor as
against the Executor & legatees who never spent a drop of sweat for it.” The Prides want the
court to reverse or modify the earlier decrees and award them the money that should have been
set aside for them, plus all profits made on that money and accrued interest.
0663 (Accession # 21486603). Giles County, Tennessee. The administrator and relatives of the
late Early Benson “desire their interests in the estate.” They inform the court that the intestate
died in 1863, possessed of land and slaves. They further report that “the slaves were divided in
Nov. 1863” and that all but one child received “an equal share, or as near equal as practicable.”
The petitioners point out that the “distributees present were satisfied with the division” and that
“most of them received the shares allotted to them, and took charge of them.” However, “some
of the negroes remained on the farm ... because the parties ... were afraid if they removed them,
they would run away the Federal army ... coming into the neighbourhood a few days after.” The
petitioners now request that a recently discovered marriage contract between the intestate and
his wife be constructed by the court, “that an account of advancements be taken, and the rights
of all the parties declared, and that the real be sold and the proceeds divided among those
entitled.”
0673 (Accession # 21486604). Lincoln County, Tennessee. Charles B. Carty requests that his
former business partner “be required to disclose the whole Condition and render an account, in
detail, of all the partnership transactions together with all vouchers and evidences of the same.”
Carty explains that he and William D. Yant entered into a partnership in July of 1858 “to
establish a shop and carry on the business of manufacturing Boots & Shoes.” He reports that
they purchased “two colored Shoemakers, Jim and Pete ... for the sum of $2600.” Carty
purports that the “business was profitable” until the middle of 1862, “when Jim and Pete went
off, or were taken off by the Federal Soldiers, and the business finally terminated.” Noting that
“there has never been a settlement of the partnership transactions between Complainant and
said Yant,” the petitioner “is persuaded that there ought to be a large sum coming to him” after
the firm’s debts are discharged. He therefore prays that “the Court would appoint the Clerk &
Master of the Chancery Court at Fayetteville, Receiver” and that said William Yant and his
brother Travis, to whom William “transferred his interest,” be required to deliver “the books,
notes, accounts, moneys, or other effects belonging to said firm ... to said Receiver.”
0684 (Accession # 21486605). Davidson County, Tennessee. G. W. Fogg Jr., administrator of
the late Catherine Faulkner, asks that an “annuity be paid over to the estate ... and that it be
paid with interest.” Fogg declares that his intestate, then known as Kitty Ailstock, was a devisee
in the will of the late Peter M. Winston and as such was slated to receive a “comfortable”
support during her lifetime. Noting that there was $4,543.92 in the hands of the administrator in
1849, he cites that the court decreed said sum to be used by the administrator to purchase a
slave family, who would then be freed. Fogg recalls that the supreme court ruled in 1853 that all
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of Winston’s bequests were “valid” but that Ailstock’s provision “ought to be withheld” as there
were not sufficient funds to carry out the purchase and emancipation of the slave family. Noting
that the slave family was “freed by act of the General Government, and not purchased while
slaves,” Fogg feels that the $4,000 held by the administrator in 1860, along with six years of
interest, should be paid over to Faulkner’s estate since the supreme court “caused to be
withheld the yearly support for the purpose of accumulating a fund for the purchase of the said
Eliza and her children.”
0696 (Accession # 21486606). Shelby County, Tennessee. William G. Nicholson and his wife,
Catherine T. Nicholson, desire that fourteen-year-old Annie Nicholson, “a negro child” who is
“without near relatives either known to her or your petitioners,” live with them. The Nicholsons
affirm that “the child has formed a great attachment to these petitioners” and they are “willing &
desire to take charge & make all necessary arrangements to give said child a comfortable home
& to provide all such neccessaries as are required.” The court decides to make Annie an
apprentice of the Nicholsons and orders them “to pay to the ward at the expiration of the term of
Service the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars in U.S. Currency.”
0702 (Accession # 21486607). Giles County, Tennessee. Dr. John Steele asks to be discharged
from his duties as guardian of Joseph Hobson. He asserts that he was appointed guardian of
his ward in 1855. Steele states that “at the commencement of his guardianship the estate of his
ward consisted of about 25 slaves, a tract of about 225 acres of land, stock, farming, utensils
&c, with but very little cash assets.” He recounts that, “there not being tillable land sufficient for
the slaves to be profitably employed on it,” he hired out the slaves for the last time in 1863; that
“he carried on the farm in 1863 & 1864 making but a light crop each year—that in 1865 the
slaves having been emancipated, a small crop was made on the farm”; and that the “crop of
1865 was raised by the Freedmen and they are entitled one fourth of the proceeds when sold.”
Steele reports that “the assets of his wards estate now in his hands amounts to about
$6130.00,” consisting of gold, bank notes, and “Greenbacks.” He attests that “his ward is now
about 16 years old, and is not disposed to be advised by him and will go to school only when &
where he pleases.” Of the belief that “perhaps someother guardian could have more influence
over him,” Steele prays that he “be permitted to resign said trust, and be discharged from the
responsibilities of the same.”
1867
0715 (Accession # 21486702). Shelby County, Tennessee. Vinna Wisdom seeks “to be
appointed guardian of said minor Children William Wisdom and Mary Wisdom,” her
grandchildren. She explains that William Wisdom, the father of the children, died 12 March 1864
and “that the mother of said children died also on the 13th day of March 1864.” Noting that she
is “their next relative,” the petitioner reports “that the property belonging to the estate of the said
deceased consist of Claims against the U. S. Government for Arrears of Pay; Bounty and
Pension of the value of about five hundred dollars.” Related documents reveal that William
Wisdom was a sergeant in Company “H” in the Third Regiment of the U.S. Colored Artillery
(Heavy). The guardian’s report details the money expended in treating the illnesses of both
children and the funeral expenses for nine-year-old William Wisdom.
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Reel 23
Texas
1832
0002 (Accession # 21583201). Travis County, Texas. George B. McKinstry and William T.
Austin ask that they be appointed executors of the estate of the late Sylvester Murphy, pursuant
to Murphy’s wishes in his last will and testament. They ask that his will be admitted to probate
and “offer to make the necessary proofs” in order to qualify as his executors. The transcript of
Sylvester Murphy’s succession papers reveals that he owned at least twenty-three slaves, eight
of whom were sold by his executors; nine of whom were hired out in 1833 to various people,
and four to whom he intended bequests of freedom had he outlived his wife.
1833
0033 (Accession # 21583301). Brazoria County, Texas. Martha Arnold asks that she be
appointed the administratrix of her deceased husband’s estate and that she be granted
“tutorship” of her two minor children, Martha Jane and Ann Arnold. Her husband, General
William Arnold, died intestate on 10 June 1833. She reports that his “affairs were left in an
unsettled condition, and require immediate attention.” She attests that she is able to give the
“security required by law.” Related documents reveal that Arnold’s estate included three slaves
and that the estate changed administrators four times over the course of seven years.
0052 (Accession # 21583302). Brazoria County, Texas. Dr. James A. Phelps reports that the
estate of the late Sylvester Murphy is indebted to him for “medical services rendered” in the sum
of $131.50. Phelps claims to have “in vain endeveored to settle the same ammicablly” with
Murphy’s representatives, Peyton and Ann Splan. The petitioner prays that they be “condemned
to pay the afforsaid sum.” A related petition reveals that Murphy owned slaves.
0058 (Accession # 21583303). Brazoria County, Texas. Andrew and Robert Mills, merchants
operating under “the firm & style of A G & R Mills,” represent that the late Sylvester Murphy of
Brazoria County died indebted to them in the sum of $1,980.10. Before his death, Murphy
delivered promissory notes to his various creditors, who in turn transferred these notes to the
petitioners. The Millses report that they have “amicably demanded” payment of the same from
George McKinstry and William Austin, the administrators of Murphy’s estate. They allege that
McKinstry and Austin have transferred some of the estate’s property to Peyton D. Splane and
his wife, Ann W. D. Splane, before resigning their administratorship. Seeking to attach said
property in the Splanes’ possession, the petitioners pray that all four defendants appear in court
and pay to them the full amount of Murphy’s debt. A related petition reveals that Murphy owned
slaves.
1835
0066 (Accession # 21583501). Brazoria County, Texas. Matthew C. Patton represents that
Columbus R. Patton “wrongfully, unjustly, and fraudulently” possesses, detains, and refuses to
deliver seventeen “negroes, or servants” that belong to him. The petitioner also complains that
Columbus Patton owes him $2,000 for the slaves’ hire “from February 1833, up to this period”
and $750 for his “services, as overseer or Superintendant, on the farm in 1833, 1834 & part of
1835.” Matthew Patton asks that Columbus Patton “be condemned to deliver to me said
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negroes, or to pay me their value,” which he estimates at $10,000. He also asks that Patton pay
him the value of the slaves’ hire “up to the time of delivery, which will be worth two hundred
dollars a month from this time.”
0074 (Accession # 21583502). San Augustine County, Texas. Harriett Cole claims that she
began an earlier “action by sequestration” against Neoma Mackey in an attempt to recover a
group of slaves in Mackey’s possession that rightfully belonged to her. She explains that due to
the “troubled state of the country the Suit has been procrastinated long beyound the time of
common Suits of sequestration.” Cole requests an immediate “full and entire Settlement of said
suit.” In her answer, Mackey contends that her husband Charles purchased the slaves in 1826
from Cole’s husband Mason, who was “largely indebted” to Charles. She explains that Harriett
Cole made “no claims” upon the slaves until 1832 when she began her court action based on a
“fraudulent” deed of trust.
1837
0090 (Accession # 21583701). San Augustine County, Texas. William Kerr explains that he and
Morris May formed a partnership in 1836 “under the name and style of Kerr & May and agreed
to be Inn Keepers of the Mansion House in the town of San Augustin.” Although each man
agreed to “furnish an equal amount of money,” Kerr represents that he has “advanced &
expended considerably more than his proportionable part,” noting that he has contributed “One
negro man Servant to wait upon &c and perform services in & about” the inn. Kerr now
complains that he has not received an “equal moiety” of the inn’s profits. The petitioner also
alleges that “by drawing pistols and other weapons of destructive character as well as by his
threatening and angry words” May has “renderd a continuance of the sd firm impracticable.”
Kerr asks the court to dissolve the partnership, to compel a “fair and equitable” settlement of
their accounts, and to immediately sequester the common property “to be subject to the
judgment of yr Honorable Court & to its future disposition.”
0103 (Accession # 21583702). Nacogdoches County, Texas. William Loyd maintains that he is
the sole heir of Elijah Loyd, who “died in Louisiana Intestate possesed of a large estate.” The
petitioner claims that William Goings, a free man of color, possesses and “unjustly detains” six
slaves, who were part of Elijah Loyd’s estate. Contending that the slaves are worth $3,000,
Loyd fears Goings will remove the slaves from the court’s jurisdiction. The petitioner asks the
court to issue a writ of sequestration to protect his property and to order Goings to deliver the
slaves to him. In his answer, William Goings asserts that he acquired the slaves “in a fair and
open course of trade and for a valueable consideration.” In March Term 1838, Loyd applied for
and received a change of venue in the case, and the case was moved to San Augustine
County, where it was eventually dismissed.
0126 (Accession # 21583703). Brazoria County, Texas. Thomas F. McKinney petitions the court
to grant him letters of administration for the estate of Francis Adams, who died intestate with
“neither kin nor heir in this Republic.” McKinney reports that Adams died indebted to him and
that Adams’s considerable property is now in the hands of “sundry individuals.” To ensure that
“the rights and interests of your petitioner ... may be protected,” McKinney asks the court for
permission to oversee “a regular settlement made of said succession.” The inventory and
appraisal of Adams’s estate includes three slaves, one of whom is a three-year-old girl.
0135 (Accession # 21583704). San Augustine County, Texas. Purity Henniss petitions the court
to stop the sale of the slave Rose, who was levied upon “to satisfy an execution in favour of
Samuel Thompson et al, against Joshua J Henniss,” Purity’s husband. The petitioner admits
that her husband is indebted to Thompson but attests that “said negro Girl Rose is the property
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of your petitioner, & not the property of the said Joshua J Henniss.” Noting that Rose has now
been advertised for sale by Constable John Harmon, Henniss asks for the opportunity to prove
her “right and title” to Rose at a “fair and impartial” trial.
0142 (Accession # 21583705). Brazoria County, Texas. Frederick A. Sawyer, administrator of
the estate of the late A. G. Reynolds, alleges that John Wharton is in the “unlawful possession”
of three slaves, a “mulatress” named Milly and her two children, Amanda and Angeline. Sawyer
claims that the slaves belong to Reynolds’s estate and that “the said intestates interest has
never been divested by any legal and Sufficient means whatever.” He asks the court to
subpoena Wharton and order that he be “condemned to deliver up said Slaves.” Sawyer also
asks for “twenty dollars per month hire for said Slaves from the 9th day of November 1835 untill
they are delivered.”
0149 (Accession # 21583706). Brazoria County, Texas. William H. Jack sold tracts of land worth
about $16,000 to Peyton R. Splane in March 1837 in exchange for “twenty african negroes.”
Jack subsequently sold ten of the slaves to William G. Hill. Since then, Monroe Edwards has
filed suits against both Jack and Edwards, claiming that the slaves in question belong to him.
Fearing that he is “in danger of losing his property,” the petitioner “apprehends that [Splane]
may fraudulently convey away the said lands thereby depriving [him] of the benefits of his
privilege as vendor.” He asks the court to sequester the lands until the ownership of the slaves
can be determined.
0158 (Accession # 21583707). Brazoria County, Texas. Frederick A. Sawyer, administrator of
the estate of the late A. G. Reynolds, alleges that Cornelius Smith is in the “unlawful and unjust
possession” of a slave named Squire. Sawyer claims that Squire belongs to Reynolds’s estate
and that “the said intestates interest has never been divested by any legal and sufficient means
whatever.” He asks the court to subpoena Smith and order that he be “condemned to deliver up”
Squire. Sawyer also asks for “twenty dollars per month as hire for the said Slave Squire from
the 9th day of November 1833 untill said Slave is delivered.” Smith alleges in his answer that he
purchased the slave from John Byrom for $1,000 and asks that Byrom be “cited in warranty.”
Byrom’s administrator, in his answer, places the onus of warranty on Edward Jeffery, from
whom he claims his intestate purchased Squire, along with Squire’s wife and her two children.
He alleges that Jeffery purchased the slave family at a “sale of the property of A G Reynolds an
insolvent made by his syndics.”
0168 (Accession # 21583710). Brazoria County, Texas. Monroe Edwards avers that he is the
“lawful owner” of nine slaves “illegally detained and kept in possession by” William Jack. He
explains that Jack has continued in the “adverse” possession of the slaves “since & from the
21st day of March 1837.” Monroe asks that Jack be cited to appear to answer the charges; that
he be “condemned to deliver” the slaves to him; and that he be compelled to pay him the
“reasonable hire on the same say twenty dollars per month for each of said negroes” until they
have been restored to his possession. A related document reveals that a slave named More,
belonging to Monroe Edwards, was sold at a sheriff’s sale in 1842. The petitioner was an early
slave trafficker involved in smuggling slaves from Cuba to Texas.
1838
0184 (Accession # 21583801). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Archibald Hotchkiss and Juan de
los Santos Coy ask that they be granted letters of administration for the estate of Manuel de los
Santos Coy, who died on 15 February 1838. According to the estate inventory, de los Santos
Coy owned three slaves: a “Negro Boy,” five years old, valued at $250; a “Negro Woman”
valued at $600; and a “Girl,” three years old, valued at $200. With the estate still unsettled in
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1845, Delores Cortinez joins his wife, Maria Antonia, as heirs of de los Santos Coy, in
petitioning the court to intervene and order a final settlement of the estate. Hotchkiss blames the
delay in finalizing the estate on the “rebellion of 1838.”
0198 (Accession # 21583802). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Elizabeth Sparks and James L.
Bryant ask that they be granted letters of administration for the estate of Richard Sparks, who
died intestate in April 1838. They report that Richard Sparks died leaving “personal and real
estate to a large amount” and that “the affairs of the estate demand attention.” According to
related documents, he owned nineteen slaves; one said slave, Ann, was levied upon and sold to
pay estate debts, thereby separated from her two children, Sylvia and William. The widow
Sparks died before the estate could be fully administered. The Sparkses’ eight children received
their distributive share of the remaining slaves after her death.
0222 (Accession # 21583803). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Archibald Hotchkiss represents
that the late Benjamin Hawkins was indebted to him for $1,350 at the time of his death. He
complains that Rebecca Hawkins, Benjamin’s widow and the administratrix of his estate, “is
disposing of” estate slaves “without having given bond & security for their faithful & useful
disposition.” The petitioner also asserts that Rebecca Hawkins “is about to depart the Republic
of Texas not leaving in it any property of the said Hawkins whereby your petitioner can be paid.”
He asks the court to sequester the slaves in order to protect his interests as Hawkins’s creditor.
0229 (Accession # 21583804). Brazoria County, Texas. Ann Splane, “who sues for herself and
as mother and natural guardian of Ann Eliza Wilkinson a minor,” complains that Warren D. Hall
“unjustly detains a certain Negro boy Slave” named Sandy, who belongs to Splane and her
daughter. Thirteen-year-old Sandy is described as a “bright Mulatto.” Splane asks that Hall be
“condemned to deliver up the boy” and also that the court order Hall to pay her $500 for Sandy’s
hire “during the time of his unlawful detention.” The jury assessed Sandy’s hire to be worth $288
for the period “Hall has had him in possession.”
0239 (Accession # 21583805). Brazoria County, Texas. Rebecca B. Brown asks that she be
appointed the administratrix of the estate of her late husband, Jeremiah Brown, who died
intestate in September 1838. Brown claims that, at the time of his death, her husband was
“possessed of considerable property both real and personal.” Related documents reveal that
Brown owned four slaves, three of whom he owned in partnership with Isaac Hoskins. In
January 1839, Brown and Isaac Hoskins petition together for permission to sell the joint
property, including slaves, owned by the late Jeremiah Brown and Isaac Hoskins.
0257 (Accession # 21583806). San Augustine County, Texas. Napoleon B. Thompson,
administrator of the estate of the late Carlton Thompson, complains that William R. D. Ward did
“take steal and entice away from” his possession a “certain negro boy” named Henry on 26
August 1838. Noting that the said Henry belonged to his testator’s estate, the petitioner claims
that Henry is worth $800. Thompson seeks a writ of sequestration and asks the court to attach
Henry, to return him to his possession, and to decree him “to be the property of your petitioner
as adm as aforesaid.” He also asks the court to award him either $200 in damages should Ward
produce the boy, or $2,000 “in case the property cannot be found.”
0262 (Accession # 21583807). Harrisburg County, Texas. John Lockhart asks that a writ of
sequestration be issued by the sheriff of Harrisburg County to prevent Jane Sawyer and
Pamelia Mann from removing an unnamed number of slaves from said county. The petitioner
charges that Jane Sawyer represents herself as the wife of the late Joel Lockhart and has
assumed the management of his estate. He reports that the late Lockhart mortgaged land and
slaves to Henry A. Smith of Sumter County, Alabama, in order to secure a loan of $12,560 in
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1839. The petitioner claims that Joel Lockhart “fraudulently” removed the slaves from Alabama
into Texas. Since Smith is an “inhabitant” of Alabama, Lockhart also asks that a new trustee be
appointed “to carry said trust into execution.”
1839
0280 (Accession # 21583901). San Augustine County, Texas. John D. Nash and his wife, Ellen
Garrett Nash, avow that Ellen “as the Wife and Widow of ... Claiborne Garrett deceased being
left in a destitute situation was and is entitled to the one fourth of the said Estate.” They dispute
the inventory returned by Claiborne’s son and administrator, Jacob Garrett. The inventory
includes ten slaves, nine of whom were a gift to Claiborne from Jacob prior to his marriage with
Ellen. Claiborne purchased the remaining slave, Gilbert, with the proceeds arising from the
other slaves’ hires. In a related petition, John D. Nash, a creditor of Jacob’s, claims that Jacob
Garrett has not made good on two promissory notes totaling $500. Nash fears Garrett will
remove his property outside the county, making it impossible for him to collect on the debt. He
asks the court to order the sheriff to attach Garrett’s property. [Part of the primary petition is
missing.]
0304 (Accession # 21583902). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Sixteen-year-old Susan Colwell,
“alias Susan Johnson,” informs the court that “she was legally married to one Zachariah
Johnson.” The petitioner laments that instead of “affectionate treatment” she received “nothing
but neglect disappointment and a withering blight to all her fondest hopes and bright
anticipations.” Colwell confesses that Johnson has beaten her and treated her “more like a
slave than his wife.” She further alleges that her husband has “wasted her substance” and that
he has refused to provide for his family, who now face “penury and starvation with all their train
of attendant ills.” Colwell asks for a divorce in consideration of “her tender years” and asks that
the court return her to “the bosom of her family” from which she was removed by the “seducting
tongue of a monster in human shape.”
0311 (Accession # 21583903). San Augustine County, Texas. Henry Horton reports that he
purchased a “negro woman” named Nancy for $900 on 8 November 1838 from Charles
Richards “supposing said woman to be the property of said Richards.” He recounts, however,
that the slave was “the property of another person” and that Nancy was taken from him “by legal
process.” Horton asks that Richards’s property be attached in order to secure his purchase
price. He further asks that Richards be ordered to pay him $900 plus interest and that Richards
be ordered to appear before the court.
0320 (Accession # 21583904). Fayette County, Texas. B. G. Shields applies for, and receives,
letters of administration for the estate of his late brother, John T. Shields, who died intestate in
April 1839. The petitioner, who originally administered the estate at a geographical distance,
reports on estate activities over a five-year span. First, he removed his brother’s surviving family
to an Austin County plantation, “procured for the purpose,” and employed the estate’s slaves
and an overseer in the cultivation of a cotton crop. The proceeds of the crop and the slaves’
labor offset estate debts until 1843, when Shields’s widow and youngest son both died. At this
point, the administrator decided that “said Succession should be brought to a close as speedily
as the Conditions of the law will allow.” Shields then asked for permission to sell land in the
estate but to retain the “generally young and verry valuable” slaves, whose hire could be relied
upon “hereafter” by the guardians of the surviving Shields child, Samuel, and the widow’s son
by her second marriage, Nat Holman. By the estate’s close, the two wards each received a
distributive share of the estate’s slave property; Samuel was allotted twenty-four slaves and Nat
received three slaves. An administrative account for the year 1841 records hiring values in
Texas currency for a number of the slaves in the estate.
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1840
0352 (Accession # 21584001). Fort Bend County, Texas. Ely Ross initiates what will become a
three-year legal dispute over a group of eleven slaves by asking the court to issue an injunction
restraining the sheriff from seizing the slaves, 295 acres of land and four “American horses.”
Ross avers that a probate judge from a previous term, “through mistake or some other cause
not known,” attributed the property to the estate of his brother, the late John B. A. [Alex] Ross.
The petitioner contends that the only property in his brother’s estate is a gold watch. Seven
months later he sues to prove his title to the slaves, submitting a bill of sale from his brother to
him. He asks that James M. Briscoe, the administrator of his brother’s estate, be summoned to
disprove his claim, and he asks that the slaves be stricken from Ross’s estate inventory.
Roughly two years later, Thomas A. Compton intervenes in the dispute, claiming that title to the
slaves belongs to him by virtue of an 1838 bill of sale on record in the state of Louisiana. He
explains that he agreed to hire out the slaves to the late Ross for a three-year period, at the
expiration of which Ross would purchase them for $8,000 and pay $640 for their hire for the
three years. Finally, Compton sues Ely Ross over his refusal to return the slaves in question. At
a Spring Term session, the court ordered that the suits be consolidated. The jury then ruled in
Compton’s favor and Ross appealed.
0420 (Accession # 21584002). San Augustine County, Texas. William C. Duffield represents
that James Tabor unlawfully detains five of his slaves, “all slaves of great value (to wit) of the
value of Four thousand Dollars.” Duffield explains that the five slaves were “casually lost” by him
and that Tabor claimed them, “well knowing said negro slaves to be the property of your
petitioner.” The petitioner argues that Tabor “has wholly failed and neglected” to return the
slaves and asks the court to issue a remedial writ ordering Tabor to return the slaves or
compensate him their value of $4,000.
0428 (Accession # 21584003). San Augustine County, Texas. Robert Caldwell petitions the
court on behalf of twelve-year-old Louisa Jane Harris, requesting a writ of sequestration against
Samuel Thompson, who is in the possession of Harris’s five-year-old slave named Eliza.
Caldwell complains that Thompson has refused to return Eliza to Harris or pay her for Eliza’s
value. The petitioner charges that Harris “casually lost the said negro girl out of her possession”
on 30 December 1837. He claims that Thompson’s refusal to return Eliza has resulted in “the
damage of your Petitioner One thousand Dollars.” He also asks the court to subpoena
Thompson and to compel him to deliver the slave to Harris, “or if the same can not be had then
to pay to your petitioner the value thereof.”
0435 (Accession # 21584004). San Augustine County, Texas. Mary Duncan asserts that
Calaway Deen, “by his promissory note” of 5 October 1838, agreed to pay her $250 “for value
received.” Complaining that twelve months have elapsed, Duncan charges that Deen refuses to
make payment “though requested.” She asks the court to order Deen to compensate her in the
sum of $250 “with damages and costs of suit.” According to a related document, Deen
transacted to pay Duncan $250 for a “negro man” named Clark.
0446 (Accession # 21584005). Brazoria County, Texas. Susanna Hall, widow of the late William
Hall, and her brother-in-law, Warren D. C. Hall, haggle over the intestate’s estate in a series of
petitions relating to the succession of the said Hall, who died 1839. In the first petition, Susanna
and Warren unite to ask the court to grant them letters of administration on the estate, which
includes “considerable property both real and personal,” including twenty-two slaves. Prior to
1845, they are concerned with the estate’s solvency and petition for permission to sell various
estate property. In 1845, Warren attempts to displace Susanna as administratrix, claiming that
her administration is injurious to his interests as a creditor of the estate. In her defense,
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Susanna counters that, “if any illegal or irregular act has been committed in connexion with the
said estate,” it was perpetrated by Warren Hall; she draws the court’s attention to a suit she has
instituted in the district court to recover proceeds from an 1840 sale of estate slaves from her
brother-in-law. In 1846, Fanny Harris “& others,” creditors of the estate, aid Susanna’s cause by
voicing their disapproval of Warren Hall, “who is so large a debtor to the estate.” Finally, in
1850, in her final administrative act, Susanna Hall requests that the court confirm the sale of two
slaves.
0484 (Accession # 21584006). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Harriet Roberts requests that writs
of subpoena and injunction be issued to Beden Stroud, David Rusk, John Roberts, and all of her
husband’s creditors in order to prevent their “irreparable mischief” and to protect her property
rights. She insists that she brought $14,000 worth of property, including fifteen slaves, to her
marriage and that her husband John did not own any property at the time of their union. Harriet
claims John later sold and disposed of the property and purchased other land, “negroes,” and
stock with the proceeds. John Roberts is now indebted to various creditors, and Rusk, as sheriff
of Nacogdoches County, has executed a levy against him on behalf of Beden Stroud. Harriet
asserts that the laws of the state of Coahuila, Texas, and the Republic of Mexico, where she
lived at the time of her marriage, deem that any property brought into the “marriage community”
by her should continue to belong to her and that she is entitled, as well, to profits earned upon
the property during the marriage.
0503 (Accession # 21584007). Brazoria County, Texas. Susana Hall informs the court that both
she and Warren D. G. Hall applied for letters of administration on her late husband William’s
estate. Noting that only she has given bond and surety upon the estate’s succession, Hall
requests that an estimative inventory of her husband’s property, which includes twenty-two
slaves, be “homologated” and that a guardian be appointed for her children. The petitioner
explains that at the time of her marriage she owned $8,000 worth of “dotal and extradotal”
property, all of which her husband converted to his own use during the marriage. Hall asks that
court-appointed commissioners allot and assign her dower and provide her an allowance
derived from her husband’s estate. She also explains that the succession is insolvent and asks
that creditors be required to meet and to conduct their claims together. The probate court
denied Hall’s request for dower and assigned her instead a maintenance for life from his estate.
Both parties appealed the decision; the district court affirmed the lower court’s denial of dower
and reversed its decision to assign Hall a maintenance for life. Hall appealed the decision to the
supreme court.
0521 (Accession # 21584008). San Augustine County, Texas. Napoleon B. Thompson,
administrator of the estate of Charlton Thompson, claims that Thomas H. Garner and Benjamin
Fuller owe Thompson’s estate $180 for the hire of estate slaves. Presenting a promissory note
signed by both men as evidence, the petitioner asks that Garner and Fuller be summoned to
answer his charges and that they be compelled to pay the debt.
0525 (Accession # 21584009). Brazoria County, Texas. Sarah Anne Wharton seeks an
injunction to prevent the sale of two slaves, Matilda and Eliza. The slaves originally belonged to
M. E. Arnold, who petitioned the court in 1833 for letters of administration on her late husband’s
estate. When Arnold departed Texas and “returned to the United States,” she left the two slaves
with Wharton’s late husband, Colonel John A. Wharton, whom she appointed as her “agent to
transact her business in this Country.” The petitioner explains that she purchased the slave
Matilda “of her agent aforesaid and actually paid a valuable consideration adequate to the value
of the said slave.” She reports that Mrs. Arnold “made no objections to [the sale] & to every
appearance sanctioned it by her silence.” Wharton now objects to an order obtained by the
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estate’s current administrator, Henry P. Brewster, to sell the slaves. She asks the court to enjoin
the sale “until the titles to [Matilda and Eliza] can be fairly investigated.”
1841
0532 (Accession # 21584101). San Augustine County, Texas. George Reynolds claims that
Thomas Garner “unjustly detains” four slaves, who are “the property of your Petitioner ... of the
value of three thousand dollars.” Reynolds explains that Garner “promised to redeliver [the
slaves] ... when he the said defendant should be thereto afterwards requested,” but that Garner
“hath hitherto wholly refused.” The petitioner asks the court to subpoena Garner, to sequester
the slaves so that Garner cannot remove them beyond the jurisdiction of the court, and to order
Garner to pay damages for the time of their detention. Case interrogatories allege that the
slaves in question were given to the defendant in November 1840 as part of a compromise
when the sheriff of Austin County arrested Reynolds for stealing slaves purchased in Mississippi
at public auction by A. F. Smith.
0553 (Accession # 21584102). San Augustine County, Texas. Asa Thompson charges that
Ephraim Talley refuses to return a six-year-old slave named Bill, whom he “casually lost” out of
his possession. Thompson asks the court to compel Talley to return the slave or to order him to
compensate the petitioner for the slave’s value of $500. He also asks the court to order a writ of
sequestration to prevent Talley from removing Bill beyond the court’s jurisdiction.
0561 (Accession # 21584103). Brazoria County, Texas. Isabella Andrews informs the court that
she and her husband, Edmund Andrews, emigrated to Texas from the United States in 1830;
eight years later, she returned to the United States, “expecting her husband would soon follow
her.” Andrews asserts that her husband never joined her, and she claims that they have lived
“entirely separate and apart” for the past three years. The petitioner charges that Edmund’s
“treatment of her has been of such a nature as to render their living together as husband and
wife insupportable.” While she brought no property of her own to the marriage, she reports that
her husband owns “lands, negroes, notes accounts Judgements &c &c &c” valued at $30,000.
Purporting that this “common property” has been acquired “by their joint industry & exertions
since their emigration to this County,” the petitioner prays for a partition of their common
property and a decree of divorce.
0574 (Accession # 21584105). Brazoria County, Texas. William T. Austin requests that he be
appointed administrator of the “vacant succession” of the late Peter Bertrand, who died on 8
July 1841. Austin, who is married to Bertrand’s daughter, Elizabeth Ann, represents that his wife
and her brother Thomas, Peter’s only adult heirs, have “both requested your petitioner to
Administer the Estate.” According to related documents, the late Bertrand owned at least
sixteen slaves. In 1846 Austin petitioned for a sale of the estate property, whereupon Thomas
Bertrand purchased all the estate slaves for a total of $5,391.75. A few months later, Austin
petitioned the court to appoint a guardian to protect the interests of the four minor heirs in the
final settlement of the estate.
0592 (Accession # 21584107). San Augustine County, Texas. George W. Reynolds maintains
that he “lawfully possessed” two thirty-five-year-old slaves named Ephraim and Tom, whose
aggregate value in 1840 was $3,000. On 18 November 1840, Alexander Horton “got possession
of the said negroe slaves unlawfully and against your Petitioners free will” and has refused to
return them. The petitioner asks that Horton be cited to appear before the court to answer his
charges and “for all such other & further relief.” The jury decided in the petitioner’s favor in 1847
and fixed the value of Tom’s hire at $75 per year and Ephraim’s hire at $56.25 per year.
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0597 (Accession # 21584108). San Augustine County, Texas. Napoleon Garner argues that
Jacob McGee unlawfully detains several slaves, whose aggregate value equals about $5,000.
He claims that McGee “forcibly took said Negro slaves out of the custody and control of your
Petitioner and refuses to restore the said negro slaves to the possession of your Petitioner.”
Fearing that McGee will remove the slaves from the court’s jurisdiction, Garner prays the court
to authorize a writ of replevin in order that he may regain their custody. He also asks for
damages in the amount of $10,000.
0606 (Accession # 21584109). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Noland M. Luckett mortgaged a
slave named Milly to Joseph F. Lewis on 21 November 1839 to secure the payment of a loan of
$600. Now Lewis complains that Luckett, “not regarding his promises and undertakings but
intending to defraud your Petitioner,” has refused to repay the loan. Lewis asks that Luckett be
cited to answer the charges against him and that he be decreed to pay the $600 with “interest &
damages thereon.” In response, Luckett and his wife petitioned the court for a writ of error to
stay the proceedings until the supreme court could rule on the case. The supreme court
quashed the writ and dismissed the cause.
0619 (Accession # 21584110). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Elizabeth Engledow asks that the
last will and testament of her husband, the late John Engledow, be admitted to probate.
Engledow’s will, dated 29 June 1840, requests that his wife receive his “three negroes.” The
estate inventory and appraisal shows that Engledow’s slave Sophia has had a child since
Engledow’s death.
0646 (Accession # 21584111). San Augustine County, Texas. William A. Miskell asserts that he
possesses “just and legal title” to the slave Zelpha and asks the court to issue writs of injunction
and replevin to protect his “right to have the undisturbed possession” of the slave. He
represents that Anthony Patton acquired Zelpha after an attachment was levied against Frances
McCaleb for a debt McCaleb owed Patton. The petitioner prays that Patton be summoned to
appear to answer the charges against him.
0658 (Accession # 21584112). Travis County, Texas. Alfred W. and Noland M. Luckett
mortgaged a fourteen-year-old slave named Richard to Nathaniel Townsend to secure payment
of a loan of “one thousand dollars of the old consolidated funded debt of the government of said
republic.” When they tried to repay Townsend (after receiving a one-year extension), Townsend
refused to accept payment in Texas promissory notes or any “government liabilities.” Townsend
is also unwilling to accept the slave’s hire for the period he has had him—which the petitioners
assert is “worth at least one hundred & twenty five dollars good money”—as satisfactory
compensation. They characterize the entire transaction as “usurious unconscientious & odiously
oppressive” and ask that Townsend be restrained from removing Richard outside the court’s
jurisdiction. The petitioners also ask that they be allowed to pay the debt in order to redeem
Richard and that Townsend be accountable to them for the boy’s hire.
0667 (Accession # 21584113). Travis County, Texas. Alexander Russell explains that he and
Alexander Murchison transacted a conditional sale of Murchison’s fourteen-year-old slave
Mahala, whereby Russell gave Murchison $100 and Murchison was supposed to give him the
slave and make good on two outstanding notes totaling $144.40. Russell now complains that
Murchison has neither repaid the money nor delivered Mahala to him. He offers to “relinquish all
claim” to the debt “upon delivery of said slave up to him.” He tells the court that, if he “be
mistaken in his construction of said instrument as a conditional sale instead of a mortgage,” he
seeks “the usual relief upon a mortgage security.”
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1842
0674 (Accession # 21584201). Brazoria County, Texas. James F. Perry, executor of the estate
of the late Stephen F. Austin, asks for a twelve-month extension in order to close the estate. He
explains that it is impossible to produce a final settlement “there being considerable due to and
by said Estate and pending law suits.” In a previous, related petition, Eliza M. Westall and her
husband, William G. Hill, represent that Westall is an heir of Stephen F. Austin. They ask that a
commissioner be appointed to divide the estate’s property and that Perry, as executor, be
ordered to surrender Westall’s inheritance. According to the attached estate inventory, Austin
owned three slaves.
0693 (Accession # 21584202). Nacogdoches County, Texas. On 1 December 1839, Mary
Burnham “placed in the hands” of her son, John Gamblin, three slaves. Burnham explains that
“it was agreed and understood” that John was “to bring said negroes to Texas and raise a crop
for your petitioner.” In 1840, Gamblin died. Neill Martin then obtained letters of administration on
Gamblin’s estate and took possession of the slaves. Burnham charges that she “has by her
legally authorized agent demanded possession of said negroes” but that Martin “refuses to give
them up.” Furthermore, Gamblin’s widow Lena has since married Shadrach Brily [Briley], who is
also trying to gain possession of the slaves. Burnham notes that the hire of the slaves is
“reasonably worth” $200 a year. She asks that the sheriff “take and sequester the negroes
aforesaid so that they be held forthcoming to answer the final decree of your honorable Court”
and that Martin be summoned and ordered to return the slaves and account with her for the
value of their hire. The petitioner describes each slave by his or her scar(s), one “occasioned by
a burn” and one “occasioned by a fall.”
0708 (Accession # 21584203). Bastrop County, Texas. Sylvanus Cottle, brother-in-law of the
late Thomas Thompson, asks that he be granted letters of administration on Thompson’s estate.
The petitioner informs the court that Thompson had been a resident of Fayette County and that
he moved his family to Bastrop County, leaving little or no property in Fayette County at the time
of his death in March 1842. According to an account filed by the guardian of Thompson’s two
children, Thompson’s estate included four slaves. In a related petition, Sylvanus Cottle asks that
lands belonging to Sarah Cottle be divided among her six heirs.
0722 (Accession # 21584204). Bastrop County, Texas. Thomas G. McGehee asserts that he is
one of five legal heirs of George W. Hunt, who died intestate. Hunt’s widow is the estate’s
administratrix. McGehee represents that he is “desirous for a division of the Personal Property
belonging to said Succession” and asks the court to summon “all persons interested” requiring
them to show cause, if any, why a writ of partition should not be awarded. According to related
documents, Hunt owned seventeen slaves.
0730 (Accession # 21584205). San Augustine County, Texas. Napoleon B. Thompson seeks an
injunction to prevent the constable of San Augustine and Thomas Huling from proceeding in an
execution against him while a suit between Thompson and Wyatt Hanks is still “pending and
undetermined” in the district court. Thompson alleges that at the beginning of 1841 he
purchased three slaves belonging to the estate of the late Charlton Thompson at “public
vendue.” Shortly thereafter both Hanks and Huling initiated suits against him disputing his claim
to the slaves. The petitioner insists that he will “sustain irreparable injury and damage” if the
constable is allowed to proceed with “three several executions” and asks the court to investigate
the convoluted dealings surrounding the sale.
0742 (Accession # 21584206). San Augustine County, Texas. George C. Lucas avers that on 2
May 1840 he “casually lost” Sandy, an eleven-year-old “negroe boy” of “dark complexion and of
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great value ‘to wit’ of the value of six hundred dollars.” Sandy came into the possession of Wade
Horton “by finding” in May 1842; however, “well knowing” that Sandy is Lucas’s property, Horton
has “wholly refused” to return him to the petitioner. Fearing that Horton will remove Sandy
beyond the jurisdiction of the court, Lucas asks for a writ of sequestration, for the return of the
slave, and for damages for the “illegal detention of the same together with the costs of this suit.”
0750 (Accession # 21584207). San Augustine County, Texas. George C. Lucas avers that on 1
May 1840 he “casually lost” William, alias Bill, a fourteen-year-old “negroe boy” of “copper
colour and of great value ‘to wit’ of the value of seven hundred dollars.” Bill came into the
possession of Napoleon B. Garner “by finding” in December 1840; however, “well knowing” that
Bill is Lucas’s property, Garner has “wholly refused” to return him to the petitioner. Fearing that
Garner will remove Bill beyond the jurisdiction of the court, Lucas asks for a writ of
sequestration, for the return of the slave, and for damages for his detention “and all costs of this
suit.”
0761 (Accession # 21584208). Nacogdoches County, Texas. In order to secure the purchase of
several barrels of corn from John F. Graham, Robert Lane mortgaged a slave named David to
Graham. The two men agreed that Lane would benefit from David’s services until Graham could
pay for the corn. Now Lane petitions that Graham, “having formed the design of defrauding”
him, falsely claims that David tried to burn his house. As a result, Graham “did cause the said
slave to be Ironed” and urged Lane to take David to “one of the Western Counties,” where he
could “be disposed of to advantage for Cattle.” Lane was represented in the negotiations by his
son, John C. Lane, who was “inexperienced in such matters” and who, upon Graham’s threat to
have David prosecuted, allowed himself to be intimidated into selling David to him for $300.
Lane argues that David is “well worth the sum of seven hundred dollars” and asks the court to
annul the sale and either return David to him or pay him David’s value plus damages.
0783 (Accession # 21584209). Travis County, Texas. John W. Dancy, trustee “for the use &
benefit of one Enoch Jones,” explains that Asahel Savery mortgaged two slaves to Jones on 4
March 1839 to secure a loan. When the note came due, Jones approached Savery for payment;
however, Dancy explains that Savery “has failed & refused to comply therewith.” The petitioner
alleges that Savery has “disposed of the woman Phillis” and “placed the negro fellow Bartlett” in
the hands of his “confederate,” Nicholas McArthur. He asks the court to summon Savery and
McArthur, to decree a judgment against Savery in the amount of said note, and to order that
Bartlett may be “condemned & sold in satisfaction.” In an amended petition, Dancy also asks
that Savery be made to account for the “full hire of said negro Bartlett.”
1843
0794 (Accession # 21584301). San Augustine County, Texas. Charles Lynch, the owner of
three slaves, informs the court that he “casually lost said three slaves out of his possession and
the same ... came to the possession of the said defendant by finding” on 1 June 1840. Lynch
charges that Hardin has “converted them to his own use” and that he “hath not as yet delivered
the said slaves or either of them to said plaintiff although heretofore ... requested so to do.” The
three slaves, a twenty-five-year-old woman, her seven-year-old son, and an unrelated sixteenyear-old
boy, are worth $2,000. Lynch asks the court to summon Hardin and to compel him to
compensate him for the value of the slaves “together with all costs of the suit.”
0804 (Accession # 21584303). Brazoria County, Texas. John W. Turner charges that Morgan L.
Smith and John Adriance, merchants “under the name style and firm” of Smith & Adriance,
“unjustly detain” an eighteen-year-old slave named Jim of the value of $1,000. Turner asks the
court to order Smith and Adriance to return Jim or compensate him for his value “and the further
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sum of five hundred dollars hire” for the time he has been unjustly detained. It appears from a
related indenture that Jim once belonged to John D. Moore.
0812 (Accession # 21584304). San Augustine County, Texas. In 1837, Elizabeth Hamilton
“casually lost” Westley, her twenty-year-old slave of “blackish complexion.” George Teel, “well
knowing” that Hamilton owned Westley, came into Westley’s possession “by finding” and has
detained him ever since. Now that Hamilton has died, Teel refuses to return Westley to Mary
Jane Watson, administratrix of Hamilton’s estate. Watson and her husband Harrison ask that
Teel be ordered to return Westley and to pay them damages for his detention. They also ask for
a writ of sequestration to prevent Teel from removing Westley beyond the limits of the court’s
jurisdiction.
0821 (Accession # 21584306). San Augustine County, Texas. Ann and John Thorn ask that
Samuel S. Davis be ordered “to surrender over and deliver to your petitioners” two male slaves
named Ishmael and Warren. The slaves were part of the estate of Ann Thorn’s first husband,
Leander Smith, who died intestate on 1 September 1836, and were brought to Texas by Daniel
Smith, “who exercised acts of ownership over them.” The petitioners allege that Daniel Smith
conveyed the slaves to Ann and Leander’s daughter Mary without Leander’s sanction. Ann
received letters of administration on her late husband’s estate along with William D. Smith, who
has since died. The slaves are now in the possession of William D. Smith’s administrator,
Samuel Davis, and the Thorns “verily believe” that Davis plans to sell them. They attest that
Ishmael and Warren “were brought to Texas as the property of said Leander and so remained
the property of said Leander.” They therefore pray that the court enjoin Davis from selling the
slaves. Depositions from two men residing in North Carolina reveal that Daniel and William
Smith brought Ishmael and Warren to Texas, along with six other slaves, and that the slaves
belonged to William.
0844 (Accession # 21584307). Brazoria County, Texas. Margaret and William Dulaney complain
that the administrators of the estate of Margaret Dulaney’s late father, Benjamin W. Patton,
“refuse to account with [her] and pay her just demands.” Dulaney, who was five at the time of
her father’s death, claims that John D. Patton, her father’s executor, “had virtually surrendered
the guardianship over her person by leaving her penniless and destitute,” even though her
father’s estate was worth about about $35,000 and included considerable land and slaves. The
Dulaneys assert that John D. Patton “secretly and clandestinely removed from the State of
Kentucky” to Texas, where he died in 1840. They ask that Sinclair and Columbus R. Patton,
administrators of John Patton’s estate, be summoned to court and “condemned to account with
your petitioner for the value of the property which came into the hands of John D. Patton as
executor aforesaid.”
0855 (Accession # 21584308). Nacogdoches County, Texas. William McDaniel became
indebted to Thomas Coffe prior to 1839 while both men were living in Mississippi. Shortly
thereafter, McDaniel moved to Nacogdoches County with his son, John Thomas, and a “large
number of slaves.” Coffe sent the petitioner, Holland Coffe, to Texas as his agent “to settle the
matter.” Holland alleges that McDaniel made a “pretended sale” of slaves to John Thomas “with
the view of preventing said negroes being subject to the payment of his debts.” Later John
Thomas agreed to legally mortgage the slaves to Holland Coffe and Coffe considered the
transaction “bona fide.” Now Coffe cites that he has learned John Thomas was a minor at the
time of the arrangement and unable to “contract for himself.” He therefore asks that the
McDaniels be ordered to settle the debt or deliver the slaves to him. Noting that they have
previously “wholly refused” to settle the debt or surrender the slaves, the petitioner prays that
“by the final decree herein the said negro slave be adjudged and decreed to be delivered up to
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your petitioner in satisfaction of said mortgage or otherwise sold for the payment & liquidation of
the same.”
0867 (Accession # 21584309). San Augustine County, Texas. Burwell Thompson seeks an
injunction to stop an execution levied against him at the request of Amos Clark. Thompson
objects to the sheriff seizing seven of his slaves, complaining that he had “plenty of property
both personal property and uncultivated lands ... on which to levy said Executions.” He alleges
that Davis made the levy “well knowing the same to be contrary to law.” Thompson further
charges that Davis, “contriving and confederating” with Clark, intended to “accumulate cost and
to defraud and oppress your petitioner.” Thompson also asks to be “retaxed.”
0877 (Accession # 21584310). San Augustine County, Texas. William Wofford seeks the
settlement of a dispute over the hire of five slaves, whom he mortgaged to Samuel Thompson
as security on a loan of $300. Wofford charges that neither Thompson, recently deceased, nor
the administrator of his estate, Burwell Thompson, would settle the account. He further explains
that the slaves were mortgaged under an arrangement whereby the “avails of the hire” would be
applied towards liquidating the amount of the mortgage debt. He claims that the value of their
hire while in Thompson’s possession amounts to $2,104, “all of which yet remains entirely
unaccounted for.” Wofford complains that the mortgage “remains uncanceled,” with a balance
due him of “not less than two thousand Dollars.” The petitioner prays that Thompson be
summoned and that he be ordered to pay for the slaves’ hire. He further requests that the
mortgage be cancelled.
1844
0903 (Accession # 21584401). San Augustine County, Texas. James R. Bracken is the
guardian of Nathaniel Callier, who is “a person non compos mentis.” He asks the court to settle
a dispute over slaves in the estate of Nathaniel’s late father, Robert Callier. The elder Callier,
who died intestate in 1826, owned “about forty negro slaves.” Bracken informs the court that
Callier’s widow, Harriet, is now married to John S. Roberts, whom he alleges sold the slaves
without legal authority. Phillip A. Sublett purchased “a number of said negroes of both sexes but
the names & number of said negroes are unknown.” Without “sufficient and proper information
on the subject,” Bracken claims that he is unable to institute suit for the slaves’ recovery. Noting
that Sublett has had “the use and benefit” of the slaves for seventeen years, the petitioner
estimates the yearly value of each slave to be at least $100. Bracken therefore prays that
Sublett “be decreed to delivered up all of the slaves belonging to the estate” or account for their
value. He also asks that Sublett and members of the Roberts family be subpoenaed to answer
questions about the slaves, their value, and their offspring.
0912 (Accession # 21584402). Brazoria County, Texas. Gabriel Martin gave his daughter
Margaret a female slave named Phebe and a tract of land in Louisiana valued at $1,000 as a
dowry for her marriage to James Brown in 1802. The couple resides in Brazoria County. In 1808
James sold the land and kept the money for his own use. In addition, James now owns Phebe’s
six children and thirteen grandchildren, who have been born during the forty-two-year-marriage.
He also received two large sums of money through Margaret’s inheritance from her parents,
both of whom had died by 1820. Citing laws “in force” in Louisiana at the time of her marriage,
Brown represents that she is entitled to “restitution of her dowry” as well as replacement of “her
dotal effects ... which were alienated by her husband” since their marriage. She asks that her
husband be summoned and that the slaves, land, and money she received as her dowry and
from her parents’ estates be declared her “sole separate property.” She further asks that she be
paid interest at 5 percent on the value of the money.
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0926 (Accession # 21584403). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Tom Jefferson Johnson,
administrator of the estate of the late John Hall, asks that Isaac Lee be ordered to return “a
negro or Mulato man” named Ems or Emps, who belongs to Hall’s estate and who is valued at
$500. The petitioner further requests the court to summon Lee and to sequester the slave. In an
1853 amended petition, Johnson reports that Ems’s “lawful hire” is worth the yearly value of
$150 or the monthly value of $12.50. He also revises Ems’s assessed value, now citing the
slave to be worth $1,500. The petitioner asks “to recover the said negro slave Ems or Emps ...
and in default thereof his value—together with lawful hire damages and costs.”
0943 (Accession # 21584404). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Roden T. Crain, administrator of
the estate of the late William Crain, states that William Crain placed sixteen “slaves for life” in
the hands of William Burdett, now deceased, to bring them from Mississippi to Texas in 1839.
William Crain passed away in 1842. The petitioner alleges that Burdett, “intending fraudulently
and craftily to injure and defraud” him, transferred title in the slaves to Jesse Burdett, who then
transferred the same to Isaac Whitaker. Explaining that Whitaker has removed the slaves from
the Brazos to Nacogdoches County, Crain fears Whitaker will sell them “if not restrained by your
honors.” The petitioner therefore asks the court to order Whitaker to return the sixteen slaves
that belong to Crain’s estate and to pay $10,000 in damages. He also asks the court to
sequester the slaves and to summon Whitaker and the Burdetts. Two years later, Crain filed an
amended petition, alleging that Samuel Giles purchased two other slaves from the same lot “in
the same colourable and fraudulent manner” as those by Whitaker. He adds Giles, Stephen
Sparks, Elizabeth Whitaker, and James H. Durst as defendants.
0962 (Accession # 21584405). San Augustine County, Texas. James Pinckney Henderson
reports that, on 20 June 1842, Hiram Kenley “with force and arms, took and carried away” his
two slaves, Caroline and Martha. Henderson complains that he has “been deprived of the work
and labor and services of said slaves of the annual value of Two Hundred Dollars.” He further
avows that he has spent $500 “endeavoring to regain possession” of the two slaves. Believing
that Kenley has left the state, the petitioner prays that Kenley be summoned and be compelled
to return his slaves and to pay $3,800.
0968 (Accession # 21584406). Brazoria County, Texas. Charles Power, “who sues to the use of
John S. Sydnor,” and John S. Sydnor seek “Judgment for the amount so due” him from
Alexander Compton and William T. Austin. Power informs the court that Compton executed a
“certain promissory note” to Austin for $2,587.60 and that Compton secured said note with a
“certain Indenture of mortgage” on four slaves. Power points out that Austin “endorsed the said
promissory note” over to him on 22 February 1843, thereby conveying as well the mortgaged
slaves if the debt were not repaid. Noting “the time appointed for payment of said note has long
since elapsed,” the petitioner prays “that possession of the said negroe be delivered to them
and that the equity of redemption be foreclosed.” According to a related petition, Compton was
later ordered to sell two slaves to pay the debt.
0977 (Accession # 21584407). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Minerva Douglass, widow of
Kelsey H. Douglass, avers that her husband’s “household and Kitchen furniture negroes and
also the stock of all kinds” were sold after his death to settle his debts, leaving her without any
money for “the care, charge and Education of two young children.” Since then, she has learned
that the law allows a portion of the estate to be set aside for the support of the family. Douglass
asks that James Starr, administrator of Kelsey Douglass’s estate, be ordered to pay her an
amount “out of other effects of the said Estate” so she can support and educate her children “in
a manner she is desirous of doing.”
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0981 (Accession # 21584408). San Augustine County, Texas. William Anderson asserts that
Achilles Johnson, Joseph DeForest, and Messrs. Hedge and Curtis “with force and arms
feloniously took and carried away” his fourteen-year-old slave, Benjamin. Anderson cites that
Benjamin is worth $1,000 and is of “short and thick stature and of black complexion.” The
petitioner complains that he has been “deprived of the work and labor and services of said slave
of the annual value of One Hundred and fifty Dollars.” He asks that the defendants be
summoned and that they be compelled to return Benjamin and to pay damages of $2,300.
Anderson also requests that a writ of garnishment be issued to Thomas S. Wiggins, who owes
money to Joseph DeForest. In a related petition, Wiggins asks the court for a writ of error to
“cause the said judgment of said Anderson against [him] ... to be carried to the next Term of the
Supreme Court of the Republic of Texas.”
0997 (Accession # 21584409). San Augustine County, Texas. Sam Houston petitions the court
regarding the late Samuel Thompson’s will, which provided for the emancipation of a “family of
favorite negroes” after Thompson’s death. If Texas laws presented “any insurmountable
obstacle” to their liberation, Thompson directed that the slaves should be “removed from the
republic to some country where their freedom could be recognised” and given “suitable
provision” for their maintenance and support. Houston explains that Thompson gave the will to
Cynthia, the slave family’s matriarch, and never altered it. After Thompson’s death, Burwell J.
Thompson, the defendant and Thompson’s son and sole heir, demanded that Cynthia give him
Thompson’s papers, including the “enveloped and sealed” will. Houston now charges that
Burwell denies the existence of the will and has possibly destroyed it. Houston asks that Burwell
Thompson be summoned and be compelled to relinquish all claim to the slaves and to deliver
them over to him. He also requests that “a suitable person be appointed as a receiver” to have
custody of the slaves while the case is pending. Thompson’s answer relates a conversation held
with his late father about the will, which Burwell characterized as “wretched” and “greatly
calculated to cause this respondent to be murdered by his Negroes.” One year later, Houston
returns to court, attesting that the men are “notoriously solvent.” He therefore prays that
Thompson be “injoined & inhibited from any interfearance or medling with said slaves.” Houston
further requests that Nash be “injoined & inhibited from delivering over to said Burwell said
slaves.”
1024 (Accession # 21584410). Nacogdoches County, Texas. William Bradshaw asks that he be
named administrator of the estate of his late brother, James Bradshaw. According to a will in the
related documents, James Bradshaw bequeathed all of his “negro property” to his wife, Naomi
[Neoma] Ware. William Bradshaw disputes the legitimacy of the will, stating that James
Bradshaw was not in a proper state of mind to dispose of his property. William Music, who
witnessed Bradshaw’s will, testifies that Bradshaw, on his deathbed, “told his negroes to be
good boys, that he was about to be off.”
1039 (Accession # 21584411). San Augustine County, Texas. James R. Bracken is the
guardian of Nathaniel Callier, who is “a person non compos mentis.” He asks the court to settle
a dispute over slaves in the estate of Nathaniel’s late father, Robert Callier. The elder Callier,
who died intestate in 1826, owned “about forty negro slaves.” Bracken informs the court that
Callier’s widow, Harriet, is now married to John S. Roberts, who he alleges sold the slaves
without legal authority. Elisha Roberts purchased “a number of said negroes of both sexes but
the names & number of said negroes are unknown.” Without “sufficient and proper information
on the subject,” Bracken claims that he is unable to institute suit for the slaves’ recovery. Noting
that Elisha Roberts has had “the use and benefit” of the slaves for seventeen years, the
petitioner estimates the yearly value of each slave to be at least $100. Bracken therefore prays
that Elisha Roberts “be decreed to delivered up all of the slaves belonging to the estate” or
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account for their value. He also asks that members of the Roberts family be subpoenaed to
answer questions about the slaves, their value, and their offspring.
1048 (Accession # 21584412). Bowie County, Texas. Joseph Prewitt seeks compensation from
Reece Hughes in a plea of trespass in assumpsit. Prewitt, an overseer on Hughes’s farm in
1843, agreed to manage the farm along with eleven “hands” for one year “or until the crop was
gathered and secured.” In exchange, he was to receive “one tenth of all the cotton corn and
potatoes that was made and raised upon the farm,” as well as “reasonable wages” for
overseeing the farm for part of 1842. Prewitt reports that Hughes provided eight slaves rather
than eleven slaves but that they still produced 110 bales of cotton, 2,500 bushels of corn, and
500 bushels of potatoes. Hughes also promised to pay Prewitt $150 to make up for the three
hands that were not provided. Prewitt claims that Hughes “dismissed” him and has refused to
pay him. He asks that Hughes be summoned and be ordered to pay damages of $1,000.
Reel 24
Texas cont.
1845
0002 (Accession # 21584501). Brazoria County, Texas. Alexander Compton reminds the court
that the district court rendered a judgment “in favor of Charles Power for the use of John S.
Sydnor and John S. Sydnor.” To satisfy the judgment, the sheriff levied upon two of Compton’s
slaves, “and the same are now advertised for sale.” Compton claims the sale will cause him
“irreparable injury” and has appealed the judgment to the supreme court. He is unable to give
the appeal bond required by law to stay execution and prays the court will allow him to
“surrender” his personal property “into the hands of the said Sheriff” in order to obtain a writ of
supersedeas.
0007 (Accession # 21584502). San Augustine County, Texas. Burwell Thompson asks that
Cynthia and other slaves in the estate of Samuel Thompson be returned to him “upon his giving
Bond and Security ... conditioned for the forth coming (and proper and humane treatment) of the
said slaves whenever their right to freedom shall be established.” He confesses that he is
“considerably embarrassed and by being deprived of their labour in the cultivation of his farm he
may be subjected to heavy pecuniary sacrifice from the sale of his property by the sheriff.”
Thompson asks that the interlocutory order appointing John Nash receiver of said slaves be set
aside. The question of the slaves’ right to freedom is pending in a suit initiated by Sam Houston.
In his amended petition, Thompson reveals that the said slaves “are scattered about” and that
Cynthia “is living in the Town of San Augustine and is permitted to hire her own time to such
persons as she thinks proper to do so.” He further declares that “the said slaves have been
fighting and quarrelling with each other and that they are not kept in that state of subjection
which is proper for persons of that class and description.” Thompson resubmits his petition in
the October Term 1846.
0022 (Accession # 21584504). Brazoria County, Texas. In several related petitions, Lombard
Mims presents questions about the administration of the estate of his late father, Joseph Mims.
Mims first submits a copy of his late father’s will and asks the court to appoint him executor in
accordance with his father’s wishes. Once appointed, he returns an estimative inventory of the
estate, listing various debts owed by the estate. Because creditors are “pressing him to pay said
debts,” he asks for a court order to sell the personal property “with the exception of the slaves,”
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who are seventy-four in number and comprise nine separate families. Finally, he cites that the
two court-appointed appraisers are absent from the county, and he requests that the court
appoint an(other) appropriate person(s) in their place. Revealing that the property ordered to be
sold at the last term of the court is insufficient to pay the estate’s debts, the petitioner further
prays that he be authorized to sell a specific tract of land.
0041 (Accession # 21584505). Brazoria County, Texas. Lambert Mims, executor of the indebted
estate of his late father, Joseph Mims, claims that he has made sale of the land and slaves in
the estate of the testator. He further reports that he is ready to pay over the proceeds of the sale
as the court shall direct. Mims prays that his account may be confirmed and approved by the
court; that “after the payment of the costs, commissions and privileged debts, the remainder of
said money be apportioned to the creditors in proportion to their respective demands”; and that
he be given “a further time of twelve months to settle said estate.”
0055 (Accession # 21584508). Brazoria County, Texas. Susannah Hall, the widow of William
Hall and the administratrix of his estate, declares that her brother-in-law, Warren D. C. Hall, is
indebted to her for $9,645, “being for negroes purchased at an administrators sale of said
succession.” The petitioner further reports that “a lien or mortgage was returned on said
negroes to secure the payment of the aforesaid debt.” Hall informs the court that the debt has
been “long since due and payable” and that her brother-in-law has mortgaged several of the
said slaves “subsequently to the said mortgage of your Petitioner and several others of them
have been sold by said Hall.” The petitioner fears that “all or a portion of said negroes
mortgaged as aforesaid to secure the payment of her said debt will be removed out of the
Republic before she can have the benefit of her said mortgage.” Hall therefore asks the sheriff
“to seize and sequester said slaves and their increase and to hold the same sequestered
subject to the further order of your Hon Court.”
0066 (Accession # 21584509). Brazoria County, Texas. Cato Parrott charges that Elizabeth and
William Pierpont “unjustly detain” three of his slaves. Parrott prays that the Pierponts be ordered
to return the slaves to him. The petitioner also seeks $500 as compensation for their hire, and
he requests that his title to the slaves be recognized.
0073 (Accession # 21584510). San Augustine County, Texas. Harriet C. Dell seeks a divorce
from her husband, Joseph Dell, and deems “living with him any longer insupportable.”
Confessing that Joseph “did beat and treat her cruelly,” the petitioner charges that her husband
also refused to treat her five children from a previous marriage in a “fatherly manner,” forcing
them “to sleep in a kitchen among slaves.” Harriet claims she cannot “in justice to herself and
her said children ever live” with Joseph again.
0078 (Accession # 21584511). Jefferson County, Texas. Jacob Benson petitions the court to
settle a slave title dispute with J. Biddle Langham. Claiming that Langham “unjustly detains” two
of his slaves, the petitioner asks that Langham be summoned and ordered to return Polly and
her young daughter Margarett. Benson also seeks damages in the amount of $1,000.
0085 (Accession # 21584512). Jefferson County, Texas. Robert Burrell reports that he “casually
lost” the slaves Mary, alias Polly, and Margaret. Burrell claims that James B. Langham came
into their possession “by finding” and refuses to return them. He charges that Langham
“fraudulently & wrongfully converted the said negroes to his own use, all to the damage of your
petitioner two thousand dollars.” He asks that Langham be summoned and ordered to return the
slaves to him. He also seeks compensation for their hire, which he estimates at $15 per month
for Mary and $5 per month for Margaret.
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1846
0094 (Accession # 21584601). Travis County, Texas. John R. Slocomb seeks compensation
from the estate of the late John Nolan [Nowlan] in the amount of $700 plus interest. Slocomb
explains that Nolan hired him “to move a certain house in the city of Austin, known as the New
Orleans house, from the position it then occupied, to another quarter of said city.” Averring that
his own services “with that of his servants” were reasonably worth $700, Slocomb asserts that
Nolan never paid him any portion thereof. He further cites that Nolan died in 1842 and that
Owen O’Brian, his administrator, has “rejected” Slocomb’s account. The petitioner asks that
O’Brian be compelled to settle the account. A related document reveals that Slocomb was
originally hired by William Cazneau to move three houses; Slocomb, however, partially complied
by removing only the New Orleans house.
0104 (Accession # 21584603). San Augustine County, Texas. Burwell Thompson asks the court
to remove John D. Nash as “receiver for the negroes claiming freedom in litigation.” Thompson
refutes Nash’s account wherein the labor from slaves in his late father’s estate “does not pay
the expenses of keeping them.” Thompson claims that the slaves are “healthy able bodied and
stout” (except for William) and are “severally reasonably worth from eight to ten dollars per
month.” Adding that the plaintiff, Sam Houston, no longer believes that he will “run off or remove
the property from the jurisdiction of the court,” Thompson asks that he may have “possession of
some of the negroes.”
0107 (Accession # 21584604). Nacogdoches County, Texas. John and Sarah Wilson ask the
court to settle a slave title dispute with Charles Chevaillier, the administrator of the estate of
Sarah’s late mother, Mary Wadlington [Waddlington]. The Wilsons contend that Wadlington
gave her daughter a slave named Caroline and Caroline’s infant son Westly by “verbal gift” in
December 1844 “during her last illness.” She then delivered possession of Westly to Sarah, but
because she had “pledged” Caroline to Chevaillier to secure a loan of $100, Caroline remained
with Chevaillier. Repayment of the $100 plus interest devolved to Sarah and John. Seventeen
months have elapsed, Wadlington has died, and the Wilsons want Caroline and an unnamed
child since born delivered to them. They claim that Wadlington’s debt has been satisfied by the
proceeds of Caroline’s hire at $15 per month since Chevaillier has had her. Fearing that
Chevaillier will sell Caroline, the Wilsons ask the court for an injunction as well as an accounting
of Mary Wadlington’s estate.
0124 (Accession # 21584605). San Augustine County, Texas. Otis Wheeler explains that he
owed a large sum to Thomas Barrett of New Orleans and that Abram Coleman and B. Fleurnoy
Simms, “commission merchants ... supposed of high standing,” agreed to pay the debt in
exchange for a deed of trust “upon about twenty negroes and a plantation.” Wheeler claims that
he delivered three slaves and forty bales of cotton to Coleman and Simms to sell at the New
Orleans market in order to discharge the debt. In a separate transaction, he also mortgaged two
additional slaves to Coleman and Simms with James M. Johnston serving as trustee. Wheeler
claims the firm neglected to sell the two slaves, keeping them instead “in their own employment
until one of them ... took sick and ... by their neglect and want of attention died.” Complaining
that he has not received a receipt from Barrett for the debt Coleman and Simms supposedly
covered, the petitioner fears that Johnston now plans to sell the mortgaged slaves. He seeks an
injunction to prevent their sale, cancellation of the deed of trust, and either “complete discharge”
from his debt to Barrett or compensation for the value of the slaves and the cotton. In an
amended petition, Wheeler accuses the firm of being “legally liable” for the death of two slaves
and the “depreciated value” of the another. He charges that Johns and Demps “took sick from
the contagious disorders prevalent in large cities” and lacking “proper attention [and] medical
treatment” have died. The petitioner asserts that Priscilla also “contracted a contagious disorder
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of the City” and was “very materially depreciated” and could only be sold for one-half of her
value.
0148 (Accession # 21584606). San Augustine County, Texas. David Rusk claims that John H.
Wilson mortgaged a ten-year-old slave named Chloe to him on 2 April 1842 to secure payment
on a debt of $274. Rusk reports that “Wilson has not paid said sum or any part thereof altho
often requested so to do” and that he “still doth refuse.” The petitioner therefore prays that
“judgement be rendered against him in favor of your petitioner for the sum of money aforesaid
with interest that the said mortgage be foreclosed and that the right of redemption be barred and
the said negro girl in said mortgage described be decreed to be sold.”
0161 (Accession # 21584607). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Spruce M. Baird and Jackson
Doyle ask that they be appointed executors of the estate of the late Nimrod Doyle in accordance
with Doyle’s will. According to related documents, the estate included eleven slaves. Doyle’s will
includes the following explanation for a bequest of a slave named Susy to his daughter
Muscogy: “my reason for doing so is that I gave my other children, that is to say Jackson and
Winchester Education but gave my said Daughter none.” On 20 January 1847, the newly
appointed executors petition for permission to sell a portion of the estate.
0173 (Accession # 21584608). Travis County, Texas. Susan O’Connell and William S. Wallace
ask the court to appoint them executors of the estate of the late John O’Connell in accordance
with O’Connell’s will. According to related documents, the estate included eleven slaves, some
of whom were children.
0192 (Accession # 21584609). Jefferson County, Texas. Cynthia and Daniel Merritt complain
that Cynthia’s brother, Westly D. Cotton, refuses to return four slaves, whom he has possessed
since the death of his father in 1839. The petitioners allege that R. L. Cotton gave one of the
slaves, Chaney, to Cynthia around 1822, while she was a young girl living in Florida. Chaney
has since had at least three children. The Merritts charge that Westly Cotton has destroyed the
deed of gift documenting Cynthia’s lawful ownership. They ask that the slaves be sequestered
so Cotton cannot remove them from the court’s jurisdiction. They further request that their title to
the slaves be recognized and that they be awarded damages in the amount of $5,000.
Depositions from various family members offer differing accounts of the slaves’ ownership,
citing that Westly Cotton received Chaney’s boy Champion as a gift from his father around 1835
and that Clarissa Danforth, Cynthia and Westly’s sister, purchased Chaney from their father
around 1836 and subsequently sold her to Westly. In any case, Chaney and Champion have
been in Westly’s possession since 1839.
1847
0239 (Accession # 21584701). Guadalupe County, Texas. Martin R. Lewis avows that he and
Caleb Joiner “did enter into a written contract” on 17 December 1846. He “avers that he is ready
and willing, to do and perform, everything, required of him by the contract.” He charges,
however, that said Joiner “refuses and neglects to comply with and fulfil the same.” Lewis prays
that “Said Joiner be required to do such other acts as may be requisite to give full force and
effect to the said contract.” The contract states that Lewis “agrees to sell unto Mr Joiner ... Six
hundred acres of land from his Elm Grove place on the Banks of the Guadalupe River” and that
Joiner agrees to pay the price specified therein. It also states that Joiner “agrees to let Mr. Lewis
have the use and services of a good negro fellow from the 1st Jan’y 1847, or time of getting
possession of the place, until the 1st March 1847, or until the first payment be made.” A month
later, Lewis supplements his prayer by requesting “that damages may be rendered against the
said Joiner for the said violation of his obligation.” Lewis charges that Joiner has “withdrawn
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from the use and services of your petitioner the negro fellow who was for some time in his
service.” The petitioner asks that damages in the amount of $1,000 “may be rendered against
the said Joiner.”
0248 (Accession # 21584702). Nacogdoches County, Texas. William Durrett represents that he
is the eldest son of the late John Durrett. Asking to be appointed guardian of his four minor
siblings, the petitioner prays that two “negro men” owned by his father be hired out at public sale
to the highest bidder “for the support and education” of the Durrett children.
0252 (Accession # 21584703). San Augustine County, Texas. Amos and Louisiana Hamilton
Riley complain that Harrison and Mary Jane Watson and others unjustly detain slaves, who
originated in the estate of Louisiana’s late father, Charles Hamilton. When Charles died in
Claiborne County, Mississippi, in 1827, Louisiana’s half-sister Elizabeth received seven slaves,
who were later “fraudulently removed” to Arkansas by Harrison Watson, Elizabeth’s guardian
and her mother’s second husband; twelve-year-old Elizabeth died intestate in Arkansas around
1840. Five years later the Watsons moved to Texas with Elizabeth’s slaves. The Rileys argue
that they are the “lawful owners of the said Negroes in right of the said Louisiana Hamilton, as
heir to the said Elizabeth Hamilton.” They ask the court to summon the Watsons along with
George Teal, Alexander Horton, and Frost Thorn, whom they allege have each purchased
slaves that belong to Elizabeth’s estate. The petitioners further ask that the slaves be returned
to them and that they be compensated for the slaves’ hire.
0264 (Accession # 21584704). San Augustine County, Texas. Emory Houston charges that
William Garrett with “force and arms took and carried away the Property of your petitioner To wit
a negro man Slave [named] Ned of black complexion a Shoemaker by trade of the value of One
Thousand Dollars.” Houston claims that Garrett “still keeps and detains the negro slave” and
has deprived him of the “work and labor and services of the said slave of the monthly value of
Fifty dollars.” The petitioner recounts that the room he rented “in which the slave carried on the
said business is now unoccupied and useless” to him, much to the “disappointment of
customers.” He asks that Garrett be summoned and ordered to pay $600 to him as
compensation for the hire of Ned. In his defense, Garrett claims that he purchased Ned from
George Teal and is therefore Ned’s “lawful owner.”
0274 (Accession # 21584705). Bastrop County, Texas. Thomas W. Chambers and his wife
Margarett ask to be appointed administrators of the estate of the late Josiah Wilbarger, who
died in 1844. In their supplemental petition, Thomas and Margarett, as administrators, pray that
a commissioner be appointed to “divide the said property between the widow and children of the
said Wilbarger.” The petitioners cite that “they have fully discharged and paid all the debts of the
estate ... and that there is yet remaining property of the said estate to a large amount both real
Personal and Slaves.”
0280 (Accession # 21584708). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Wilton Moore, brother of the late
Rebecca Anderson, asks to be appointed administrator of the estate of his sister, who died
intestate around 1845. Her estate consists of “lands Negroes Stock &c.”
0283 (Accession # 21584709). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Robert Anderson asks that he be
appointed guardian of his late brother’s children, four-year-old James G. Anderson and twoyear-old
Rebecca Jane Anderson. The children are the minor heirs of Carroll Anderson and his
wife, Rebecca, who both died within a year of one another. The family estate includes land and
slaves.
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0286 (Accession # 21584710). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Joseph M. Clarke asks that
Alexander Greer be summoned and be required to account for his activities as guardian for the
heirs of the estate of the late John Comb. A codicil in Comb’s will directed that his daughter Ann
Greer (now deceased) inherit “certain slave property” on the condition that the property be kept
together until the youngest heir reached “full age.” The “services of said slaves” were to be
applied to the “nurture and education” of the minor heirs. Clarke explains that he has “become
interested in the Management of the Said trust under the Will of the Said John Comb” because
his wife, Eliza Jane, is the daughter of Ann and Alexander Greer. The petitioner adjudges Greer
to be “incapable of properly Managing the Said Estate” and worries that the estate “is becoming
Wasted and injured.” He asks that Greer be removed from his trust as guardian and that “some
suitable person” be appointed in his place.
0291 (Accession # 21584711). Brazoria County, Texas. Thomas Blackwell avers that Erasmus
Davis died in August 1847 leaving a “considerable amount of property real and personal,”
including slaves. Blackwell claims that the estate consists of “perishable” property, which is
“liable to waste” and that the slaves and real estate are “liable to be injured” unless someone is
appointed to administer the estate. He alleges that Davis left a will, “which is now in the
possession of your Honor,” but that no executor was appointed. He asks the court to appoint
him administrator of the estate “in the usual form.”
0299 (Accession # 21584712). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Frost Thorn and Charles
Chevaillier ask that writs of injunction and sequestration be issued to protect their interest in
eight slaves until a binding decision is reached in a suit initiated by Andrew and Mary Shotwell
Lawson. On 13 January 1846, the sheriff of Nacogdoches County levied upon the slaves in an
unrelated execution involving John W. and Nicholas J. Moore. Mary Shotwell, who claimed title
to the slaves, responded to the levy by issuing a bond “to try the right of property” under Texas
law. The petitioners, two of four securities on the bond, complain that Mary has since married
Andrew Lawson and moved her “negroes, horses and other property” to Louisiana. They believe
the pending suit will remain undetermined “for at least six months” and seek this temporary
measure until they can “abide the determination of the said suit.” In an amended petition, Thorn
and Chevaillier ask that Raford and Pierce Fulghum, agents for the Lawsons in Texas with
whom the slaves now reside, be added as defendants to their suit. They also allege that Mary
has sold between forty and fifty slaves, beyond those in dispute, to James W. Gilmer in
Louisiana.
0319 (Accession # 21584713). Red River County, Texas. William Lambeth of Louisiana
petitions the court to render a judgment against Samuel Turner of Red River County, Texas, for
damages in the amount of $20,000. Lambeth complains that Turner failed to uphold his end of a
“trust of possession” sanctioned by an earlier court case in Mississippi. Turner, conjointly with B.
Sellers, a plantation overseer, took possession of slaves that had been levied upon in 1841, “for
the purpose of paying said Debt ... before the month of April 1843, and virtually binding himself
to redeliver the said Property should said Debt not be paid.” Instead, he removed the property
from Mississippi to Texas, “breaking his covenant & contract aforesaid.” According to a related
docket page, Sellers carried the case to the Texas Supreme Court on 15 January 1848.
0329 (Accession # 21584714). San Augustine County, Texas. William C. Johnson asks that Otis
M. Wheeler be ordered to pay $2,000 in damages for withholding a reward for the apprehension
of two runaway slaves named Calvin and Johnst. The petitioner complains that Wheeler
“caused to be printed published circulated and posted up” an advertisement offering a reward of
$1,000 to the person who could find the two slaves. “Induced by the reward,” Johnson did “with
great trouble labor and loss of time search for persue aprehend arrest and take” Calvin and
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Johnst. In like manner he also apprehended “the supposed negro thieves being two in number,”
who were held on a charge of negro stealing, but who were not indicted “from the negligence” of
Wheeler. Twenty-year-old Calvin is described as a “dark mulatto, or copper colored boy” and
thirty-five-year-old Johnst is described as “black complected [with] a large wen on the back of
his neck.” Johnson asks the court to summon Wheeler and to compel him to issue
compensation.
0340 (Accession # 21584715). Brazoria County, Texas. Hiram G. Runnels reports that his
nephew, Dudley Runnels, died intestate “leaving some negros and other personal property of a
perishable nature which is liable to waste and destruction.” He claims that “it is the wish of the
wife of the deceased” that he assume administration on the estate, and he asks that he be
issued letters of administration. The petitioner plans to “hire out the negros” and safeguard the
property of the estate from being “wasted.”
0352 (Accession # 21584716). Fayette County, Texas. Swante Palm, a merchant in Fayette
County, seeks to recover $145.80 from his former business partner, Charles P. Flack. Palm
avows that his partner purchased a slave from James Breeding while he was away conducting
business for the firm of Flack & Palm. The petitioner purports that Flack used $750 worth of “the
goods and effects belonging to” the firm as payment. Palm charges that Flack, “intending to
cheat and defraud your Orator,” entered the bill of sale for the slave in his individual name.
Claiming that Flack made various bookkeeping maneuvers to conceal his wrongdoing, the
petitioner also contends that, even after the two dissolved the partnership and brokered a final
settlement, Flack failed to pay him for half of the proceeds accrued from the sale he made with
Breeding.
1848
0381 (Accession # 21584801). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Amanda Davis and her husband
Owen protest the “paper purporting” to be the will of Amanda Davis’s father, the late Nimrod
Doyle. According to the will entered in probate, Nimrod Doyle left his estate, which includes
“lands, negroes and other personal property,” to his widow, a daughter, and a grandson but
made no provision for Amanda Davis. The petitioners attest that she is his “legitimate daughter
and legal heir” and by the “laws of the land” she is entitled to a distributive share of his property.
They affirm that they intend to contest the validity of the will and ask that “this their protest and
notice” may be served upon the executors of Doyle’s estate, Spruce M. Baird and her brother
Jackson Doyle.
0385 (Accession # 21584802). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Sucony Doyle joins her daughter,
Muscogy Hardrige, and her son-in-law, Joseph Hardrige, in asking the court for a partition and
distribution of the estate of the late Nimrod Doyle. Asserting that they are the principal heirs to
an estate that includes eleven slaves, the petitioners also ask the court to summon Spruce
Baird and Jackson Doyle, executors of the estate, and Winchester Doyle, another heir, “to
appear and shew cause why partition and distribution should not be made in accordance with
law.” The executor’s account reveals that seven of the estate slaves were hired out in 1847 to
Susanah Doyle and that the proceeds for their hire, yet uncollected, total $375.
0401 (Accession # 21584803). Brazoria County, Texas. Huldah Davis, mother and “Surviving
Parent” of the late Erasmus Davis, asks the court to summon Erasmus’s administrator, Thomas
Blackwell, and to order him to provide an account of sales from her late son’s estate, which
includes several slaves.
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0405 (Accession # 21584804). Brazoria County, Texas. Huldah Davis, mother and “surviving
Parent” of the late Erasmus Davis, asks the court to compel Thomas Blackwell, the
administrator of Davis’s estate, to “exhibit the true condition of said estate.” She requests the
“delivery to her of the property” of her son’s estate, which includes the slave family of Jane and
her four children. She also complains that Blackwell has unnecessarily protracted his
administrative duties and has neglected to pay estate debts. She asks that the court revoke his
letters of administration on Davis’s estate.
0414 (Accession # 21584805). Brazoria County, Texas. Thomas Blackwell, administrator of the
estate of the late Erasmus Davis, provides a partial account of the estate and also petitions for a
six-month extension in order to return a complete account. With respect to the slaves in Davis’s
estate, he reports that Savory has been delivered to Davis’s heirs; that Jane, who is “sickly” and
has recently given birth, has been supported by the estate “at some expense”; and that repairs
on the “House of the deceased to make it habitable for the negroes” have been completed and
also charged to the estate. He also claims that he has had to hire hands to gather and prepare
the cotton for market “inasmuch as there was but one negro of the estate that was able to work.”
0418 (Accession # 21584806). Travis County, Texas. Aaron Burleson asks the court to grant
him letters of guardianship for his nephew, Icabod Earpe Burleson, minor heir of the late James
Burleson. Icabod possesses property valued at $1,400, consisting of “negroes and horses
[which] requires the attention of some person.” Aaron Burleson asks the court to issue citation to
LaFayette Burleson, Icabod’s brother and also an heir, who owns little property and is now of
age to choose his own guardian.
0423 (Accession # 21584807). Nacogdoches County, Texas. James H. Durst, administrator of
the estate of the late Daniel Clark, petitions the court to sell “a Sufficient” amount of the estate’s
property, including slaves, to pay estate debts. Durst names six slaves, who are part of Clark’s
estate but who are not currently under his administrative control: Stephen, whose ownership is
the subject of a title dispute pending in the district court of Nacogdoches County and who is
currently possessed by Isaac Bran; Cyrus, who came into the estate’s possession “by running
away” from Joseph Smith, “who after remaining in my possession a short time was forcibly
taken away by Joseph and Newton Smith and run off to Austin and sold”; Bill, who is “now in the
possession of John Durst of Leona County”; and Lucy and her two children, “who were in San
Antonio by last accounts but I do not know who claimed them.”
0427 (Accession # 21584808). Travis County, Texas. William Thomas, husband of the late
Elizabeth Thomas, administrator of her estate, and guardian of Elizabeth’s two female children
from a previous marriage, asks that commissioners be appointed to appraise the slaves in his
wife’s estate so that they can be sold. Thomas claims that a sale of the property would benefit
the estate’s minor heirs, including his three children with Elizabeth. The estate inventory lists
four slaves: a woman and child valued together at $650 and two male “boys” valued at $350
and $300.
0439 (Accession # 21584809). Brazoria County, Texas. James Walker, guardian of the minor
Adam Erastus Cloud, represents that Frederick Calvit unjustly detains and refuses to return an
enslaved female named Emily and Emily’s unnamed infant child, who are both “the property of
said minor—having been conveyed to him, the said minor by Adam Cloud by deed.” Walker
asks that he be awarded $1,000 in damages and that Calvit be ordered to deliver the slaves to
him or to compensate him for their combined value, along with $500 as hire. On 18 December
1855, the court overruled Calvit’s motion for a new trial, whereupon he gave “notice of appeal to
the Supreme Court.”
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0444 (Accession # 21584810). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Louisa Hawkins, a minor over the
age of fourteen, asks that her mother, Rebecca Hagerty, be appointed her guardian. Louisa
owns eleven slaves in her own right and is entitled to a share in fifteen slaves owned by her late
father.
0457 (Accession # 21584811). Travis County, Texas. William Thomas, administrator of the
estate of his late wife, Elizabeth Thomas, asserts that Aaron and John Burleson came to his
home during his absence and “took and carried away” four slaves “without any shadow of legal
authority.” Thomas asks that the sheriff be ordered to seize the slaves and to sequester them
until they can be sold at public auction as was directed in an earlier court order.
0463 (Accession # 21584812). Travis County, Texas. Thomas Puckett and Samuel Haynie,
sureties on William Thomas’s administrative bond, ask the court to release them from further
liability on the bond. The petitioners allege that they have learned “from a variety of sources”
that Thomas has left and “in all probability” will not return because “his personal safety depends
on his remaining away.” Although Thomas has “empowered a certain person or persons to
manage the settlement” of his wife Elizabeth’s estate, which includes slaves, the petitioners fear
the substitute(s) “incapable of handling so unwieldy a responsibility.”
0467 (Accession # 21584813). Grimes County, Texas. Samuel Clepper asks to be named a
party defendant in the suit of George Stonum [Stoneum] v. John W. Fowler, William H. Fowler,
and Benjamin H. Halsted. Clepper explains that he and John W. Fowler jointly purchased
eighteen slaves, who are “the subject of controversy” in the aforementioned lawsuit. The
petitioner prays for the “opportunity afforded him of protecting and defending his rights and
interest in said controversy.” An incomplete copy of George Stonum’s petition to the district
court of Montgomery County reveals that Stonum sold the slaves to Halsted with the stipulation
that Halsted not sell or remove the slaves outside of the county. Stonum maintains that
Halstead, “confederating” with his co-defendants, attempted to sell the slaves outside of Texas
and has now “secreted” them with the “design” of transporting them beyond the limits of the
state. Stonum estimates that the aggregate value of the slaves is $6,218.55. He asks for a writ
of sequestration to protect the slaves and their increase.
0481 (Accession # 21584814). Cass County, Texas. Rebecca Hagerty, widow of Benjamin
Hawkins and current wife of Spire M. Hagerty, asks that she be appointed the guardian of her
minor daughter, Anna Hawkins. Hagerty explains that her late husband’s estate is still in the
hands of his administrator but that “it is to the interest of said child to make a settlement of her
interest with said administrator.” Hawkins owned considerable slaves.
1849
0488 (Accession # 21584901). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Jackson Doyle, one of the heirs of
the estate of the late Nimrod Doyle, asks to be discharged from his duties as executor of the
estate. In his amended inventory of the estate, he reports that an female slave named Judy has
given birth to a female child since his last report.
0494 (Accession # 21584902). Travis County, Texas. Elizabeth Beck, administratrix of her late
husband John’s estate, asks the court to authorize a partition of their common property. The
estate includes land and seven slaves.
0503 (Accession # 21584903). Brazoria County, Texas. Huldah Davis, mother of the late
Erasmus D. Davis, asks that Captain Joel Spencer be appointed administrator of her son’s
estate. She explains that “there is now no administrator upon the estate of Erasmus D. Davis
dec’d, and that the interest of said estate requires that a special administrator be appointed, for
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the purpose of “prosecuting, defending, compromising or dismissing ... any suit or suits in which
said estate may be a party.” The estate of Erasmus Davis included slaves.
0506 (Accession # 21584904). Brazoria County, Texas. Joel Spencer, administrator of the
estate of the late Erasmus Davis, informs the court that Huldah Davis, the principal heir to
Davis’s estate, desires to settle and close the estate. Spencer accounts for the property that
remains in the estate, including six slaves, and asks the court for permission to sell said
property in order to discharge the estate’s debts.
0514 (Accession # 21584905). Travis County, Texas. William Thomas, administrator of the
estate of his late wife, Elizabeth Thomas, seeks a partition of the estate. Thomas asks for a third
of the personal estate and a third of the proceeds arising from the sale of his wife’s slaves. He
also asks that a proportion of the property be divided among Elizabeth’s five children, two of
whom are the issue from her previous marriage with Jacob Burleson and are Thomas’s wards.
0526 (Accession # 21584907). Bastrop County, Texas. Charles Reese, administrator of the
estate of the late John Webster, seeks permission to sell two slaves, the remaining property
held in the estate, to pay administrative costs. The two slaves, a thirty-six-year-old woman and a
twelve-year-old girl, are the common property of the said John Webster and his wife, Dolly
Webster, who is also deceased. Reese reports that he thinks it “advantageous” to have the
slaves sold at public auction in LaGrange, Texas, “they being at this time hired out, by order of
the county court of Fayette County for the benefit of both estates.”
0534 (Accession # 21584908). Travis County, Texas. William Kimball, administrator of the
estate of the late Wilson Smith, seeks the return of the slave Harry from T. F. Chapman and
asks the court to issue a writ of sequestration to prevent Chapman from taking the slave out of
the state. Kimball explains that he delivered Harry to Smith’s widow, Temperance, for the
support of the family but remained “chargeable therefore.” Later, Temperance married Daniel
Smith, and the couple claimed the slave as her separate property. They sold Harry to Chapman.
Kimball claims the slave belonged to the estate and should be under his “possession and
control.” The Smiths filed an answer asking to be named party defendants in the suit and
alleging that Harry was a gift to Temperance from her father and that T. F. Chapman was only in
possession of Harry by hire.
0542 (Accession # 21584910). Travis County, Texas. Marietta Hilburn represents that she
acquired an eleven-year-old mulatto slave named Lewis in 1847 through a deed of gift from her
father, Jesse Shelton. She alleges that William Cushney “by some means unknown to Your
Petitioner got possession” of Lewis and illegally detains him. Hilburn explains that her husband
Francis refuses to join with her “in bringing suit for her said negro” and asks that she be allowed
to prosecute her suit in her own name. She asks the court to summon Cushney, to compel him
to return Lewis to her, and to award her $500 in damages.
0551 (Accession # 21584911). Brazoria County, Texas. Mary Prewitt seeks a divorce from John
Prewitt and the control of her personal property, which includes the slave Mary Ann. The
petitioner confesses that her husband “beat, wounded and ill treated Your Petitioner, so that her
life was endangered.” She further laments that his conduct “has been outrageous, from the
violence of his temper, and that ... [he] is constantly guilty of such violence, excesses, cruel
treatment and outrages of and towards her, as to render their being or living together
insupportable.”
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0566 (Accession # 21584912). Bastrop County, Texas. A. W. Hill asks the court to probate the
will of Sarah M. Whipple and to appoint an administrator of her estate. Hill, who witnessed
Whipple’s signing of the will before her death, states that the estate includes slaves.
0575 (Accession # 21584913). Bastrop County, Texas. J. W. Whipple, widower of Sarah
Whipple and administrator of her estate, asks to be appointed guardian of Henry E. McGehee.
Whipple affirms that McGehee is the heir of John G. McGehee and Sarah Whipple. The estates
of both John G. McGehee and Sarah Whipple include slaves.
0586 (Accession # 21584914). San Augustine County, Texas. Burwell Thompson seeks to
recover a mulatto slave named Jack from Thomas Chumney. Thompson states that he
borrowed $400 from Chumney in 1848 and pledged Jack as collateral. He eventually repaid
Chumney, but Chumney refuses to return Jack, insisting that he purchased the slave
“absolutely.” The petitioner maintains that not only is Jack worth at least $800 but also that
Chumney has “derived great profit” from Jack’s “use and employment.” He estimates this profit
at $150 per month and complains that Chumney refuses to acknowledge it in order to “set off”
the loan. He also asks the court to nullify the bill of sale.
0592 (Accession # 21584915). Bastrop County, Texas. Richard Priest, one of ten heirs of the
late Joseph Burleson, asks that the property in Burleson’s estate be partitioned and distributed.
The estate includes land, livestock, and slaves.
0596 (Accession # 21584916). Bastrop County, Texas. William D. C. Jones, administrator of the
estate of the late Joseph Burleson, asks permission to purchase bagging and rope for the
estate’s cotton crop and “to furnish the Negroes of said estate with suitable clothing shoes & c.”
Jones also asks permission to purchase “a suitable monument” for Burleson’s grave as
requested by his relatives.
0599 (Accession # 21584918). Travis County, Texas. Thomas Ward, administrator pro tem of
the estate of Elizabeth Thomas, asks the court for permission to remain administrator until the
estate is settled. According to related petitions, the estate includes slaves.
1850
0603 (Accession # 21585001). Jefferson County, Texas. Queen Elizabeth Nogess seeks a
divorce from Jacques Nogess, charging that he “hath often beat & bruised your petitioner until
her life has been thereby endangered.” Queen Elizabeth at the time of her marriage owned in
her own right a slave woman named Esther worth $900. In related documents, both husband
and wife accuse each other of adultery and both desire custody of their six-year-old son.
0675 (Accession # 21585002). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Pierce and Raiford Fulgham,
administrators of the estate of the late Arthur Fulgham, ask the court “to excuse them from
hiring the negroes belonging to said Estate.” They contend that it is not in the best interest of the
heirs to hire out the slaves. They also request permission to extend their administration until the
March Term of the court (1850). Their final administrative account, returned in 1851, details the
income generated from slave hire for the years 1846–1849 and the values charged to the estate
for slave hire in the years 1850 and 1851. The orphaned children of Robert and Charlotte
Hooks, grandchildren of the late Arthur Fulgham, also petition from Alabama to be included, in
their mother’s stead, in the partition of the estate. The administrators dispute their claim to
entitlement by detailing advancements in slaves and property given to the children by the late
Fulgham in his lifetime. Fulgham’s other children, excepting the administrators, are satisfied with
these gifts and do not apply to be included in the estate’s partition. The seven slaves remaining
in the state are divided among Fulgham’s widow, Alice, and Pierce and Raiford Fulgham.
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0694 (Accession # 21585003). San Augustine County, Texas. Iredell Thomas, administrator of
the estate of the late Robert Anderson, seeks the return of a thirty-five-year-old slave named
Smith. Thomas charges that the slave was erroneously and illegally levied upon and sold by the
sheriff of San Augustine County in 1843 and eventually came into the possession of Lewis
Greer. Thomas demands the return of the slave, valued at $1,000, and compensation for the
slave’s hire during the two years he was in Greer’s possession. A woman and two children were
also sold at the same auction as Smith; all four slaves sold for a total of $1,053.85. In his
answer, Lewis Greer claims that he purchased the slave from Elijah Young, to whom the late
Robert Anderson was indebted. He also alleges that Thomas credited himself for the proceeds
of Young’s purchase on the account he returned to the probate court.
0707 (Accession # 21585004). San Augustine County, Texas. Iredell Thomas, administrator of
the estate of the late Robert Anderson, seeks the return of the slave Candies and her two
children. Thomas charges that the slaves were erroneously and illegally levied upon and sold by
the sheriff of San Augustine County and eventually came into the possession of Henry Brooks.
Thomas demands the return of the slaves, valued at $1,900, and compensation for the slaves’
hire during the two years they were in Brooks’s possession. The “said illegal and void execution”
resulted in an “illegal sale” where Elijah Young purchased the slave family, along with a male
slave named Miles, for $1,053.85. Later the slaves came into Brooks’s possession where they
remain as he “refuses to deliver up the said slaves.”
0714 (Accession # 21585005). San Augustine County, Texas. Iredell Thomas, administrator of
the estate of the late Robert G. Anderson, seeks the return of seven slaves from Elijah Young.
Thomas represents that the slaves were erroneously and illegally sold by the sheriff of San
Augustine County in 1843 to cover a debt against the estate and were purchased by Elijah
Young for $1,185.50. Thomas deems the sale “wholly illegal and void” because the estate “was
in the due course of administration and settlement” in the probate court at the time. The
petitioner demands the return of the slaves and compensation for the slaves’ hire during the
seven years they were in Young’s possession, which he reports is “the yearly value of Seven
Hundred and Fifty dollars.”
0722 (Accession # 21585006). Travis County, Texas. John Needham Jr. petitions the court
regarding the succession of his late father, John Needham Sr., who died intestate in 1848. First
he asks to be appointed administrator of the estate. Twenty-two months later, having been
granted letters of administration, Needham asks that a guardian be appointed for his minor
siblings, Margaret and James Needham. Informing the court that an enslaved woman named
Cerene is the only property that remains in the estate after discharging the estate’s debts,
Needham asks that commissioners be appointed “to distribute” Cerene among the heirs. Lastly,
he submits that a balance of $84 remains against the estate after settling the claims of and on
the estate. He asks the court to grant an order allowing him to sell “all the personal property
belonging to the said Estate including the improvement.”
0738 (Accession # 21585007). Bastrop County, Texas. William and Elizabeth Holton,
administrators of the estate of the late Burrell [Burel] Ware, request permission to sell a “land
certificate for 640 acres” in order to discharge the last of the estate’s debts. They report that
they have already distributed “amongst the widow & heirs” the proceeds from the sale of two of
the three slaves in the estate. The commissioners’ report in the related documents reveals that
Burrell’s widow received the slave woman Sally and $125 from the proceeds from the sale of
the two slaves.
0747 (Accession # 21585008). Travis County, Texas. William Bonner requests letters of
administration for the estate of the late John Beck. Bonner asserts that Beck’s widow, Elizabeth
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Beck, had administered the estate but closed it prematurely—before cattle and land could be
properly distributed among Beck’s heirs. Reporting that he has since married Elizabeth Beck,
the petitioner now seeks to permanently settle the estate. According to related documents, John
Beck owned seven slaves at the time of his death.
0754 (Accession # 21585009). Bastrop County, Texas. Campbell Taylor asks to be appointed
the executor of the last will and testament of Jesse Haldeman [Halderman] in accordance with
Haldeman’s wishes. He also asks that commissioners be appointed to take an inventory and to
appraise the property in the estate. According to an inventory of Haldeman’s estate, he owned
four slaves valued at $1,600. His will bequeathed all of the slaves “except Violet” to his widow.
0764 (Accession # 21585010). Bastrop County, Texas. Thomas Hill, brother of the late M. M.
Hill, requests letters of administration for his brother’s estate. Hill states that M. M. Hill died
intestate, leaving a considerable estate of real and personal property and a widow and eight
children. The petitioner further submits that the widow is “not of sound mind, which your
petitioner charges is generally known throughout the county.” The estate included slaves.
0768 (Accession # 21585011). Bastrop County, Texas. Thomas Hill, administrator of the estate
of his late brother, M. M. Hill, requests permission to partition a portion of the estate for M. M.
Hill’s eldest child, Sarah Nichols, who is now “of lawful age to receive her distributive share.”
The petitioner also requests that he be allowed to continue the farming operations of the estate
until the other children reach maturity. The estate includes considerable land and at least
seventeen slaves.
0781 (Accession # 21585012). Brazoria County, Texas. Joel Spencer asks to be appointed
guardian of Rosannah Jane and Simeon Allen Beckham, orphaned heirs to the estate of their
late father, John A. Beckham. The estate, which “consists of a negro man slave who is now in
the possession of your petitioner,” is in Brazoria County. The minors live in Louisiana.
0785 (Accession # 21585013). Guadalupe County, Texas. Peter Kerr, on behalf of Jane Pierce,
asks that a writ of habeas corpus be issued to Andrew Neill, compelling him to bring Jane to
court and to state “the course of her detention in servitude and show cause if any he have why
said child shall not be set at liberty.” Kerr insists that Jane is the daughter of Isabel, a free
woman of “white and Indian blood,” who came to Jackson County in 1840 “in company with”
Jesse Pierce. Isabel married and then died, leaving Jane “under the protection and custody” of
Pierce. Before her death, however, Kerr reveals that Isabel asked him to “protect said child and
provide for its future welfare.” Jane is now in the possession of Andrew Neill, “who claims her as
a slave by purchase.” Explaining that Jesse Pierce is currently under indictment for selling the
girl into slavery, the petitioner “prays that he may be permitted to prosecute the rights of said
child in this cause as guardian ad litem.” In his answer, Neill contends that Jane is “of Negro
blood that she is a Slave for life and is my property.” He asserts that if said Pierce is convicted
of selling the girl into slavery, he is “willing ... to renounce all claim of property in said child.”
0799 (Accession # 21585014). Bastrop County, Texas. William Jones, administrator of the
estate of the late Joseph Burleson, asks permission to sell cattle and hogs that he claims are
“going to waste.” Burleson’s estate also includes land and at least seventeen slaves, including a
blacksmith named Ben.
0815 (Accession # 21585015). Brazoria County, Texas. Isaac C. Hoskins reports that he took
over administration of the estate of the late Jeremiah Brown from Brown’s widow Rebecca in
1848. He states that he returned an inventory of the estate on 26 February 1849 and that he
made a settlement with Rebecca Brown “under the direction of your Hon court.” Hoskins now
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petitions that the settlement ($2,783.54 owed to him by Rebecca Brown) remains unpaid. He
asks the court for a twelve-month extension in order to collect the outstanding balance and to
have a sale of the remainder of the estate property. Hoskins owned several slaves in
partnership with the late Jeremiah Brown.
Reel 25
Texas cont.
1851
0002 (Accession # 21585101). Bastrop County, Texas. Charles W. Miller, named in the will as
executor of the estate of the late James Alston, applies “to prove the said will” and record it in
the probate office. Alston’s estate includes three slaves.
0006 (Accession # 21585102). Walker County, Texas. Isaac Chance informs the court that on
21 February 1850 he hired out his slave Bill for $128 per year to the “firm and Style of Sims &
Smith” to be employed exclusively as an axe hand for cutting timber. Chance clarifies that Bill
was not to be used “as a hand to attend upon, conduct, and manage the machinery of the
Steam Mill.” He recounts, however, “contrary to the wishes of your petitioner,” the defendants
used Bill a month later on the steam mill’s machinery whereby he was subsequently crushed
when he fell into the flywheel. Chance attests that the Sims and Smith “well knew the great
danger” Bill was in, yet they “negligently failed and omitted to provide any safe guards about the
machinery.” Chance seeks damages in the amount of $1,000, the value of the slave.
0050 (Accession # 21585103). Brazoria County, Texas. Charles Reese, guardian of Harriet and
Thomas Erwin, requests permission to hire out his wards’ slaves through individual agreements
rather than at auction. He represents that the slaves “were hired out one year at public auction,
but they were badly treated and were returned considerably injured.” Reese believes that hiring
out the slaves through individual agreements will prevent harm to the slaves in the future.
0054 (Accession # 21585104). Brazoria County, Texas. Coleman M. Calvit of Rapides Parish,
Louisiana, asks that Alexander Compton and Isaac Calvit of Brazoria County be ordered to
return a twenty-six-year-old slave named Caroline. The petitioner complains that the defendants
“unjustly detain” Caroline and “though requested neglect and refuse to deliver” her to him. He
claims that Caroline is worth $1,000 and estimates that her hire is “reasonably worth” $250 per
year. In his answer Isaac Calvit claims that he purchased Caroline from Alexander Compton for
$600 and that he has been in the “open, peaceable, undisturbed & adverse possession” of
Caroline for at least two years before the commencement of the suit.
0062 (Accession # 21585105). Bastrop County, Texas. Calvin Barker requests that he be
discharged from his duties as administrator of the estate of the late Jesse Barker. The petitioner
reports that all of the estate’s debts have been paid and all distributions of property have been
made. The estate included land and slaves.
0077 (Accession # 21585106). San Augustine County, Texas. William C. Berry and his wife,
Ann, seek the “recovery” of a slave named Henry, who is valued at $1,000. The petitioners
charge that Henry, a blacksmith, is being detained by Alexander Horton. Berry, who is a minor,
asserts that Henry was the property of Ann’s father, A. D. Lattin, who passed away in 1835,
leaving the slave to Ann and her mother. Noting that Ann’s mother married Horton in 1837 and
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died nine years later, the petitioners argue that the slave should pass to Ann. The Berrys also
seek damages in the amount of $1,500 “for the hire of said Boy as value for his services.”
0087 (Accession # 21585107). San Augustine County, Texas. Richard Ratliff requests the court
to issue an injunction to prevent the sale of fifteen barrels of corn. Ratliff recounts that his slave,
Isaac, was passing through San Augustine County on the way to Ratliff’s home in Shelby
County in May 1851 with a load of corn to be used as “provisions for his family for the present
year.” Iredell Thomas and Charles Stuart learned of the shipment and had the local constable
seize the corn, the slave, and a yoke of oxen to satisfy two executions levied against him. Ratliff
complains that he “had no opportunity either by himself or his Agent or attorney to designate
property to levy the said Execution upon.”
0097 (Accession # 21585108). Travis County, Texas. Jesse Burditt asks to be appointed
administrator of the estate of his daughter Lavina [Lavinia] Rowe, wife of Dr. Joseph Rowe.
Burditt wishes to secure the couple’s community property for Lavina’s two infant children. The
estate includes land and at least eighteen slaves.
0106 (Accession # 21585109). Nacogdoches County, Texas. The children of the late Ambrose
Crain seek their distributive share of their father’s estate. They contend that Ambrose Crain,
before his death in 1850, conspired with his wife Mary and two of his children to “totally
disinherit his less favored children, and ... fraudulently select[ed] his favored and favorite child
Newell W. Crain as his only and sole heir to all of his property.” They further insist that the said
Ambrose fraudulently conveyed the majority of his property, worth upwards of $20,000 and
including about thirteen slaves, to Newell in 1849. Crain’s widow Mary, who has been appointed
administratrix of the estate, has not returned an inventory of the estate’s property, which Newell
currently claims and enjoys. They ask that a writ of sequestration be issued ordering the sheriff
of Nacogdoches County to seize the property in controversy. They further ask that the property
be subject to distribution as a part of the late Crain’s estate. In the intervening four years that it
takes to settle the case, six slaves are born and petitioner Emily Knight dies. The petitioners
amend their prayer, claiming the slaves are each worth $1,250 and command an annual hire of
$200. Related documents reveal that Newell Crain responded to the petitioners’ victory by
appealing to the supreme court to ensure his inclusion as a distributee in one-fourth of the
estate.
0157 (Accession # 21585110). Nacogdoches County, Texas. James and Louisa Hawkins Scott
challenge the executors of the estate of the late Spire M. Hagerty, Louisa’s former stepfather
and guardian. They charge that the said executors refuse to account with Louisa for proceeds
that Hagerty allegedly appropriated from her while he controlled her property. The Scotts
explain that Louisa inherited slaves from her brother, William Hawkins, who died intestate and
unmarried in late 1833. By the laws of the Creek Nation, of which the Hawkinses were
members, his slaves became Louisa’s “sole property.” Shortly thereafter, Louisa moved with her
parents, Benjamin and Rebecca Hawkins, from Arkansas to Texas, where her father died. Her
mother then married Spire Hagerty, who was appointed Louisa’s guardian and, as such,
administered her property. The petitioners contend that Hagerty “appropriated the labor &
services” of Louisa’s slaves from 8 October 1838 to 4 July 1849. They seek recognition of her
claims from the executors of his will and payment for the slaves’ services during this time.
0174 (Accession # 21585111). Nacogdoches County, Texas. The heirs of Benjamin Hawkins
and Spire M. Hagerty seek income from the hire of slaves belonging to Hawkins’s estate. They
allege that Hagerty misappropriated the services of the slaves for his own use during his
lifetime. Rebecca Hagerty, widow of both Hawkins and Hagerty, and Louisa Scott, Hawkins’s
daughter and Hagerty’s ward until he died, inherited considerable land and slaves from
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Benjamin Hawkins. After marrying Rebecca, Spire Hagerty successfully petitioned to become
administrator of Hawkins’s estate on behalf of Rebecca and Louisa. During his eleven-year
administration, he failed to properly account for the use and hire of slaves in the estate. The
petitioners argue that Hagerty’s sole account, submitted in 1849, was false and fraudulent in
that he represented that the labor and services of the slaves “was not worth to him more than
their clothing food & taxes.” Depositions from Hagerty’s neighbors reveal considerable
information about slave management in Nacgodoches County during the late 1830s and 1840s,
including an explanation of the difference between “Indian negroes” and those raised by whites.
The Hawkinses were members of the Creek Nation.
0204 (Accession # 21585112). Jefferson County, Texas. Jack Noguess asks that John H.
Hutchings and John Sealy return a forty-five-year-old female slave named Easter. Charging that
he alone is entitled to her “management and controll,” Noguess avers that Easter is “a Slave for
life and of great value towit of the value of seven hundred dollars which said Negro woman the
said John H. Hutchings and John Sealy Defendants unjustly detain from him your petitioner.”
The petitioner prays that Easter be delivered to him and that he be paid $1,000 for damages
and court costs.
0224 (Accession # 21585113). Jefferson County, Texas. Rachael Cotton seeks a divorce from
Wesley D. Cotton. She asks for her share of their community property, for the custody of their
children since she “is in better condition and better qualified ... to rear educate & advance them,”
and for recognition of her separate ownership of three slaves she brought into the marriage.
Cotton states that her husband treated her well until recently, when he “entirely changed his
deportment to your petitioner” and began to treat her “with Great cruelty.” She reports that he
“has denied to your petitioner all conjugal conversation and has not been a husband to her in
any sense of that word.” The petitioner also charges him with having “lived in Adultery with a
woman in the county.”
0242 (Accession # 21585114). Brazoria County, Texas. Reuben Brown asks for the court’s
assistance in collecting a gambling debt owed to him by Pleasant D. McNeel resulting from a
wager in a one-mile horse race won by Brown’s horse in April 1851 at Quintana, a Brazoria
County town at the mouth of the Brazos River. Brown explains that he staked his slave Jeff
while McNeel risked Gabriel, a “Negro man of yellow complexion about forty five years.” The
losing party agreed to surrender his slave “on demand” or pay his slave’s value of $1,000 to the
winner at the end of the race. Brown submits that McNeel has neither turned over Gabriel nor
paid the $1,000 and the slave’s “reasonable hire,” which he values at $30 per year.
0248 (Accession # 21585115). Brazoria County, Texas. George Armstrong asks that he be
appointed the guardian of William H. Aldridge, the fourteen-year-old son of William B. Aldridge,
deceased. The petitioner reports in his annual accounts that he hired out the four slaves in the
estate.
0258 (Accession # 21585116). Travis County, Texas. William Thomas, widower of Elizabeth
Thomas, guardian of her two children from a previous marriage, and father of three children with
his late wife, asks that commissioners be appointed to partition her estate. Thomas claims that
“owing to some dificulty about the settlement and division of said estate,” he consented to allow
Thomas Ward, the administrator of Elizabeth’s estate, to take inventory of and sell his property
along with the estate property. Now he claims that he has not received his half of the proceeds
of the sale “agreeably to said understanding” brokered with Ward. According to related
documents, the estate included four slaves.
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1852
0263 (Accession # 21585201). Bastrop County, Texas. Elijah B. Alston of Arkansas states that
his brother, James Alston, died owing him $2,927.65, a debt that was secured by a mortgage on
“his negroes & other property.” Alston asserts that he “properly & legally” presented the
mortgage to James’s executors, Thomas Alford and Charles Miller. He informs the court that
Alford “accepted” said claim as “just,” but Miller “failed & refused to accept or reject said claim.”
As an heir to his brother’s estate, the petitioner seeks to have Miller removed as the estate’s
executor. Alston also argues that the $1,000 bond posted by Alford and Miller is insufficient to
indemnify “any person interested in said estate,” citing his late brother’s “negro” property as
being “of the value of twenty five hundred Dollars.” A related document reveals that two of
Alston’s three slaves, Dick and Bill, escaped and have not been found. The acting administrator
of the estate represents that he paid $201 to recapture the said slaves but his attempts were
futile. He reports that Dick headed “East of the Trinity River in Texas” and that Bill went “to the
Rio Grande.”
0272 (Accession # 21585203). Brazoria County, Texas. Charles K. Reese, guardian of Harriet
Erwin, asks the court for permission to sell his eleven-year-old ward’s interest in five hundred
acres of land in order to fund an education appropriate “to her rank and condition in life.” Reese
states that Erwin inherited land and slaves from her grandparents and mother but that much of
the land is “unproductive” and that only one of the slaves is “productive.” Three slaves, including
a husband and wife, are “sickley,” and Reese complains that their services, besides taking care
of the children, are not “reasonably worth more than one hundred and fifteen or one hundred
and twenty dollars per year.”
0283 (Accession # 21585204). Brazoria County, Texas. Richard P. Jones seeks payment from
Peter MacGreal of the proceeds from the sale of the slave Oscar. Jones explains that he
authorized MacGreal to sell the slave for not less than $350 “with the condition that by such sale
the suit brought by the next of Kin to the children of Hunter deceased ... be compromised and
settled.” Apparently the Hunter heirs claimed damages for the “possession of said negro and for
wages of the same against this Petitioner.” MacGreal, who contends that he paid Jones $900
for Oscar, then sold the slave for $1,000 to Willard Richardson, publisher of the Galveston
News. The petitioner “prays judgment against” MacGreal for Oscar’s purchase price, plus
interest. Jones died before the suit was resolved, and the case was subsequently dismissed.
0293 (Accession # 21585205). Bastrop County, Texas. Cordelia Oliver, widow of Peter Oliver,
asks the court to appoint her administratrix of her late husband’s estate. Peter Oliver, who died
on 7 May 1852, owned considerable land and slaves.
0301 (Accession # 21585206). Bastrop County, Texas. Cordelia A. Oliver, administratrix of
Peter Oliver’s estate and Oliver’s widow, asks the court for permission to hire an overseer to
supervise the operation of her late husband’s farm. She explains that it is “important & to the
interest of the said Estate” that the farm “should be carried on in the same manner as though
intestate were living.” She reports that the estate is not indebted and that it is unnecessary to
sell either the farm or the slaves. She does request, however, to sell any surplus crops at
private sale.
0308 (Accession # 21585207). Travis County, Texas. Charles Walker asks that he be appointed
the guardian of four-year-old Josephine Elizabeth Jackson. Caroline Jackson, Josephine’s
mother, left the child with Stephen Cummings, indicating on a bill of sale of a “negro woman”
that he was to act as the girl’s guardian. Walker contends that Cummings has abandoned his
responsibility, putting the girl and her slave under the care of S. M. Cain. The petitioner argues
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that Cain sold a pianoforte left behind by Josephine Jackson’s mother, slated “to be used in the
support maintenance and education of said child,” and applied the proceeds to purchase a
piece of land, which he then titled in his own name. In his answer, Cain asserts that he is
interested in securing the girl’s property to her and asks that the court accept Cummings’s
resignation and appoint him as guardian instead.
0314 (Accession # 21585209). Travis County, Texas. In 1848 Caroline Jackson placed her
infant daughter, Josephine Elizabeth, in the charge of Stephen and Nancy Cummings,
designating them “the guardians and protectors of the child.” She also left behind a slave named
Amy, “vesting the right of the said servant Amy in the child,” and directed that the profits arising
from Amy’s hire should be “applied towards raising and educating” her daughter. She also
instructed that a pianoforte be sold and the proceeds applied towards Josephine’s maintenance.
The Cummingses report that they have sold the instrument and have purchased 640 acres of
land in Williamson County for the child. They further claim that the land has been deeded from
the owner to Sugar M. Cain “and from Cain to the child Josephine Elizabeth Jackson.” They ask
that they be relieved of their guardianship duties, and they recommend that Sugar M. Cain and
his wife assume Josephine Elizabeth’s guardianship. They specifically request that those who
have “illegally and maliciously interfered in the matter ... shall have no lot or part in the matter.”
0333 (Accession # 21585210). Travis County, Texas. Benjamin and Isabella Grumbles ask that
an injunction be issued to prevent John Grumbles from seizing their slaves and removing them
from the county. They explain that John Grumbles has taken one slave woman, Mariah, and has
“kept her secreted for a long space of time,” prompting a lawsuit to retrieve her. Noting that they
are “well stricken in years and not able to keep a constant watch over the slaves,” they now fear
that John Grumbles intends to take and sell ten more of their slaves, keeping the proceeds from
said sale. The petitioners believe that the ten slaves have an aggregate value of $7,200.
0342 (Accession # 21585211). Travis County, Texas. Benjamin and Isabella Grumbles ask that
a writ of sequestration be issued to prohibit John Grumbles from taking their female slave
George out of the state of Texas. They claim that John and Benjamin Perry Grumbles seized
the girl “after inducing her to run away from the possession of your petitioners and now has her
secreted & denies having her.” They fear the defendants will run her “beyond the limits of the
State” and dispose of her and convert her “to their own use.” They also charge that John
Grumbles is “tampering with” other slaves belonging to them and is now “trying to sell his land
near Austin.” The petitioners claim that “the whole estate” of John Grumbles would “not more
than half compensate your petitioners for the negro property so threatened.” In an amended
petition, they also seek compensation in the amount of $150 for George’s services during the
ten-month span that John and Benjamin Perry Grumbles have detained her.
0350 (Accession # 21585212). Bexar County, Texas. Mary E. Trimble seeks a divorce from
Moffat E. Trimble. The petitioner asserts that Moffat began “a continued and Studied, deliberate
vexatious, and insulting course of conduct” fifteen years into their marriage. She confesses that
her husband has beat her, threatened to kill her, and “frequently called your petitioner a
‘Damned Whore.’” Mary recounts that Moffat abandoned her during the birth of their youngest
child, “without leaving a single person in her company or procuring any Medical attendance and
the house being in a sparsely settled Neighborhood your petitioner would have died in labor had
not her sister arrived a few hours afterwards and procured her Medical assistance.” She
contends that he has driven their thirteen-year-old son from the house as well as made life
miserable for the three youngest children with his constant abuse. Mary Trimble asks for a
division of their community property, including two slaves valued at $1,200, and for custody of
the children. In the interim, the petitioner seeks support and an order barring her husband from
selling the property.
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0374 (Accession # 21585214). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Jackson Doyle asks that he be
fully discharged from his duties as executor of the estate of the late Nimrod Doyle. The
petitioner states that he has considered himself free from those duties since 3 March 1849 when
he delivered all of the property of the estate to Joseph and Muscogy Hardrige and Susony
Doyle, with the exception of the slave Jack, who was bequeathed to Jackson Doyle’s son.
Explaining that he has lost or mislaid the receipt for the delivered property, Doyle represents
that he did not consider it “necessary” to file the same in court “and therefore omitted to do so.”
0376 (Accession # 21585216). Brazoria County, Texas. Charles K. Reese, guardian of Thomas
Erwin, requests permission to sell his thirteen-year-old ward’s interest in five hundred acres of
land so that Thomas may be “properly supported and educated.” Explaining that “it is necessary
that [Erwin] should be sent to school and educated according to his rank and condition in life,”
Reese complains that much of Thomas’s property, including other land and several slaves
jointly owned with his sister Harriet, is “unproductive.” Two slaves, a married couple, are
“sickley,” and Reese complains that their services, besides taking care of their four children, are
not “reasonably worth more than one hundred and fifteen or one hundred and twenty dollars a
year.”
0383 (Accession # 21585217). Travis County, Texas. Thomas Ward, administrator of the estate
of the late Elizabeth Thomas, asks for an extension to file his account of settlement on the
estate. Claiming that the “irregular condition” of the papers pertaining to the estate necessitates
additional time in order to process, Ward promises to file his account in full at the next term of
court. Thomas’s estate included four slaves.
0386 (Accession # 21585218). Travis County, Texas. Thomas Ward, administrator of the estate
of the late Elizabeth Thomas, presents his final account against the estate. He asks the court to
issue “proper legal notice” so that the account may be “acted on” at the next term of court. An
affidavit from Lucinda Burleson Hornsby, sister of the late Elizabeth Burleson Thomas, affirms
that Elizabeth’s mother gave Elizabeth a female slave named Caroline in 1828 before she
moved to Texas with her first husband, Joseph Burleson.
0396 (Accession # 21585219). Jefferson County, Texas. Mary Ann Keys and Emma Louise
Bibb join their respective husbands, Nelson and Dandridge, and their minor brothers, Jacob and
James Taylor, in petitioning as the only “legitimate children and heirs” of Joseph Taylor, who
died intestate in 1843, leaving an estate that included slaves, cattle, and land valued at $15,000.
The petitioners allege that a fraudulent will, which named “Elizabeth Ann Taylor” as Taylor’s
widow, attempted to disinherit them and was erroneously probated after Taylor’s death. The
heirs charge that their father was never married to Elizabeth Ann and that David Garner, who
received letters of administration on Taylor’s estate, has refused to account with them for any
part of their inheritance. Instead, they represent that Garner has given ten of Taylor’s slaves to
Elizabeth Ann, who has since married William Anderson. The petitioners ask the court to
invalidate the pretended will, to render judgment against Garner and his sureties in the amount
of $20,000, and to order the Andersons to pay them $7,200 for the hire of the slaves over the
nine years that the slaves have been in their possession.
1853
0433 (Accession # 21585301). Travis County, Texas. Edward Grumbles complains that his
father and stepmother, Benjamin and Isabella Grumbles, are “doing every act in their power to
destroy” his claim to two slaves, Jack and Nat. Edward, a resident of Louisiana, explains that he
permitted his brother John to deliver the slaves to their father in Texas in 1846 for their parents’
use and enjoyment. The petitioner “would have been satisfied to have permitted the said
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Benjamin to have had the use and enjoyment of the slaves for the remainder of his natural life,”
until Benjamin sought to “assert a title in himself to said slaves.” After the death of Edward’s
mother, his father married Isabella O’Conner and “attempted to convey an interest in said slaves
to said Isabella” via a prenuptial agreement. Edward contends that the couple has “now sold or
attempted to sell some of the slaves.” He asks the court to grant him a judgment for possession
of the slaves, or their value and hire. An 1852 bill of sale from the elder Grumbles to Williamson
Oldham supports the petitioner’s allegation that his father “sold” six of the slaves for $3,000. The
court ruled in Edward’s favor, and Benjamin and Isabella Grumbles appealed the ruling.
0519 (Accession # 21585303). Hill County, Texas. Samuel Marks of Caddo Parish, Louisiana,
seeks the payment of a promissory note plus interest and court costs from E. J. Carter, a free
man of color living in Hill County, Texas. Marks states that Carter owed him $238.27 for
merchandise, most of which were grocery items. Carter appealed the verdict on the grounds
that “he is a free negro man descended from African Parents and Prohibited by law from
Residing in the state of Texas and not able to Contract or be sued in said State.” [State law
allowed free people of color residing in the state before independence to remain with certain
rights but prohibited immigration of alien free people of color without legislative approval.] The
Texas Supreme Court upheld the jury verdict of the lower court for the plaintiff, believing that
Carter was residing in Texas “at the date our declaration of independence,” adding that, after all,
Carter “would hardly have the temerity to avow that he was residing here in open defiance of the
law, when that avowal would be likely to bring on him the penalty of the law.”
0546 (Accession # 21585304). Bastrop County, Texas. William D. C. Jones asks for “letters of
guardianship of the property and person of Sarah Lewis Hancock,” the minor daughter of
Elizabeth Hancock and Lewis L. Hancock, a recently deceased slaveholder.
0557 (Accession # 21585305). Bastrop County, Texas. Cordelia A. Oliver, the administratrix of
the late Peter Oliver’s estate, seeks permission to continue the operation of her late husband’s
farm “for the year 1854.” She reports that the estate, which includes more than twenty slaves, is
not “now in a position to close” and that it would be beneficial if she be permitted to hire an
overseer “for that purpose.”
0568 (Accession # 21585306). San Augustine County, Texas. Grafton H. Bayne claims that
Hiram Kenley, currently a resident of Kentucky, “did steal and entice away” his slave Samuel on
1 June 1842. Bayne believes that Kenley has detained Samuel “against the will and Consent of
your petitioner and against the peace and dignity of the State of Texas.” Bayne also maintains
that Kenley “has taken and received” Samuel’s services since that time, which he claims are
worth $20 per month. He asks for compensation in the amount of $1,000 (Samuel’s value), as
well as damages of $3,000.
0576 (Accession # 21585307). Brazoria County, Texas. Edward Purcell asks that he be
assigned “Special or Temporary Letters of administration” on the estate of William Hansbrough,
who died intestate in July 1852. Nine slaves in the estate are now “in the possession, control
and management” of Joseph S. Hansbrough, who has neglected to take out letters of
administration on the estate. Purcell explains that the late Hansbrough “is largely indebted to
Petitioner as one of the firm of E. Purcell & Co. by a mortgage on four slaves, belonging to said
deceased, which indebtedness amounts to two thousand dollars or thereabouts.” Fearing that
“said slaves are about to be removed beyond the limits of the state, without being subjected to
the payment of the debts of the deceased,” Purcell prays that “Special or Temporary Letters of
administration on said estate may be granted ... as the circumstances of the case and the
interests of said estate require.”
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0584 (Accession # 21585308). Brazoria County, Texas. Joseph Hansbrough requests letters of
administration on the estate of his late son, William Hansbrough. At an earlier session, Edward
Purcell obtained temporary letters of administration from the court by representing himself as a
creditor of the estate. The petitioner acknowledges “unsettled matters of business” between
Purcell and his son’s estate, but he complains that Purcell has misrepresented the extent of
Hansbrough’s indebtedness under a “fraudulent claim.” Hansbrough points out that Purcell took
possession of the estate property, including slaves, and now refuses to return said property to
him, even though his temporary letters of administration have expired. Noting that Purcell is “in
contempt of your Honor’s authority,” the petitioner now asks for “full powers” of administration.
0598 (Accession # 21585309). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Joseph N. Hill contracted with
John F. Graham in February 1852 to serve “in the capacity of overseer” on Graham’s farm for
the remainder of the year. Hill’s duties included control of all slaves, land, livestock, and farming
equipment, for which he was to receive $25 monthly. Claiming that he performed his duties “in a
skilful prudent and careful manner,” the petitioner points out that he was discharged prematurely
in July as the defendant “absolutely refuse[d] to permit petitioner farther to continue in
defendants service, Contrary to petitioners consent.” Hill complains that Graham’s motive was
“a desire to defraud and injure petitioner,” at a season of the year when the “principal labor in
making a crop had already been performed” and when it was impossible for Hill to obtain other
employment. The petitioner argues that Graham “has hitherto failed, neglected and refused” to
pay him for his services or “for the services of your petitioners horse.” He therefore asks the
court for compensation in the amount of $305.16.
0607 (Accession # 21585310). Travis County, Texas. Benjamin Grumbles Jr. claims that
Sebron G. Sneed “unjustly holds and detains” his sixteen-year-old slave named Eliza. He states
that he permitted his father, Benjamin Sr., to take Eliza and other slaves from Alabama to Travis
County in 1846, in order that “said slaves might make a support for him, and for petitioners
mother, they being quite aged.” However, Grumbles’s mother died shortly thereafter and in 1851
his father “contracted a second marriage” with Isabella O’Connor [O’Conner]. At this time, his
father “undertook to convey” an interest in the slaves to Isabella, “when in fact he had none
himself, but only had a permission to use and enjoy the same.” After several failed attempts at
compromise in the matter, his father’s attorney, Sebron G. Sneed, took possession of Eliza and
claims to have purchased her from his client. “Forced into court to litigate his title,” the petitioner
asks for the return of Eliza or, in default thereof, compensation for her $700 value and the value
of her services, which he estimates as worth $10 per month.
0619 (Accession # 21585311). Travis County, Texas. Joel A. Burditt asks to be appointed
guardian of his children, minor heirs to the estate of John C. Gibbons, their late grandfather.
Gibbons, who died in Mississippi, directed by his last will and testament that his estate of
“Lands, Slaves &C” should be divided among his children and grandchildren “in such manner
that Your Petitioner’s children ... are entitled to property to the amount of fifteen thousand
dollars or thereabouts.” The children’s mother, Elizabeth Gibbons Burditt, is deceased and they
“will have no representation to recieve for them their distributave share, & to attend to their
interests as heirs at law.”
0628 (Accession # 21585312). Brazoria County, Texas. Robert M. Yerby asks that he be
appointed guardian of Ann McNeil [McNeel] Westall, minor daughter of Emily Westall and the
late Henson Westall. Yerby reports that Ann is entitled to a portion of Henson Westall’s estate,
which includes four slaves, “when the debts are paid and said estate is closed.” He adds that it
is the “wish” of Ann’s mother and “natural guardian,” Emily, that he be appointed her “legal”
guardian.
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0632 (Accession # 21585314). Bastrop County, Texas. James H. Wilbarger, son of the late
Josiah Wilbarger, asks for a division and partition of a certain tract of land in his father’s estate.
His brother, Webster Wilbarger, is “yet a minor” and the only other heir “interested in said tract
of land.” The estate includes land and four slaves.
0639 (Accession # 21585317). Bastrop County, Texas. Calvin Barker, guardian of the minor
heirs of the late Jesse Barker, asks that his current guardianship account be approved by the
court. He reports that he has kept and used the slaves belonging to the minors since his
appointment as guardian on 23 March 1847 and “that the amount of payment on his account,
together with the expence of feeding & clothing the minors, will be full compensation for the hire
& use of the negroes of the heirs.”
0645 (Accession # 21585318). Brazoria County, Texas. Randolph Cox asks the court to review
his objections to the account filed by C. K. Reese, guardian of Thomas R. Erwin, a minor. Cox
alleges, among other things, that Reese undervalued the “negro hire” of his ward’s slaves in the
years 1850–1852. He asks the court to hear his evidence and to compel Reese to restate the
account. The restated account shows that the minor Erwin received the following sums for
“negro hire” during the consecutive years 1849–1852: $38.50, $57.50, $150, and $150.
1854
0657 (Accession # 21585402). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Francis Ann and Labau Elliott
attest that Francis Ann is the sole heir of her mother, M. Louisa Burnett, who died in 1837. On
15 January 1839, Elias Hamilton, the administrator of Burnett’s estate, received a judgment
against Nancy Hamilton, the administratrix of the estate of William Hamilton, for $1,612.63. The
judgment was levied upon five estate slaves, who were then offered for sale by the sheriff “at
the courthouse door” and purchased by Andrew S. Hamilton. Soon after, Elias Hamilton died,
leaving Burnett’s estate unsettled. The Elliotts allege that Andrew Hamilton bought the slaves
“under express agreement” with Elias Hamilton, who credited Burnett’s estate with their price of
purchase. The petitioners charge that the slaves “vested in said estate” are now their property.
They ask that Nancy Hamilton be ordered to compensate them for the slaves’ actual value (now
worth $1,000 each) as well as the value of their “reasonable hire.”
0686 (Accession # 21585403). Travis County, Texas. Giles H. Burditt asks to be “released from
all further liability” on a surety bond that he signed for J. A. Burditt, guardian of the estate of
minors Martha Giles and James and John Burditt. The children’s estate includes land and
slaves.
0689 (Accession # 21585404). Travis County, Texas. William O’Connell, brother of the late
Mary Ann Burleson, asks the court to probate and give “full force and effect” to the will of Mary
Ann Burleson. Mary Ann, wife of John Burleson, owned six slaves and considerable property,
which she inherited from her first husband, William S. Wallace. John Burleson opposes the will,
claiming that his wife was “insane” when she executed the document, and asks that the will be
set aside. The estate’s administrative account lists values for slave hire and clothing for the year
1854.
0710 (Accession # 21585405). Travis County, Texas. Mary Ann Burleson died intestate in
December 1853, leaving a considerable estate consisting of land and slaves. John Burleson,
widower of Mary Ann and guardian of their daughter Rebecca, asks the court to partition and
distribute the slaves in his late wife’s estate among her four children, three of whom are from a
previous marriage with William S. Wallace. Burleson assures the court that “there is no
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necessity of hiring out the said slaves and that if they were so hired out it might defeat the
speedy division thereof among the Heirs.”
0718 (Accession # 21585406). Travis County, Texas. The children and heirs of Mary D.
Cleveland, who died in Galveston in 1848, seek recovery of their mother’s slave George from
Sanford Blanton. The petitioners state that Blanton acquired George after Mary’s death and has
refused to return him. They represent that “upon [Mary’s] death ... they became lawfully entitled
to their respective shares of said property,” and they assert that they have “in no manner parted
with their rights & claims to the same.” The heirs ask for a writ of sequestration to prevent
Blanton from taking the slave out of the state “together with damages for his hire & detention.”
The jury awarded the plaintiffs $600, the value of the slave, plus $70 for the hire of the slave
since the commencement of the suit.
0728 (Accession # 21585407). Jefferson County, Texas. Catherine Wilcox seeks the return of
the slaves Amanda and Lazarus from her agent and attorney, F. W. Ogden, who illegally
detains them. The petitioner states that Ogden delivered the slaves to her in 1853 but that within
a year he took them from her residence and now “wholly refuses” to return them to her. She
asks for damages of $1,000—the combined value of the slaves—and compensation for their
hire since they have been in Ogden’s possession. She also seeks a writ of sequestration to
secure the slaves within the county limits until the court can decide her right to their title. The
judge’s charges to the jury reveal that Ogden claims possession of the slaves by virtue of a
deed of gift from Wilcox to his children.
0740 (Accession # 21585408). Jefferson County, Texas. F. W. Ogden asks the court to “dismiss
quash and dissolve” a writ of sequestration awarded to Catherine Wilcox in a suit pending
where Wilcox is plaintiff and the petitioner “in his individual & personal character and capacity” is
defendant. Ogden petitions as “Father and natural guardian” of his four minor children, whom he
claims are entitled to the two slaves now held in the court’s custody. Ogden alleges that
Catherine Wilcox gave his children the two slaves by a deed of gift. He asks that the two slaves,
Amanda and Lazarus, be delivered into his possession.
0745 (Accession # 21585409). Travis County, Texas. William McGehee petitions on behalf of
his wards, Charles and Sarah McGehee, for a court order to partition the estate of their late
father, Charles L. McGehee, who died in September 1852. The petitioners state that they
inherited from their late mother, Sarah V. McGehee, considerable property, which descended to
them before their father’s death. This property and the community property held by Sarah and
Charles McGehee, however, has been appropriated by their stepmother, Martha McGehee, who
is now married to John Phillips. They ask the court to deny Martha Phillips’s claim to one-fourth
of their father’s estate. They also seek a division of the property jointly owned by their father and
his business partner and the co-administrator of his estate, Quiller J. Nichols. Finally, they ask
that Nichols and his co-administrator, James H. Gillespie, be compelled to settle the estate,
which includes considerable slaves, land, a steam mill business, and a construction company
involved in building the state capitol.
0781 (Accession # 21585410). Guadalupe County, Texas. James Weir seeks compensation
from Robert Russell, Thomas Perryman, and Nathan Busby Jr. for the lost labor and medical
expenses arising from a severe beating they delivered to an unnamed slave. The petitioner
complains that the defendants “with force and arms assaulted ... beat and bruised and injured
and maltreated” the slave to such an extent that he was “sick and lame & wholly unable to do
and perform his customary labor for a long space of time to wit for the space of one month.” He
also claims that the three defendants committed a similar assault on another slave “to the great
injury of said slave & to the great damage of your petitioner.” Weir estimates the damages
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sustained at $1,000. The defendants deny their participation but admit that, if the alleged events
took place, they were acting in their official capacity as members of a slave patrol “under the
authority of the county court.”
0813 (Accession # 21585411). Bastrop County, Texas. Campbell Taylor asks to be discharged
from his duties as executor of the will of Jesse Holderman [Halderman]. He states that he has
paid and settled all claims and demands against the estate and that he has “Complied with Said
will in every Sense of the word.” According to a related petition, the estate includes four or five
slaves.
0816 (Accession # 21585412). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Henderson Whitaker,
administrator of the estate of the late Isaac Whitaker, asks the court to foreclose on a slave
mortgage. In 1852, Susannah Doyle [Doyell] secured a $600 loan from Isaac Whitaker by
mortgaging Tom, a slave belonging to the estate of her late husband Nimrod. The petitioner now
reports that Doyle has died without repaying the money. He asks the court to seize and sell
Tom, who is now in the possession of the Doyle’s daughter, Muscogee Hardage. He also asks
that Hardage and her husband Joseph be summoned, along with Winchester Doyle, the
administrator of Susannah Doyle’s estate, and Andrew Jackson Doyle, the only other surviving
heir to the Doyle estates.
1855
0825 (Accession # 21585501). Brazoria County, Texas. Sarah H. Black seeks a divorce from
her husband, James E. Black. She reveals that Black has been “caught in the act of having illicit
sexual intercourse” with two of his slaves, a mulatto woman named Susan and “a negro woman
named Ann or Annie.” When confronted, she asserts that her husband told her that “a damed
good whipping or cowhiding would do her good, and he would give it to her unless she minded
her own business.” She further insists that her husband repeatedly called her a “god damned
old bitch” and instructed the slaves not to obey her orders. The petitioner cites that slaves on
the plantation had threatened her and had called her a liar, but the overseer informed her that
he had been “given orders not to punish any of the servants at her request.” She informs the
court that her husband is the owner of a large plantation, which is community property, and
“some seventy or eighty slaves.” She therefore prays for alimony and for custody of their
children.
0838 (Accession # 21585503). Jefferson County, Texas. John P. Wilds asks the court to set
aside the sale of an eighteen-year-old slave named Ellen. Wilds alleges that James Drake sold
Ellen to him in 1853 under verbal warranty that she was healthy. After the sale, Wilds realized
that Ellen was “unsound” and therefore “utterly valuless and a charge upon his hands.”
Charging that Drake “craftily and subtly Deceived” him, the petitioner asks that he be awarded
$800, plus interest, to compensate him for his loss.
0850 (Accession # 21585504). Bastrop County, Texas. Cordelia Oliver, administratrix of the
estate of the late Peter M. Oliver, reports that she “is desirous of Closing the estate” and asks
that she be appointed guardian of her minor son James, who currently has “no lawfull guardian.”
In order to partition her late husband’s property, it is necessary that James have someone “to
represent Superintend manage and give protection to said minor.” In her annual guardian
reports over the years 1857–1862, Cordelia Oliver tracks the births and deaths of slave children
on the plantation and gives aggregate hiring values for groups of unnamed slaves. She petitions
for discharge of her guardianship duties when James reaches his majority in 1863.
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0871 (Accession # 21585505). Travis County, Texas. Ellen Duval hired out her twenty-year-old
slave Margaret, valued at $1,000 and “of excellent qualities,” to pick cotton for Andrew Davidson
at a weekly hire of $3.50. The petitioner informs the court that Margaret, while hired to Davidson
and under his care and custody, was beaten to death by James M. Morris, “a cruel and
passionate man,” who was Davidson’s overseer. Duval insists that Davidson “became liable for
the said misfeazance” of his employee, as well as for the value of the slave, her hire, and “all
damages resulting to your petitioner.” In a deposition, Curtis Garrett, Duval’s son’s agent,
described arriving at Davidson’s plantation to find Mr. Davidson “shedding tears” over
Margaret’s death. He recounted viewing the body after Davidson had it “hauled to the house”
and opined that her death “was caused by a severe beating with a strop.” He also reported that
the overseer Morris rode off on one of Davidson’s mules “to get some persons to hold a jury
over her,” but Morris never returned to the plantation. Garrett characterized Davidson’s view of
slave management and punishment in the following way: he “wanted his negroes to be made to
mind, but not to be abused.”
0887 (Accession # 21585507). Brazoria County, Texas. Emily and Henry Lloyd ask to be
appointed legal guardians of “the person and estate” of Ann McNeel [McNeil] Westall. Westall is
the daughter of Emily Lloyd and the late slaveholder Henson Westall.
0891 (Accession # 21585508). Brazoria County, Texas. A. T. Morris asks to be appointed the
legal guardian of Ann McNeel [McNeil] Westall. Morris states that Henry and Emily Lloyd were
appointed Ann’s guardians, but they have “not given the Bond and taken the Oath as prescribed
by Law.” He attests that he is willing to do so in order to gain “all the rights and powers vested in
Guardians by law.”
0899 (Accession # 21585509). San Augustine County, Texas. John and Sarah Wilson amend
their bill (the “original petition” is unavailable) to include the names of “the increase of the said
Negro Women in the possession of the said William N. Sparks and the said Drucilla Sparks.”
The Wilsons, daughter and son-in-law of Jesse and Mary Wadlington, both deceased, seek the
partition and distribution of their estates, which include slaves. They assert that Sarah’s siblings
now have in their possession slaves and property, which “should be recovered to the Estate of
the said Jesse Wadlington and Mary Wadlington.”
0913 (Accession # 21585511). Travis County, Texas. Joel A. Burditt asks to be reappointed
legal guardian of his three minor children. He states that a fourth child, a daughter, is over the
age of fourteen and should be allowed to choose her guardian. He explains that the children
have unsettled interests in land and slaves from the estate of their maternal grandfather, who
died in Mississippi. Less than a year after filing the petition, Burditt renounced the right to his
children’s guardianship in favor of his brother, Giles H. Burditt.
Reel 26
1856
Texas cont.
0002 (Accession # 21585601). Travis County, Texas. Levin Horan Luckett asks that a guardian
be appointed for Alfred and Mary Jane Luckett, the minor heirs of Noland M. Luckett. The
petitioner represents that the two minors “have considerable estate coming to them.” Luckett
requests that Mary, who is over fourteen years of age, be allowed to choose her own guardian.
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Noland Luckett’s estate includes land, livestock, and slaves. The appointed guardian reports on
the minors’ estate from 1859 to 1863. The said reports include information about slave hire
values, as well as notes about two elderly slaves, who “should be well cared for” according to
Noland Luckett’s will, and a female slave “known to be troublesome from the fact that she is in
the habit of frequenly running away.”
0027 (Accession # 21585602). Travis County, Texas. Samuel Keithly asks the court to issue a
writ of sequestration preventing John Edwards from removing the slave Tom from the state.
Keithly informs the court that he borrowed $900 from Edwards in March 1855, using sixteenyear-old
Tom as collateral for the loan. He further recounts that he agreed to repay the debt
within one year or forfeit his right to the slave. Keithly now charges that he attempted to pay
Edwards the amount in full in March 1856, whereupon he would reclaim his slave, but Edwards
refused to take the money or surrender Tom. Fearing that Edwards will remove Tom from the
state, the petitioner prays that Tom be taken into the sheriff’s possession, “subject to the future
order of your honors.” Keithly asserts that Tom is now worth $1,200 and his monthly hire is
valued at $20.
0035 (Accession # 21585603). Travis County, Texas. E. H. and John Holman, widow and son of
Hardy Holman, respectively, seek letters of administration for Holman’s estate. Holman, who
died intestate in April 1856, owned eight slaves.
0044 (Accession # 21585604). Travis County, Texas. James F. Johnson seeks compensation
for an “utterly worthless” slave named George, who ran away after Johnson purchased him from
W. B. Fleming. Johnson declares that George’s legal owner was Guadalupe County resident,
P. R. Oliver, who “wrongfully wickedly connived conspired and colluded” with Fleming to defraud
the petitioner and “pass title to said negro & thus releave the said Oliver from any liability in
consequence.” Johnson alleges that the two men knew that George was “malicious” and
“disposed to run away.” When George eventually did run away from Johnson, he took two
horses worth $500. Johnson seeks remuneration in the amount of $3,000, George’s purchase
price, plus $2,000 in expenses for retrieving the horses and hunting for the slave.
0053 (Accession # 21585605). Travis County, Texas. Franklin T. Jones asks the court to order
the partition of a family of six slaves that he owns in common with the minors Melvin and William
Jones. He asks that citation issue to the brothers and their guardian, Sugar M. Cain.
0057 (Accession # 21585606). Travis County, Texas. Sugar M. Cain asks that he be appointed
the guardian of Melvin R. and William D. Jones. The petitioner represents that the minors are
the children of the late Harriet Jones and Peter B. Jones of Arkansas. Cain contends that Peter
Jones is an “unfit person to take charge and care of said minors and their property, which
property consists of an interest in six Negros, which came to them by their Mother’s Estate.”
0071 (Accession # 21585608). Travis County, Texas. Newton and Caroline Walton Richardson
ask to be appointed guardians of Alice and Emma Walton, daughters of Caroline and the late
William Walton. The petitioners aver that William Walton left all of his property, including eleven
slaves, to his wife Caroline with the stipulation that “in the event that she the said Caroline E.
should marry again, the aforesaid testator expressly requested in his will, that his separate
property should be placed in the hands of a Guardian ... for the benefit & use of his three
surviving children viz: Nancy R, Alice, and Emma Walton.” The petitioners note that they were
married in 1856 and that Nancy Walton died shortly thereafter. They further ask that a new
inventory be ordered, that the court recognize that “one half of one third of the Estate of the
testator aforesaid became vested in ... Caroline E.,” and that the required bond be drawn “in
correspondence with the facts herein named.”
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0079 (Accession # 21585609). Travis County, Texas. Giles and Jesse Burditt ask to be
appointed joint administrators of the estate of N. W. Burditt, who died intestate. The estate
includes land and eight slaves. The petitioners note that Burditt’s widow, Missouri, declines to
make out an inventory and give bond for the property.
0084 (Accession # 21585610). Shelby County, Texas. William Todd Jr. petitions the court to
force Eli B. Dysart, the administrator of William Todd Sr.’s estate, to return three mulatto slaves
loaned by the younger Todd to his father. The petitioner explains that he lent Harriet and her
two children to his father in April 1854 for his use until January 1855; however, his father died
intestate within a month. Todd claims that, despite repeated requests, Dysart refuses to return
the three slaves. He asks that Dysart pay all court costs and $10 per month for Harriet’s
services since 1 January 1855. Interrogatories indicate that confusion over ownership derives
from the questionable documentation of an “exchange” of Harriet with another slave, Susan, in
1844. Amos Clark’s deposition notes that Harriet was between twelve and fifteen years old
when the swap occurred and that she was then “old & big enough to plow.”
0128 (Accession # 21585611). Travis County, Texas. Joel A. Burditt, guardian of his four minor
children, asks the court for special permission to administer the inheritance of his children in
Tennessee. He argues that his children have a legitimate interest in a tract of land in Shelby
County, Tennessee, by virtue of the will of their maternal grandfather, John C. Gibbons. The
children’s interest amounts to about $5,000, one-fourth of which is “now ready in the hands of
the Clerk of the Court & Master of Common Law & Chancery in the City of Memphis State of
Tennessee.” Gibbons’s will also bequeathed slaves to his grandchildren.
1857
0134 (Accession # 21585701). Travis County, Texas. The heirs of Hardy Holman ask the court
to order a division and distribution of Holman’s estate. His estate includes at least nine slaves.
0144 (Accession # 21585702). Travis County, Texas. James Bonner petitions the court
regarding guardianship of his orphaned nephews and nieces, heirs to the estates of their
deceased parents, Noel Level and Sarah Ann Bonner Level. He informs the court that the two
youngest Level children, Harriet M. and Mary Ann, are minors under the age of fourteen and
require a court-appointed guardian; N. Harrison and Dempsey W. Level, being over fourteen
years of age, may choose their own guardian. Bonner cites in his 1859 guardian’s report that
the Level estates include slaves, who are too young to hire out.
0154 (Accession # 21585704). Brazoria County, Texas. C. R. Cox, guardian of Thomas and
Harriett Erwin, requests permission to pay $100 to the law firm of Wharton & Terry to undertake
a suit against Joseph E. Wilson of Brazoria County for $4,000. The Erwins’ estate includes land
and slaves.
0159 (Accession # 21585705). Brazoria County, Texas. C. R. Cox, guardian of minor siblings
Thomas and Harriet Erwin, asks the court to approve his annual account of the Erwins’ estates
and his plans for the labor and care of their slaves. Their estate includes at least twelve slaves,
five of whom have been hired out at private hiring, two of whom are disabled, and five of whom
are children. Cox reports that the condition of the minors’ estates is “far better than when your
Petition[er] first undertook the Management of the same.”
0162 (Accession # 21585706). Brazoria County, Texas. A. T. Morris, guardian of Ann McNeel
[McNeil] Westall, asks the court to approve his hiring out of four slaves in Westall’s estate.
Morris assures the court that “said hiring was fairly publicly & openly made.”
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1858
0166 (Accession # 21585801). Jefferson County, Texas. Sarah Moseley petitions for letters
authorizing her administration of the estate of her late husband, William S. Moseley, who died
intestate in 1857. The estate includes at least thirteen slaves, one of whom is described as
“diseased.” Her final administrative account, filed as Sarah Pattillo after her remarriage, reports
slave hiring values for the year 1860.
0186 (Accession # 21585803). Comal County, Texas. R. A. Ruthven and S. G. Powell,
merchants in Galveston, ask the court to force J. S. Anderson and his wife to pay the delinquent
accounts for “goods, wares & merchandise” purchased for the “plantation & farm & Negroes of
the said wife.” Noting that J. S. Anderson is insolvent, the petitioners therefore name his wife as
party to the suit since she possesses considerable property “also liable.”
0203 (Accession # 21585804). Brazoria County, Texas. John Adriance, administrator of the
estate of C. R. Patton, asks the court to authorize a contract between the estate and Charles F.
Patton for the hire of fifteen slaves at $2,280. These “choice hands” are necessary to carry on
the plantation’s operations “with the force belonging to said Estate.” The late C. R. Patton “was
compelled to hire hands from year to year.” Adriance also reports that Charles F. Patton has
“contributed his services in taking a general oversight and control on said plantation over the
negroes thereon.”
0207 (Accession # 21585806). Brazoria County, Texas. John Adriance, administrator of the
estate of the late C. R. Patton, submits a partial accounting of the claims, expenses, and debts
of the estate. He reports that the heirs of Christopher Dart have sued the estate for the recovery
of eight slaves, who are in his possession and inventoried as part of Patton’s estate. He also
explains that he is now “engaged in gathering the crops” raised on the plantation and estimating
the plantation’s yield of sugar and cotton. Adriance asks the court to “indulge” him by granting
an extension until the next term of court when he can submit a more thorough accounting. In a
supplemental petition, he asks for permission to sell a tract of land belonging to the estate.
0216 (Accession # 21585807). Brazoria County, Texas. John Adriance, administrator of the
estate of the late Charles R. Patton, submits an account of all estate expenditures and receipts
to the court. Explaining that the estate encompasses a cotton plantation and slaves, the
petitioner points out that there is no gin house on said plantation and proposes erecting one to
enable cotton processing on-site. He also reports the successful distribution of several slaves
according to the wishes of Patton’s purported will. The slaves involved include Rachel, who is
not only allowed to choose her own living arrangements, but also receives a yearly allowance of
$100, and Jacob and Solomon, who “were to have control of their own time & to live where they
chose.” Adriance requests that the court approve these arrangements and also authorize the
rehiring of slaves from Charles F. Patton to work the crop in the ensuing year.
0225 (Accession # 21585808). San Augustine County, Texas. Daniel, “a free person of African
descent” facing expulsion from the state of Texas and “compelled therefore to choose between
banishment and Slavery,” asks to become the slave of B. M. Watson, a man he conceives “in
every way fit to receive this gift of my freedom.” Daniel explains that he has “compared as well
as I could the probable condition of a free negro in any of the American States, with his
condition in a State of Slavery—the result of that comparison has led me to prefer the latter
alternative.” He attests that his “condition has not been in any respect better, in many matters it
has been worse” than the slaves with whom he lives and works. He asserts that “they for the
most part have kind and indulgent masters, who take care of them in old age & in sickness ...
and allow them to make crops for themselves; Of all these advantages I am deprived ... The
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object of life is happiness—Freedom is only useful when it tends to secure it. For my part I can
only say that it has great terror for me as it robs me of my family & forces me from the spot to
which I am so much attached If I only share the lot of other slaves around me I feel that I not
only have not relinquished, but have gained an advantage by changing my condition.” He adds
that he does not wish “to bring ruin & misery to myself by going to the Northern states, where
the laboring classes are equally Indigent & infinately more selfish & exclusive than the slaves
here—I should be starved out or driven off to the Canadas.”
0237 (Accession # 21585809). Jefferson County, Texas. Christian E. Hillebrant, the son of
Christian Hillebrant, asks the court to admit his father’s will into probate and to name him
executor according to his father’s specification in the will. The estate includes land, livestock,
and slaves.
0252 (Accession # 21585811). San Augustine County, Texas. Bernard Reilly seeks to recover
an enslaved family from John R. Caldwell. He informs the court that he purchased two slaves,
Sarah and her daughter Leah, from the said Caldwell in 1853. Declaring that he hired out
Sarah’s services to Caldwell in March 1857, the petitioner now charges that Caldwell
“obstinately” refuses to return them. He further reveals that Sarah has had two additional
children since their transaction. The petitioner asks the court to order their return and to
compensate him for their hire and for damages he deems at $2,800. He also seeks a writ of
sequestration to prevent Caldwell from removing the slaves outside the jurisdiction of the court.
0258 (Accession # 21585812). Travis County, Texas. Thomas Simpson, guardian of minors
John E., William, and Mary Elizabeth Wallace, seeks compensation from his wards’ previous
administrator, William O’Connell, whom he alleges to have mismanaged the estate. Simpson
contends that O’Connell failed to file annual reports as required by law and appropriated profits
from the rent of lands and the hire of slaves to his own use during his tenure as guardian.
Furthermore, Simpson charges that O’Connell sold a slave named Betty, worth about $1,000,
without permission, thereby depriving the minor children of her services, which he values at
$250 per year. Simpson seeks a judgment against the defendants “for the waste of said
property, and for the wrongful disposition of the same.” The auditor’s report tracks the slaves’
hiring values for the years 1857 and 1858 and notes that Joe was sick much of that time and
incurred a medical bill of $13.
0274 (Accession # 21585813). Bastrop County, Texas. Margaret Reding, widow of William R.
Reding, asks the court to probate the will of her late husband. His estate consisted of land and
one slave, an “old and trusty cook” named Hasty.
0285 (Accession # 21585814). Travis County, Texas. William Rust seeks payment from Horatio
Grooms for the hire of the slave Bob for the years 1855 and 1856. Rust argues states that
Grooms agreed to pay him $180 annually for the hire but that “the whole amount thereof
remains due and owing to petitioner.” Grooms counters by claiming that Rust does not own Bob,
and while Bob may have been in his possession during that time, Bob’s services were not hired
by Grooms, but derived “in right of his wife Margaret Grooms,” the petitioner’s sister.
0303 (Accession # 21585815). Travis County, Texas. The creditors of the estate of the late
N. W. Burditt ask that the property in Burditt’s estate be sold to satisfy debts owed them. The
petitioners state that the administrators of the estate have so far failed to make payment even
though their claims “have been long since allowed and approved.” The estate consists of land,
livestock, and slaves.
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0308 (Accession # 21585816). Travis County, Texas. The administrators of the estate of Newel
W. Burditt request permission to sell four slaves to discharge debts owed by the estate. They
explain that the slaves are the estate’s only personal property, excepting a buggy and a sixshooter,
that remain to be sold. Burditt’s widow supports the request that the slaves, rather than
land, be sold to satisfy these claims, which the administrators estimate at more than $4,000.
0315 (Accession # 21585817). Brazoria County, Texas. C. R. Cox, who replaced Charles K.
Reese as guardian of Thomas and Harriett Erwin, asks that commissioners be appointed to
appraise and to take an inventory of the estates belonging to his wards. The minors own at least
twelve slaves.
0320 (Accession # 21585818). Gillespie County, Texas. Pursuant to an act of the Texas
legislature, Ann Jackson, a free woman of color, states that she chooses W. C. Lewis to be her
lawful master.
0324 (Accession # 21585819). Brazoria County, Texas. C. R. Cox, guardian of Thomas and
Harriet Erwin, asks the court to approve his hiring of the Erwin children’s slaves. Cox informs
the court that he offered the services of the slaves Isaac and Ann, an enslaved couple with five
unnamed children, at public auction, but they “did not hire” as no one bid on them.
0327 (Accession # 21585820). Brazoria County, Texas. A. T. Morris, guardian of Ann McNeel
[McNeil] Westall, asks the court to approve his hiring out of four slaves in Westall’s estate.
Morris assures the court that “said hiring was fairly publicly & openly made.”
1859
0333 (Accession # 21585901). Jefferson County, Texas. Samuel Remley asks the court to
appoint him guardian of the minor heirs of William Moseley. He represents that “James
Henrietta Moseley, Willy Ann Moseley, Nancy Green Moseley and Malinda Minerva Moseley are
minors under the age of fourteen years.” Their father’s estate includes at least thirteen slaves.
0336 (Accession # 21585902). Travis County, Texas. Attorneys John and Robert Green seek
$1,000 as payment from Francis and Marietta Hilburn for legal services rendered. John Mills, to
whom the Hilburns had given their power of attorney, retained the Greens to represent the
Hilburns’ interest in a suit against Owen O’Brien that concerned the hire of a slave named Lydia
and her three daughters. The attorneys won the case, “which was one of great complication and
difficulty,” but they complain that they were never paid by the Hilburns. The petitioners also seek
a writ of attachment on the Hilburns’ slave Sarah until conclusion of the trial.
0347 (Accession # 21585903). Travis County, Texas. Sarah Fowler seeks a divorce from her
husband, William Fowler, and an injunction to prevent him from disposing of their property or
slaves lent to the petitioner by her mother. She also asks for alimony and the custody of her
children. Sarah states that for years she helped support the family from her dressmaking
business, enabling them to acquire considerable property, including town lots in Austin,
acreage, and slaves. She complains that her husband’s treatment was frequently cruel and
outrageous, that he drank liquor to excess, that he often physically abused her and their
children, and that he slept with a slave woman in their bedroom behind a locked door. She
recounts that on one occasion he began beating their son Alonzo with his fist for no reason.
Sarah intervened and was hit several times herself. William Fowler then took a cowhide to
Alonzo and “whipped [him] severely for a long time. His back was terribly lacerated, the skin
having been cut in several places with the cow-hide.” Next, she discloses that he turned his
rage on “a little negro child about 17 months old, which he also whipped most unmercifully with
the cowhide & otherwise.”
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0367 (Accession # 21585904). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Adaline M. Fulghum Crain and
nineteen other relatives seek a partition of their portion of twenty-three slaves owned in common
with Raiford Fulghum and five others. The petitioners claim that they are entitled to four-sixths of
the slaves’ value and hire income, which they assert they have not been paid since 1854. They
also report that Raiford Fulghum “wickedly and unlawfully with force and violence and without
sufficient cause did assault” Henry, one of the slaves in question, and “by shooting said slave
did kill and destroy him.” They seek compensation for the “depriv[ation] of their shares or part of
the value of” Henry. They also seek an injunction to prevent the defendants from removing the
slaves from the state of Texas.
0384 (Accession # 21585905). Travis County, Texas. Edward Grumbles of Caddo Parish,
Louisiana, seeks compensation for the value of the slaves Toney and Milas from his father and
stepmother, Benjamin and Isabella Grumbles. The petitioner claims that he loaned seven slaves
to his brother, John R. Grumbles, in 1846 to use on his farm in Travis County, Texas. After John
made several crops with the slaves, he loaned them to their father, who acknowledged that they
belonged to Edward and that John retained rights to them as Edward’s agent. However, when
Benjamin married Isabella in 1851, he conveyed to her “the one undivided half of said slaves
during her natural life.” In 1855 the petitioner successfully sued to recover three of the slaves,
but Benjamin and Isabella had by that time sold two slaves, Toney and Milas, to Williamson
Oldham. Grumbles seeks a partition with Isabella “of her interest from his” and prays that the
court force Oldham to pay him the outstanding purchase money for the slaves.
0394 (Accession # 21585906). Nacogdoches County, Texas. John P. Evans of Sumpter
[Sumter] County, Alabama, seeks a new hearing in a suit brought against Sarah Prince and
Daniel H. Hughes of Nacogdoches, Texas, for the recovery of $70 for the hire of his slave Ellen.
Evans, as executor of the estate of the late William B. Man, sued Prince and Hughes, but a jury
ruled against him because Ellen was sick much of her eleven-month hiring period. Evans has
encountered difficulty in renewing litigation and now appeals to the district court for relief.
0407 (Accession # 21585907). San Augustine County, Texas. The petitioners ask the court to
appoint commissioners to “partition and divide the 1172 acres of Land and the said 14 negroes”
of the estates of John and Delilah Chumley.
0414 (Accession # 21585908). Brazoria County, Texas. Thomas G. Masterson seeks letters of
administration for the estate of James B. Cowan, who died on 7 December 1859. The intestate’s
inventory reveals that he owned three slaves.
0422 (Accession # 21585909). Brazoria County, Texas. Thomas G. Masterson, administrator of
the estate of the late James B. Cowan, seeks the court’s permission to sell the estate’s personal
property, “which is of a perishable nature.” He also prays for orders to sell twenty bales of cotton
and “to hire said negroes at public outcry.”
0426 (Accession # 21585910). Brazoria County, Texas. Thomas Rivers Erwin asks that C. R.
Cox “be discharged and released from” serving as his guardian. Cox has acted as guardian for
Erwin and his sister, Harriett, for the last seven years. Erwin requests that “all the property &
means of every kind and character belonging to Your Petitioner be handed over by said Cox.”
This property includes at least twelve slaves.
0432 (Accession # 21585911). Brazoria County, Texas. A. T. Morris, guardian of Ann McNeel
[McNeil] Westall, asks the court to approve his hiring out of four slaves in Westall’s estate.
Morris assures the court that “said hiring was fairly made and to the best advantage for the
minor.” Two of the slaves were hired to “your Hon Judge Perkins.”
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0437 (Accession # 21585913). Brazoria County, Texas. C. R. Cox, guardian of Thomas and
Harriet Erwin (now Harriet Freeman), reports on the activity of his wards’ slaves for the year
1859. He asks the court to examine and approve the hire of six slaves, explaining that he did
not hire the services of four slaves due to injury or “unfitness.” He also submits that Harriet
Freeman took Viney, who is her separate property, with her to New Orleans “a few days since.”
0441 (Accession # 21585914). San Augustine County, Texas. John and Sarah Wilson seek a
court order to inventory and partition the estate of Sarah’s late father, Jesse Wadlington
[Waddlington]. After his death in 1840, Wadlington’s widow, Mary, and son-in-law, William
Sparks, “pretended to take administration” of the estate, but instead took possession of the
property in their own right and partitioned it among themselves “without referance or regard to
the rights of the other heirs.” Shortly before she died, the widow further divided the estate by
giving various slaves to three of her daughters. The Wilsons claim that Mary did not have the
authority to make such gifts because the slaves in question were all derived from Jesse’s
estate. They contend that Jesse received three slaves before 1818, upon the death of Mary’s
father, David Henderson, while the couple was living in South Carolina. The petitioners request
that the court consider the children born of these slaves, who they claim number at least twentythree,
in the partition of the estate, as well as the profits from all of the slaves’ hire since
Wadlington’s death.
1860
0462 (Accession # 21586001). San Augustine County, Texas. The heirs of Martha Ann Graves
intervene in a slave title dispute between William Todd Jr. and E. B. Dysart, the administrator of
Todd’s father’s estate. The “interveners” claim that Sarah, the slave “in controversy,” was a
wedding present to Martha Ann Graves from her father upon her marriage to Giles N. Graves in
1839. Graves’s heirs explain that, under the terms of the gift, their grandfather delivered Sarah
“to his daughter Martha Ann Graves ... to hold during the life of said Martha A Graves, & after
her death to descend to the heirs generally of her body.” During Martha Ann’s lifetime, her
husband sold Sarah to John English, who then sold Sarah to William Todd Sr. They allege that
Todd “had actual & constructive notice” of their right to Sarah at the time of purchase and that,
upon Martha Ann’s death in March 1859, Sarah became their lawful property. They ask the
court to affirm their rights and to order Sarah’s return. If Sarah is “not delivered up,” they ask for
compensation in the amount of her value of $1,200.
0468 (Accession # 21586002). San Augustine County, Texas. Henry Hyams of New Orleans,
Louisiana, asks the court to “order, adjudge and decree that your petitioner have and recover”
the slave Horace from Solomon Miller of San Augustine, Texas. Hyams complains that Miller
has illegally detained Horace since October 1848, repeatedly refusing to return the twenty-fouryear-old
slave. The petitioner prays for Horace’s recovery or, in default thereof, he requests
compensation for his value, estimated at $2,000, and the value of his hire at $15 per month
since 1848.
0476 (Accession # 21586003). Brazoria County, Texas. Emily Ann Quarles requests that the
probate court name her executrix of the will of the late Wilson B. Bohannon, who died in
November 1860. She explains that Bohannon left “all of his property” to her and her children.
The estate includes a twenty-six-year-old slave named Becky, valued at $1,200, and her
unnamed three-year-old child, valued at $300.
0482 (Accession # 21586004). Brazoria County, Texas. John Adriance, the administrator of the
estate of C. R. Patton, asks the court to review and approve the receipts and expenditures of
the estate. Adriance reports that, despite drought and loss of livestock, he has made “a good
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amount of valuable improvements” to the estate. The estate did, however, suffer “some loss of
small negroes,” and he was compelled to facilitate the removal of the slave Rachel to Cincinnati,
Ohio, where he will continue to send her annual allowance. Adriance explains that “her
presence near the plantation and slaves belonging to said estate was believed to have become
exceedingly injurious to the interests of said estate and perhaps dangerous.” He is quick to
make the distinction that “in relation to this matter your Petitioner rather permitted it to be done,
than procured it to be done.”
0487 (Accession # 21586005). Brazoria County, Texas. Thomas G. Masterson, administrator of
the estate of the late James B. Cowan, prays that the court approve and confirm the hiring of
three slaves belonging to the estate. The slaves Tod and Easter were hired together at public
auction to John James for $100 per year; the slave Tom was hired for $290 per year to John A.
Wharton.
0492 (Accession # 21586006). Brazoria County, Texas. Thomas G. Masterson, administrator of
the estate of the late James B. Cowan, asks the court to approve a partition of the remaining
property in the estate to the estate’s heirs after the payment of debts. The property to be
distributed includes three slaves, two of whom are about fifty-five years of age.
0498 (Accession # 21586008). Polk County, Texas. Gabriel Todd, a free man of color, declares
that “he desires to avail himself of the law permitting him to select a master and become a
slave.” He believes Edward D. Martin “to be a proper person,” and he asks for a decree
permitting him “to be the slave of the said Edward D. Martin.”
0502 (Accession # 21586009). Brazoria County, Texas. A. T. Morris, guardian of Ann McNeel
[McNeil] Westall, asks the court to approve his hiring out of four slaves in Westall’s estate.
Morris assures the court that “said hiring was fairly made and to the best advantage for the
minor.” The four slaves were hired to Anthony Winston.
1861
0508 (Accession # 21586101). San Augustine County, Texas. Robert Radford asks the court to
seize ten slaves belonging to David B. Bush to prevent him from removing the slaves from the
county to escape his debts. Radford explains that he purchased land in Sabine County from
Bush in January 1860 for $10,000, $6,000 in cash and the rest in notes. Radford then
discovered that Bush still owed $8,000 to George West for his purchase of the land and that
West had a lien on the property. After Radford demanded that Bush settle with West so he
could have a clear title to the land, Bush mortgaged ten slaves to him as collateral. Citing that
Bush has still not paid off his debt to West, the petitioner fears that Bush will remove the slaves
from the county. He therefore prays that the sheriff be ordered to seize the slaves and “hold the
same, subject to the further order of your Honors in order that your petitioners indemnity
provided for by said mortgage may be secure whenever he shall be required to pay off and
discharge said mortgage in favor of said George W. West.”
0518 (Accession # 21586102). Travis County, Texas. William Brown petitions to be appointed
guardian of the estates of his sons, John E. and Joseph C. Brown. The two boys, ages six and
four, respectively, inherited an estate from their maternal grandfather that consisted of “land,
negroes, cattle horses, &c &c and is of the value of about eight or ten thousand dollars.”
0524 (Accession # 21586103). Travis County, Texas. Rachel Hamilton, a “free person of african
descent,” petitions the court to “render a judgement and Decree” allowing her and her two-yearold
son, Jim, to “be enslaved to” John D. Bowen of Travis County in accordance with the law
passed by the state legislature in 1858.
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0532 (Accession # 21586104). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Hannah Crawford seeks a divorce
from Jesse Crawford, her husband of “more than half a century,” and an order of a “fair and
equal division” of their “handsome estate,” which consists of slaves and land. She alleges that
thirty years into the marriage, Jesse “became cold and indifferent to your petitioner which has
finally resulted in apparent downright hatred.” She claims that she receives no more attention
from him “than if she were the verryest slave on earth.” He “placed” her in the house of their son
Simon, who also controls his father’s “visible personal property,” and “publicly declared” that he
wishes to kick his mother out. She describes their life together as “continued and everlasting
rounds of privations and petty annoyances that render life a burthen more cruel & inhuman in
their tendency than an occasional personal abuse by the laying on of hands in a violent
manner.” Finally, she has been subjected to “unkind words & looks sufficient to chill the blood of
a woman in the morning or prime of life when it courses rapidly throug the vains.” A related
document reveals that the Crawfords opted to “make a division and partition of property without
the intervention of the court.”
0555 (Accession # 21586105). Brazoria County, Texas. A. T. Morris, guardian of Ann McNeel
[McNeil] Westall, asks the court to approve his hiring out of four slaves in Westall’s estate.
Morris assures the court that “said hiring was fairly made and to the best advantage for the
minor.”
0558 (Accession # 21586106). Brazoria County, Texas. Alexander Mims petitions the court for
temporary, and eventually permanent, letters of administration for his brother’s share in the
estate of his late mother, Sarah Mims. Alexander Mims’s brother, David Mims, died intestate in
Kentucky on 6 January 1862. David’s share of Sarah Mims’s estate consisted of “lands, slaves,
&c.” He asks that he also be allowed to “hire said Negroes that may be allotted to his intestate.”
1862
0563 (Accession # 21586201). Jefferson County, Texas. Sarah Moseley Pattillo asks to be
released from her duties as administratrix of the estate of William Moseley. The petitioner notes
that she “has paid all the debts of Said Estate and further Sayes that she has also Settled with
all the addult Heirs and paid them the portions due them, and now prayes your Honourable
Court to Grant her a final Releas as Administratrix.” Moseley’s estate included at least thirteen
slaves.
0566 (Accession # 21586203). Brazoria County, Texas. The heirs of David Mims petition for the
partition of Mims’s estate, which consists of “a large lot of Negroes and a tract of land.”
According to the related documents Samuel Mims owned twenty-two slaves.
0584 (Accession # 21586204). Brazoria County, Texas. F. M. Jackson and Abner S. Lathrop
ask to be appointed executors of the estate of William Ward of Brazoria County, whom they
presume died fighting for the Confederacy in Tennessee in the regiment known as Terry’s
Texas Rangers. They explain that Ward regularly wrote to his agent in Texas until a certain
point in 1862. They further offer that it is the “universal belief of his comrades in arms, his
kindred in Alabama, and Texas and of the community” that he died on the battlefield. Ward drew
up a will before he left Texas, and the petitioners ask the court to approve its submission to
probate. An inventory of Ward’s estate reveals that the decedent owned eighty-two slaves and
more than 2,300 acres of land. The inventory breaks the said slaves into nineteen separate
family units.
0593 (Accession # 21586205). San Augustine County, Texas. David and Elizabeth Parker seek
to recover an enslaved female named Alsey and her three-year-old daughter Amy, who are
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currently held by Richard Waterhouse. The petitioners represent that “the said Elizabeth is the
owner in her own right and as her own seperate property” of the said slaves. The Parkers
charge that Waterhouse illegally detains the slaves “although he has been often requested” to
deliver them to the said Elizabeth. The petitioners pray for the return of the slaves, damages in
the amount of $3,000, and court costs.
0601 (Accession # 21586206). San Augustine County, Texas. Joseph Harrington asks that John
H. Lewis be ordered “to surrender and deliver up” a male slave named Harry. Harrington claims
that he is Harry’s “legal just and bona fide owner.” He explains that John H. Lewis, as
administrator of the estate of Peggy Margaret Moore, came into possession of the slave. The
petitioner, however, maintains that he is entitled to the slave as his distributive share of Moore’s
estate. He avers that Harry is worth about $1,000 and commands $12.50 per month at hire.
0608 (Accession # 21586207). Travis County, Texas. Lucy R. Renick, the widow of Robert S.
Ligon and legal guardian of their minor children, Sydenham and Eolian, asks for permission to
remove the children’s property from Fayette County to Travis County. Among the property that
Renick and her current husband, Andrew R. Renick, ask to bring into the county are several
slaves. A Fayette County court transcript, covering the years 1854–1862, reveals that four of the
slaves, who originated in the estate of Robert S. Ligon, were partitioned among his widow and
children in 1855 and were hired out for the benefit of the brothers throughout the years of their
minority. It further details that two of the enslaved women had children, only one of whom
survived; that an elderly slave, Dick, who at the time of the Ligon’s estate partition was too old to
be anything but a charge on the estate, died in 1859; and that two of the slave women had
protracted illnesses, one of whom was feared would “never entirely recover from its effect.”
0661 (Accession # 21586209). Brazoria County, Texas. A. T. Morris, guardian of Ann McNeel
[McNeil] Westall, asks the court to approve the hiring out of four slaves belonging to his ward.
He assures the court “that he hired said Slaves to the best advantage & for the highest prices
offered.”
0664 (Accession # 21586210). Brazoria County, Texas. John Adriance presents his annual
administrative account of the estate of C. R. Patton and asks that the court approve the same.
Patton’s estate includes cotton and sugar crops and the slaves who cultivate them. Adriance
explains that his slave labor is hired from one of Patton’s heirs, C. F. Patton, and is
supplemented by the slaves belonging to him as the guardian of Mary Hester Aldridge. He asks
for permission to continue hiring labor in this manner and also requests that the estate remain
open “for a more full & satisfactory settlement of the same.”
1863
0669 (Accession # 21586301). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Edmond Pickens, a resident of the
Chickasaw Nation in Pickens County, Arkansas, requests that the court issue a writ of
sequestration to prevent Ephraim Hart from removing three slaves from Nacogdoches County.
The petitioner purports that said slaves were stolen from him in 1857 and that they are each
worth between $1,200 and $1,500. Noting that Hart is a resident of Caddo County, Louisiana,
who is “temporarily sojourning” in Nacogdoches, Pickens urges that the sheriff should seize the
said slaves. He further requests that the slaves be returned to him, once his ownership is
verified, along with sufficient funds to cover the potential annual earnings of the three slaves
while they were detained. Pickens estimates Sarah’s earnings at $120 per year, Matilda’s at
$100 per year, and Ellick’s at $75.
400

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0676 (Accession # 21586302). San Augustine County, Texas. Martha Ann Burk, the widow of
Simpson Burk and administratrix of his estate, asks permission to “intervene” in a slave title
dispute that Joseph Harrington has instituted in district court against John H. Lewis. Burk
explains that her late husband owns “half in conjunction with” Harrison of the slave in question,
Harry, and therefore she is entitled to her husband’s share. She prays to be “joined as plaintiff
with the said Harrington in the prosecution of said cause.”
0679 (Accession # 21586303). Jefferson County, Texas. Savane Brousard, guardian of minor
Phillippie Ashworth, a free mulatto from a prominent family, asks the court to appoint a “suitable
and proper” person to replace the late Aaron Ashworth as Phillippie’s trustee. Young Phillippie
and his siblings were given two slaves, Lewis and Jack, in 1859 by their parents, Abner and
Rozella [Rosalia] Ashworth. The profits from the slaves’ annual hire were to be divided among
the children and held in trust. Since then, Phillippie’s two sisters have married. Brousard alleges
that their husbands have attempted to sell the slaves without regard to Phillipie’s property rights.
Brousard now possesses the slave Lewis and asks the court to allow him “to take charge of said
negro ... and to recover the other negro and hold him subject to said trust” as well.
0686 (Accession # 21586304). Bastrop County, Texas. Julia Decherd asks the court to appoint
her administratrix of the estate of her late husband, Benjamin Decherd, who died in February
1863. The estate includes land and at least twenty slaves.
0691 (Accession # 21586305). Bastrop County, Texas. Julia Decherd, the widow of Benjamin
Decherd and administratrix of his estate, asks the court to “set aside to herself as widow ... the
allowance made by law.” She reports that the “Estate is Insolvent, and all of the negroes
belonging thereto are included in Deeds of Trust and Mortgages to secure indebtedness.” She
therefore fears that she will have nothing to live on once the property is foreclosed upon. She
explains that she is “accustomed through life to living in easy circumstances” and wishes to
remain so in “her old age” and while she supports her unmarried minor daughter, Ann Judson
Decherd.
0693 (Accession # 21586306). Bastrop County, Texas. Julia Decherd, the widow of Benjamin
Decherd and administratrix of his estate, asks the court to provide her with an additional
allowance. She states that the estate is insolvent. She fears that she will have nothing to live on
once the debts are paid unless the court sets aside an allowance for her and her daughter, Ann
Judson Decherd, and exempts slave property from seizure for debt.
0695 (Accession # 21586307). Brazoria County, Texas. A. T. Morris, guardian of Ann McNeel
[McNeil] Westall, asks the court to approve his hiring out of four slaves in Westall’s estate.
Morris assures the court that he hired “said negroes to the best advantage; for the highest price
offered and that they were fairly hired.”
1864
0699 (Accession # 21586401). Travis County, Texas. Cornelia A. Hopkins, administratrix of the
estate of A. N. Hopkins, requests that the court extend the hiring term of the slaves Stephen and
Visey. Citing that the term of the current contract expires in August 1864, Hopkins asks that she
be allowed to hire out the slaves “for Specie” until January 1865.
0706 (Accession # 21586402). Travis County, Texas. Cornelia A. Hopkins, administratrix of the
estate of A. N. Hopkins, asks the court to approve the hiring out of two estate slaves for a term
of six months beginning August 1864. Hopkins hired out Stephen and Visey to T. W. Chandler,
“the highest bidder.” Chandler agreed to pay $22 a month for Stephen and 25¢ a month for
Visey.
401

Reel 26 Texas
0713 (Accession # 21586403). Jefferson County, Texas. Euphrasia Tivis seeks a divorce from
her husband, Benjamin Franklin Tivis, citing “excess ill treatment and cruelty” and “acts of
selfish meanness,” which have rendered living with him “insupportable.” She recounts that, in
February 1864, he “did then and there throw cold water on her she being then in bed Kicked
and punched her, pulled her hair and did otherwise abuse and illtreat your petitioner.” During the
past year, she has kept a boarding house in Beaumont “to keep herself & two infant children in
bread & raiment.” Her husband, however, frequently seized the profits she made from her
business and spent them on gambling and drinking. When she married Tivis, she owned “in her
own right” a female slave, “which she cheerfully sold for the benefit of defendant to obtain for
him a substitute to serve in the Army of the Confederate States in his stead.” She also seeks
custody of the couple’s two infant daughters.
0721 (Accession # 21586404). Jefferson County, Texas. William Smith of Orange County asks
the court to summon Sevan Broussard to answer questions regarding his guardianship of Phillip
[Phillippie] Ashworth, who along with his siblings, Sidney Jane and Lydia Ann, received two
slaves as a gift from their parents before they died. Phillip’s father was Abner Ashworth, a free
black and early immigrant to the Republic of Texas, whose 1840 petition with his brother
precipitated the “Ashworth Act,” making them the only free blacks to immigrate subsequent to
the Declaration of Independence, who were given congressional sanction to remain in Texas.
[The petition is missing at least one page.]
0731 (Accession # 21586405). Bastrop County, Texas. Nathan Green of Wilson County,
Tennessee, asks the court to foreclose on property belonging to the estate of the late Benjamin
Decherd. During his lifetime, Benjamin Decherd mortgaged thirteen slaves to Green to secure
three promissory notes. Green now sues Decherd’s widow and administratrix, Julia Decherd, to
recoup the debt.
0735 (Accession # 21586406). Bastrop County, Texas. John J. Moncure asks that the slaves in
the estate of the late Benjamin Decherd be sold “for cash.” He states that the decedent secured
his indebtedness through a deed of mortgage, which was later assigned to the petitioner. Noting
that the said debt has not been discharged, Moncure prays that “the deeds of trust ... be
foreclosed & that said property may be ordered to be sold for cash to the highest bidder.”
0740 (Accession # 21586407). Travis County, Texas. Aaron Burleson, guardian of Icabod
Burleson, a minor, states that his ward is now of age and is qualified to take possession of his
property. The petitioner asks for a final settlement and to be discharged from his duties. Related
documents give hiring values for the four slaves bequeathed to Icabod from his father James for
the years 1855–1864.
0754 (Accession # 21586408). Brazoria County, Texas. A. T. Morris, guardian of Ann McNeel
[McNeil] Westall, asks the court to approve his hiring out of four slaves in Westall’s estate.
Morris assures the court that he hired “said negroes to the best advantage for the highest price
offered and that they were fairly hired.”
1865
0758 (Accession # 21586501). Nacogdoches County, Texas. Labaume and Frances Ann Elliott
ask that Frederick Voight, the administrator of the estate of Nancy Hamilton, be ordered to
surrender two slaves, whom Hamilton gave to her granddaughter, Frances Ann Elliott. The
petitioners note that Hamilton died intestate in December 1864 but had conveyed the slaves to
Elliott by deed of gift in 1854. They also request that the appraisement of the two slaves “be
expunged” from the inventory of Hamilton’s estate.
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0762 (Accession # 21586502). Grayson County, Texas. B. M. Carr seeks a divorce from his
wife Mary, custody of their three children, and a partition of their community property, which
consists principally of a ten-year-old slave girl worth $400. After four years of marriage, Carr
recounts that his wife became “cross, morose and alienated towards Petitioner.” She soon left
his bed and then threatened “that he should not live two months if she could get any person to
put him out of the way.” She also “called Petitioner ugly names in the presence of their children,”
who range in age from ten to sixteen. Both Carrs own slaves in their own right as well. In her
testimony, Mary Wilson states that she once found Mary Carr’s niece in bed with a “Negro man.”
0782 (Accession # 21586503). Travis County, Texas. Frank Brown, the legal guardian of
William H. and Mary J. Cushney, asks the court to order the partition of the estate of William
and Lydia Cushney, the minors’ parents. The estate includes land and slaves. He amends his
petition by reporting the marriage of Mary J. Cushney to J. C. Burleson and asks to be “relieved
from his guardianship so far as she is concerned.”
0797 (Accession # 21586504). Grayson County, Texas. Sallie Hudson, widow and second wife
of Isaac Hudson, asks the court to probate her late husband’s will. In related documents, John
Mayrant, guardian of Isaac Hudson’s grandchildren, alleges that the aged Isaac Hudson “had
not the mental capacity and discretion to make a Will” in February 1865. Mayrant, writing on
behalf of Hudson’s grandchildren and next of kin, argues that the beneficiary of the disputed will,
Sallie H. Hudson, unduly influenced Isaac and thereby defrauded his grandchildren from
receiving their rightful share of his estate, which included land and about thirty-two slaves.
1866
0824 (Accession # 21586601). Bastrop County, Texas. A. W. Hill asks to be appointed guardian
of William, a seven-year-old mulatto freedman, until such time as the child is old enough to
select his own guardian. Hill explains that William’s mother “requested another freedwoman to
care for the child” and this freedwoman requested that Hill become his guardian. Hill also claims
that William’s mother asked him to look after the boy “upon her deathbed.”
0826 (Accession # 21586602). Brazoria County, Texas. A. T. Morris asks that he be released
from the guardianship of Ann McNeel [McNeil] Westall and the administration of the estate of
her late father, Henson Westall. Morris states that Ann died in 1862 while living with her
mother’s family in Pennsylvania “but the fact was not known to Petitioner until long after it
occurred.” He presents the promissory notes, “which were taken from time to time for the hire of
said negroes,” but refers to the Emancipation Proclamation, “which took effect in Texas and said
negros passed out of the possesion of Petitioner into their present state of freedom.”
1867
0833 (Accession # 21586701). Brazoria County, Texas. Dr. J. S. Abrams and Ann Ward request
letters of administration for the estate of William Ward, Ann’s father, who was killed while
fighting for the Confederacy in Tennessee. The original executors of the estate, A. S. Lathrop
and T. M. Jackson, closed the estate in December 1865 and “delivered up said estate to the
only surviving heirs.” However, the petitioners note that there are “still large sums due, and
unpaid, by said Estate” and that continued administration of the estate is necessary. Ward’s
estate included “all things incident to a well regulated farm or plantation,” including slaves.
403

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0836 (Accession # 21586702). Brazoria County, Texas. John Adriance, administrator of the
estate of C. R. Patton, petitions the court for permission to sell “some property to pay the debts
of said Estate.” The land, situated in the town of Bryan, “will sell to better advantage now than at
any other time,” as the town of Bryan is “now growing.” Adriance’s voucher between the estates
of C. R. Patton and Mary Hester Aldridge itemizes hire values for slaves from Aldridge’s estate
used to cultivate Patton’s land.
404

NAME INDEX
The following index is a guide to the petitioners, defendants, and free persons of color
identified in the petitions in this microform collection. The first number after each entry refers to
the reel, while the four-digit number following the colon refers to the frame number at which a
particular Petition Analysis Record (PAR), which precede the petitions, can be found. Hence
22: 0111 directs the researcher to the PAR at Frame 0111 of Reel 22. Proper names have been
entered as they appear in the PARs and in the corresponding source documents. Researchers
should be aware that multiple citations to identical or similar names might or might not refer to
the same individual. To make these determinations, researchers should examine the
information on dates, local area of origin, and family background found in the abstracts, the
PARs, and the petitions themselves. In some instances, the PAR contains only a first or a last
name; these names have been retained in this index as found in the source data.
Abbey, Felix W.
22: 0111
Abernathy, Burwell
19: 0952
Abernathy, Charles C.
12: 0580
Abernathy, Clayton C.
22: 0409
Abernathy, Elisha
11: 0614
Abernathy, Jesse F.
22: 0409
Abernathy, Laban
17: 0472
Abernathy, Nancy Read
11: 0614
Abernathy, William A.
22: 0409
Abner
17: 0673
Abraham
13: 0800
Abraham
15: 0799
Abrams, J. S.
26: 0833
Acheson, Alexander W.
19: 0221
Acheson, Ellen
19: 0221
Acheson, James
19: 0221
Acheson, Mary
19: 0221
Acheson, William
19: 0221
Acre, Joel B.
14: 0141
Adair, Alexander
20: 0570
Adam
13: 0611
Adams, A. G.
22: 0111
Adams, Aaron
14: 0908
Adams, Adolphus S.
16: 0630
Adams, John
18: 0717
Adams, Mary A.
18: 0013
405
Adams, Nathaniel M.
12: 1009
Adams, Robert
12: 1009
Adams, Sally
5: 0311
Adams, Sarah W.
18: 0717
Adamson, John
1: 0631
Adcock, Beverly
12: 0536
Adcock, Parilee
12: 0536
Adkins, James P.
19: 0548
Adkinson, Lucinda
20: 0176
Adkinson, Thomas
20: 0176
Adriance, John
23: 0804
Adriance, John
26: 0203
Adriance, John
26: 0207

Adriance, John
26: 0216
Adriance, John
26: 0482
Adriance, John
26: 0664
Adriance, John
26: 0836
A. G. Adams & Co.
22: 0422
Aggy
22: 0513
Aiken, John A.
14: 0810
Aikin, David A.
16: 0151
Aikin, Mary Jane Sowell
16: 0151
Ailstock, Kitty
14: 0817
Akin, James
13: 0541
Akin, Pleasant I.
13: 0541
Albert
2: 0652
Albert
20: 0930
Alcorn [?], R. H. W.
23: 0503
Alderson, Ann
13: 0927
Alderson, James F.
21: 0056
Alderson, Sarah C.
21: 0056
Alderson, Susan M.
21: 0056
Alderson, Taswell
12: 0767
Aldridge & Davis
23: 0503
Alexander, Agnes
17: 0076
Alexander, Ebenezer C.
18: 0595
Alexander, Elias
14: 0878
Alexander, Elizabeth
Burns
6: 0379
Alexander, James
19: 1012
Alexander, Rankin M.
18: 0595
Alexander, Richard
13: 0685
Alexander, Susan M.
15: 0087
Alexander, William
23: 0503
Alexander, William M.
17: 0502
Alford, Celia Johnson
21: 0221
Alford, Guthridge
21: 0221
Alford, Thomas
25: 0263
Alick
18: 0460
Allen
13: 0912
Allen
22: 0513
Allen, Andrew
2: 0657
Allen, Arrena
17: 0243
Allen, Benjamin F.
12: 0602
Allen, Caroline Brown
11: 0751
Allen, Carter
14: 0697
Allen, David
12: 0087
Allen, David
17: 0243
Allen, Mrs. David
12: 0087
Allen, David M.
17: 0243
Allen, David P. C.
22: 0134
Allen, Eliza
14: 0232
406
Allen, Elizabeth North
12: 0548
Allen, G. W.
20: 0068
Allen, George
12: 0548
Allen, George H.
22: 0134
Allen, George P.
18: 0043
Allen, George W.
12: 0602
Allen, James
10: 0504
Allen, James
17: 0243
Allen, James S.
12: 0602
Allen, Jane D.
20: 0321
Allen, John
10: 0136
Allen, John
12: 0548
Allen, John
14: 0232
Allen, John H.
8: 0617
Allen, John W.
22: 0134
Allen, Joseph C.
12: 0602
Allen, Lucinda
17: 0243
Allen, M. Shadrach
17: 0243
Allen, Margaret
12: 0602
Allen, Margaret
22: 0134
Allen, Martha J.
20: 0321
Allen, Mary
13: 0255
Allen, Mary
15: 0302
Allen, Milly Ann
17: 0243
Allen, Richard
17: 0243

Allen, Robert
16: 0358
Allen, Samuel M.
17: 0243
Allen, Samuel M.
21: 0442
Allen, Samuel Wright
17: 0243
Allen, Sarah A.
20: 0321
Allen, Susan
21: 0104
Allen, Thomas
20: 0321
Allen, William
10: 0136
Allen, William
10: 0888
Allen, William H.
11: 0751
Allen, William W.
17: 0243
Allford, Robert
20: 0204
Allin, Thomas
7: 0937
Allison, Alethia Sanders
12: 0602
Allison, Elizabeth E.
14: 0214
Allison, George W.
14: 0214
Allison, James
17: 0577
Allison, James P.
16: 0070
Allison, James P.
19: 0023
Allison, Jesse
14: 0214
Allison, John
14: 0214
Allison, Joseph B.
20: 0114
Allison, Martha, Jr.
14: 0214
Allison, Robert
12: 0602
Allison, Robert
14: 0214
Allison, Samuel
19: 0130
Allison, Samuel P.
17: 0577
Allison, Sarah
20: 0114
Allison, Thomas H.
17: 0577
Allison Martin Sharpe,
Polly
17: 0577
Alloway, Agnes
13: 0784
Alloway, James
13: 0784
Alloway, Mary
13: 0784
Alloway, Thomas
13: 0784
Ally, Walter
14: 0166
Alsey
6: 0148
Alston, Elijah B.
25: 0263
Alvis, Zachariah
13: 0784
Amanda
21: 0279
Amelia
22: 0513
Ament, Samuel P.
18: 0198
Ament, William B.
11: 0571
Ament, William B.
11: 0763
American Colonization
Society
15: 0087
Amis, James
13: 0597
Amis, John G.
10: 0860
Amis, Nancy Boyd
10: 0860
Ancell, Elizabeth
Camster
8: 0925
407
Ancell, Henry
8: 0925
Ancell, Martha Camster
8: 0925
Ancell, Paschal E.
8: 0925
Anderson
22: 0513
Anderson, Armelia
10: 0888
Anderson, Benjamin F.
17: 0255
Anderson, Charles E.
19: 0446
Anderson, Charles R.
7: 0259
Anderson, Daniel
10: 0888
Anderson, E. M.
26: 0186
Anderson, Edwin W.
17: 0255
Anderson, Elisa
10: 0888
Anderson, Elizabeth Ann
25: 0396
Anderson, Garrison
26: 0407
Anderson, George J.
18: 0931
Anderson, George J.
19: 0446
Anderson, Henry
17: 0255
Anderson, J. S.
26: 0186
Anderson, James R.
10: 0888
Anderson, Joel
12: 0061
Anderson, Joel L.
6: 0200
Anderson, John H.
19: 0446
Anderson, John J.
18: 0931
Anderson, John S.
18: 0428
Anderson, John W.
17: 0255

Anderson, Joseph B.
16: 0739
Anderson, Mansfield
17: 0255
Anderson, Martha
18: 0931
Anderson, Martha
19: 0446
Anderson, Melvina A.
Young
8: 0884
Anderson, Nathaniel
20: 0453
Anderson, Rebecca
Scott
26: 0407
Anderson, Robert G.
24: 0283
Anderson, Samuel R.
14: 0312
Anderson, Samuel R.
20: 0188
Anderson, Sarah
17: 0255
Anderson, Sarah A.
19: 0446
Anderson, Thomas
10: 0888
Anderson, Thomas A.
19: 0446
Anderson, Thomas J.
18: 0931
Anderson, Thompson
20: 0873
Anderson, William C.
6: 0126
Anderson, William C.
25: 0396
Anderson, William G.
23: 0981
Andrew
5: 0468
Andrew
5: 0746
Andrew
6: 0507
Andrew
15: 0799
Andrews, Cephus K.
25: 0157
Andrews, Cephus K.
25: 0174
Andrews, David
11: 0614
Andrews, Edmund
23: 0561
Andrews, Edward
23: 0503
Andrews, George
19: 1046
Andrews, George
20: 0924
Andrews, Isabella M.
23: 0561
Andrews, Littleberry B.
17: 0362
Andrews, Littleberry B.
18: 0436
Andrews, Martha A.
Thurmond
17: 0362
Andrews, Martha A.
Thurmond
18: 0436
Angelique
4: 0253
Angus, Gustavus
18: 0817
Angus, Nathan R.
22: 0256
Anna
4: 0680
Anna
6: 0794
Anne
22: 0513
Ann Eliza
6: 0200
Anne Maria
6: 0500
Ann Maria
4: 0137
Anos
10: 0775
Anson
4: 0689
Anthony
14: 0620
Antoine
3: 0375
408
Antoine
3: 0840
Apperson, E. M.
20: 0453
Appleberry, John P.
8: 0508
Appleby, John
13: 0122
Appleton, Abram M.
11: 0829
Arabia, steamboat
9: 0080
Aramynta
1: 0328
Arch
3: 0556
Arendale, Joel B.
19: 0568
Arendall, Benjamin
18: 0476
Arendall, Elizabeth
Gilliam
18: 0476
Armestrong, Lina
21: 0564
Armestrong, Thomas
21: 0564
Armour, Billy
17: 0150
Armour, James
20: 0453
Armour, Rachael
17: 0121
Armour, William
17: 0076
Armour, William
17: 0113
Armour, William
17: 0121
Armour, William, Jr.
20: 0453
Armstrong, Adley Y.
18: 0388
Armstrong, Eliza
17: 0076
Armstrong, George
17: 0076
Armstrong, George
17: 0414

Armstrong, George
25: 0248
Armstrong, James
11: 0050
Armstrong, Patrick H.
11: 0354
Armstrong, Sarah E.
Baugh
17: 0414
Armstrong, William L.
10: 0450
Arnold, George M.
15: 0447
Arnold, James H.
13: 0385
Arnold, Louisa Harriet
Snelling
13: 0385
Arnold, Martha E.
23: 0033
Arnold, Martha Jane
12: 0296
Arnold, Robert F.
12: 0495
Arnold, Sarah Cobb
Hodges
15: 0447
Arrowsmith, William
17: 0645
Arrowsmith, William
19: 0715
Arterburn, Elias
15: 0799
Ashby, John L.
21: 0860
Ashby, Mary Ann
21: 0860
Ashby, Meriam
21: 0860
Ashley, Joseph O.
2: 0596
Ashworth, Luke
26: 0679
Ashworth, Lydia Ann
26: 0679
Ashworth, Lydia Ann
26: 0721
Ashworth, Phillip
26: 0721
Ashworth, Phillipie
26: 0679
Ashworth, Sidney Jane
26: 0721
Ashworth, Sublet
26: 0679
Ashworth, Sydney Jane
26: 0679
Aspasia
4: 0170
Aspisa
5: 0719
Atchison
6: 0794
Atkeison, Tilman F.
21: 1119
Atteberry, Edward
7: 0059
Auguste
3: 0840
Austin, Edwin
14: 0154
Austin, Edwin
21: 0221
Austin, Lucinda
21: 0221
Austin, William T.
23: 0002
Austin, William T.
23: 0058
Austin, William T.
23: 0503
Austin, William T.
23: 0574
Austin, William T.
23: 0968
Averett, Benjamin
1: 0213
Averett, Sarah M.
1: 0213
Avery, William T.
20: 0453
Aynes, James
18: 0388
Babcock, Henry
11: 0027
Bach, Rachel
20: 0176
Bacon, Ann Hale
18: 0946
409
Bacon, Charles
18: 0946
Bacon, Cynthia
21: 0279
Badger, Charles
12: 0818
Badgett, Noah
2: 0740
Bagley, Andrew
2: 0259
Bagley, Clara T.
2: 0259
Bagly, James
14: 0884
Bagly, Martha
14: 0884
Bagly, Polly
14: 0884
Bagly, Sarah
14: 0884
Bailey, Albert H.
12: 0688
Bailey, Algernon
2: 0632
Bailey, Charles
14: 0014
Bailey, Elizabeth Hazlett
20: 0230
Bailey, Henry
2: 0632
Bailey, Louisa Ann
Figures
12: 0688
Bailey, Maria L.
2: 0632
Bailey, Wiatt W.
13: 0512
Bailey, William C.
20: 0570
Bailey, Wyatt W.
10: 0655
Baily, Wyatt W.
13: 0284
Baird, Spruce M.
24: 0161
Baird, Spruce M.
24: 0381
Baird, Spruce M.
24: 0385

Baisden, John Smith
10: 0041
Baker, David
15: 0462
Baker, Isaac
11: 0058
Baker, Isaac
19: 0360
Baker, Joseph L.
14: 0299
Baker, Mary Boulton
19: 0360
Baker, Matilda
21: 0564
Baker, Rebecca Jane
McKee
15: 0462
Baker, Samuel
21: 0426
Baker, Sarah A. C.
Dodson
19: 0669
Baker, Sarah Louisa
McCance
21: 0426
Baker, Wade
19: 0669
Baker, William
18: 0705
Baldridge, Josiah
13: 0002
Baldwin, David
2: 0740
Baldwin, Henry
15: 0214
Baldwin, Henry F.
15: 0119
Baldwin, Mary F.
Dickson
15: 0119
Baldwin, Mary F.
Dickson
15: 0214
Ball, Harriett Rodgers
20: 0503
Ballard, Samuel O.
20: 0453
Ballentine, Andrew M.
13: 0412
Ballew, William
22: 0024
Ballow, Lorenzo D.
14: 0639
Ballow, Mary Kitrell
14: 0639
Bandy, George W.
16: 0240
Bandy, Jameson
11: 0346
Bandy, Richard
16: 0240
Bandy, Richard
16: 0630
The Bank of Tennessee
21: 0804
Bank of the United
States of America
11: 0575
Banks, Ann
15: 0019
Banks, Ann [Anne]
15: 0127
Banks, James M.
12: 0524
Banks, John G.
12: 0524
Banks, Leonard
12: 0524
Banks, Mary
12: 0524
Banks, Thomas C.
12: 0524
Barbee, Alice B. Winston
14: 0817
Barbee, Alice B. Winston
22: 0332
Barber, David
13: 0215
Barber, Elizabeth Yancy
12: 0711
Barber, Susan E.
13: 0215
Barber, Thomas
12: 0711
Barbour, Elizabeth
Yancey
12: 0775
Barbour, Thomas
12: 0775
410
Barham, Sarah
15: 0257
Barham, Thomas N.
15: 0257
Barker, Calvin
25: 0062
Barker, Calvin
25: 0639
Barker, Catharine
1: 0851
Barker, Edward
1: 0851
Barker, Martha Coffee
9: 0477
Barkman, Jacob
1: 0390
Barkman, Mariah
1: 0390
Barkman, William F.
1: 0455
Barksdale, Albert G.
20: 0018
Barksdale, Brunette
Brooks
20: 0018
Barksdale, Elizabeth
20: 0018
Barksdale, Hickerson
20: 0018
Barksdale, Lowe
20: 0018
Barksdale, Martha A.
8: 0508
Barksdale, Mary Scruggs
17: 0303
Barksdale, Mary Scruggs
17: 0402
Barksdale, Mary Scruggs
17: 0808
Barksdale, Mary T.
Scruggs
20: 0803
Barksdale, Mary T.
Scruggs
21: 0442
Barksdale, Richard T.
20: 0018
Barksdale, William H.
20: 0018

Barlow, William H.
17: 0273
Barnard, Elijah P.
20: 0230
Barnard, James
20: 0230
Barnard, John
20: 0230
Barnes, Abraham
12: 0898
Barnes, Alexander A.
22: 0455
Barnes, Allen
18: 0056
Barnes, Amos
4: 0389
Barnes, Archibald
5: 0814
Barnes, Bartley M.
19: 0280
Barnes, Bartly M.
18: 0013
Barnes, Brunetta
5: 0875
Barnes, Brunetta
[Brunette]
5: 0802
Barnes, Deborah
12: 0898
Barnes, Jackson
12: 0898
Barnes, John
6: 0002
Barnes, Sarah Ann
12: 0898
Barnet, James
21: 0894
Barnett, Elizabeth
2: 0288
Barnett, J. N.
20: 0453
Barnett, Margarett
Montgomery
14: 0569
Barnett, Nicholas
2: 0288
Barnwell, C. A.
20: 0570
Barr, Robert S.
6: 0886
Barrebeau, Pierre
3: 0927
Barrett, Frances Ann
Dowell
19: 0992
Barrett, G. C.
21: 0356
Barrett, John
19: 0992
Barry, George C.
11: 0585
Barry, Hugh L.
11: 0585
Barry, Jo D.
11: 0585
Barry, Lenard L.
11: 0585
Barry, Sarah H.
19: 0178
Barry, Thomas
19: 0178
Barry, W. F.
20: 0453
Bartlett, Amanda F.
Porter
11: 0260
Bartlett, Joseph S.
11: 0260
Bartlett, Reuben
8: 0964
Barton
5: 0260
Bates, Isabella W.
Cowan
20: 0467
Bates, James K.
13: 0433
Bates, John M.
20: 0467
Batt, Maria
17: 0174
Batte, Artimesia Ameina
12: 0937
Batte, Felicia Roseanna
12: 0937
Batte, Laurinda Viola
12: 0937
Batte, Leonora Flournoy
12: 0937
411
Batte, Maranda Melissa
12: 0937
Batte, Philander Chan
12: 0937
Batte, Thomas, Jr.
12: 0937
Battle, Adelaide
18: 0979
Battle, Allen J.
18: 0979
Battle, America
18: 0979
Battle, Elizabeth
18: 0979
Battle, Isaac
18: 0979
Battle, Joel A.
18: 0979
Battle, John S.
18: 0979
Battle, Lucus
18: 0979
Battle, Robert G.
18: 0979
Battle, Sarah Jane
18: 0979
Battle, Susan
18: 0979
Battle, William M.
11: 0442
Battle, William M.
18: 0979
Bauch, Buck
22: 0597
Baugh, Amarilla Pope
11: 0013
Baugh, Ann L.
17: 0414
Baugh, B. D.
20: 0453
Baugh, Daniel
13: 0950
Baugh, Daniel
17: 0414
Baugh, Mary E. King
19: 0787
Baugh, William
11: 0013
Baugh, William A.
19: 0787

Baxter, John
21: 1060
Baxter, Robert
14: 0744
Baxter, Robert
19: 0002
Bayles, Ruth Ann Mariah
17: 0076
Bayless, Joel
12: 0723
Bayless, Polly Shelby
12: 0723
Bayne, Grafton H.
25: 0568
Bayne, John L.
20: 0188
Bayne, John L.
20: 0301
Beal, Richard
12: 0990
Beard, Robert
11: 0793
Beasley, Gabriel D.
22: 0233
Beasley, Sarah
22: 0233
Beatie, Jane Benson
22: 0663
Beatie, Joseph J.
22: 0663
Beaty, Ellen House
16: 0078
Beaty, James
16: 0078
Beaty, Joseph J.
18: 0093
Beaty, Sarah
3: 0186
Beavers, Henry H.
3: 0352
Beavers, William E.
3: 0261
Beck, Abraham
14: 0179
Beck, Elizabeth
24: 0494
Beck, Lucy Devin
12: 0508
Beck, Lucy Devins
15: 0313
Beck, Rebecca Eliza
14: 0179
Beckwith, Jennings
3: 0591
Bedford, Benjamin W.
11: 0571
Beech, Elizabeth B.
14: 0107
Beech, Robert B.
14: 0107
Beech, Robert B.
15: 0163
Beech, Robert B.
19: 0015
Belin, Dorinda
3: 0245
Belin, Lewis
3: 0167
Belin, Lewis
3: 0245
Bell, B. W.
20: 0230
Bell, Benjamin
19: 0690
Bell, David A.
18: 0886
Bell, David A.
20: 0204
Bell, Elliott
20: 0230
Bell, Florence [?]
20: 0555
Bell, Irene E.
20: 0230
Bell, Isabella
14: 0620
Bell, J. L.
21: 0245
Bell, J. M.
20: 0230
Bell, J. Montgomery
20: 0230
Bell, James L.
20: 0230
Bell, Jane
14: 0620
Bell, Jane P.
20: 0230
Bell, Jo
17: 0076
412
Bell, Joanna
14: 0620
Bell, John I.
20: 0230
Bell, Joseph W.
19: 0474
Bell, Lucy
20: 0230
Bell, Margery
14: 0620
Bell, Mariana
20: 0230
Bell, Mary A.
20: 0555
Bell, Milton [?]
20: 0555
Bell, Montgomery
20: 0230
Bell, Montgomery
20: 0555
Bell, Nancy E. Searcy
19: 0690
Bell, Patterson
20: 0230
Bell, Patterson B.
20: 0230
Bell, Philip D.
14: 0620
Bell, Robert F.
22: 0445
Bell, Sally Clark
15: 0462
Bell, William, Sr.
20: 0230
Bell, William M.
21: 0894
Belote, Cornelia
20: 1027
Belote, Fredonia
20: 1027
Belote, Henry A.
13: 0008
Belote, Martha
13: 0008
Belote, Mary
20: 1027
Belote, William
20: 1027
Ben
5: 0346

Bennet, D. John
11: 0253
Bennett, Ann Elizabeth
15: 0340
Bennett, E. B.
16: 0607
Bennett, Edward B.
20: 0403
Bennett, Elizabeth
21: 0564
Bennett, F. Y.
21: 0564
Bennett, Hiram P.
21: 0564
Bennett, James D.
22: 0169
Bennett, James N.
8: 0219
Bennett, John Lanier
15: 0340
Bennett, John M.
11: 0623
Bennett, John M.
21: 0848
Bennett, Joseph A.
16: 0607
Bennett, Joseph A.
20: 0403
Bennett, Marcaney
16: 0607
Bennett, Mariah
21: 0848
Bennett, Mary W.
20: 0403
Bennett, Mary Y.
16: 0607
Bennett, Nancy D.
20: 0403
Bennett, Newman L.
16: 0607
Bennett, Newman L.
20: 0403
Bennett, Rebecca Floyd
16: 0607
Bennett, William J.
16: 0607
Bennett, William Y.
16: 0607
Bennett, William Y.
20: 0403
Benoist, Louis A.
6: 0200
Benson, Benjamin B.
22: 0663
Benson, Berry
14: 0523
Benson, Curran D.
22: 0663
Benson, Esther
Blassingame
14: 0523
Benson, Jacob
24: 0078
Benson, Penn [?] H.
22: 0663
Benson, Wirt F.
22: 0663
Benton, Letty Cate
13: 0650
Berm
22: 0513
Berry, Alice
10: 0457
Berry, Ann Lattin
25: 0077
Berry, James
11: 0575
Berry, John G.
25: 0077
Berry, Thomas G.
5: 0002
Berry, Thomas H.
19: 0645
Berry, W. W.
20: 0831
Berry, William C.
25: 0077
Berryman, Anderson
10: 0412
Berryman, Keziah
10: 0412
Berthold, Bartholomew
4: 0076
Bertrand, Charles
2: 0740
Best, John A. L.
18: 0198
Best, Margaret Mary
Griggs
18: 0198
413
Betey
2: 0652
Betsey Jane
20: 0522
Betsy
13: 0534
Betsy
14: 0620
Bettis, William
14: 0639
Betty
3: 0401
Beverly
6: 0200
Bias, Cesario
16: 0466
Bibb, Dandridge A.
25: 0396
Bibb, Emma Louise
Taylor
25: 0396
Bickerstaff, Jane C.
1: 0752
Bigelow, Dr. Luther
11: 0209
Biggers, Elizabeth Bagly
14: 0884
Biggers, Robert
14: 0884
Biles, Charles W. H.
14: 0388
Bill
22: 0513
Billingsley, James
18: 0946
Billingsley, John
18: 0946
Billingsley, Mary Hale
18: 0946
Billingsley, Sarah Hale
18: 0946
Bills, John H.
13: 0122
Billy
15: 0087
Binns, Mary Garrett
19: 0307
Binns, William A.
19: 0307

Bird, John C.
14: 0014
Bird, Mins
12: 0156
Bird, Nancy
12: 0156
Bird, Thomson
3: 0661
Birdsong, J. J.
5: 0150
Birdsong, John
19: 0329
Birdsong, Mary
19: 0329
Bishop, Nimrod
6: 0002
Bittick, Samuel F.
12: 0218
Bivens, John
4: 0107
Black, Alexander
17: 0044
Black, Emily T.
17: 0044
Black, Gideon B.
16: 0445
Black, James
10: 0695
Black, James E.
25: 0825
Black, Leonidas
17: 0044
Black, Louisa C.
17: 0044
Black, Quincy
17: 0044
Black, Sarah H.
25: 0825
Black, Tabitha
17: 0044
Black, Thomas J.
14: 0602
Black, William T.
17: 0044
Blackburn, Nancy Barry
11: 0585
Blackburn, William
11: 0585
Blackfan, Jessee
12: 0749
Blackman, Alfred
16: 0078
Blackman, James A.
12: 0602
Blackmore, Evelina
Hadley
11: 0283
Blackmore, James J.
11: 0283
Blackwell, Elizabeth
Sanders
11: 0326
Blackwell, Jesse
3: 0500
Blackwell, Sanders
11: 0326
Blackwell, Thomas
24: 0291
Blackwell, Thomas
24: 0401
Blackwell, Thomas
24: 0405
Blackwell, Thomas
24: 0414
Blaine, John L.
9: 0033
Blair, Ann E. Allen
17: 0243
Blair, George C.
20: 0230
Blair, William
17: 0243
Blair, William
20: 0230
Blake, Hugh M.
10: 0479
Blakeley, John
1: 0431
Blakemore, Andrew J.
14: 0770
Blakemore, Ann M.
Chitwood
18: 0002
Blakemore, Daniel
18: 0002
Blakey, Granville
8: 0298
Blang, Preston
14: 0620
414
Blang, Sally Ann Bell
14: 0620
Blanton, Sanford C.
25: 0718
Blassingame, Aurelia
14: 0523
Blassingame, Carrie
14: 0523
Blassingame, Daniel
14: 0523
Blassingame, Elizabeth
14: 0523
Blassingame, Emma
14: 0523
Blassingame, John
14: 0523
Blassingame, Rachael
14: 0523
Blassingame, Robert
14: 0523
Blassingame, William
14: 0523
Bledsoe, Mary N.
18: 0088
Blevins, William
10: 0076
Blood, Sullivan
4: 0170
Blunt, Jacob
9: 0347
Blunt, Rebecca
9: 0347
Blythe, M. A.
20: 0453
Bob
2: 0002
Bob
3: 0580
Bob
15: 0087
Bob
18: 0056
Bob
18: 0084
Bobo, Washington P.
22: 0134
Bobo, Willis
10: 0762
Boddic, Charles E.
22: 0455

Bogart, Solomon
13: 0356
Bogee, Mr.
22: 0077
Bogert, D.
20: 0453
Bohannon, Hiram
6: 0621
Bolerjack, John
18: 0785
Bolin, John
7: 1006
Boling, Daniel B.
17: 0273
Bolton, W. H.
20: 0453
Bond, Benjamin F.
16: 0732
Bond, Charles A.
16: 0732
Bond, John
14: 0506
Bond, John D.
16: 0732
Bond, Lucinda L.
8: 0814
Bond, Morris L.
16: 0732
Bond, Nancy
16: 0732
Bond, Robert W.
16: 0732
Bond, Susannah P.
14: 0506
Bond, Sylvester
14: 0506
Bond, Thomas H.
16: 0732
Bond, Venus
17: 0076
Bond, William
8: 0814
Bond, William J.
16: 0732
Bondaly
22: 0513
Bonds, Nathaniel
21: 0592
Bonds, Tabitha Kimbro
21: 0592
Bone, James
11: 0857
Bonner, Anderson
21: 0750
Bonner, Henry C.
2: 0603
Bonner, James W.
26: 0144
Bonner, Nancy Vance
21: 0750
Bonner, Nathaniel
25: 0396
Bonner, William
24: 0747
Booker, Anna
17: 0540
Booker, Ellen Smiser
14: 0268
Booker, James G.
13: 0547
Booker, James G.
14: 0268
Booker, Mary Ann Porter
13: 0547
Booker, Peter R.
11: 0457
Booker, Peter R.
12: 0296
Boon, Hannah
26: 0407
Booth, James H.
8: 0973
Booton, Jane Wood
6: 0621
Booton, William
6: 0621
Borren, Samuel A.
8: 0778
Borren, William R.
8: 0778
Bosley, Charles
21: 0161
Bosley, Gertrude
21: 0161
Bosley, James R.
20: 0786
Bosley, John B.
15: 0506
Bosley, Peyton R.
20: 0786
415
Boss, James
19: 0329
Boss, Sarah
19: 0329
Bostian, Josiah
19: 0122
Bostian, Josiah
19: 0265
Bostick, Albert C.
18: 0751
Bostick, Elizabeth Elliott
18: 0763
Bostick, Forest G.
18: 0751
Bostick, John G.
18: 0751
Bostick, Jonathan
18: 0763
Bostick, Lewis S.
18: 0751
Bostick, Little Berry K.
18: 0751
Bostick, Mary B.
18: 0751
Bostick, Nancy N.
18: 0751
Bostick, Rebecca
Cannon
14: 0328
Bostick, Rebecca L.
19: 0240
Bostick, Richard W. H.
14: 0328
Bostwick, William W.
1: 0631
Bothwell, Narcissa
15: 0677
Boucher, Benjamin
8: 0908
Boucher, Mary
8: 0908
Bough, William
18: 0093
Boulton, Americus D.
19: 0360
Boulton, Americus D.
21: 0002
Boulton, Benjamin F.
19: 0360

Boulton, Elizabeth
19: 0360
Boulton, Frances
21: 0132
Boulton, Francis M.
19: 0360
Boulton, Francis M.
21: 0002
Boulton, George
21: 0132
Boulton, Gideon
21: 0132
Boulton, James
19: 0360
Boulton, John
21: 0132
Boulton, Lent, Jr.
19: 0360
Boulton, Martha
21: 0132
Boulton, Martha Jane
21: 0132
Boulton, William
21: 0132
Boulton, William T.
19: 0360
Boulton, William T.
21: 0002
Bourne, A. D.
13: 0332
Bourne, James T.
20: 0453
Bowen, John H.
20: 0453
Bowerman, Pleasant M.
14: 0554
Bowers, Benjamin F.
13: 0047
Bowers, Giles R.
12: 0951
Bowers, Lawrence
20: 1019
Bowers, Lemuel
13: 0047
Bowers, William
13: 0047
Bowles, William
20: 0453
Bowling, Smith
12: 0951
Bowling, William
18: 0056
Bowman, John
12: 0937
Bowman, Joseph
18: 1019
Bowman, Joseph
19: 0130
Bowman, Mary
12: 0937
Bowman, Robert
13: 0279
Bowman, Robert
13: 0284
Bowman, Samuel
12: 0937
Bowman, William
12: 0937
Boxley, Harrison
16: 0732
Boxley, Peggy A. Bond
16: 0732
Boyd, Abner
10: 0860
Boyd, Abner
19: 1046
Boyd, Abner
20: 0924
Boyd, Ann A.
19: 1046
Boyd, George G.
10: 0860
Boyd, George W.
19: 1046
Boyd, George W.
20: 0924
Boyd, James I. R.
16: 0692
Boyd, James W.
14: 0318
Boyd, James William
10: 0860
Boyd, Jeremiah M.
14: 0204
Boyd, John G.
10: 0860
Boyd, Mira L.
10: 0860
Boyd, Nicholas H.
10: 0860
416
Boyd, William L.
19: 0455
Boyd, William L.
21: 0614
Boyers, Robert M.
15: 0019
Boyers, Robert M.
15: 0127
Boyet, William
10: 0620
Boyette, Haywood
6: 0200
Boyles, Charles
10: 0479
Boyles, James
16: 0170
Boyles, John
16: 0170
Bracken, Granville
19: 0690
Bracken, James R.
23: 0903
Bracken, James R.
23: 1039
Bracken, William R.
23: 0903
Bracken, William R.
23: 1039
Braden, Andrew J.
19: 0272
Braden, Felix G.
19: 0272
Braden, Jacob F.
19: 0272
Braden, Jacob G.
15: 0587
Braden, Jacob G.
19: 0272
Braden, Joseph
19: 0272
Braden, Joseph G.
22: 0663
Braden, Lucinda
19: 0272
Braden, P. H.
19: 0272
Braden, Patrick H.
12: 0287
Braden, Patrick H.
19: 0272

Braden, Thomas M.
19: 0272
Braden, William
19: 0272
Bradley, Mr.
23: 0503
Bradley, E. S.
22: 0482
Bradley, Hugh H.
19: 0690
Bradley, Sarah McMurry
22: 0482
Bradley, Thomas
11: 0269
Bradly, Elizabeth
14: 0232
Bradly, Emily
12: 0761
Bradly, Frances Ann
Edwards
14: 0099
Bradly, John
12: 0761
Bradly, John
14: 0232
Bradly, Vivaley
14: 0232
Bradly, William
14: 0232
Bradly, William D.
14: 0099
Bradly, William R.
14: 0232
Bradshaw, Nancy
17: 0076
Bradshaw, William
10: 0553
Bradshaw, William
23: 1024
Brady, Genl.
12: 1040
Brady, George T.
17: 0260
Brady, Harriet R.
17: 0260
Brady, Susan
17: 0260
Braly, Ephrian T.
22: 0207
Braly, Martha Ann
Simmons
22: 0207
Branch, K.
22: 0094
Branch, Thomas
15: 0799
Branch of the Bank of
the State of Alabama at
Montgomery
13: 0399
Branden, Alexander W.
16: 0523
Branden, Charles
16: 0523
Branden, Charles L.
16: 0523
Branden, Edmund
16: 0523
Branden, George M.
16: 0523
Branden, Henrietta
16: 0523
Branden, James
16: 0523
Branden, John H.
16: 0523
Branden, Mary E.
16: 0523
Branden, Matilda Murphy
16: 0523
Branden, Zachary T.
16: 0523
Brander, John F.
22: 0024
Brander, Simion E.
22: 0024
Brandon, Charles
13: 0547
Bransford, Mary
13: 0034
Brantley, Abraham
10: 0898
Brantley, Lucy Smith
10: 0898
Brantly, Lucy
12: 1052
Braswell, Appy Evans
15: 0420
417
Braswell, Phereby Evans
15: 0420
Braswell, Reuben
15: 0420
Bratton, James
2: 0331
Bratton, Nancy Ann
21: 0848
Brawner, Margarett
12: 0156
Brawner, Meredith
12: 0156
Braxton
6: 0200
Brayton, Horatio H.
16: 0026
Brayton, Lucinda
16: 0026
Brazel Brown & Co.
21: 0894
Brazelton, John G.
13: 0750
Breathitt, Mary P. Eaton
13: 0685
Breeding, Mr.
23: 0503
Brevard, Albert H.
8: 0219
Brewer, John
10: 0435
Brewer, Susan
Hardeman
10: 0435
Bridgeman, Nathaniel
17: 0848
Bridgeman, Samuel L.
17: 0848
Bridges, Charles C.
9: 0168
Bridges, Daniel S.
10: 0762
Bridges, Darling
15: 0760
Bridges, Easter Pride
22: 0601
Bridges, Elizabeth
Thompson
15: 0760
Bridges, Esther
10: 0762

Bridges, James S.
14: 0372
Bridges, Jessee
10: 0762
Bridges, John
10: 0762
Bridges, Lewis
22: 0601
Bridgewater, Amelia H.
Moores
14: 0560
Bridgewater, Samuel C.
14: 0560
Bridgwater, Samuel C.
16: 0739
Bridgwater, Samuel C.
22: 0601
Brien, C. D.
21: 0087
Brien, William G.
21: 0522
Brigg, Martha Laird
11: 0836
Brigg, Robert M.
11: 0836
Brigg, Robert M.
15: 0587
Briggs, Elizabeth Read
11: 0614
Briggs, William M.
21: 0709
Bright, Charles
15: 0087
Brink, Amanda
8: 0660
Brink, Elizabeth
8: 0660
Brink, Francis M.
8: 0660
Brink, Hybert
8: 0660
Brink, John
8: 0660
Brinkley, R. C.
20: 0453
Brinkly, Albert H.
19: 0404
Brinkly, E. W.
19: 0404
Brinkly, Henry A.
12: 0164
Brinkly, Henry B.
19: 0404
Brinkly, James B.
19: 0404
Brinkly, John K.
19: 0404
Brinkly, Lunsford B.
19: 0404
Brinkly, Mary White
12: 0164
Brinson, Frances
12: 0662
Brison, Mathew
26: 0462
Britt, B. B.
21: 0087
Brittain, Mitchell D.
21: 0043
Brittain, Robert N.
21: 0043
Britten, Samuel
6: 0894
Britton, Jane T.
2: 0259
Britton, Richard
2: 0259
Britts, Nancy Ford
13: 0715
Bronson, Isaac
18: 0013
Brookings, Rebecca
2: 0740
Brooks, Ailsy Vance
21: 0750
Brooks, Christopher
12: 0087
Brooks, Eliza, the Elder
16: 0657
Brooks, Eliza, the
Younger
16: 0657
Brooks, Elizabeth
18: 0504
Brooks, Elizabeth
Holland
18: 0511
Brooks, Henry
20: 0018
418
Brooks, Henry
24: 0707
Brooks, James
18: 0504
Brooks, James
18: 0511
Brooks, James
20: 0018
Brooks, John H.
21: 0750
Brooks, Lucy
20: 0018
Brooks, Margaret
13: 0891
Brooks, Martha
12: 0087
Brooks, Mary
12: 0087
Brooks, Mary
19: 0272
Brooks, Mary R.
21: 0230
Brooks, Napoleon B.
12: 0087
Brooks, Permelia
20: 0018
Brooks, Robert
16: 0657
Brooks, Robert H.
21: 0230
Brooks, Sarah
16: 0657
Brooks, Thomas
19: 0272
Brooks, Thomas W.
21: 0230
Brooks, Thomas W.
21: 0841
Brooks, William
12: 0087
Brooks, William
14: 0610
Brotherton, Marshall
6: 0111
Brousard, Savane
26: 0679
Broussard, Sevan
26: 0721
Brown, Gov. Aaron V.
21: 0973

Brown, Ann McCallum
22: 0489
Brown, Archibald W.
13: 0547
Brown, Ares
18: 0043
Brown, Aris
13: 0841
Brown, Aris
18: 0238
Brown, Benjamin F.
11: 0751
Brown, Calvin S.
15: 0498
Brown, Charlottee
Buford Hicks
10: 0947
Brown, Elizabeth
18: 0093
Brown, Elizabeth
19: 0213
Brown, Frances Read
11: 0614
Brown, Frank
26: 0782
Brown, Franky Ashby
21: 0860
Brown, George
4: 0634
Brown, George
10: 0947
Brown, Jabez
8: 0814
Brown, James
15: 0313
Brown, James
23: 0912
Brown, Jenny
7: 0164
Brown, Jenny
7: 0250
Brown, Jim
7: 0250
Brown, John
10: 0136
Brown, John
17: 0803
Brown, John
18: 1025
Brown, John C.
22: 0282
Brown, John C.
22: 0291
Brown, John S.
8: 0594
Brown, John T.
11: 0457
Brown, John T.
15: 0498
Brown, John W.
11: 0751
Brown, Joseph R.
15: 0498
Brown, Julia Clark
15: 0462
Brown, Lacy L.
15: 0498
Brown, Marcus
14: 0873
Brown, Margaret Martin
23: 0912
Brown, Martha N.
17: 0076
Brown, Mary C. Winston
14: 0817
Brown, Mary C. Winston
22: 0332
Brown, Merit R.
11: 0751
Brown, Milly
15: 0329
Brown, Milly
17: 0076
Brown, Nancy
11: 0751
Brown, Nancy G.
15: 0498
Brown, R. F.
20: 0453
Brown, Rebecca B.
23: 0239
Brown, Reuben R.
25: 0242
Brown, Robert T.
3: 0892
Brown, Samuel
21: 0860
Brown, Samuel R.
16: 0495
419
Brown, Squire
6: 0126
Brown, Squire
7: 0259
Brown, Vines
11: 0614
Brown, W. T.
20: 0453
Brown, William H.
26: 0518
Brown, William L.
21: 0198
Brown, William P.
22: 0282
Brown, Wilson
8: 0219
Brown, Wyatt A.
14: 0348
Brownin, Benjamin F.
13: 0146
Browning, Jesse
1: 0840
Brownlow, Isaac
10: 0076
Broyles, Abram
21: 0372
Broyles, Samuel
21: 0372
Bruce, Sarah A. Allen
22: 0134
Bruce, William F.
22: 0134
Bryan, Hardy S.
10: 0497
Bryan, James Harvey
5: 0022
Bryan, John B.
14: 0002
Bryan, John H.
5: 0022
Bryan, Milton
5: 0022
Bryan, Nelson J.
14: 0002
Bryan, Thomas W.
5: 0022
Bryan, William Z.
5: 0022
Bryant, James L.
23: 0198

Bryant, Lucinda Cate
13: 0650
Bryant, Mary M. Cannon
14: 0328
Bryant, Nancy Cate
13: 0641
Bryant, Nancy Cate
13: 0650
Bryant, Thomas
20: 1027
Bryant, William P.
14: 0328
Buch, John B.
12: 0650
Buch, Milley Wilburn
12: 0650
Buchanan, Arminda J.
22: 0543
Buchanan, Charles M.
22: 0543
Buchanan, Clayton
22: 0409
Buchanan, James
22: 0543
Buchanan, Jefferson F.
22: 0543
Buchanan, John P.
22: 0543
Buchanan, John R.
22: 0543
Buchanan, Leander
22: 0543
Buchanan, Marcus E.
22: 0543
Buchanan, Margary
Buchanan
22: 0543
Buchanan, Mary A. H.
Abernathy
22: 0409
Buchanan, Milton
15: 0401
Buchanan, Pryor
15: 0401
Buchanan, Rane M. L.
22: 0543
Buchanan, Robert M.
22: 0543
Buchanan, Samuel S.
20: 0128
Buchanan, Sanford M.
22: 0543
Buchanan, Sina A.
22: 0543
Buchanan, William A.
22: 0543
Buchhalter, Elizabeth
Cate
13: 0641
Buckingham, Thomas
21: 0384
Buckner, Alexander
3: 0646
Buckner, Alexander
3: 0654
Buckner, Alfred P.
11: 0543
Buckner, Elisha
11: 0543
Buckner, Malinda P.
21: 0848
Buckner, Martha Jane
11: 0543
Buckner, Richardson
11: 0543
Buckner, Sarah Anne
11: 0543
Buckner, William
Anthony
11: 0543
Buford, Albert
21: 0797
Buford, Charles
10: 0947
Buford, Courtney
Elizabeth
21: 0797
Buford, Florence W.
21: 0797
Buford, Helen W.
21: 0797
Buford, Mary Margaret
21: 0797
Buford, Spencer
10: 0947
Bugg, Robert M.
15: 0169
Bulkey, Henry E.
20: 0453
420
Bunn, P. H.
7: 0801
Buntin, John
19: 0690
Burd, William
6: 0050
Burden, William
19: 0793
Burdett, Jesse
23: 0943
Burdett, William B.
23: 0943
Burdine, N. B.
21: 0894
Burditt, Giles H.
25: 0686
Burditt, Giles H.
26: 0079
Burditt, Giles H.
26: 0303
Burditt, Giles H.
26: 0308
Burditt, Jesse
25: 0097
Burditt, Jesse F.
26: 0079
Burditt, Jesse F.
26: 0303
Burditt, Jesse F.
26: 0308
Burditt, Joel A.
25: 0619
Burditt, Joel A.
25: 0913
Burditt, Joel A.
26: 0128
Burk, Margrett, heirs of
13: 0821
Burk, Martha Ann
26: 0676
Burke
11: 0058
Burke [?], Elizabeth Cate
13: 0650
Burleson, Aaron
24: 0418
Burleson, Aaron
24: 0457
Burleson, Aaron
26: 0740

Burleson, John
25: 0710
Burnet, Nancy D.
2: 0486
Burnet, W. D.
2: 0486
Burnett, John J.
13: 0209
Burnett, Joseph M.
19: 0799
Burnham, Mary
23: 0693
Burns, Elizabeth
Eastwood
8: 0915
Burns, Jennett King
13: 0821
Burns, John W.
6: 0379
Burns, Patrick
13: 0821
Burns, William A.
6: 0831
Burrell, Lewis
7: 1067
Burrell, Robert
24: 0085
Burrell, S.
7: 0506
Burrell, S.
7: 0524
Burress, John
1: 0062
Burress, Rebecca
Phillips
1: 0062
Burrow, Freeman
12: 0495
Burrow, William
12: 0495
Burrus, Jacob
10: 0820
Burrus, Susannah Martin
10: 0820
Burton, Cely
15: 0621
Burton, Cely
17: 0076
Burton, Edmund
13: 0741
Burton, Ellen
15: 0616
Burton, Ellen
17: 0076
Burton, Frances
17: 0076
Burton, Francis
15: 0606
Burton, Frank N. W.
10: 0714
Burton, Lavenia B.
Murfree
10: 0714
Burton, Margaret
17: 0076
Burton, Matthew
15: 0611
Burton, Matthew
17: 0076
Burwell
5: 0224
Busby, Daniel
4: 0940
Busby, Nathan, Jr.
25: 0781
Bush, David B.
26: 0508
Bush, Edwin
22: 0154
Bush, Elkanah
22: 0154
Bush, G. Washington
22: 0154
Bush, John G.
15: 0413
Bush, Nancy G.
15: 0413
Bush, Pamelia
22: 0154
Bush, Sue Ann
22: 0154
Bush, William
22: 0154
Bush, William A.
19: 0749
Bush, Willis
22: 0154
Butcher, Robin
12: 0591
421
Butler, Caleb
16: 0335
Butler, Elizabeth Corley
17: 0615
Butler, Henry
16: 0335
Butler, Jacob M.
16: 0335
Butler, James
16: 0170
Butler, Jerome D.
19: 0961
Butler, Jesse
3: 0238
Butler, John
3: 0509
Butler, John
11: 0650
Butler, Nancy Ann
14: 0278
Butler, Richard
16: 0335
Butler, Ritchard
17: 0615
Butler, Sarah H. Scruggs
19: 0961
Butler, Thomas
16: 0335
Butler, William S.
16: 0091
Butler, William S.
16: 0107
Butter, Betsey
12: 0818
Byers, Thomas N.
13: 0678
Byrd, Edward
2: 0882
Byrd, Edward
3: 0085
Byrd, Mary
2: 0882
Byrd, Mary
3: 0085
Byrd, Mary Ellen
2: 0879
Byrne, Morgan
3: 0785
Cabanna, John P.
3: 0675

Cabanne, John P.
4: 0076
Cabeen, John
2: 0288
Cage, Elizabeth McMurry
22: 0482
Cage, Nathaniel
22: 0482
Cagle, Keziah Everett
17: 0472
Cagle, William W.
17: 0472
Cahal, Ann Sanders
12: 0602
Cahal, Terry H.
12: 0602
Cain, S. M.
25: 0308
Cain, Sugar M.
26: 0053
Cain, Sugar M.
26: 0057
Cain, William
17: 0291
Caldwell, David A.
21: 1130
Caldwell, Fanny
21: 1130
Caldwell, Henry L.
9: 0183
Caldwell, Henry S.
9: 0183
Caldwell, John R.
26: 0252
Caldwell, Robert W.
23: 0428
Caldwell, Sarah D.
21: 1119
Calhoun, Charles
18: 0728
Calhoun, Meredith
15: 0087
Callaghan, Bishop Myers
17: 0314
Callaghan, Cassely
17: 0314
Callaghan, Ellen E. S.
17: 0314
Callaghan, Mary P.
17: 0314
Callaghan, Michael
16: 0601
Callaghan, Michael
17: 0314
Callaghan, Philip
17: 0314
Calliott, Melanie
9: 0196
Calvert, Fleming
8: 0002
Calvert, Fleming
8: 0617
Calvert, Louncelot H.
8: 0332
Calvert, Mary Ann
8: 0617
Calvert, Sanford
4: 0655
Calvit, Coleman M.
25: 0054
Calvit, Frederick J.
24: 0439
Calvit, Isaac S.
25: 0054
Cambell, Robert
20: 0687
Camden, John B.
20: 0230
Camden, Nancy
20: 0230
Camden, Peter G.
20: 0230
Cameron, Donald
17: 0058
Cameron [?], John
20: 0453
Camp, Beverly C.
9: 0137
Camp, Elizabeth A.
3: 0276
Camp, Elvira Debo
9: 0137
Camp, Jane
3: 0245
Camp, Jane O.
3: 0167
Camp, John H.
10: 0471
Camp, William
3: 0245
422
Campbell
5: 0207
Campbell, Andrew J.
15: 0087
Campbell, Benjamin
20: 0288
Campbell, Bruce
21: 0502
Campbell, Caltha
8: 0720
Campbell, Cornelius
1: 0752
Campbell, Cornelius
5: 0199
Campbell, Cornelius
5: 0207
Campbell, Cornelius
5: 0215
Campbell, Cornelius
5: 0224
Campbell, Cornelius
5: 0232
Campbell, Cornelius
5: 0240
Campbell, Cornelius
5: 0260
Campbell, Cornelius
5: 0269
Campbell, Daniel L.
13: 0597
Campbell, David
12: 0193
Campbell, David
12: 0524
Campbell, David
12: 1049
Campbell, Donald
19: 0846
Campbell, Elizabeth
Bennett
16: 0607
Campbell, Elizabeth C.
Wilkins
11: 0002
Campbell, Franklin A.
15: 0087
Campbell, Henrietta C.
15: 0169
Campbell, James
15: 0454

Campbell, James D.
15: 0087
Campbell, James H.
21: 0904
Campbell, James W.
21: 0943
Campbell, James W.
21: 1041
Campbell, Jane B.
10: 0479
Campbell, Jennet
21: 0502
Campbell, John P.
22: 0332
Campbell, Martha
15: 0454
Campbell, Martha
21: 0502
Campbell, Mary
22: 0332
Campbell, Mary Ann
King
13: 0821
Campbell, Matilda
Vincent
13: 0597
Campbell, McCoy
21: 0502
Campbell, Naomi A.
21: 0502
Campbell, Neill
11: 0002
Campbell, Polly
15: 0248
Campbell, Richmond
14: 0884
Campbell, Robert
15: 0454
Campbell, Robert, Jr.
13: 0169
Campbell, Robert E.
21: 0502
Campbell, Robert G.
8: 0720
Campbell, Robert H.
20: 0778
Campbell, Samuel
1: 0752
Campbell, Sarah Bagly
14: 0884
Campbell, Sarah E.
1: 0872
Campbell, Sarah
Winston
14: 0817
Campbell, Silas W.
21: 0502
Campbell, Stephen J.
9: 0502
Campbell, Viney
1: 0752
Campbell, William
4: 0559
Campbell, William F.
1: 0872
Campbell, William W.
15: 0454
Campone, R. J.
13: 0332
Camster, Henry
8: 0925
Camster, Jane
8: 0925
Camster, Price
8: 0925
Canady
22: 0513
Candee Mix & Co.
20: 0453
Cannon, Adaline
14: 0328
Cannon, Howard
11: 0875
Cannon, James M.
14: 0328
Cannon, Lavinia T.
14: 0328
Cannon, Lucretia
Richardson
11: 0875
Cannon, Mariah Gonham
14: 0328
Cannon, Newton
11: 0020
Cannon, Newton
14: 0328
Cannon, Rachael S.
14: 0328
Cannon, Robert
12: 0002
423
Cannon, T. W. R.
22: 0256
Cannon, William P.
14: 0328
Cantrell, George M. D.
2: 0262
Cantrell, Stephen
2: 0262
Caplinger, Samuel
12: 1018
Cardwell, Buckner S.
14: 0639
Carey
4: 0497
Carl, Mahala E.
Buchanan
22: 0543
Carl, Manson A.
22: 0543
Carmack, John M.
20: 0453
Carman, Thomas
18: 1019
Carmolite
3: 0375
Carney, John
6: 0379
Caroline
6: 0200
Caroline
7: 0576
Caroline
14: 0620
Caroline
15: 0087
Caroline
22: 0513
Carothers, James
17: 0454
Carothers, Wiley B.
17: 0454
Carr, B. M.
26: 0762
Carr, Charity
16: 0358
Carr, David
16: 0358
Carr, Elizabeth
16: 0358

Carr, John
16: 0358
Carr, Mary A.
26: 0762
Carroll, W. H.
20: 0453
Carroll, William H.
17: 0798
Carruthers, James
12: 0898
Carruthers, Robert
20: 0340
Carruthers, Robert L.
12: 0602
Carruthers, Sally
Sanders
12: 0602
Carruthers, Sarah A.
Vaughn
20: 0340
Carsey, Francis M.
20: 0812
Carsey, James M.
20: 0812
Carson, Mercany [?]
20: 0403
Carson, Thomas
20: 0403
Carter
5: 0232
Carter, A. C.
21: 0533
Carter, Ashly
7: 0787
Carter, Daniel F.
19: 0690
Carter, David W.
2: 0262
Carter, David W.
17: 0654
Carter, Edmond J.
25: 0519
Carter, Eliza W.
7: 0787
Carter, Enoch
10: 0191
Carter, Evelina B.
17: 0654
Carter, Frank
22: 0597
Carter, James P. J.
17: 0654
Carter, James P. T.
19: 0030
Carter, James T.
20: 0701
Carter, Joshua L.
7: 0787
Carter, Landon D.
2: 0262
Carter, Landon D.
17: 0654
Carter, Louisa Caruthers
Dixon
22: 0561
Carter, Mary
7: 0787
Carter, Mary Wilburn
12: 0650
Carter, Rachel Cate
13: 0650
Carter, Robert S.
1: 0631
Carter, Samuel P.
17: 0654
Carter, Sarah J.
Simmons
22: 0207
Carter, William B.
17: 0654
Carter, William B.
19: 0030
Carter, William C.
22: 0207
Cartmell, Isabella
Gleaves
11: 0891
Cartmell, Nathaniel
11: 0891
Cartwright, Albert R.
16: 0139
Cartwright, David
11: 0571
Cartwright, David
11: 0763
Cartwright, Elizabeth
10: 0441
Cartwright, John
14: 0515
424
Cartwright, John H.
21: 0426
Cartwright, Robert
10: 0441
Cartwright, Thomas
10: 0441
Cartwright, William H.
14: 0312
Carty, Benjamin F.
20: 0998
Carty, Benjamin F.
21: 0010
Carty, Catharine
20: 0998
Carty, Catharine
21: 0010
Carty, Catharine
22: 0673
Carty, Charles B.
20: 0998
Carty, Charles B.
21: 0010
Carty, Charles B.
22: 0673
Carty, Eliza C.
20: 0998
Carty, Eliza C.
21: 0010
Carty, George S.
20: 0998
Carty, George S.
21: 0010
Carty, Henry
20: 0998
Carty, Henry
21: 0010
Carty, James B.
20: 0998
Carty, James B.
21: 0010
Carty, John B.
20: 0998
Carty, John B.
21: 0010
Caruthers, Bettie
22: 0561
Caruthers, Eliza
22: 0561

Caruthers, Elizabeth
McCallum Huff
22: 0489
Caruthers, Fannie C.
22: 0561
Caruthers, J. P.
20: 0453
Caruthers, James
10: 0878
Caruthers, James
12: 0080
Caruthers, James
12: 0887
Caruthers, James N.
22: 0489
Caruthers, John
12: 0898
Caruthers, Kate
22: 0561
Caruthers, Nancy
12: 0898
Caruthers, Rebecca
22: 0561
Caruthers, Robert L., Jr.
22: 0561
Caruthers, Robert L., Sr.
22: 0561
Caruthers, Sallie
22: 0561
Caruthers, Samuel
20: 0073
Caruthers, Samuel
21: 0140
Caruthers, Samuel
22: 0561
Caruthers, William A.
22: 0561
Case, Henry
20: 0164
Case, Henry
20: 0654
Case, Henry
21: 0402
Case, Marietta Gee
20: 0164
Case, Marietta Gee
20: 0654
Case, Marietta Gee
21: 0402
Cash, Thomas W.
12: 0524
Casper
15: 0385
Cast, Elizabeth Lea
10: 0097
Castiller, Alfred
20: 0522
Castleman, Robert B.
14: 0515
Castleman, Robert B.
21: 0709
Cate, Benjamin
13: 0641
Cate, Charles
13: 0641
Cate, John
13: 0641
Cate, Mariada
13: 0641
Cate, Martha
13: 0641
Cate, Matilda
13: 0641
Cate, Penelope
13: 0641
Cate, Rebecca
13: 0641
Cate, Robert, Jr.
13: 0641
Cate, Sarah
13: 0650
Cates, Charles
13: 0650
Cates, David
1: 0431
Cates, Isaac
1: 0431
Cates, John C.
13: 0650
Cates, Leanah
1: 0431
Cates, Lee O.
1: 0431
Cates, Rebecca Cate
13: 0650
Cates, Robert
13: 0650
Cates, Wharton
1: 0431
425
Cates, William
13: 0650
Cates, Young
1: 0431
Catharine
15: 0087
Catharine
22: 0513
Cathen, Pleasant M.
20: 0634
Catherine
20: 0930
Cathiche
4: 0002
Catiche
3: 0375
Cator, Moses E.
12: 0650
Catron, George W.
21: 0546
Catron, John
10: 0599
Catron, Matilda
Childress
10: 0599
Catron, Oliver P.
14: 0460
Catron, Oliver P.
15: 0214
Catton, Joseph
11: 0027
Cavalier, Mr.
3: 0394
Cave, Benjamin
4: 0389
Cavitt, Elizabeth
21: 0564
Cavitt, Emily A.
21: 0564
Cavitt, G. W.
21: 0564
Cavitt, Hiram
21: 0564
Cavitt, John
21: 0564
Cavitt, Joseph
21: 0564
Cavitt, Washington
21: 0564

Cavitt, William
21: 0564
Caywood, Richard
8: 0814
Celeste
3: 0375
Celeste
3: 0840
Celeste
5: 0449
Celeste
5: 0663
Celeste
5: 0719
Celeste
5: 0746
Celestine
5: 0663
Celestine
7: 0184
Celia
20: 0930
Celia
22: 0513
Central Southern
Railroad Company
22: 0065, 0072, 0077,
0083, 0111, 0250
Chadwell, George
8: 0367
Chadwell, Martha Harris
8: 0367
Chadwick, James M.
2: 0612
Chamberlain, Martha
Ewell
17: 0590
Chamberlain, William P.
17: 0590
Chambers, Alexander
9: 0154
Chambers, James
18: 0056
Chambers, Jane
20: 0114
Chambers, Lewis
20: 0114
Chambers, Margarett
24: 0274
Chambers, Mary Massey
21: 0546
Chambers, Newton
20: 1072
Chambers, Nicholas
20: 1072
Chambers, Thomas
21: 0546
Chambers, Thomas W.
24: 0274
Chamblin, America C.
8: 0720
Chamblin, Ann A.
8: 0720
Chamblin, Elizabeth S.
8: 0720
Chance, Isaac S.
25: 0006
C. H. and D. L. Coffin &
Co.
21: 0973
Chandler, David
14: 0069
Chandler, John F.
18: 0747
Chandler, Newton
18: 0747
Chandler, Sarah
18: 0747
Chandler, Susan
18: 0747
Chandler, Taylor
9: 0543
Chandler, William
14: 0761
Chandler, William
18: 0747
Chandler, William R.
20: 0453
Chapin, Benjamin F.
20: 1027
Chapman, Alexander
21: 0132
Chapman, Amos
21: 0132
Chapman, Philip
19: 0257
Chapman, T. F.
24: 0534
426
Chappel, Henry S. P.
13: 0169
Charles
2: 0652
Charles
5: 0831
Charles
6: 0083
Charles
6: 0144
Charles
15: 0087
Charles
18: 0460
Charles
22: 0513
Charles, George
6: 0539
Charles, George
6: 0551
Charleville, Leah
5: 0814
Charleville, Peter
5: 0802
Charleville, Peter
5: 0814
Charleville, Peter
5: 0875
Charlotte
4: 0538
Charlotte
15: 0087
Charlotte
17: 0291
Charlotte
22: 0513
Charlton, George
19: 0307
Chase, Mary McRay
21: 0372
Chase, Walter J.
21: 0372
Chase, William
20: 0453
Chatton, George W.
14: 0426
Chavers, Berry
13: 0876
Chaves, Bennett
17: 0280

Chaves, Candice
17: 0280
Chaves, Frances
17: 0280
Chaves, Jane
17: 0280
Cheatham, Edmond B.
16: 0673
Cheatham, John
11: 0412
Cheatham, Nicholas P.
16: 0673
Cheatham, Peter
10: 0553
Cheatham, Sarah
21: 0398
Cheatham, W. H.
17: 0345
Cheeney, Charles J.
19: 0568
Cherry
22: 0513
Cherry, Daniel
10: 0136
Cherry, Darling
10: 0136
Cherry, Edward
18: 0517
Cherry, Ely
10: 0136
Cherry, Francis A.
20: 0646
Cherry, Isham
10: 0136
Cherry, John
10: 0136
Cherry, Pierce W.
20: 0646
Cherry, Thomas
12: 1052
Cherry, William C.
14: 0240
Chevaillier, Charles
24: 0107
Chevaillier, Charles
24: 0299
Chevaillier, Charles
25: 0899
Chevallier, Helen, heirs
of
3: 0840
Chevis, Richard
17: 0076
Chews, Jane
12: 0818
Childress, Ann Maria
10: 0599
Childress, Edwin H.
21: 0804
Childress, Elijah R.
10: 0599
Childress, Elizabeth
10: 0599
Childress, Elizabeth
21: 0614
Childress, George C.
10: 0599
Childress, James
10: 0599
Childress, John
10: 0599
Chiles, Celia Lambert
6: 0604
Chiles, Henry
18: 0903
Chiles, Robert
6: 0604
Chilton, Robert
17: 0466
Chilton, Thomas
21: 0758
Chilton, William L.
17: 0466
Chinowth, Martha
20: 0914
Chinowth, Richard
20: 0914
Chitwood, A.
17: 0243
Chitwood, Elizabeth E.
18: 0002
Chitwood, Tabitha Allen
17: 0243
Chloe
5: 0544
Chouteau, Auguste P.
3: 0566
427
Chouteau, Gabriel L.
6: 0444
Chouteau, Gabriel S.
6: 0697
Chouteau, Gabriel S.
6: 0936
Chouteau, Henry
6: 0200
Chouteau, Pierre, Jr.
4: 0076
Chouteau, Pierre, Jr.
4: 0086
Chouteau, Pierre, Sr.
3: 0927
Chouteau, Pierre, Sr.
3: 0983
Chouteau, Pierre, Sr.
4: 0002
Chouteau, Therese Cerre
5: 0864
Chouvin, Lefrenier
3: 0840
Christy, Belina
6: 0083
Christy, Belina
6: 0144
Christy, Melanie
6: 0312
Chubb, Eliza
16: 0427
Chubb, John
16: 0427
Chumley, Alex
26: 0407
Chumley, Annstead
26: 0407
Chumley, Drury
26: 0407
Chumley, Gardner
26: 0407
Chumley, Thomas
26: 0407
Chumney, Thomas
24: 0586
Churchwell, William M.
21: 0973
Clack, J. W.
22: 0597
Clack, Missouri
14: 0569

Clady, Robert
1: 0049
Claiborne, Alice
19: 0192
Claiborne, Alpheus
19: 0192
Claiborne, Calista C.
19: 0192
Claiborne, George A.
19: 0192
Claiborne, James C.
21: 0168
Claiborne, Jesse
19: 0192
Claiborne, Mary E.
19: 0192
Claiborne, Myra
19: 0192
Claiborne, Ophelia
Napier
21: 0168
Claiborne, Robert
19: 0192
Claibourne, Jack
12: 0919
Clamorgan, Cyprien
6: 0472
Clamorgan, Henry
6: 0472
Clampitt, Christina J.
13: 0307
Clampitt, James E.
13: 0307
Clampitt, James Henry
13: 0307
Clampitt, Johnathan
13: 0307
Clampitt, Jonathan
13: 0307
Clampitt, Julietta
13: 0307
Clampitt, Martha
13: 0307
Clapp, Sarah Rutherford
21: 1095
Clara
21: 0279
Clardy, Pleasant
17: 0397
Clardy, Thomas M.
17: 0397
Clarissa
2: 0652
Clarissa
6: 0200
Clark, Amos
23: 0867
Clark, Anne
21: 0831
Clark, Benjamin
12: 0761
Clark, E. Y.
19: 0945
Clark, Edward W.
21: 0831
Clark, Eliza H.
21: 0831
Clark, Henderson
10: 0580
Clark, Hiram
15: 0462
Clark, Indiana Simmons
16: 0101
Clark, Jarusa
21: 0831
Clark, John B.
19: 0945
Clark, John M. K.
19: 0945
Clark, John R.
9: 0383
Clark, Kitty E.
21: 0831
Clark, Mark H.
21: 0831
Clark, Martha E.
21: 0831
Clark, Martin
11: 0442
Clark, Mary
15: 0462
Clark, Mary Jane
19: 0945
Clark, Milly
19: 0945
Clark, Spencer
22: 0597
Clark, Susan C.
19: 0945
428
Clark, Virginia H.
21: 0831
Clark, Wayne
3: 0346
Clark, Wayne
3: 0349
Clark, William
4: 0689
Clark, William
12: 0818
Clark, William C.
21: 0831
Clark, Young
16: 0101
Clarke, Elizabeth
Bowman
12: 0937
Clarke, John
12: 0937
Clarke, Joseph M.
24: 0286
Clarke, Joseph W.
16: 0065
Clarke, Mary M.
22: 0430
Clarke, Miriam Ann
1: 0655
Clarke, William
22: 0430
Clarkson, John S.
9: 0752
Claxton, Marietta
22: 0663
Clay, Clement C., Jr.
16: 0181
Clay, Elizabeth High
22: 0233
Clayton, Benjamin
16: 0096
Cleage, Alexander
13: 0833
Cleage, David
13: 0833
Clem, Alethea
14: 0794
Clem, James W.
22: 0014
Clem, Jesse R.
14: 0794

Clem, John
22: 0014
Clem, Samuel
22: 0014
Clem, Thomas H.
22: 0014
Clemens, James, Jr.
7: 0224
Clements, Edmund
1: 0062
Clemons, William H.
17: 0354
Clempson
6: 0794
Clendennen, Isaac
10: 0457
Clepper, Samuel G.
24: 0467
Cleveland, Jesse
14: 0523
Cleveland, Joseph
10: 0820
Cleveland, Mary
Blassingame
14: 0523
Cleveland, Robert E.
25: 0718
Cleveland, Zachary
25: 0718
Cliff, Henry
12: 0818
Clinard, Henderson
18: 0874
Clinard, Mary Jane Horn
18: 0874
Cloud, Adam
24: 0439
Cloud, Angelina B.
McConnico
22: 0118
Cloud, Bettie
22: 0118
Cloud, Durgin M.
15: 0506
Cloud, Ella
22: 0118
Cloud, Fannie
22: 0118
Cloud, Haywood
22: 0118
Cloud, James M.
15: 0506
Cloud, John E.
15: 0506
Cloud, Lemuel
22: 0118
Cloud, Louisa
3: 0327
Cloud, Lucinda
22: 0118
Cloud, Mary
22: 0118
Clouston, Edward G.
11: 0498
Clouston, John
17: 0076
Cochran, Henry S.
14: 0560
Cochran, J.
23: 0503
Cockburn, Caroline
16: 0607
Cocke, Margaret E.
21: 0943
Coe, Elizabeth
20: 0114
Coe, Joseph
10: 0553
Coe, Joseph
20: 0114
Coffe, Holland
23: 0855
Coffe, Thomas J.
23: 0855
Coffee, C. N.
20: 0230
Coffee, Jane
20: 0230
Coing, John
21: 0104
Coker, Charles J.
13: 0343
Coker, Leonard
11: 0768
Coker, Samuel T.
13: 0279
Colbert
21: 0564
Colclough, William
19: 0690
429
Coldwell, Colbert
2: 0882
Coldwell, Colbert
3: 0085
Cole, Abner G.
15: 0282
Cole, Alvin J.
14: 0579
Cole, Harriett
23: 0074
Cole, Henry
9: 0421
Cole, James
17: 0673
Cole, Martha Hill
15: 0282
Cole, Martha W. Hill
14: 0579
Cole, Sarah Light
17: 0673
Cole, William
1: 0990
Coleman, Abram
24: 0124
Coleman, Robert J.
3: 0282
Coleman, Walter
20: 0453
Coleman, William W.
13: 0073
Coleman, William W.
13: 0547
Collier, Nancy C.
Alderson
21: 0056
Collier, William M.
21: 0056
Collins, Alexander
3: 0116
Collins, Alfred
17: 0076
Collins, Arch W.
21: 0724
Collins, Charles
4: 0464
Collins, Charles
6: 0472
Collins, Diadema
3: 0116

Collins, Jesse
20: 0562
Collins, Jessee
17: 0076
Collins, John C.
12: 0541
Collins, Letitia
17: 0076
Collins, Mary Ann
17: 0076
Collins, Mary Garrett
12: 0541
Colton, George A.
7: 0560
Columbia Central
Turnpike Company
12: 0775
Colvin, Garland
9: 0405
Colwell, Susan
23: 0304
Compton, Alexander
23: 0968
Compton, Alexander
24: 0002
Compton, Alexander
25: 0054
Con, Peter G.
20: 1027
Conditt, James M.
18: 0700
Conditt, Joseph B.
20: 0151
Conditt, Polly Ann
Trousdale
18: 0700
Conditt, Rebecca Vaden
20: 0151
Cone, Eliza S. Embry
21: 0724
Cone, J. B.
21: 0724
Conley, George
18: 0375
Conley, Josephine
18: 0375
Conley, Josephine Ann
Helms
18: 0375
Conley, Josiah
10: 0002
Connell, Enoch P.
14: 0471
Connell, William
21: 0426
Connor & Son
21: 0973
Conte, Charles G.
12: 0818
Conway, Henry
12: 0002
Conway, James L.
1: 0032
Conway, Samuel
7: 1086
Cook, Bolivar H.
22: 0159
Cook, Edwin
1: 0872
Cook, Frances A.
1: 0872
Cook, James
1: 0872
Cook, James
19: 0698
Cook, Joseph
10: 0185
Cook, Joseph
10: 0465
Cook, Louisa
1: 0872
Cook, Samuel P.
1: 0154
Cook, Thomas
10: 0465
Cooke, George H.
22: 0024
Cooke, Martha
22: 0024
Cooley, Richard
12: 0312
Cooly, Amanda C.
8: 0054
Coons, David
6: 0200
Coons, George W.
6: 0200
Coons, George W.
6: 0263
430
Coons, George W.
7: 0002
Coons, George W.
7: 0245
Coons, George W.
7: 0350
Coons, George W.
7: 0492
Cooper, H. H.
20: 0453
Cooper, James G.
26: 0367
Cooper, Mary Fulghum
26: 0367
Cooper, Patience Light
17: 0673
Cooper, Rebecca Gilliam
18: 0476
Copeland, Evaline Curd
22: 0024
Copeland, James
11: 0623
Copeland, John
6: 0563
Copeland, John
6: 0579
Copeland, Richard
17: 0386
Copeland, William F.
22: 0024
Copland, Anthony M.
10: 0762
Cordell, Hiram
7: 0212
Cordell, Hiram
7: 0232
Corley, Dudley
17: 0615
Corley, Elisha
17: 0615
Corley, John J.
17: 0615
Corley, Larkin, Jr.
17: 0615
Corley, Mary
17: 0615
Corley, Nancy
17: 0615
Corley, Patsy
17: 0615

Corley, Ritchard
17: 0615
Corn, Benjamin W.
18: 0751
Corn, Elizabeth A.
Bostick
18: 0751
Cornelia
20: 0930
Cornwell, Elizabeth A.
Toney
18: 0412
Cornwell, Elizabeth A.
Toney
18: 0445
Cornwell, Pleasant F.
18: 0412
Cornwell, Pleasant F.
18: 0445
Corson, Amos L.
7: 0356
Cosby, John
19: 0329
Costa, John B.
25: 0745
Cothern, Edward A.
18: 0763
Cottle, Sylvanus
23: 0708
Cotton, Jane
7: 1028
Cotton, Rachael
25: 0224
Cotton, Tellitha
8: 0720
Cotton, Wesley D.
25: 0224
Cotton, Westly D.
24: 0192
Cotton, William R. B.
8: 0720
Coulston, John K.
12: 0312
Coulston, William K.
12: 0312
Covington, Eldrige A.
19: 0772
Covington, Elizabeth
Anderson
19: 0772
Covington, Nathaniel
9: 0052
Cowan, Ellen J.
20: 0467
Cowan, Isabella Cozby
14: 0426
Cowan, J. W.
21: 0635
Cowan, James H.
20: 0570
Cowan, James H.
21: 1025
Cowan, Joseph
14: 0426
Cowan, Louisa Clark
21: 0831
Cowan, Martha J.
20: 0467
Cowan, Peggy
15: 0087
Cowan, Sarah E.
20: 0467
Cowan, Varner D.
18: 0763
Cowan, William W.
14: 0426
Cowan, William W.
20: 0467
Cox, C. R.
26: 0154
Cox, C. R.
26: 0159
Cox, C. R.
26: 0315
Cox, C. R.
26: 0324
Cox, C. R.
26: 0437
Cox, Caleb
5: 0788
Cox, Caroline
15: 0366
Cox, Charles
21: 0279
Cox, Christopher R.
25: 0718
Cox, Edgar E.
22: 0065
Cox, Herman
17: 0354
431
Cox, Herman
18: 0848
Cox, James
14: 0069
Cox, Madison
14: 0069
Cox, Marmaduke
15: 0366
Cox, Mary Jane
Cleveland
25: 0718
Cox, Melinda
21: 0279
Cox, Olivia
15: 0366
Cox, Randolph
25: 0645
Cox, Samuel
19: 0715
Cox, Sarah R. Morgan
21: 0384
Cox, Susannah
14: 0069
Cox, Thomas
15: 0366
Cox, Thomas
21: 0384
Cox, Thomas B.
13: 0592
Cox, William
15: 0366
Coy, Juan de los Santos
23: 0184
Cozby, Abigail
14: 0426
Cozby, Evaline
14: 0426
Cozby, James
14: 0426
Cozby, Jane
14: 0426
Cozby, John
14: 0426
Cozby, Shelton
14: 0426
Cozby, William B.
14: 0426
Craig, Daniel
10: 0701

Craighead, Tennessee V.
Johnson
21: 0773
Craighead, Thomas B.,
Jr.
21: 0773
Craighead, Virginia T.
21: 0773
Crain, Adaline M.
Fulghum
26: 0367
Crain, Ambrose H.
25: 0106
Crain, Ambrose H.
26: 0367
Crain, Giles
26: 0367
Crain, Joel A.
26: 0367
Crain, John R.
26: 0367
Crain, Jowell B.
25: 0106
Crain, Mary
25: 0106
Crain, Newell W.
25: 0106
Crain, Roden T.
23: 0943
Crain, William W.
26: 0367
Cramer, George
8: 0868
Cramer, Jane
8: 0868
Crane, Henry
8: 0536
Cranmer, Thomas
5: 0654
Crary, James
2: 0731
Crary, James
2: 0738
Crawford, Frances R.
22: 0543
Crawford, Hannah
26: 0532
Crawford, James A.
22: 0543
Crawford, James W.
19: 0968
Crawford, Jesse
26: 0532
Crawford, Joel S.
14: 0794
Crawford, John M.
22: 0543
Crawford, John R.
14: 0794
Crawford, Martha J.
Patton
19: 0968
Crawford, Martha N.
22: 0543
Crawford, Stanton R.
22: 0543
Crawford, William
22: 0543
Crawford, William S.
14: 0794
Creel, William
22: 0422
Crews, James A.
22: 0233
Crews, Martha
22: 0233
Crippen, William P.
22: 0033
Crisp, W. H.
21: 0245
Critchfield, Elizabeth
Dowell
21: 0986
Critchfield, Samuel
21: 0986
Croak, Richard M.
17: 0437
Crocket, John A.
17: 0286
Crockett, William L.
21: 0186
Croft, I. L.
6: 0200
Crookshanks, Thomas
22: 0181
Crookshanks, Thomas
R.
21: 0932
432
Cross, Ann N.
20: 0820
Cross, Ann N.
20: 0831
Cross, Edwin O.
20: 0820
Cross, Edwin O.
20: 0831
Cross, James F.
20: 0820
Cross, James F.
20: 0831
Cross, John
6: 0018
Cross, John F.
20: 0820
Cross, John F.
20: 0831
Cross, N. D.
22: 0311
Cross, Nathaniel D.
22: 0332
Cross, Shelton H.
20: 0820
Cross, Shelton H.
20: 0831
Cross, William J.
20: 0820
Cross, William J.
20: 0831
Croswhite, John
7: 0762
Croswhite, Rosetta
7: 0762
Crouch, Jordan
14: 0810
Crouch, Joseph
13: 0715
Crouch, Lucinda
21: 0279
Crouch, Martin
21: 0279
Crouch, Milner F.
9: 0477
Crow, Andrew
22: 0597
Crow, Philips
8: 0152
Crow, Thomas
15: 0691

Crowder, Green
4: 0538
Crowson, Thomas
3: 0153
Crowson, Thomas
3: 0335
Crowson, Thomas H.
3: 0144
Crowson, William
2: 0334
Crowson, William
2: 0479
Crowson, William
2: 0591
Crozier, John H.
21: 0434
Crozier, John H.
21: 1025
Crozier, John H.
21: 1060
Crozier, John H.
21: 1076
Crump, Alfred
7: 1006
Crump, Ann Mariah
16: 0561
Crump, Benjamin
12: 0176
Crump, George K.
16: 0561
Crump, John O.
16: 0561
Crump, Lydia
7: 1006
Crump, Martha J.
16: 0561
Crump, Mary Tennessee
Kinnard
16: 0561
Crump, Romelia
16: 0561
Crunk, Andrew
18: 1008
Crunk, Benjamin W.
18: 1008
Crunk, Elizabeth
18: 1008
Crunk, Felix S.
18: 1008
Crunk, James B.
18: 1008
Crunk, John A.
18: 1008
Crunk, Joseph A.
18: 1008
Crunk, Milly
18: 1008
Crunk, Thomas C.
18: 1008
Crunk, William A.
18: 1008
Crutcher, Henry
15: 0340
Crutcher, James A.
21: 0894
Crutcher, William H.
17: 0454
Crutcher, William H.
21: 0894
Crutchfield, Thomas
13: 0833
Cubbins, John
20: 0453
Cuffey
22: 0513
Culbertson, James
7: 0883
Culbreth, John
19: 0690
Culbreth, Penelope
Searcy
19: 0690
Cummings, Nancy
25: 0314
Cummings, Stephen
25: 0308
Cummings, Stephen
25: 0314
Cummings, William
14: 0595
Cummins, Ebenezer
1: 0631
Cunningham, Alice
Nelson
22: 0502
Cunningham, George W.
18: 0259
Cunningham, Jane H.
12: 0951
433
Cunningham, Martha
Bayley
12: 0951
Cunningham, Samuel A.
22: 0502
Curd, Benjamin
22: 0024
Curd, Charles
12: 0696
Curd, Joseph
22: 0024
Curd, Nancy Lumpkin
12: 0696
Curle, Richmond J.
7: 0308
Curren, Robert S.
16: 0002
Curren, Sophronia C.
Williams
16: 0002
Currin, David
22: 0597
Currin, David M.
16: 0113
Currin, David M.
18: 1073
Currin, David M.
20: 0453
Currin, R. P.
13: 0576
Currin, Robert S.
16: 0113
Curry
15: 0087
Curtis, Mr.
23: 0981
Curtis, N. G.
16: 0420
Cushney, William H.
24: 0542
Cutler, Jane
17: 0076
Cutter, B. R.
17: 0345
Dabney, Ann P.
11: 0253
Dabney, Charles A.
10: 0650
Dabney, John O.
11: 0253

Dabney, Lucy A.
11: 0253
Dabney, Margaret S.
11: 0253
Dabney, Mary
11: 0253
Dabney, Mary E.
11: 0253
Dabney, William W.
11: 0253
Dabney, William W.
12: 0193
Dale, Jesse B.
5: 0654
Dallam, William
4: 0634
Daly, John
15: 0560
Daly, Pamelia Francis
Mohorn
15: 0560
Damron, Abe
21: 0178
Damron, Frances
13: 0452
Dance, Drury
12: 0749
Dance, Drury
12: 0791
Dance, John E.
12: 0749
Dance, John E.
12: 0791
Dancy, John W.
23: 0783
Daniel
3: 0509
Daniel
22: 0513
Daniel
26: 0225
Daniel, Isaac K. W.
10: 0762
Daniel, John
19: 0002
Dansbee, Daniel
11: 0533
Darby, Hiram
3: 0795
Darby, John F.
3: 0795
Darby, John F.
8: 0063
Darby, John F.
8: 0074
Darby, John F.
8: 0085
Darby, John F.
8: 0096
Darby, John F.
8: 0108
Darby, John F.
8: 0115
Darby, John F.
8: 0127
Darby, John F.
8: 0139
Darby, Lavina
3: 0795
Darby, William M.
3: 0795
Dardis, James B.
14: 0426
Dardis, Sarah L. Cozby
14: 0426
Darnell, James
22: 0462
Darrah, Joel
6: 0111
Daugherty, Jane
20: 0432
Daugherty, William C.
22: 0065
Daugherty, William C.
22: 0072
Daugherty, William C.
22: 0077
Daugherty, William C.
22: 0083
Daugherty, William C.
22: 0111
Daugherty, William C.
22: 0159
Daugherty, William C.
22: 0282
Davault, Jane Clark
21: 0831
David Scott
2: 0740
434
Davidson, Andrew M.
25: 0871
Davidson, David V.
21: 0043
Davidson, Hugh L.
21: 0043
Davidson, John L.
21: 0043
Davidson, Robert B.
21: 0043
Davidson, William
20: 1027
Davis, Abram
18: 0476
Davis, Alexander H.
15: 0698
Davis, Amanda Doyle
24: 0381
Davis, Amelia
4: 0009
Davis, Ann
12: 0818
Davis, Benjamin M.
19: 0300
Davis, Caloway
22: 0291
Davis, Constantine
11: 0875
Davis, David H.
8: 0250
Davis, Emily
16: 0490
Davis, Emily
17: 0076
Davis, Frances
Richardson
11: 0875
Davis, Henry L.
19: 0474
Davis, Henry L.
20: 0143
Davis, Huldah
24: 0401
Davis, Huldah
24: 0405
Davis, Huldah
24: 0503
Davis, J. [?] H.
20: 0453

Davis, James C.
15: 0698
Davis, James T.
19: 0072
Davis, John
13: 0678
Davis, John A.
2: 0612
Davis, John M.
7: 0937
Davis, Margaret
8: 0298
Davis, Mary
15: 0698
Davis, Mary H.
20: 0143
Davis, Mary H. Ament
19: 0474
Davis, Mary L.
21: 1119
Davis, Narcissa
19: 0072
Davis, Newton C.
19: 0084
Davis, Owen
24: 0381
Davis, Preston W.
15: 0019
Davis, Robert
12: 0650
Davis, Samuel L.
23: 0867
Davis, Samuel S.
23: 0821
Davis, Solomon
11: 0875
Davis, Thomas T.
21: 1119
Davis, William
1: 0840
Davis, Wilson
13: 0885
Davis, Zilla Gilliam
18: 0476
Dawson, Jesse A.
16: 0186
Dawson, Mary Ward
16: 0186
Dawson, Toliver B.
14: 0460
Dawson, Tolliver B.
16: 0026
Deaderick, David A.
21: 0943
Deadrick, James W.
21: 0831
Deakins, Richard H.
16: 0657
Dearmore, Elizabeth
Allen
17: 0243
Dearmore, William
17: 0243
Deason, Daniel G.
16: 0630
Decherd, Julia
26: 0686
Decherd, Julia
26: 0691
Decherd, Julia
26: 0693
Decherd, Julia
26: 0731
Decherd, Julia
26: 0735
Deen, Calaway
23: 0435
Deer, Gilbert
12: 0508
Deer, Gilbert
15: 0313
Deer, Sucky Devins
15: 0313
Deer, Susan Devin
12: 0508
DeForest, Joseph
23: 0981
Delbridge, Edward
17: 0029
Delbridge, James
17: 0029
Delbridge, Susan
17: 0029
Delila
14: 0620
Dell, Harriet C.
24: 0073
Dell, Joseph
24: 0073
435
Delow, Solomon
20: 0948
Delph
5: 0318
Demoss, Caroline Mays
19: 0506
Demoss, Christopher
19: 0882
Demoss, Delilah
19: 0882
Demoss, George
19: 0882
Demoss, Henry
19: 0506
Demoss, John
19: 0882
Demoss, Lucy
19: 0506
Demoss, Margaret R.
Stump
18: 0270
Demoss, Penninah
19: 0506
Demoss, Shelton
22: 0118
Demoss, Silas D.
18: 0270
Demoss, Thomas
13: 0841
Demoss, Thomas
19: 0506
Demoss, Thomas
19: 0882
Demoss, Zaney
19: 0882
Demoville, John F.
20: 0831
Dempster, Scotta
8: 0868
Dennis, Jane
20: 0099
Dennis, Mary Haynie
13: 0452
Dennis, Samuel
13: 0452
Dennis, Zebedia
20: 0099
Denton, David W.
12: 1026

Denton, Elizabeth
Rowland
12: 1026
Denton, Holland
20: 1027
Denton, James
15: 0490
Denton, Rachael
15: 0490
Denton, Samuel
12: 0548
Denton, Susan North
12: 0548
Desha, Robert
14: 0471
Dever, Jane
10: 0424
Dever, William
10: 0424
Devers, Frank
22: 0597
Devin, Elizabeth
12: 0508
Devin, John
12: 0508
Devin, William
12: 0508
Devinney, George W.
4: 0830
Devinney, Rebecca Hill
4: 0830
Devins, James
15: 0313
Devins, John
15: 0313
Devough, Mary B.
20: 0288
Dew, Rebecca G.
22: 0265
Dewitt, Washington J.
11: 0515
Dezam, John
14: 0666
Dibbrel, Letitia Perkins
11: 0380
Dibbrel, Watson
11: 0380
Dibbrell, Anthony
21: 0087
Dick
6: 0507
Dick
19: 0588
Dick
22: 0513
Dick, William
12: 0723
Dickey, George
14: 0248
Dickey, George
15: 0030
Dickinson, David
1: 0390
Dickinson, David
10: 0714
Dickinson, Fanney
Murfree
10: 0714
Dickinson, George W.
1: 0390
Dickinson, James
1: 0390
Dickinson, Joel
1: 0390
Dickinson, John Q.
9: 0154
Dickinson, John R.
1: 0390
Dickinson, Mary
1: 0390
Dickinson, Perez
20: 0570
Dickinson, Perez
21: 1025
Dickinson, Samuel
1: 0390
Dickinson, Shadric
1: 0390
Dickinson, Thomas
1: 0390
Dickson, David
2: 0740
Dickson, Elizabeth
9: 0692
Dickson, James
12: 0723
Dickson, Robert
10: 0479
436
Dicky, James R.
18: 0817
Dicky, John
21: 0904
Dicky, Leander M.
18: 0817
Dicky, Margaret I. Smith
21: 0904
Dicky, Mary McCutchen
18: 0817
Diggs, Billy
17: 0076
Dillahunty, J. S.
19: 0882
Dillard, Celia P.
22: 0476
Dillard, G. G.
22: 0476
Dillard, George D.
21: 0894
Dillard, Mary E.
22: 0476
Dillard, William
22: 0476
Dismukes, George E.
11: 0515
Dismukes, George E.
20: 0301
Dismukes, John T.
11: 0515
Dismukes, Robert L.
21: 0245
Dismukes, Thomas C.
21: 0245
Dixon, J. L.
21: 0434
Doak, S. C. N.
21: 0932
Dobbin, Levisa
2: 0402
Dobbin, Levisa
2: 0792
Dobbin, Levisa
2: 0812
Dobbin, Wilson
2: 0812
Dobbin, Wilson D.
2: 0402
Dobbin, Wilson D.
2: 0792

Dobbins, Hannah
12: 0156
Dobbins, Henry
16: 0358
Dobson, Amos
12: 0087
Dobson, Martha Brooks
12: 0087
Dodd, Benjamin N.
15: 0347
Dodd, Hester M.
20: 0894
Dodd, James
2: 0448
Dodd, John
15: 0347
Dodd, Levi
3: 0302
Dodd, Levi
3: 0321
Dodd, Levi
3: 0324
Dodd, Robert C.
15: 0347
Dodd, Robert C.
20: 0894
Dodd, William
19: 1012
Dodds, Hanna
17: 0076
Dodds, Hannah
15: 0682
Dodge, Israel
1: 0024
Dodson, Thomas
15: 0007
Doherty, Jane
17: 0076
Dollahite, Cornelius
11: 0326
Dollis, H. C.
20: 0453
Dolly
4: 0221
Dolly
4: 0236
Donelson, William
13: 0576
Donner, Samuel
3: 0591
Dooley, Michael
14: 0610
Dorman, Winney
1: 0840
Dorris, Stephen
5: 0318
Dortch, Elizabeth A.
Toney
20: 1072
Dortch, Jessee L., Jr.
21: 0674
Dortch, Jessee L., Sr.
21: 0674
Dortch, Martha F.
21: 0674
Dortch, Nancy W.
21: 0674
Dortch, Nathaniel F.
21: 0674
Dougherty, Jane
15: 0657
Dougherty, Richard
14: 0878
Dougherty, William C.
22: 0250
Douglass, A. H.
20: 0453
Douglass, Edward L.
11: 0042
Douglass, Frances
Hatten
7: 1105
Douglass, Harrison L.
22: 0298
Douglass, Minerva
23: 0977
Douglass, Susan J.
22: 0298
Douglass, Thomas C.
20: 0068
Douglass, William
7: 1105
Douglass, William R.
22: 0298
Dowell, Elias, Jr.
21: 0986
Dowell, Elias, Sr.
21: 0986
Dowell, Frances
14: 0560
437
Dowell, Francis
18: 0024
Dowell, Francis
21: 0986
Dowell, John
21: 0986
Dowell, Nehemiah
21: 0986
Dowell, Robert
21: 0986
Dowell, William
21: 0986
Doyle, Andrew Jackson
25: 0816
Doyle, Jackson
24: 0161
Doyle, Jackson
24: 0381
Doyle, Jackson
24: 0385
Doyle, Jackson
24: 0488
Doyle, Jackson
25: 0374
Doyle, Sucony
24: 0385
Doyle, Winchester
24: 0385
Doyle, Winchester
25: 0816
Dozier, Dennis
18: 0270
Drake, Alfred
14: 0761
Drake, Benjamin C.
14: 0761
Drake, Edmund B.
10: 0789
Drake, Hearty
10: 0789
Drake, James
25: 0838
Drake, John
10: 0789
Drake, Nathaniel S.
14: 0761
Drake, Polly
20: 0786
Drake, William
2: 0874

Drake, William
3: 0045
Drake, William B.
10: 0789
Drake, William J.
20: 0786
Draper, Eliza
20: 1027
Draper, Elizabeth
12: 0672
Draper, James
20: 1027
Draper, Jonathan
18: 0336
Draper, Martha
12: 0672
Draper, Mary
12: 0672
Draper, Nancy
12: 0672
Draper, Samuel
12: 0672
Draper, Thomas J.
20: 1027
Draper, William
12: 0672
Driver, Henry
16: 0279
Driver, William
16: 0279
Drusilla, Martha
7: 0308
Duchoquette, Pierre
3: 0983
Duck
4: 0805
Ducker, John J.
19: 0291
Duff, Carlisle V.
22: 0024
Duff, Dennis
17: 0035
Duff, Fanny Blackwell
17: 0035
Duff, Hamilton
17: 0035
Duff, Jackson
17: 0035
Duff, James
17: 0035
Duff, John
17: 0035
Duff, Letitia Luttrell
22: 0024
Duff, Polley
17: 0035
Duff, Sarah
17: 0035
Duffield, William C.
23: 0420
Dugan, Jeremiah
8: 0166
Dugan, Noah George
8: 0166
Dugan, Thomas C.
8: 0166
Dukes, Winny
12: 0028
Dulaney, Benjamin L.
17: 0524
Dulaney, Elkana R.
17: 0524
Dulaney, John R.
15: 0385
Dulaney, Margaret
Patton
23: 0844
Dulaney, William B.
15: 0385
Dulaney, William J.
23: 0844
Dulany, William
10: 0076
Dumont, Julia Beason
7: 0184
Dunbar, Maria
12: 0818
Duncan, Almyra R.
2: 0626
Duncan, Benjamin
1: 0370
Duncan, Benjamin
1: 0390
Duncan, Benjamin S.
1: 0840
Duncan, Coleman
4: 0307
Duncan, Coleman
4: 0425
438
Duncan, Coleman
4: 0441
Duncan, Coleman
4: 0472
Duncan, Gilbert
4: 0472
Duncan, James
4: 0307
Duncan, James
4: 0425
Duncan, James
4: 0441
Duncan, James
5: 0137
Duncan, John
4: 0307
Duncan, Jonathan
4: 0472
Duncan, Josiah
15: 0293
Duncan, Lemuel H.
12: 0470
Duncan, Louis
5: 0120
Duncan, Mary
23: 0435
Duncan, Robert
5: 0067
Duncan, Robert
5: 0311
Duncan, Sarah
7: 0584
Duncan, Susan Perkins
11: 0380
Duncan, Tandy P.
11: 0380
Duncan, William
6: 0794
Duncan, William
7: 0584
Duncan, William
22: 0476
Dunky
4: 0605
Dunlap, Charlotte
12: 0968
Dunlap, Hugh W.
11: 0515
Dunn, John
8: 0406

Durrett, William H.
24: 0248
Durst, James H.
24: 0423
Dusky, James
4: 0830
Dusky, Lydia Hill
4: 0830
Dutton, Grace
5: 0093
Dutton, Lemman
5: 0093
Duty, Caroline
8: 0115
Duty, Ellen
8: 0074
Duty, Gaius
8: 0950
Duty, George Y.
10: 0615
Duty, Harry
8: 0127
Duty, Jordan
8: 0139
Duty, Lucina
8: 0108
Duty, Mary
8: 0096
Duty, Nelly
8: 0063
Duty, Preston
8: 0085
Duval, Ellen
25: 0871
Duval, Martha
20: 0114
Duval, William
20: 0114
Duvall, Silas L.
4: 0655
Dwyer, Joseph K.
18: 0728
Dye, Bruce
16: 0170
Dye, Jane Boyles
16: 0170
Dye, Mary Boyles
16: 0170
Dye, Samuel
16: 0170
Dykes, James H.
20: 0176
Dykes, Susan
20: 0176
Dysart, Eli B.
26: 0084
Dysart, Ely B.
26: 0462
Eakin, Alexander
12: 0951
Ealy, Martha Ann Fogg
13: 0313
Ealy, Robert L.
13: 0313
Eanes, William H.
17: 0767
Early, Delilah Hartsell
14: 0026
Early, Samuel
14: 0026
Earthman, Margret
21: 0356
Easley, John
14: 0214
Easly, John
17: 0673
Easly, John A.
14: 0523
Easly, John A., Sr. [?]
14: 0523
Easly, Mary
14: 0523
Easly, Samuel A.
14: 0523
East, Edward W.
20: 0391
Easton, Robert M.
6: 0794
Eastwood, Leonard
8: 0915
Eaton, Harriet
17: 0645
Eaton, Margrett
17: 0680
Eberly, Angelina
19: 0178
Eddins, William E.
18: 0920
Eddlemon, Francis H.
16: 0047
439
Edmiston, Andrew
18: 0511
Edmiston, Hiram R.
22: 0543
Edmiston, Jane
18: 0511
Edmiston, Nancy J.
Crawford
22: 0543
Edmondson, Andrew
18: 0504
Edmondson, Elizabeth
21: 0104
Edmondson, Martha J.
McMurray
20: 0618
Edmondson, Richard H.
20: 0618
Edmondson, Sarah Jane
18: 0504
Edmund
4: 0253
Edmund
22: 0513
Edmundson, Samuel W.
21: 0816
Edward
3: 0840
Edward
8: 0332
Edwards, Edward P.
14: 0099
Edwards, Haden H.
26: 0441
Edwards, John
26: 0027
Edwards, John N.
14: 0099
Edwards, Joseph J.
14: 0099
Edwards, Martha
1: 0390
Edwards, Michael
5: 0150
Edwards, Monroe
23: 0168
Edwards, Pleasant J. R.
21: 0178
Edwards, Roderick
14: 0099

Edwards, William B.
1: 0390
Edy, Hiram
12: 0705
Elbert
21: 0279
Elder, Joshua
18: 1094
Eldridge, Benjamin
22: 0024
Eldridge, John B.
17: 0002
Eldridge, John B.
22: 0024
Eli
20: 0263
Elias
21: 0625
Eliza
3: 0580
Eliza
9: 0599
Eliza
9: 0663
Eliza
9: 0667
Eliza
15: 0799
Eliza
22: 0684
Elizabeth
13: 0800
Elizabeth
15: 0087
Elizabeth
15: 0677
Elizabeth
22: 0513
Elkins, Anna Ewell
17: 0590
Elkins, Asa M.
17: 0590
Ellen
17: 0291
Ellen
22: 0513
Elliot
22: 0513
Elliot, Benjamin
21: 0205
Elliot, Elizabeth Gover
21: 0205
Elliott, Adeline Bowman
12: 0937
Elliott, Alfred B.
18: 0763
Elliott, Andrew
3: 0720
Elliott, Frances Ann
26: 0758
Elliott, Francis Ann
Burnett
25: 0657
Elliott, Jaimai A.
18: 0763
Elliott, John
12: 0436
Elliott, Labau
25: 0657
Elliott, Labaume
26: 0758
Elliott, Samuel H.
18: 0763
Elliott, Thomas A.
18: 0763
Elliott, William Y.
18: 0763
Ellis, Alfred P.
4: 0009
Ellis, Charles G.
4: 0009
Ellis, Clark
10: 0371
Ellis, Elija
10: 0371
Ellis, Elizabeth
20: 0914
Ellis, Fanny
4: 0009
Ellis, Fanny
6: 0018
Ellis, William
20: 0914
Ellison
22: 0513
Ellmore, William
17: 0397
El Paso, steamboat
9: 0241
440
Elvin
22: 0513
Embry, A. S.
21: 0724
Embry, Charity E.
21: 0724
Embry, J. S.
21: 0724
Embry, John W.
21: 0724
Embry, M. D., Jr.
21: 0724
Embry, M. S.
10: 0762
Embry, Pamelia
19: 0135
Embry, Simpson J.
19: 0135
Embry, W. S.
21: 0724
Emeline
9: 0599
Emeline
9: 0687
Emeline
13: 0800
Emeline
15: 0087
Emeline
22: 0513
Emerson, Irene
7: 0615
Emerson, Irene
7: 0717
Emerson, Irene
7: 0805
Emerson, Irene
7: 0818
Emily
2: 0652
Emmens, Elizabeth
Hatten
7: 1105
Emmens, Jilson
7: 1105
Emmerson, Adeline B.
14: 0204
Emmerson, John A.
14: 0204

England, Adam
19: 0875
England, Elizabeth
19: 0875
Engledow, Elizabeth
23: 0619
Engledow, Julia
Fulghum
26: 0367
Engledow, Oscar
26: 0367
English, Elbert
2: 0740
English, Elizabeth E.
7: 1018
English, Elkanah
6: 0200
English, Joel R.
7: 1018
English, John P.
7: 1018
English, John W.
7: 1018
English, Simon
7: 0410
English, Thomas B.
8: 0884
Ensley, Enoch
11: 0812
Ensley, Enoch
12: 0035
Eppes, John D.
20: 0570
Erhard, A.
26: 0303
Erskine, Patrick A.
17: 0454
Erwin, Andrew
6: 0472
Erwin, Eleanor
5: 0381
Erwin, Frances A.
3: 0051
Erwin, John
3: 0694
Erwin, John P.
11: 0571
Erwin, John P.
11: 0763
Erwin, Martin P.
21: 0056
Erwin, Thomas Rivers
26: 0426
Erwin, William F.
3: 0067
Esselman, Archibald C.
12: 0591
Esselman, James, Jr.
21: 0328
Esselman, John N.
21: 0328
Esselman, Margaret C.
21: 0328
Ester
6: 0794
Ester
15: 0087
Estes, Anson L.
11: 0638
Estes, Martha A.
13: 0665
Estes, Robert P.
18: 0043
Estes, William A.
13: 0665
Estis, Joseph
8: 0720
Etheridge, Sally
14: 0141
Ethridge, Thomas D.
21: 0957
Evans, Ann C.
21: 0662
Evans, Benjamin W.
21: 0662
Evans, Catharine B.
Shaner
8: 0884
Evans, Chesley
6: 0524
Evans, Chesley
6: 0539
Evans, Chesley
6: 0551
Evans, James
3: 0646
Evans, James H.
11: 0836
441
Evans, John P.
26: 0394
Evans, Johnson R.
8: 0884
Evans, Joseph
8: 0720
Evans, Nancy Laird
11: 0836
Evans, Phereby E.
21: 0662
Evans, Robert L.
22: 0256
Evans, Roberta M.
21: 0662
Evans, Susan M.
Buckner
3: 0646
Evans, Willa Jane
8: 0720
Everett, George F.
21: 1130
Everett, Jesse
17: 0472
Everett, Sally
17: 0472
Everett, William
19: 0066
Everly, Jacob
11: 0448
Everly, Louisa Word
11: 0448
Ewell, Dabney
17: 0590
Ewell, John
2: 0508
Ewell, John
2: 0652
Ewell, John
17: 0590
Ewell, Joseph
17: 0590
Ewell, Martha Ann
2: 0508
Ewell, Martha Ann
2: 0652
Ewell, Mary
17: 0590
Ewell, Phillip K.
17: 0590

Ewell, William M.
17: 0590
Ewing, Andrew B.
12: 0048
Ewing, Flora L.
Cheatham
16: 0673
Ewing, James V.
15: 0760
Ewing, John M.
18: 0088
Ewing, Orville
11: 0571
Ewing, Orville
11: 0763
Ewing, William
7: 0410
Ewing & Brown
18: 0013
Ewton, Carey
4: 0342
Ezell, John
22: 0597
Ezell, Lamack
13: 0665
Fagg, Joseph
13: 0223
Fain, R. W.
16: 0630
Faine, Eliza R.
12: 0138
Faine, George S.
12: 0138
Fakes, Elizabeth A.
Hibbetts
20: 1072
Fakes, John M.
20: 1072
Falker, Betsy
17: 0076
Falkner, Kitty Ailstock
22: 0332
Fall, Alexander
18: 0259
Fanney
6: 0507
Fanning, Tolbert
19: 0092
Fanny
21: 0279
Faris, J. W.
16: 0451
Faris [?], John W.
20: 0453
Faris, Mahala H.
21: 0848
Faris, William
21: 0848
Farley, Pamela Johnson
11: 0782
Farmer, James
14: 0038
Farmer, Lemuel
11: 0726
Farmer, Lemuel
17: 0437
Farmer, Moses E.
11: 0751
Farmer, Moses E.
12: 1005
Farmer, Priscilla Stuart
14: 0038
Farney, John
11: 0592
Farney, John Davis
11: 0592
Farney, William R.
11: 0592
Farnham, Mary
5: 0144
Farrar, Martha W.
13: 0229
Farrar, William B.
13: 0229
Farrington [?], M. J.
20: 0453
Farrington, William M.
20: 0453
Farris, Bethenia Bond
16: 0732
Farris, Elizabeth
14: 0794
Farris, John
16: 0732
Farris, John W.
14: 0794
Favour, Thomas B.
12: 1040
Feagans, Harrison
19: 0388
442
Feagans, Harrison
19: 1031
Feagans, John R.
9: 0752
Felix
15: 0087
Felts, James E.
20: 0453
Fenwick, Leo
5: 0278
Ferguson, J. A.
14: 0761
Ferguson, John H.
7: 0576
Ferguson, R. S.
21: 0279
Ferguson, Robert S.
16: 0657
Ferrell, John
18: 0093
Ficklin, Thompson H.
4: 0244
Field, Harrington L.
17: 0645
Field, Henrietta
17: 0645
Field, Lucy H.
17: 0645
Field, Margaret
17: 0645
Field, Robert
17: 0645
Field, Thomas
17: 0645
Fields, Alexander P.
4: 0703
Fields, Alexander P.
4: 0716
Fields, Alexander P.
4: 0757
Fields, B. G.
19: 0945
Fields, Elizabeth
14: 0523
Fields, Obedience
14: 0523
Fields, William
14: 0523
Figuers, Thomas N.
13: 0685

Figures, Harriet S.
12: 0688
Figures, Thomas N.
12: 0688
Finch, Adam
14: 0784
Finch, Ann
15: 0073
Finch, James
15: 0073
Finley, Alexander
20: 0230
Finley, R. S.
20: 0230
Finley, Rufus W.
8: 0594
Finley, Sylvester L.
20: 0230
Fish, David
1: 0032
Fishback, Edward
8: 0720
Fishback, Eliza
8: 0720
Fisher, Annis
17: 0630
Fisher, John
17: 0511
Fisher, Philip [Phillip]
19: 0315
Fisher, Thomas
21: 0002
Fisher, Thomas
21: 0132
Fite, Jacob
21: 0464
Fite, L. B.
21: 0894
Fite, S. B.
21: 0464
Fite, T. D.
21: 0464
Fite, T. D.
21: 0894
Fitts, John
12: 0705
Fitz Gerald, Asa
20: 0503
Fitzgerald, Greenberry
21: 0279
Fitzgerald, Harriet
21: 0279
Fitzgerald, James
19: 0338
Fitzgerald, James
21: 0279
Fitzgerald, Jane
19: 0338
Fitzgerald, Jessee H.
13: 0587
Fitzgerald, Martha
21: 0279
Fitzgerald, Mary
21: 0279
Fitzpatrick, Benjamin F.
15: 0498
Fitzpatrick, Mary Jane
14: 0074
Fitzpatrick, Morgan
14: 0074
Fitzpatrick, Rene
13: 0399
Fitzpatrick, Rene
13: 0405
Fitzpatrick, Sarah
Menerva Brown
15: 0498
Fitzpatrick, William
14: 0074
Flack, Charles P.
24: 0352
Flanagin, Harris
1: 0840
Fleming, John M.
21: 1060
Fleming, W. B.
26: 0044
Fletcher, John
11: 0891
Fletcher, Mary Gleaves
11: 0891
Flora
22: 0513
Flournoy, Alfred
12: 0580
Flournoy, Martha C.
12: 0580
Flowers, Martha Gilliam
18: 0476
443
Floyd, Jones
16: 0035
Floyd, William
10: 0382
Fogg, Agness
13: 0313
Fogg, Arthur D.
13: 0313
Fogg, Everly
13: 0313
Fogg, G. W., Jr.
22: 0684
Fogg, George
13: 0313
Fogg, Malena
13: 0313
Fogg, Martha
13: 0313
Folks, Elizabeth Cochran
Black
14: 0602
Forbes, Alexander
11: 0498
Forbes, Catharine
11: 0498
Ford, Alexander
13: 0715
Ford, Amanda
13: 0715
Ford, Benjamin
13: 0715
Ford, Edy
13: 0715
Ford, Eliza
13: 0715
Ford, Enoch
13: 0715
Ford, Grant
13: 0715
Ford, Jacob
8: 0660
Ford, James
13: 0715
Ford, Jane
13: 0715
Ford, John
13: 0715
Ford, Lark
13: 0715

Ford, Loyd
13: 0715
Ford, Martha
13: 0715
Ford, Mary W.
8: 0660
Ford, Ned
13: 0715
Ford, Nelson
13: 0715
Ford, Peggy
13: 0715
Ford, Rebecca
13: 0715
Ford, Rhoda
13: 0715
Ford, Robert
2: 0657
Ford, Thomas
13: 0715
Ford, Tilda
13: 0715
Ford, William
13: 0715
Forehand, Martin
14: 0595
Forehand, Martin
15: 0408
Fort, E. P.
22: 0094
Foster, Catharine
20: 0009
Foster, Daniel
20: 0009
Foster, Ephraim H.
17: 0832
Foster, Francis
17: 0076
Foster, Georgiana E.
19: 0185
Foster, Guynn
13: 0856
Foster, Harriet
20: 0278
Foster, Henry
14: 0057
Foster, Henry
14: 0065
Foster, Isaac M.
20: 0278
Foster, James
20: 0278
Foster, Jane L.
19: 0185
Foster, Josiah
20: 0278
Foster, Louisa
20: 0278
Foster, Margaret Adams
7: 0937
Foster, Mildred
17: 0076
Foster, Richard
20: 0278
Foster, Robert C.
22: 0513
Foster, William
17: 0076
Foster, William L.
19: 0185
Fouch, Elizabeth Whitley
19: 0049
Fouch, John
19: 0049
Fouts, Daniel D.
11: 0575
Fouts, Jacob F.
11: 0575
Fowler, Absalom
1: 0370
Fowler, Sarah A.
26: 0347
Fowler, William M.
26: 0347
Fox, James C.
6: 0831
Fox, Mathias
16: 0552
Frances Lou
22: 0513
Franklin, Alfred
2: 0288
Franklin, Ethelbert
2: 0288
Franklin, John, Jr.
19: 0397
Franklin, John W.
20: 0544
Franklin, Joseph
13: 0750
444
Franklin, Richard
13: 0154
Fraser, James O.
6: 0507
Frayser, John R.
20: 0453
Frazer, C. B.
20: 0453
Frazier, James V.
6: 0500
Freeland, John W.
8: 0936
Freeland, Rebecca
Eldridge
8: 0936
Freeman, Claiborne A.
17: 0326
Freeman, Sarah
15: 0361
French, Joseph H.
14: 0426
French, Thomas
10: 0626
Frenton, Anne H.
20: 0230
Frenton, Thomas
20: 0230
Frierson, D. B.
20: 0453
Frierson, Joshua B.
13: 0215
Frierson, Samuel D.
21: 0168
Frierson, Samuel W.
22: 0103
Frissell, Mason
8: 0258
Fruit, Enoch
6: 0831
Fry, Henry
13: 0133
Fukeway, John
21: 0471
Fukeway, Mary
21: 0471
Fulgham, Pierce
24: 0675
Fulgham, Raiford
24: 0675

Fulghum, Hester A.
26: 0367
Fulghum, James A.
26: 0367
Fulghum, Patience
25: 0106
Fulghum, Raiford
25: 0106
Fulghum, Raiford
26: 0367
Fuller, Benjamin
23: 0521
Fulton, W. S.
20: 0453
Fuqua, Thomas
21: 0696
Fussell, L. W.
18: 0259
Fussell, Littleberry W.
19: 0439
Fussell, Samuella R.
Overton
19: 0439
Fyffe, James H.
13: 0356
Gabriel
8: 0704
Gabriella
14: 0620
Gainer, James
10: 0136
Gainer, Jessee
10: 0136
Gainer, John
10: 0136
Gainer, Samuel
10: 0136
Gaines, Frances A.
16: 0256
Gaines, Francis Asberry
16: 0082
Gaines, John Wesley
16: 0082
Gaines, John Wesley
16: 0256
Gaines, Lucy Ann
16: 0082
Gaines, Lucy Ann
16: 0256
Gaines, Mary Isabella
16: 0082
Gaines, Mary Isabella
16: 0256
Galbreath, Robert J. C.
20: 1027
Gallagher, George
3: 0292
Gallaher, D.
23: 0503
Gallion, Jane King
13: 0821
Gallion, William
13: 0821
Galloway, William
20: 0073
Gamble, John
14: 0675
Gamble, Josias
16: 0318
Gambling, Jessee
12: 0244
Gambrill, James
12: 0488
Gammon, James F.
15: 0799
Gammon, William G.
14: 0810
Gammon, William G.
20: 0701
Ganin [?], Philip
20: 0453
Gann, Eliza D. Clark
15: 0462
Gantt, George
17: 0540
Gantt, George
19: 0588
Gantt, George
19: 0599
Gantt, George
21: 0056
Gardiner, Charles
11: 0027
Gardner, Nancy
3: 0245
Gardner, Nancy L.
3: 0167
Gardner, Richard C.
19: 0568
445
Gardner, Robert H.
19: 0568
Garland, Edward
14: 0268
Garland, Ellen
14: 0268
Garland, Mary
14: 0268
Garland, Salina
14: 0268
Garneau, Joseph
8: 0262
Garner, Brice M.
10: 0479
Garner, David
25: 0396
Garner, Lewis
12: 0361
Garner, Napoleon B.
23: 0597
Garner, Napoleon B.
23: 0750
Garner, Thomas H.
23: 0521
Garner, Thomas H.
23: 0532
Garret, Hezekiah
11: 0431
Garret, Robert
11: 0431
Garrett, Ellen A. Nash
23: 0280
Garrett, Evaline
23: 0280
Garrett, Jacob
23: 0280
Garrett, John
15: 0788
Garrett, John
22: 0256
Garrett, Lewis
11: 0932
Garrett, Michael
13: 0611
Garrett, Nancy
12: 0541
Garrett, William
13: 0611
Garrett, William
23: 0280

Garrett, William
24: 0264
Garrison, Adelia
16: 0327
Garrison, Boston
16: 0327
Garrison, Henry
19: 0404
Garrison, Mary
16: 0327
Garrison, Parthena E.
Brinkly
19: 0404
Garrison, Rachel
16: 0327
Garrison, William
16: 0327
Gashwiler, John W.
8: 0973
Gashwiler, Louisa
Schooling
8: 0973
Gaty, Samuel
6: 0472
Gault, Theodore M.
17: 0021
Gaunt, Lewis
17: 0511
Gaunt, Polly
17: 0511
Gay, John H.
4: 0351
Gayle, John W.
8: 0219
Gaynor, Michael
2: 0740
Gazen, Musa Ben Abel
6: 0539
Gee, Claborne
14: 0436
Gee, James P.
20: 0164
Gee, James W.
20: 0654
Gee, James W.
21: 0402
Gee, Josephine
20: 0164
Gee, Josephine
20: 0654
Gee, Josephine
21: 0402
Gee, Laura L.
20: 0164
Gee, Laura L.
20: 0654
Gee, Louisa L.
21: 0402
Gee, Norvell P.
20: 0164
Gee, Rosannah
20: 0654
Gee, Rosannah
21: 0402
Gee, Rosannah P.
20: 0164
Gee, Sarah A. B.
20: 0164
Gentry, David
6: 0200
Gentry, Emily Sanders
12: 0602
Gentry, Meredith P.
11: 0490
Gentry, Merideth P.
12: 0602
Gentry, Moses
8: 0428
Gentry, Oliver P.
8: 0778
Gentry, Samuel W.
13: 0848
Gentry, William
1: 0370
George
5: 0526
George
5: 0667
George
9: 0692
George
14: 0620
George
15: 0087
George
17: 0291
George
22: 0513
George, James
17: 0076
446
Gibbons, Morris
8: 0428
Gibbs, George
20: 0966
Giboney, William
8: 0219
Gibson, Nancy
22: 0024
Gibson, Patsey Leroy
10: 0626
Gibson, Thomas
22: 0111
Gideon
15: 0799
Gilbert, James
20: 0888
Gilbert, Mary A.
20: 0888
Gilbert, Samuel
21: 0564
Gilbert, Susan Young
21: 0564
Gilbreath, Isaiah R.
21: 0254
Gilbreath, James H.
21: 0254
Gilbreath, Lucy Ann
21: 0254
Gilbreath, Mary E.
21: 0254
Gilead
8: 0298
Gill, James
14: 0560
Gill, James
21: 0894
Gillespie, Charles K.
18: 0672
Gillespie, Charles K.
20: 0701
Gillespie, David C.
16: 0220
Gillespie, Evalina E. C.
18: 0672
Gillespie, Evelina E. C.
Taylor
20: 0701
Gillespie, James H.
25: 0745

Gillett, Philo
9: 0137
Gilliam, Harris
18: 0476
Gilliam, Levi S.
14: 0002
Gilliam, William
13: 0034
Gilliam, William
18: 0476
Gilliland, Samuel E.
15: 0073
Gillispie, Robert N.
13: 0260
Gillum, Elizabeth
21: 0356
Gilman, Joseph
15: 0799
Gilmore, William D.
20: 0453
Gilmour, James W.
19: 0213
Gipson, Elizabeth
20: 1027
Gipson, William
20: 1027
Gist, John S.
15: 0340
Given, Margrett Travis
21: 0356
Given, William
21: 0356
Gladish, Julia
1: 1019
Gladish, Lydia A.
1: 1019
Gladish, Mary H.
1: 1019
Glasby, Alban H.
6: 0472
Glasco, John
19: 0084
Glasgow, William
4: 0734
Glasgow Ross and Co.
4: 0734
Glaze, John
21: 0178
Gleaves, Henry A.
11: 0891
Gleaves, James
11: 0891
Gleaves, John
11: 0891
Gleaves, John E.
11: 0891
Gleaves, John E.
21: 0608
Gleaves, Martha
11: 0891
Gleaves, Mary Ann
Gleaves
11: 0891
Gleaves, Michael
11: 0891
Gleaves, Sally
11: 0891
Gleaves, William
11: 0891
Gleaves, William A.
11: 0891
Gleaves, William D.
11: 0891
Glenn, John
21: 1025
Glenn, John M.
6: 0200
Glidewell, J. H.
20: 0453
Glover, Mr.
19: 0455
Glover, James
19: 0981
Gocy, Mary
19: 0015
Gocy, Moses G.
19: 0015
Goff, John
12: 0110
Goffman [?], Dan
20: 0453
Goings, William
23: 0103
Gooch, John C.
16: 0133
Good, S. L.
19: 0499
Goodall, Amelia
20: 1027
447
Goodall, Charles
18: 0398
Goodall, Charles J.
20: 1027
Goodall, David L.
20: 1027
Goodall, John T.
20: 0032
Goodall, Louisa
20: 1027
Goodall, Lucy
20: 1027
Goodall, Martha
20: 1027
Goodall, Martha M.
20: 1027
Goodall, Rufus
20: 1027
Goodall, Sally Harris
20: 0032
Goodall, Virinda
20: 1027
Goodall, William W.
18: 0398
Goodall, Zeda
20: 1027
Goode, William S.
22: 0597
Goodlett, Adam G.
14: 0395
Goodman, Albert
16: 0574
Goodman, Alfred
16: 0574
Goodman, John
16: 0574
Goodman, Margaret
16: 0574
Goodman, Thomas
16: 0574
Goodman, William
16: 0574
Goodner, James
13: 0146
Goodson, Samuel E.
13: 0093
Goodwin, Allen
13: 0199
Goodwin, Lucy H.
1: 0269

Goodwin, Young
1: 0269
Goosey, Israel P.
8: 0720
Goosey, Peter C.
8: 0720
Goram, Sarah F.
8: 0720
Goram, Thomas
8: 0720
Gordon, Francis H.
13: 0512
Gordon, George H.
15: 0007
Gordon, James M.
8: 0660
Gordon, John
12: 0287
Gordon, Rhoda M.
14: 0560
Gordon, Thomas K.
22: 0282
Gorman, Flora Ann
Campbell
1: 0752
Gorman, John
1: 0752
Gowin, Charles H.
20: 0391
Gowin, Edward E.
20: 0391
Gowin, Tabitha J.
20: 0391
Grace
6: 0507
Grace, Boyd M.
12: 0564
Gragg, John W.
17: 0263
Graham, Mrs.
20: 0176
Graham, Adonijah
14: 0415
Graham, George W.
12: 0080
Graham, John F.
23: 0761
Graham, John F.
25: 0598
Graham, John H.
14: 0415
Graham, Livingston
17: 0076
Graham, Robert
20: 0143
Graham, William A.
14: 0415
Grant, Sarah W.
2: 0856
Grant, Sarah W.
3: 0037
Grant, Sarah W.
3: 0102
Grant, Sarah W.
3: 0109
Graves, Aaron
13: 0117
Graves, Anna G. Bagly
14: 0884
Graves, Ann A. Graves
26: 0462
Graves, Anne Rutherford
21: 1095
Graves, Charles W.
26: 0462
Graves, David
11: 0650
Graves, Eliza
19: 0369
Graves, Emma
26: 0462
Graves, George
21: 1095
Graves, Giles N., Jr.
26: 0462
Graves, Martha
26: 0462
Graves, Mary
2: 0882
Graves, Mary
3: 0085
Graves, Mathew B.
26: 0462
Graves, Peylon S.
26: 0462
Graves, Ralph
11: 0650
Graves, Sarah
2: 0882
448
Graves, Sarah
3: 0085
Graves, Sherwood W.
14: 0884
Graves, Simeon
19: 0369
Graves, Solomon
2: 0882
Graves, Solomon
3: 0085
Graves, Susan Harris
20: 0654
Graves, Thomas
2: 0882
Graves, Thomas
3: 0085
Graves, Thomas A.
11: 0650
Graves, Thomas W.
3: 0661
Graves, William Henry
20: 0654
Graves, Young W.
26: 0462
Gray, Alexander M.
18: 0504
Gray, Alexander M.
18: 0511
Gray, Anderson
21: 0279
Gray, Andrew
10: 0749
Gray, Andrew T.
17: 0362
Gray, Cassandra
12: 0312
Gray, Catherine
18: 0544
Gray, Charles
18: 0544
Gray, David J.
21: 0816
Gray, Eliza
21: 0279
Gray, Eveline
12: 0312
Gray, Fanny
12: 0312
Gray, G. S.
19: 0178

Gray, Henry
12: 0312
Gray, Henry
17: 0076
Gray, John H.
17: 0150
Gray, Josiah
12: 0312
Gray, Martha
12: 0312
Gray, Mary
12: 0312
Gray, Simon
12: 0312
Gray, Thomas
6: 0794
Gray, William
10: 0749
Green
22: 0513
Green, Alfred M.
12: 0997
Green, Allen
14: 0204
Green, Charles
14: 0204
Green, Edward J.
12: 0997
Green, Edward J.
19: 0041
Green, Evelina
14: 0204
Green, Isabella
14: 0179
Green, James H.
11: 0806
Green, James H.
12: 0997
Green, John
14: 0204
Green, John A.
26: 0336
Green, Joseph John
12: 0997
Green, Marmaduke
12: 0997
Green, Martha Harris
20: 0032
Green, Mary
14: 0204
Green, Mary Warden
22: 0476
Green, Nathan
26: 0731
Green, Nathan, Sr.
22: 0561
Green, Robert
26: 0336
Green, Samuel
14: 0204
Green, Sherwood
12: 0997
Green, Thomas
14: 0204
Green, Tolbert
14: 0204
Green, Zachariah F.
12: 0244
Greene, Charles
16: 0657
Greene, L. S.
20: 0453
Greenlaw, J. O.
20: 0453
Greenlaw, William B.
20: 0453
Greer, A. A.
16: 0147
Greer, Alexander
24: 0286
Greer, James L.
19: 0882
Greer, James L.
21: 0237
Greer, John
19: 0882
Greer, Lewis V.
24: 0694
Greer, Nancy F.
18: 0791
Greer, Nancy F.
19: 0898
Greer, Silas
19: 0882
Greer, William
18: 0791
Greer, William
19: 0898
Greer, William L.
19: 0898
449
Greer, William W.
21: 0023
Gregory, Elizabeth
10: 0801
Gregory, Smith
12: 0156
Gregory, Thomas
10: 0801
Gregory, Thomas
22: 0462
Griffin, John
13: 0527
Griffing, J. C.
20: 0453
Griffing, W. L.
20: 0453
Griggs, William
18: 0198
Grisham, James W.
21: 0546
Grissim, James W.
21: 0894
Grooms, Horatio
26: 0285
Grosvenor, H. M.
20: 0453
Grove, John B.
14: 0268
Grove, Sarah Smiser
14: 0268
Groves, Green
12: 0028
Groves, Jacob
12: 0028
Groves, Sampson
12: 0028
Groves, Tennessee
12: 0028
Grubb, Samuel C.
7: 0861
Grubbs, Leroy M.
19: 0291
Grubbs, Lucious
19: 0291
Grubbs, Warren
22: 0597
Grumbles, Benjamin
25: 0333
Grumbles, Benjamin
25: 0342

Grumbles, Benjamin
26: 0384
Grumbles, Benjamin, Jr.
25: 0607
Grumbles, Benjamin, Sr.
25: 0433
Grumbles, Benjamin
Perry
25: 0342
Grumbles, Edward
25: 0433
Grumbles, Edward
26: 0384
Grumbles, Isabella
25: 0333
Grumbles, Isabella
25: 0342
Grumbles, Isabella
26: 0384
Grumbles, Isabella
O’ Conner
25: 0433
Grumbles, John
25: 0342
Grumbles, John A.
25: 0333
Guess, Moses
18: 0946
Guess, Nancy Hale
18: 0946
Guild, Joseph C.
14: 0550
Guion, H. L.
20: 0453
Guthrie, A. H.
19: 0404
Guthrie, Andrew H.
16: 0327
Gwyn, Margaret
Davidson
21: 0043
Gwyn, Ranson
21: 0043
Hacker, Benjamin S.
6: 0363
Hackney, Joseph
14: 0248
Hackney, Joseph
15: 0030
Hackney, Margaret
14: 0248
Hackney, Margaret
Dickey
15: 0030
Hadley, Amilia Hadley
11: 0283
Hadley, Denny
11: 0283
Hadley, Hannah
11: 0283
Hadley, James H.
11: 0283
Hadley, John L.
12: 0355
Hadley, John L., Jr.
11: 0283
Hadley, John L., Sr.
11: 0283
Hadley, William
11: 0283
Hadly, John L.
12: 0347
Hadly, Joshua
11: 0042
Hagerty, Rebecca
Hawkins
24: 0481
Hagerty, Rebecca
Hawkins
25: 0174
Halbert, Emily Buchanan
22: 0543
Halbert, Pleasant
22: 0543
Hale, Alexander W.
21: 0758
Hale, Benjamin
18: 0946
Hale, E. K.
26: 0303
Hale, Green
2: 0657
Hale, Hannah
20: 0914
Hale, Isabella
18: 0946
Hale, Landon C.
20: 0914
450
Hale, London C.
18: 0946
Hale, Louisa Hale
18: 0946
Haley, Isaac N.
19: 0173
Haley, Sarah
16: 0301
Haley, Wyatt
16: 0301
Halfacre, Jacob, Jr.
15: 0163
Hall, Mr.
14: 0868
Hall, Absalom
20: 0966
Hall, Alexander
15: 0235
Hall, Barton W.
18: 0259
Hall, Charles
23: 0503
Hall, Crawfard W.
18: 0336
Hall, Elenora
23: 0503
Hall, Francis P.
8: 0814
Hall, George
14: 0770
Hall, George
16: 0327
Hall, Hannah
16: 0327
Hall, Houston H.
20: 0966
Hall, Jasper
20: 0966
Hall, John
14: 0868
Hall, John Wharton A.
23: 0503
Hall, Judson
20: 0966
Hall, Lavicy
20: 0966
Hall, Lewis W.
17: 0590
Hall, Lucy Ewell
17: 0590

Hall, Martha
23: 0503
Hall, Mary Snodgrass
15: 0235
Hall, Minerva I.
21: 0564
Hall, Newton
20: 0966
Hall, Powell
11: 0380
Hall, Richard, Jr.
11: 0380
Hall, Susana
23: 0503
Hall, Susanna
23: 0446
Hall, Susannah
24: 0055
Hall, Tandy
11: 0380
Hall, Thomas
11: 0380
Hall, Warren
23: 0229
Hall, Warren
23: 0503
Hall, Warren D. C.
23: 0446
Hall, Warren D. C.
24: 0055
Hall, William
20: 0966
Hallam, Martha H. Lewis
Calhoun
13: 0367
Hallam, William
13: 0367
Halloway, Jackson
3: 0795
Halloway, Sidney
3: 0795
Halloway, Westley
3: 0795
Haly, Louisa Taylor [?]
22: 0476
Haly, S.
22: 0476
Ham, James
22: 0250
Hambleton, Samuel
9: 0670
Hamby [?], R. B.
20: 0453
Hamer, Amanda
20: 0555
Hamer, Augustus
20: 0555
Hamer, Robert
20: 0555
Hamer, William R.
18: 0886
Hamilton, Alexander C.
15: 0532
Hamilton, Alexander C.
15: 0687
Hamilton, Elizabeth
Hassell
15: 0532
Hamilton, Elizabeth
Hassell
15: 0687
Hamilton, George W.
10: 0457
Hamilton, Jim
26: 0524
Hamilton, John B.
15: 0385
Hamilton, Nancy
25: 0657
Hamilton, Rachel
26: 0524
Hamilton, Thomas
11: 0638
Hamlin, Dr. T. B.
20: 0188
Hammock, Daniel
10: 0820
Hammock, Polly Martin
10: 0820
Hammonds, Mary Cowan
20: 0467
Hammonds, William H.
20: 0467
Hamner, Samuel A.
11: 0027
Hampton, John R.
2: 0288
Hamric, John
11: 0836
451
Hance [?], Harriett Vaden
20: 0151
Hancock, A. S.
20: 0453
Hancock, Achilles M.
21: 0336
Hancock, Elizabeth
25: 0546
Hancock, Hull H.
21: 0336
Hancock, James B.
12: 0028
Hancock, Luke H.
21: 0336
Hancock, Virginia C.
21: 0336
Hand, Sarah V.
20: 0230
Hand, Thomas S.
20: 0230
Hanes, Bright B.
14: 0471
Haney, Milton
13: 0512
Haney, Sarah
1: 0002
Hankins, Claiborne
11: 0585
Hanks, Fleetwood
1: 0631
Hanna, William H.
12: 0791
Hannah
3: 0509
Hannah
6: 0794
Hannah
7: 0102
Hannah
7: 0111
Hannah
15: 0087
Hannah
21: 0279
Hannah
22: 0513
Hannibal
2: 0652

Hannon, Mary
Blassingame
14: 0523
Hansbrough, Joseph S.
25: 0584
Haralson, Major J.
22: 0422
Hardage, Joseph
25: 0816
Hardage, Muscogee
Doyle
25: 0816
Hardee, John
16: 0327
Hardee, Margaret
16: 0327
Hardeman, Anna
14: 0359
Hardeman, Thomas
10: 0435
Hardeman, Thomas
10: 0933
Hardeman, William
14: 0359
Harder, Jacob
10: 0401
Harder, William
10: 0401
Hardin, David G.
23: 0794
Hardin, William
15: 0340
Hardison, Charles
13: 0122
Hardison, Charles
15: 0257
Hardison, Lewis
16: 0151
Hardrige, Joseph
24: 0385
Hardrige, Muscogy
Doyle
24: 0385
Hardwick, Dillard
14: 0711
Hardwick, Jonathan P.
14: 0711
Hargroves, Elizabeth P.
21: 0750
Hargroves, Susan M.
21: 0750
Hargroves, Wade L.
21: 0750
Harison, Jonas
23: 0074
Harlan, Robert
19: 0329
Harlow, Nancy Huskey
6: 0379
Harlow, Noah
6: 0379
Harmon, John
23: 0135
Harney, Robert B.
13: 0412
Harper, Alfred
13: 0290
Harper, Caleb
17: 0076
Harper, Mary A.
13: 0290
Harper, Thomas H.
14: 0088
Harrell, Elijah
8: 0219
Harrell, Elisha B.
3: 0241
Harriet
4: 0903
Harriet
10: 0002
Harriet
22: 0513
Harriett
2: 0740
Harrington, Joseph
26: 0601
Harris, Mr.
17: 0303
Harris, Mr.
21: 0564
Harris, Alfred F.
12: 0580
Harris, Archibald H.
10: 0185
Harris, Baker W.
18: 0223
Harris, Barnabas
3: 0546
452
Harris, Barnabas
3: 0556
Harris, Benjamin D.
19: 0981
Harris, Catherine
8: 0367
Harris, E. K.
1: 0285
Harris, Elizabeth
21: 0564
Harris, Eliza H.
12: 0580
Harris, Emily
21: 0402
Harris, Erastus
20: 0032
Harris, Fergus S.
18: 0223
Harris, George F.
15: 0727
Harris, Isaac W.
18: 0544
Harris, James
8: 0367
Harris, James M.
20: 0089
Harris, Jefferson
8: 0367
Harris, Joel
8: 0367
Harris, John
8: 0367
Harris, John H.
8: 0367
Harris, John W., Jr.
22: 0597
Harris, Lelia V.
20: 0032
Harris, Levisa B.
18: 0223
Harris, Loueza
16: 0413
Harris, Louisa
17: 0076
Harris, Louisa Jane
23: 0428
Harris, Margaret
Elizabeth Pickens
15: 0727

Harris, Martha
18: 0544
Harris, Mary
10: 0888
Harris, Mary Goode
22: 0597
Harris, Nancy Haden
8: 0367
Harris, Nathan W.
21: 0056
Harris, Nathaniel
8: 0367
Harris, Rebeca
8: 0367
Harris, Rebecca Mynatt
20: 0089
Harris, Tabitha S.
18: 0223
Harris, Thomas Gibson
21: 0402
Harris, William
8: 0367
Harris, William H.
10: 0888
Harris, Woodson
8: 0367
Harrison
6: 0200
Harrison
15: 0087
Harrison, Amey
5: 0788
Harrison, Amy
5: 0199
Harrison, Amy
5: 0207
Harrison, Amy
5: 0232
Harrison, Amy
5: 0240
Harrison, Amy
5: 0249
Harrison, Amy
5: 0260
Harrison, Amy
5: 0269
Harrison, Edney
18: 0681
Harrison, Edward R.
21: 0546
Harrison, Elijah
18: 0681
Harrison, George
3: 0809
Harrison, James
7: 1059
Harrison, James G.
15: 0357
Harrison, Jane R.
Hudson
15: 0357
Harrison, Jesse
12: 1052
Harrison, Jesse
13: 0177
Harrison, Landon
20: 0288
Harrison, Michael
10: 0069
Harrison, Rosannah C.
21: 0564
Harrison, William
17: 0076
Harrison, William
21: 0104
Harrison, William
21: 0564
Harry
6: 0200
Harry Dick
4: 0137
Hart, Ephraim C.
26: 0669
Hart, Henry W.
9: 0692
Hart, Henry W.
22: 0169
Hart, Henry W.
22: 0389
Hartin, John D.
20: 0453
Harton, James
16: 0181
Harton, John
16: 0181
Harvey, Mary Bell
14: 0620
Harvey, William
14: 0620
453
Harwell, Stith M.
21: 0784
Harwell, Stith M.
22: 0149
Harwell, Tom
22: 0597
Harwood, Mary E. Laird
20: 0602
Harwood, R. W.
22: 0072
Harwood, Richard W.
20: 0602
Hasbrook, Isarel G.
21: 0686
Hasel, Elizabeth K.
18: 0544
Hasel, Harriott
18: 0544
Hasel, Jennett
18: 0544
Hasel, Miles J.
18: 0544
Hassel, Albert
18: 0544
Hassell, Jennitt
14: 0471
Hassell, John
12: 1077
Hassell, William
15: 0532
Hassell, William
15: 0687
Hassell, William J.
12: 1077
Hassell, Writy Shield
12: 1077
Hassell, Zachariah
12: 1077
Hassell, Zebulon
12: 1077
Hatcher, John F.
9: 0168
Hatten, Benjamin
7: 1105
Hatten, Charles
7: 1105
Hatten, Clay
7: 1105
Hatten, Elizabeth
7: 1105

Hatten, James
7: 1105
Hatten, Melvel
7: 1105
Hatten, Oliver P.
7: 1105
Hatten, Robert
7: 1105
Hatten, Stewart B.
7: 1105
Hatten, Thomas
7: 1105
Hatten, Thomas J.
7: 1105
Hatten, William S.
7: 1105
Hatton, Michael
3: 0509
Hatton, Robert
19: 0178
Haux, Susannah
3: 0412
Hawkins, Louisa
24: 0444
Hawkins, Rebecca
23: 0222
Hay, Andrew
4: 0605
Hayal, John
14: 0426
Hayden, Joel H.
8: 0367
Hayes, John B.
16: 0515
Hayes, Naomai
16: 0515
Hayes, Nathaniel
18: 0817
Hayes, Ophelia C.
16: 0515
Hayes, Virginia J.
16: 0515
Haynes, H. H.
20: 0981
Haynes, John H.
21: 0546
Haynes, Julia Hooks
26: 0367
Haynes, Sarah Massey
21: 0546
Haynes, William
26: 0367
Haynes, William Robert
19: 0526
Haynie, Elijah
13: 0452
Haynie, Elijah
14: 0639
Haynie, George
13: 0452
Haynie, Henry B.
18: 1019
Haynie, Jessee, Jr.
13: 0452
Haynie, Lewis
13: 0452
Haynie, Milton
18: 1019
Haynie, Samuel
24: 0463
Hays, Francis M.
19: 0122
Hays, Oliver B.
12: 0296
Hazelwood, Richard
12: 0937
Head, Bolivar S.
9: 0593
Head, Elizabeth
18: 0531
Head, John M.
18: 0531
Head, Raymond
18: 0531
Head, William
7: 0250
Headstrong, Harriett
Hassell
12: 1077
Headstrong, John P.
12: 1077
Heard, Catherine Ewell
17: 0590
Heard, George W.
17: 0590
Hearsh, P.
17: 0345
Heath, Elijah W.
22: 0149
454
Heaton, David
9: 0730
Heaton, Lucinda King
9: 0730
Heaton, Thomas
14: 0761
Hedge, Mr.
23: 0981
Height, William G.
16: 0630
Helen
4: 0002
Helen
4: 0192
Helm, Sumner M.
20: 0930
Helms, John E.
20: 0089
Helms, Margaret Lones
20: 0089
Helms, Mary J. Reynolds
21: 0973
Helms, William T.
21: 0973
Hemphill, Andrew
1: 0032
Hemphill, Charlotte
1: 0032
Henderson
6: 0200
Henderson, James
Pinckney
23: 0962
Henderson, John
6: 0200
Henderson, John C.
13: 0658
Henderson, Samuel
14: 0415
Henderson, Thomas
11: 0575
Henderson, W. H.
17: 0792
Henderson, William
6: 0200
Henderson, William
22: 0513
Hendrick, T. W.
19: 0537

Hendricks, Elisha
17: 0243
Hendricks, Elizabeth
7: 0778
Hendricks, Sarah Allen
17: 0243
Hendricks, William D.
7: 0778
Henegar, Benton
14: 0094
Henley, Laticia Henry
20: 0026
Henley, Richard L.
20: 0026
Henne, John K.
18: 0013
Henniss, Purity
23: 0135
Henrietta
14: 0620
Henry
4: 0634
Henry
18: 0460
Henry
20: 0930
Henry
22: 0513
Henry, Andrew
3: 0500
Henry, Andrew J.
14: 0569
Henry, Beverly W.
20: 0026
Henry, Elizabeth L.
14: 0569
Henry, Frances M.
14: 0569
Henry, Francis
5: 0381
Henry, James
14: 0620
Henry, James M.
14: 0569
Henry, Levi
12: 0818
Henry, Marcus L.
14: 0569
Henry, Margaret Bell
14: 0620
Henry, Matilda J.
14: 0569
Henry, Sollomon
14: 0569
Herod
22: 0513
Herring, James
10: 0898
Herthel, Nicholas
8: 0262
Hibbetts, Benjamin R.
20: 1072
Hibbetts, David C., Jr.
20: 1072
Hibbetts, David C., Sr.
20: 1072
Hibbetts, James R.
20: 1072
Hibbetts, Josiah R.
20: 1072
Hibbetts, Penelope W.
20: 1072
Hibbitts, James L.
19: 0499
Hibbitts, Martha C.
19: 0499
Hickey, Jim
22: 0033
Hickman, Ann Bryan
5: 0022
Hickman, David M.
5: 0022
Hickman, E. W.
18: 0238
Hickman, Edwin H.
18: 0043
Hickman, Penelope
18: 0013
Hickman, William
3: 0639
Hicks, Absolom
8: 0660
Hicks, D. B.
20: 0774
Hicks, David B.
21: 0533
Hicks, Edwin A.
2: 0505
Hicks, Elsa
7: 0506
455
Hicks, Elsa
7: 0524
Hicks, Elsa
7: 0831
Hicks, Elsa
7: 1067
Hicks, Elsa
7: 1086
Hicks, James G.
10: 0161
Hicks, John C.
10: 0161
Hicks, Lucretia M.
2: 0486
Hicks, Young E.
5: 0701
Hieman, A.
18: 0043
Hiett, Isaac
21: 0598
Higginbotham, Thomas
4: 0680
Higgins, Jesse T.
1: 0631
High, William
22: 0233
High, Winston
22: 0233
Hight, Henry
3: 0463
Hilburn, Francis M.
26: 0336
Hilburn, Marietta
26: 0336
Hilburn, Marietta Shelton
24: 0542
Hildebrand, Jane
13: 0658
Hildebrand, John W.
13: 0658
Hill, A. W.
24: 0566
Hill, A. W.
26: 0824
Hill, Armstead
4: 0830
Hill, Cary
16: 0574
Hill, Catharine
4: 0830

Hill, Emaly
4: 0830
Hill, F.
21: 0894
Hill, Henry
13: 0919
Hill, Henry R. M.
10: 0815
Hill, J. M.
20: 0453
Hill, James
4: 0830
Hill, James M.
4: 0830
Hill, Jane Goodman
16: 0574
Hill, Jasper
15: 0282
Hill, John R.
15: 0282
Hill, Joseph N.
25: 0598
Hill, Martha
4: 0830
Hill, Paul C.
3: 0099
Hill, Paul C.
3: 0140
Hill, Paul C.
3: 0201
Hill, Robert
13: 0073
Hill, Robert C.
19: 0721
Hill, Robert W.
4: 0830
Hill, Samuel A.
8: 0219
Hill, Sarah
4: 0830
Hill, Thomas B.
24: 0764
Hill, Thomas B.
24: 0768
Hill, William
4: 0830
Hill, William D.
16: 0240
Hill, William H.
11: 0203
Hill, William H. S.
18: 0886
Hill, William Jasper, Jr.
14: 0579
Hillebrant, Christian
25: 0396
Hillebrant, Christian E.
26: 0237
Hilliard, Isaac
10: 0714
Hilliard, Mary M. Murfree
10: 0714
Hillsman, James
20: 0089
Hillsman, Joseph
20: 0089
Hillsman, Matthew
20: 0089
Hillsman, William
20: 0089
Hindman, James
18: 0088
Hindman, John P.
18: 0088
Hindman, Melea E.
18: 0088
Hindman, Samuel H.
18: 0088
Hindman, Thomas F.
18: 0088
Hiner, Caroline A.
8: 0428
Hines, Britt
17: 0090
Hines, Britt
17: 0099
Hines, George
17: 0099
Hines, Mark Jackson
17: 0099
Hines, Martha
17: 0099
Hines, Sam
17: 0099
Hinkle, Joseph
13: 0104
Hinton, John M.
14: 0014
Hitchings, George W.
20: 0188
456
Hobart, Samuel
6: 0524
Hobart, Samuel
6: 0539
Hobart, Samuel
6: 0551
Hobbs, Harriet E.
21: 0733
Hobbs, Hartwell H.
11: 0401
Hobbs, Heartwell H.
12: 0650
Hobbs, John N.
22: 0134
Hobbs, Joseph S.
22: 0134
Hobbs, Mary A.
22: 0134
Hobbs, Sarah C.
22: 0134
Hobson, Jeremiah
10: 0695
Hobson, Joseph Y.
20: 0848
Hobson, Joseph Y.
22: 0702
Hobson, Nicholas
19: 0232
Hobson, Nicholas
21: 0087
Hodge, Bright
12: 0056
Hodge, Calloway
12: 0056
Hodge, David P.
22: 0298
Hodge, Thomas
18: 1025
Hoggatt, James W.
15: 0119
Hoggatt, James W.
15: 0214
Hoggett, James W.
12: 0602
Hoggett, Mary Ann
Sanders
12: 0602
Holden, Joseph
21: 0205

Holden, William B.
13: 0117
Holland, Franklin A.
18: 0504
Holland, Franklin A.
18: 0511
Holland, Gustavus A.
18: 0504
Holland, Gustavus A.
18: 0511
Holland, James G.
18: 0504
Holland, James G.
18: 0511
Holland, William S.
18: 0511
Holliman, Allen
Augustus
7: 0421
Hollingsworth, Elizabeth
19: 0272
Hollingsworth, Henry
18: 0270
Holloway, Eliza Jane
7: 0762
Holloway, Isaac
7: 0762
Holloway, James M.
20: 0230
Holloway, John
7: 0762
Holloway, William
20: 0230
Hollowell, James R. B.
18: 0099
Holman, E. H.
26: 0035
Holman, Emenetta
26: 0134
Holman, Hardy S.
26: 0134
Holman, J. C.
26: 0134
Holman, John C.
26: 0035
Holman, William A.
26: 0134
Holman, Wilson R.
26: 0134
Holt, Elijah B.
21: 0742
Holt, Elijah W.
21: 0784
Holt, Enoch E.
21: 0750
Holt, Hiram H.
18: 0961
Holt, James M.
21: 0349
Holt, James M.
21: 0464
Holt, Jordan C.
17: 0511
Holt, Jordan C., Jr.
17: 0511
Holt, Joshua
18: 0747
Holt, Louisa Chandler
18: 0747
Holt, Mary E. Vance
21: 0750
Holt, Thomas
17: 0227
Holt, Thomas
20: 0555
Holt, William T.
20: 0555
Holton, Elizabeth
24: 0738
Holton, William S.
24: 0738
Honey, John W.
4: 0351
Hooks, David
26: 0367
Hooks, Robert
26: 0367
Hooks, Thomas
26: 0367
Hooks, William D.
26: 0367
Hooper, Claiborne Y.
10: 0497
Hooper, Tempe
17: 0773
Hopkins, Adelaide H.
7: 0440
Hopkins, Ashley Carr
7: 0440
457
Hopkins, Cornelia A.
26: 0699
Hopkins, Cornelia A.
26: 0706
Hopkins, Francis
1: 0872
Hopkins, Laura G.
7: 0440
Hopkins, Martha E.
Scales
20: 0786
Hopkins, Mary A.
7: 0440
Hopkins, Mary F.
7: 0440
Hopkins, Mary Frances
7: 0440
Hopkins, Mildred
1: 0872
Hopkins, Milton W.
6: 0647
Hopkins, R. R.
7: 0440
Hopkins, Samuel
20: 0786
Hopkins, Theresa
7: 0440
Hopkins, William C.
7: 0440
Hopkins, William R.
7: 0440
Hopwood, Charlotte
Thompson
15: 0760
Hopwood, William
15: 0760
Horine, Jacob
3: 0422
Horine, Susan
3: 0635
Horine, Thomas
3: 0635
Horn, Jacob
18: 0544
Horsly, James R.
17: 0204
Horsly, John W.
17: 0204
Horsly, William
17: 0204

Horsly, William
17: 0827
Horton, Alexander
23: 0592
Horton, Alexander
24: 0252
Horton, Alexander
25: 0077
Horton, Craven
19: 0557
Horton, Henry C.
14: 0415
Horton, Henry P.
23: 0311
Horton, Mary Jane
19: 0557
Horton, Stephen
13: 0399
Horton, Wade
23: 0742
Hoskins, Isaac C.
24: 0815
Hoss, Calvin
14: 0204
Hotchkiss, Archibald
23: 0184
Hotchkiss, Archibald
23: 0222
Hough, Emily Jane
Bryan
21: 0043
Hough, J. E.
21: 0043
House, Agnis
19: 0329
House, Alfred
19: 0329
House, Ambrose
16: 0556
House, Amon
19: 0329
House, Andrew J.
19: 0329
House, Charles
17: 0029
House, Dudley P. T.
12: 0495
House, Elizabeth
16: 0078
House, Elizabeth
Delbridge
17: 0029
House, Francis E. Corley
17: 0615
House, George B.
16: 0556
House, George W.
19: 0329
House, Henry
19: 0329
House, Isaac
19: 0329
House, John
2: 0657
House, Martha E.
16: 0556
House, Merit
19: 0329
House, Merrit
17: 0615
House, William B.
16: 0556
Houston, Deborah
12: 0887
Houston, Deborah
12: 0898
Houston, Deborah
14: 0051
Houston, Dungens
12: 0887
Houston, Dungins
12: 0898
Houston, Elbert
12: 0887
Houston, Eliza H. Allen
12: 0602
Houston, Emory S.
24: 0264
Houston, Governor
12: 1040
Houston, James
12: 0887
Houston, James
12: 0898
Houston, Jane
12: 0887
Houston, Jane
12: 0898
458
Houston, Johanna Smith
17: 0481
Houston, John
12: 0887
Houston, John
12: 0898
Houston, John
20: 0453
Houston, Mary
12: 0887
Houston, Mary
12: 0898
Houston, Moses W.
16: 0186
Houston, Sam
23: 0997
Houston, Sam
24: 0007
Houston, Sam
24: 0104
Houston, Sarah
12: 0887
Houston, Sarah
12: 0898
Houston, Valary
12: 0887
Houston, Valary
12: 0898
Houston, W.
20: 0453
Houston, William
12: 0887
Houston, William
12: 0898
Houston, William
14: 0051
Houston, William A.
15: 0760
Howard
6: 0200
Howard, B. R.
20: 0068
Howard, Daniel
20: 0068
Howard, Fleet
7: 0762
Howard, Huldah
Richardson
11: 0875

Howard, Mary Ann
20: 0068
Howard, Mary Baker
20: 0068
Howard, Nancy
7: 0762
Howard, Parmenas
11: 0875
Howe, Sim [?]
20: 0453
Hubbard, Elizabeth A.
20: 1072
Hubbard, Eusebus
9: 0326
Hubbard, John M.
2: 0402
Hubbard, John M.
2: 0498
Hubbard, John M.
2: 0587
Hubbard, John M.
2: 0853
Hubbard, John M.
3: 0106
Hubbard, John W.
3: 0230
Hubbard, Josiah R.
20: 1072
Hubbard, Nancy
9: 0326
Hubbard, Thomas J.
20: 1072
Hubbard, William H.
20: 1072
Huddleston, John
13: 0554
Hudson, Corinne
22: 0214
Hudson, Elmira McKay
22: 0214
Hudson, Joseph S.
15: 0357
Hudson, Robert
2: 0288
Hudson, Sallie H.
26: 0797
Hudson, Susan P.
15: 0357
Hudson, William
14: 0290
Hudson, William D.
22: 0214
Huey, Jane
14: 0232
Huey, Susan
14: 0232
Huey, William
14: 0232
Huff, William B.
21: 0784
Huffman, Lucy
20: 1027
Huffman, William
20: 1027
Huggins, Brevard
13: 0255
Huggins, Brevard
15: 0302
Huggins, Elizabeth W.
14: 0794
Huggins, James H.
13: 0255
Huggins, James H.
15: 0302
Huggins, Jonathan
14: 0794
Hughes, A. M.
19: 0588
Hughes, Brice M.
13: 0043
Hughes, Brice M., Jr.
17: 0297
Hughes, Brice M., Jr.
19: 0053
Hughes, Brice M., Sr.
17: 0297
Hughes, Brice M., Sr.
19: 0053
Hughes, Daniel
20: 0453
Hughes, Daniel H.
26: 0394
Hughes, Edmund J.
22: 0409
Hughes, Eveline Boulton
21: 0132
Hughes, James
15: 0302
Hughes, James H.
25: 0157
459
Hughes, James H.
25: 0174
Hughes, John
12: 0061
Hughes, John
13: 0043
Hughes, John L.
19: 0053
Hughes, Leander
17: 0297
Hughes, Lucy Bond
16: 0732
Hughes, Moses
8: 0190
Hughes, Nancy
Anderson
12: 0061
Hughes, Reece
23: 1048
Hughes, Samuel
12: 0061
Hughes, Samuel
17: 0297
Hughes, Samuel H.
19: 0053
Hughes, Sarah C.
22: 0409
Hughes, Thomas
16: 0732
Hughes, William
15: 0257
Hughs, Archelaus
10: 0820
Hughs, Catherine Vaden
20: 0151
Hughs, Jessee
20: 0151
Hughs, Nancy Martin
10: 0820
Hulbert, Henry T.
20: 0453
Huling, Thomas B.
23: 0730
Hulme, George W.
11: 0260
Hulme, Syrena G. Porter
11: 0260
Humble, Jacob
16: 0607

Humble, John A.
14: 0166
Humble, Mariah
Rawlings
14: 0166
Hume, George, Jr.
9: 0405
Hume, Lewis
9: 0405
Humes, Thomas W.
21: 0434
Humes, Thomas W.
21: 1025
Humes, Thomas W.
21: 1060
Humes, Thomas W.
21: 1076
Humes, W. Y. C.
21: 0434
Humes, William Y. C.
21: 1025
Humes, William Y. C.
21: 1060
Humes, William Y. C.
21: 1076
Humphries, Thomas J.
1: 0655
Hunnicutt, William E.
18: 0093
Hunt, Andrew
10: 0829
Hunt, Elizabeth Kenner
7: 0539
Hunt, Henry
17: 0076
Hunt, Noah
7: 0539
Hunt, Polly
10: 0829
Hunt, Samuel P.
21: 0056
Hunt, Thomas
11: 0650
Hunter, Celine
20: 0278
Hunter, George
20: 0278
Hunter, Henry
12: 0087
Hunter, Melvina
8: 0814
Hunter, William
8: 0814
Hunter, William
12: 0818
Hunter, William W.
9: 0515
Hurley, Amos
13: 0611
Hurley, Catharine C.
1: 0752
Hurley, Nathan R.
1: 0752
Hurst, Elizabeth
17: 0076
Hurt, Benjamin
20: 0687
Hurt, Moses G.
22: 0243
Hurt, Moses S.
22: 0291
Huskey, Martha S.
8: 0045
Huskey, Silas
8: 0045
Hutchings, John H.
25: 0204
Hutchinson, Mary E.
2: 0486
Hutchinson, William D.
2: 0486
Hutchison, John
21: 0564
Hutson, Wright
2: 0657
Hyams, Henry M.
26: 0468
Hyatt, Benjamin
2: 0657
Hyde, Edmond W.
21: 0804
Hyde, Edmund
19: 0246
Hyde, Eliza
21: 0804
Hyde, Jerome
19: 0246
Hyde, Mary
21: 0804
460
Hyde, Richard
19: 0246
Hyde, Wellington
19: 0246
Hyde, William
19: 0246
Hyde, William R.
21: 0804
Hyde, Willis
14: 0761
Hynds, George H.
10: 0097
Ingle, Adam
21: 0912
Ingle, Elizabeth Sliger
21: 0912
Ingle, Elizabeth Sliger
22: 0303
Ingram, D. T.
19: 0272
Ingram, Elizabeth F.
19: 0272
Ingram, T. C.
19: 0272
Inloes, Thomas
12: 0818
Inman, Benjamin R.
13: 0273
Inman, Benjamin R.
14: 0094
Inman, Henry
21: 0904
Inman, James
21: 0904
Inman, Joseph C.
21: 0625
Inman, Sarah A.
21: 0904
Irvin, Montgomery
18: 0705
Irwin, Joseph M.
13: 0209
Isaac
2: 0740
Isaac
5: 0215
Isaac
6: 0794
Isaac
19: 0875

Isaac
22: 0513
Isaac Henry
2: 0740
Isabella
9: 0599
Isabella
9: 0687
Isom, Robert
6: 0924
Isreal
3: 0867
Isreal
3: 0887
Ivey, Isaiah
15: 0587
Ivy, Isaac
16: 0534
Jack
3: 0546
Jack
4: 0464
Jack
4: 0734
Jack
5: 0485
Jack
6: 0794
Jack
21: 0178
Jack
22: 0513
Jack, David
3: 0623
Jack, Thomas C.
14: 0426
Jack, William
20: 0453
Jack, William H.
23: 0149
Jack, William H.
23: 0168
Jack & Towers
23: 0503
Jackson
6: 0200
Jackson
12: 0110
Jackson, Alexander
13: 0715
Jackson, Alfred E.
14: 0810
Jackson, Alfred E.
18: 0672
Jackson, Alfred E.
20: 0701
Jackson, Andrew W.
20: 1072
Jackson, Ann
26: 0320
Jackson, C. D.
22: 0190
Jackson, Edmund T.
20: 1072
Jackson, F. M.
26: 0584
Jackson, George
10: 0007
Jackson, Henry
6: 0500
Jackson, Isaac
2: 0002
Jackson, Isaac
20: 0873
Jackson, Jacob
18: 0946
Jackson, James H.
22: 0597
Jackson, Jinny
6: 0500
Jackson, Jinny
6: 0507
Jackson, John A.
22: 0597
Jackson, Loyd
13: 0715
Jackson, Margarett
6: 0500
Jackson, Martha Hale
18: 0946
Jackson, Nancy Ford
13: 0715
Jackson, Sally
6: 0500
Jackson, Samuel
20: 1072
Jackson, Taylor
13: 0715
Jackson, William
14: 0610
461
Jackson, William
20: 1072
Jackson, Williams
16: 0630
Jacob
18: 0056
Jacob
19: 0588
Jacob
22: 0513
Jacob, David
7: 0762
Jacob, Harrison
7: 0762
Jacob, Isaac
7: 0762
Jacob, Jesse
7: 0762
Jacob, John Westley
7: 0762
Jacob, Thomas
7: 0762
Jacob, William
7: 0762
Jaggers, William J.
16: 0047
James
6: 0200
James
7: 0232
James
13: 0800
James
15: 0799
James
18: 0460
James
21: 0279
James, Amy
17: 0076
James, Elizabeth
14: 0537
James, Elizabeth
17: 0169
James, James
17: 0169
James, Jane
17: 0169
James, John
18: 1008

James, John L.
19: 0698
James, Lucy Ann
18: 0088
James, Pleasant L.
14: 0074
James, Thomas D.
4: 0903
James, Vina
17: 0169
James, William
17: 0169
Jameson, John
7: 0283
Jameson, John M.
7: 0177
Jameson, John M.
7: 0275
Jameson, Marshal
10: 0873
Jamieson, Jacob
13: 0704
Jamieson, Jacob
13: 0709
Jamieson, James
13: 0709
Jamieson, John F.
18: 0103
Jamieson, Lucy
13: 0709
Jamima
15: 0087
Jamison, Francis B.
9: 0318
Jamison, Harrison
4: 0389
Jane
4: 0526
Jane
5: 0240
Jane
15: 0087
Jane
15: 0616
Jane
20: 0930
January, Thomas T.
6: 0472
Jarratt, David M.
14: 0348
Jeff
22: 0513
Jefferson, Joseph
4: 0030
Jefferson, Thomas
6: 0647
Jefferson, Thomas
7: 0560
Jeffreys, Thomas B.
16: 0630
Jeffries, Achilles W.
9: 0154
Jeffries, Charles
2: 0740
Jemmima
19: 0588
Jenkens, James
19: 0749
Jenkins, William
12: 0548
Jenney
3: 0824
Jennings, Benjamin P.
18: 0088
Jennings, Benjamin
Pleasant
18: 0093
Jennings, Thomas R.
19: 0221
Jennings, Vernon M.
18: 0093
Jenny
3: 0509
Jerry
3: 0509
Jerry
4: 0335
Jerry
21: 0564
Jerry
22: 0513
Jesse
6: 0200
Jesse
7: 0245
Jesse
7: 0529
Jessee
13: 0800
462
Jester, Jacob
13: 0260
Jester, John
12: 1034
Jester, John
13: 0260
Jett, Sarah
14: 0666
Jett, Starke
14: 0666
Jim
14: 0620
Jim
22: 0513
Joe
4: 0425
Joe
6: 0794
Joe
19: 0664
Joe
22: 0513
John
4: 0253
John
4: 0559
John
5: 0076
John
6: 0326
John
15: 0087
John
20: 0930
John
22: 0513
Johns, John
22: 0190
Johnson, Mr.
15: 0282
Johnson, Achilles E. C.
23: 0981
Johnson, Alexander
21: 0221
Johnson, Alfred
14: 0166
Johnson, Alvin A.
14: 0579
Johnson, Anderson
16: 0327

Johnson, Anthony W.
19: 0221
Johnson, Bailey
20: 0204
Johnson, Benjamin
16: 0043
Johnson, Benjamin
21: 0221
Johnson, Cave
17: 0466
Johnson, Celia Peak
14: 0166
Johnson, Cynthia
22: 0441
Johnson, Elizabeth
1: 0431
Johnson, George
8: 0964
Johnson, George E.
16: 0626
Johnson, Hugh [?]
15: 0799
Johnson, James
12: 0997
Johnson, James
21: 0564
Johnson, James
22: 0441
Johnson, James D.
10: 0789
Johnson, James F.
26: 0044
Johnson, James H.
16: 0286
Johnson, Jesse W.
14: 0415
Johnson, Jesse W.
17: 0492
Johnson, Jesse W.
20: 0424
Johnson, John C.
22: 0083
Johnson, John K.
18: 0453
Johnson, Malinda
21: 0564
Johnson, Margarett
Sanders
11: 0326
Johnson, Martha
Mansker
14: 0471
Johnson, Martin
1: 0752
Johnson, Mary Campbell
1: 0752
Johnson, Mathew
21: 0773
Johnson, Nancy
21: 0564
Johnson, Nancy Mynatt
20: 0089
Johnson, Naomi
17: 0492
Johnson, Naomi C.
14: 0415
Johnson, Naomy C.
20: 0424
Johnson, Peter
1: 0431
Johnson, Peter John
1: 0431
Johnson, S. S.
14: 0471
Johnson, Sarah Harriet
Hill
14: 0579
Johnson, Sarah Hill
15: 0282
Johnson, Stephen H.
20: 0089
Johnson, Thomas
21: 0221
Johnson, Thomas C.
16: 0692
Johnson, Thomas C.
19: 0030
Johnson, Thomas H.
17: 0333
Johnson, Thomas H.
20: 0778
Johnson, Thomas P.
13: 0587
Johnson, Tom Jefferson
23: 0926
Johnson, William
5: 0674
Johnson, William
16: 0327
463
Johnson, William
16: 0643
Johnson, William C.
24: 0329
Johnson, Zachariah
Candler
23: 0304
Johnston, Ann Eliza
15: 0706
Johnston, Benjamin
8: 0915
Johnston, Henrietta P.
15: 0706
Johnston, James
15: 0706
Johnston, James H.
9: 0080
Johnston, James M.
24: 0124
Johnston, Lancelot
15: 0706
Johnston, Lauretta N.
15: 0706
Johnston, Sarah J.
15: 0706
Johnston, Susan
15: 0706
Johnston, William A.
10: 0762
Johnston, William T.
15: 0706
Joiner, Caleb
24: 0239
Jonakin, Sterling
17: 0076
Jonathan
6: 0111
Jonathan
15: 0799
Jones, Aaron
4: 0351
Jones, Annah M.
11: 0917
Jones, Anna Jane
Pickens
15: 0727
Jones, Brittania Jordan
13: 0772
Jones, Charles H.
11: 0917

Jones, Charlotte Neblett
20: 0786
Jones, Clarissa
19: 0519
Jones, David
16: 0358
Jones, David H.
15: 0336
Jones, Edward D.
13: 0412
Jones, Elizabeth H.
13: 0412
Jones, Elizabeth
Whitfield
19: 0816
Jones, Franklin T.
26: 0053
Jones, Frederick
15: 0490
Jones, G. W.
26: 0303
Jones, George W.
11: 0917
Jones, Henry T.
11: 0917
Jones, Homer R.
13: 0412
Jones, J. M.
18: 0198
Jones, James
16: 0335
Jones, James
22: 0024
Jones, James G.
10: 0382
Jones, James H.
14: 0204
Jones, James H. Y.
11: 0917
Jones, James S.
21: 0564
Jones, James S.
22: 0243
Jones, Jesse
6: 0200
Jones, Jesse
15: 0727
Jones, John
16: 0133
Jones, John
20: 0786
Jones, John W.
10: 0210
Jones, Louisa
21: 0564
Jones, Mariah
15: 0490
Jones, Marietta Perkins
12: 0678
Jones, Martin S.
11: 0917
Jones, Matilda
22: 0024
Jones, Melvin R.
26: 0053
Jones, Monetta
14: 0359
Jones, N. W.
22: 0445
Jones, Nancy
16: 0335
Jones, Nicholas
4: 0351
Jones, Oliver H.
9: 0052
Jones, Richard M.
11: 0917
Jones, Richard P.
25: 0283
Jones, Robert N.
19: 0122
Jones, Samuel
18: 0626
Jones, Samuel H.
18: 1025
Jones, Stephen B.
11: 0412
Jones, Strother
12: 0028
Jones, Thomas M.
12: 0678
Jones, Thomas M.
13: 0313
Jones, Thomas M.
14: 0359
Jones, Washington
19: 0816
Jones, William
15: 0799
464
Jones, William
19: 0519
Jones, William
19: 0898
Jones, William D.
26: 0053
Jones, William D. C.
11: 0917
Jones, William D. C.
24: 0596
Jones, William D. C.
24: 0799
Jones, William D. C.
25: 0546
Jones, William N.
16: 0301
Jordan
6: 0200
Jordan, D. N.
21: 0957
Jordan, Edward L.
13: 0696
Jordan, James
2: 0657
Jordan, James I.
21: 0957
Jordan, John, Jr.
11: 0745
Jordan, John N.
16: 0212
Jordan, John W. A.
21: 0957
Jordan, Johnson
18: 0785
Jordan, Laban
18: 0103
Jordan, Pleasant
3: 0235
Jordan, Pleasant
3: 0338
Jordan, Robert D.
17: 0577
Jordan, Samuel
21: 0957
Jordan, Susan
13: 0133
Jordan, Williamson
11: 0745
Jorden, Eliza Jane
17: 0268

Jorden, James B.
17: 0268
Jorden, John
17: 0268
Jorden, Laura C.
17: 0268
Jorden, Thomas
17: 0268
Joseph
4: 0002
Joseph
9: 0599
Joseph
9: 0655
Joseph
14: 0620
Joseph
21: 0279
Joseph
22: 0513
Joshua
9: 0774
Joyner, Robert
12: 0672
Jude
15: 0799
Judith
6: 0507
Judkins, Margaret
21: 0036
Judy
5: 0120
Judy
5: 0468
Judy
5: 0719
Judy
5: 0746
Julia
4: 0583
Julia
4: 0903
Julia
5: 0311
Julie
4: 0002
Julie
9: 0196
Kade, James
18: 0946
Kade, Susannah Hale
18: 0946
Kain, William C.
21: 1041
Kanier, Samuel
14: 0878
Kannon, James
13: 0073
Kay, Reuben L.
15: 0664
Keeble, Edwin A.
17: 0260
Keeney, J. G.
21: 0036
Keeney, Josephine
21: 0036
Keiker, John
22: 0303
Keiker, Rebecca Sliger
22: 0303
Keithly, Samuel W.
26: 0027
Kelley, Mr.
22: 0597
Kelley, Billey
18: 0314
Kellison, William
17: 0076
Kellogg, Eliza
1: 0739
Kellogg, Katharine
1: 0742
Kellogg, Mary
1: 0745
Kelly, Abner [Kelley]
18: 0314
Kelly, Calvin
18: 0388
Kelly, James
7: 0861
Kembro, Alexander
17: 0590
Kembro, Sarah Ewell
17: 0590
Kenady, Ann
10: 0136
Kendige, Barnard
21: 0758
Kenley, Hiram
23: 0962
465
Kenley, Hiram
25: 0568
Kennard, David C.
19: 0023
Kennard, Sarah T.
Ogilvie
19: 0023
Kennedy, Eliza
19: 0383
Kennedy, John C.
18: 0365
Kennedy, Nancy
Tomlinson
10: 0878
Kennedy, Overton
13: 0611
Kennedy, Thomas
10: 0878
Kenner, Rodham F.
9: 0213
Kennerly, Clarissa
Bennett
18: 0666
Kennerly, John P.
18: 0666
Kennerly, John P.
21: 0848
Kennerly, Samuel J.
21: 0848
Kenoh
22: 0513
Kent, Asbury
19: 0739
Kercheval, Nancy H.
18: 0184
Kercheval, Samuel
13: 0412
Kerns [?], Mr.
20: 0453
Kerr, Matthew
5: 0111
Kerr, Nelson
5: 0111
Kerr, Peter
24: 0785
Kerr, Robert, Jr.
10: 0016
Kerr, William
23: 0090

Keys, Mary Ann Taylor
25: 0396
Keys, Nelson
25: 0396
Keywood, Agatha
10: 0076
Keywood, Benjamin
Smallwood
10: 0076
Keywood, James
10: 0076
Keywood, Jeremiah
10: 0076
Keywood, Joshua Brown
10: 0076
Keywood, Stephen Berry
10: 0076
Kibler, Bethenia
21: 0279
Kibler, Elihu
21: 0279
Kibler, Lemuel
21: 0279
Kibler, Rena
21: 0279
Kidd, Hudson A.
15: 0112
Kidd, Hudson A.
16: 0002
Kidd, Leroy
20: 0089
Kidd, Martha A. Williams
16: 0002
Kidd, Rebecca Lones
20: 0089
Kiker, John
19: 0875
Kiker, John
21: 0912
Kiker, Rebecca Sliger
19: 0875
Kiker, Rebecca Sliger
21: 0912
Kimball, William H.
24: 0534
Kimbell, William H.
14: 0185
Kimble, H. S.
19: 0417
Kimbro, George
16: 0193
Kimbro, Samuel
21: 0592
Kimbro, Samuel
21: 0608
Kinard, Claibourn
17: 0437
King, Abram W.
18: 0544
King, Benjamin
12: 1052
King, Benjamin T.
19: 0041
King, Charles G.
9: 0730
King, David
21: 0318
King, E. W. M.
20: 0453
King, Edward H.
19: 0787
King, Eli
13: 0821
King, Elizabeth
16: 0335
King, Griffin L.
20: 0002
King, Isabella E. W.
Duncan
21: 0318
King, James
13: 0093
King, James
19: 0787
King, James, Jr.
9: 0730
King, James M.
18: 0483
King, John, heirs of
13: 0821
King, Joseph L.
21: 0943
King, Lafayette
9: 0730
King, Lewis A.
21: 0750
King, Nancy E.
9: 0730
466
King, Robert
13: 0821
King, Robert
18: 0428
King, Robert M.
18: 0544
King, Robert Wood
21: 0943
King, Sarah A.
21: 0750
King, Susan J. Matthias
19: 0041
King, William, heirs of
13: 0821
King, William D. L.
18: 0544
King, William H.
9: 0730
King, Willie
16: 0335
Kingins, John
13: 0085
Kingsbury, James W.
6: 0670
Kingston, Matilda Roach
14: 0595
Kingston, William
14: 0595
Kinnard, Claiborne H.
16: 0561
Kinney, Amy
9: 0168
Kinney, John
9: 0168
Kinney, Thornton
9: 0168
Kirby, Ethelbert
21: 0502
Kirby, Joel
8: 0027
Kirby, Lucy W. Gilbreath
21: 0254
Kirby, William D.
21: 0254
Kirkham, Elizabeth
13: 0002
Kirkpatric, John C.
16: 0574
Kirkpatrick, Elizabeth
2: 0623

Kirkpatrick, Elizabeth
3: 0002
Kirkpatrick, Elizabeth C.
3: 0013
Kirkpatrick, Isabella
3: 0013
Kirkpatrick, Joseph
3: 0013
Kirkpatrick, Lemuel
3: 0013
Kitrell, Fielding
14: 0639
Kitrell, Isaac
14: 0639
Kizer, John
12: 0968
Klepper, Jacob
14: 0204
Kneel, William D.
18: 0800
Kneeland, Ira C.
11: 0812
Knewkirk, Garrett
13: 0085
Knight, Emily N.
25: 0106
Knight, Lewis
25: 0106
Knight, Narcissa
1: 0390
Knight, Nicholas
19: 0072
Knight, Robert W.
22: 0233
Knight, William B.
1: 0390
Knox, Absolom
18: 0388
Knox, Franklin
7: 0154
Knox, Franklin
7: 0758
Knox, John
20: 0467
Knox, Mathew
16: 0286
Knox, William C.
18: 0388
Kornegay, Barney
10: 0847
Kornegay, Civil
Kornegay
10: 0847
Kornegay, Elijah
10: 0847
Kornegay, Miller
10: 0847
Kosier, Daniel
22: 0250
Kothe, Christian
8: 0219
Laban
3: 0481
Lackey, Andrew
16: 0732
Lackey, Hugh
6: 0267
Lackey, Nancy D. Bond
16: 0732
LaCouture
3: 0375
LaGrange, Francois
4: 0076
Lahay, Toussaint
8: 0536
Laird, Amanda M.
20: 0602
Laird, Ann
20: 0602
Laird, Henrietta G.
20: 0602
Laird, Henry
11: 0836
Laird, John T. H.
20: 0602
Laird, Margarette B.
20: 0602
Laird, Martin
11: 0836
Laird, Martin
15: 0169
Laird, Peggy B. Malone
15: 0169
Laird, Robert H.
11: 0836
Laird, Robert H.
20: 0602
Laird, Robert M.
20: 0602
467
Laird, Sarah B.
20: 0602
Laird, Virginia
20: 0602
Lake, Henry
20: 0453
Lake, Henry
22: 0581
Lambert, Jane Lipscomb
6: 0621
Lambert, John P.
6: 0621
Lambeth, William M.
24: 0319
Lambreth, C.
19: 0265
Lamon, Catharine Sliger
19: 0875
Lamon, Catharine Sliger
21: 0912
Lamon, Catherine Sliger
22: 0303
Lamon, Jacob
19: 0875
Lamon, Jacob
21: 0912
Lamon, Jacob
22: 0303
Lancaster, Harriet
Feagans
19: 0388
Lancaster, Harriet
Feagans
19: 1031
Lancaster, Robert
22: 0149
Lancaster, Samuel
19: 0388
Lancaster, Samuel
19: 1031
Landis, Abner L.
17: 0590
Lane, Barney R.
19: 0765
Lane, Edmund
22: 0077
Lane, Eliza M.
19: 0765
Lane, Emily
15: 0454

Lane, Hardage
6: 0472
Lane, Hardage
6: 0670
Lane, Jesse C.
22: 0077
Lane, Martin M.
19: 0765
Lane, Mary
19: 0793
Lane, Ophelia J.
19: 0765
Lane, Rachel
19: 0765
Lane, Regina W.
19: 0765
Lane, Robert L.
23: 0761
Lane, William G.
22: 0077
Lanehan, Peter
21: 0848
Langer, Stephen
2: 0740
Langham, J. Biddle
24: 0078
Langham, James B.
24: 0085
Langley, George
22: 0024
Langley, Mary Curd
22: 0024
Langston, Martin
13: 0833
Lanier, John C.
20: 0453
Lanier, Lewis G.
20: 0820
Lanier, Lewis G.
20: 0831
Lannom, Aurilla Francis
16: 0133
Lannum, Nathan
19: 0645
Lark, John
4: 0009
Lark, Precious
4: 0009
Larkins, Delia
20: 0288
Larkins, Delia
20: 0977
Larkins, Delia
20: 1110
Larkins, Hickory J.
19: 0882
Larkins, Isora W.
19: 0882
Larkins, Robert
19: 0882
Larkins, William R.
19: 0882
Larry, Elizabeth
13: 0923
Lary, Alfred B.
3: 0210
Lash, David
20: 0453
Lathrop, Abner S.
26: 0584
Latimer, George S.
11: 0283
Latimore, Lugena
Brinkly
19: 0404
Latimore, Richard
19: 0404
Latture, Samuel
14: 0214
Lauderdale, Mary H.
14: 0179
Lauderdale, Samuel H.
14: 0179
Laura
20: 0930
Lavender, George
18: 0785
Lavender, Nelson
19: 0173
Lavina
5: 0199
Lavina
12: 0110
Lawler, Henry
26: 0367
Lawless, Armistead
6: 0267
Lawrence, David
16: 0486
468
Lawrence, David
17: 0076
Lawson, Andrew
24: 0299
Lawson, Mary E. H.
Shotwell
24: 0299
Laymaster, John
10: 0382
Layson, Mary C.
9: 0002
Layson, William L.
9: 0002
Lea, Sanders W.
12: 1034
Lea, Sanders W.
13: 0260
Leah
4: 0792
Leath, Charles A.
16: 0478
Leath, Charlotte
17: 0070
Leath, Sarah H.
17: 0066
Leath, Sarah H.
17: 0756
Leatherwood, Spencer
18: 0088
Le Compte, Elvy
8: 0536
Ledbetter, Alexander
20: 0803
Ledbetter, Alexander
21: 0442
Ledbetter, Elizabeth
17: 0511
Ledbetter, Jesse M.
17: 0511
Leduc, Marie P.
4: 0892
Leduc, Marie P.
4: 0914
Lee
22: 0513
Lee, Abraham
10: 0063
Lee, Catherine
15: 0062

Lee, Descinda
10: 0063
Lee, Elizabeth
2: 0882
Lee, Elizabeth
3: 0085
Lee, Isaac
23: 0926
Lee, John
10: 0847
Lee, Margaret
10: 0063
Lee, Maria
10: 0063
Lee, Peggy Kornegay
10: 0847
Lee, Peter
13: 0385
Lee, Samuel
18: 0785
Lee, Samuel B.
16: 0541
Lee, Thomas
10: 0063
Leech, Jacob
19: 0537
Leech, L. L.
19: 0882
Leech, Sarah
19: 0882
Leetch, Isaac B.
13: 0073
Leetch, John M.
13: 0073
Leetch, Robert G.
13: 0073
Leetch, Sarah P.
13: 0073
Leetch, William K.
13: 0073
Lefevre, Marena M.
3: 0359
Legg, Meredith W.
22: 0024
Leggett, Hampton
15: 0718
Leggett, Sampson
15: 0718
Le Grand, Jane W.
20: 0230
Lemon, Robert
4: 0114
Lempkin, James H.
19: 0937
Lender, Mary Johnson
21: 0221
Lender, Peyton H.
21: 0221
Leo, Richard R.
6: 0831
Lester, German
13: 0412
Lewis
3: 0509
Lewis
5: 0719
Lewis
6: 0200
Lewis
15: 0799
Lewis, John H.
26: 0601
Lewis, Joseph C.
5: 0674
Lewis, Joseph F.
23: 0606
Lewis, Louisa
9: 0692
Lewis, Martin R.
24: 0239
Lewis, Martrom
3: 0795
Lewis, Mary Emma
2: 0508
Lewis, Mary Emma
2: 0652
Lewis, Richard M.
2: 0508
Lewis, Richard M.
2: 0652
Lewis, Robert
4: 0097
Lidda
9: 0660
Lidda
9: 0687
Light, Jourdan
17: 0673
Light, Mary Ann
17: 0673
469
Light, Right
17: 0673
Light, Vachael
17: 0673
Lilburn, Jonah
14: 0026
Lilburn, Jonah
14: 0204
Liles, Walter J.
20: 0253
Limbaugh, Jefferson W.
8: 0219
Lindsay, Matthew
14: 0359
Lindsay, Virginia
14: 0359
Lindsey, Joseph
16: 0160
Link, Absalom
5: 0485
Link, Elizabeth
21: 0344
Linum, Ellinor
12: 0096
Linum, James
12: 0096
Lipincot Grambo & Co.
21: 0894
Lipscomb, Elizabeth
2: 0882
Lipscomb, Elizabeth
3: 0085
Lipscomb, Harriet
3: 0085
Lipscomb, Harriet N.
2: 0882
Lipscomb, John
2: 0882
Lipscomb, John L.
3: 0085
Lipscomb, Jordan
2: 0882
Lipscomb, Margaret
2: 0882
Lipscomb, Margaret
3: 0085
Lipscomb, Mary
McMurry
22: 0482

Lipscomb, Sarah
3: 0085
Lipscomb, Sarah A. R.
2: 0882
Lipscomb, Theophilus
2: 0882
Lipscomb, Theophilus
3: 0085
Lipscomb, William
6: 0621
Lipscomp, Lucy Wood
6: 0621
Lipton, Abraham B.
12: 0176
Litcher, Isaac A.
3: 0867
Lite, L. B.
17: 0345
Litsworth, John
2: 0657
Little, James A.
7: 1028
Little, William
16: 0673
Littlefield, Edward B.
11: 0457
Littleton, Joseph Lewis
19: 0526
Littleton, Susan Jarrette
19: 0526
Littleton, William
5: 0730
Litton, Benjamin
10: 0599
Litton, Benjamin
15: 0119
Litton, Louisa M.
Childress
10: 0599
Lively, Lewis P.
3: 0067
Livingston, Thomas
8: 0166
Lizzie
22: 0513
Lloyd, Emily T.
25: 0887
Lloyd, Henry C.
25: 0887
Locke, James H.
16: 0240
Locke, James H.
16: 0630
Locke, Margaret
Bowman
12: 0937
Locket, William
17: 0827
Lockett, William
17: 0204
Lockhart, John
23: 0262
Lockridge, Harry W.
13: 0229
Lockwood, John
17: 0178
Lockwood, Walter
17: 0178
Lofland, W. O.
20: 0453
Logan, Green Berry
5: 0343
Logan, Green Berry
5: 0359
Logan, Judy
5: 0343
Logan, Judy
5: 0359
Logan, Judy
5: 0496
Lohre, Henry
8: 0950
London, Amos
11: 0412
London, Charles M.
8: 0814
London, Martin
10: 0655
London, William P.
8: 0814
Long, Cornelia J.
14: 0436
Long, E. A.
21: 0564
Long, Gabriel L.
15: 0740
Long, Mary
21: 0564
470
Long, Nicholas J.
14: 0436
Long, Richard B.
15: 0740
Long, William
17: 0848
Looney, Benjamin
20: 0570
Looney, David
13: 0073
Loper, James
5: 0067
Lorance, Mary
19: 0799
Loughridge, Robert
5: 0758
Louis
6: 0936
Louis
22: 0513
Louisa
4: 0655
Louisa
9: 0318
Louisa
15: 0087
Louisa
22: 0513
Lount, William R.
20: 0411
Loury, Vance C.
20: 0176
Love, Charles I.
10: 0732
Love, Elizabeth
10: 0732
Love, Evelina
17: 0524
Love, John
17: 0524
Love, John D.
11: 0332
Love, Mary
11: 0709
Love, Robert
17: 0524
Love, Samuel C.
21: 0140
Love, Thomas
17: 0524

Love, Thomas W.
21: 0140
Lowe, Eason P.
20: 0018
Lowe, Elizabeth
Henrietta
16: 0128
Lowe, Isora
18: 0835
Lowe, James Henry
16: 0128
Lowrance, Joel
17: 0630
Lowrance, Polly
17: 0630
Lowry, James H.
21: 0178
Loyd, William M.
23: 0103
Lucas, E. C.
22: 0094
Lucas, Edward R.
21: 0894
Lucas, Foster G.
22: 0094
Lucas, George
18: 0989
Lucas, George C.
23: 0742
Lucas, George C.
23: 0750
Lucas, H. C.
22: 0094
Lucas, Jonathan
22: 0094
Lucas, P. W.
20: 0803
Lucas, Peter W.
18: 0989
Lucas, T. C.
22: 0094
Lucas, W. R.
22: 0094
Lucas, Washington R.
21: 0894
Lucas, William
17: 0429
Luchie, Annie S.
20: 0230
Luchie, Robert E.
20: 0230
Luchie, Sarah J.
20: 0230
Lucinda
2: 0740
Lucinda
5: 0249
Lucinda
5: 0788
Luckett, Alfred W.
23: 0658
Luckett, John M.
9: 0213
Luckett, Levin Horan
26: 0002
Luckett, Noland M.
23: 0606
Luckett, Noland M.
23: 0658
Lucy
6: 0200
Lucy
22: 0513
Lucy, John A.
22: 0024
Lucy, Mary
22: 0024
Lucy, Mary Luttrell Mead
22: 0024
Lucy Ellen
6: 0200
Luker, Abner H.
19: 0084
Luker, Isaac
19: 0084
Luker, Isaac
19: 0300
Luker, James H.
19: 0084
Luker, Louisa J.
19: 0084
Luker, Manerva
19: 0084
Luker, Mary A.
19: 0084
Lumpkins, Mr.
11: 0709
Lusk, Cyrus
6: 0002
471
Lusk, Cyrus
6: 0317
Lusk, James, Jr.
13: 0061
Lusk, Samuel, Jr.
13: 0061
Luten, William
15: 0474
Luther, George
19: 0537
Luther, Mary
19: 0537
Luton, King
14: 0471
Lydia
3: 0509
Lydia
4: 0703
Lydia
6: 0200
Lyle, Alice P.
20: 0230
Lyle, Charles L.
20: 0230
Lyle, R. J.
21: 0186
Lyles, Hiram
20: 1048
Lyles, Hains & Morton
20: 0820
Lynch, Bernard M.
9: 0362
Lynch, Bernard M.
9: 0670
Lynch, Charles
23: 0794
Lyon, Elizabeth D. Kent
19: 0739
Lyon, James M.
19: 0739
Lyon, John A.
18: 0476
Lyon, Malida Gilliam
18: 0476
Lyon, William
11: 0575
Lyons, John
21: 0848
Lyons, Matilda
21: 0848

Lythe, Matilda
9: 0730
Mabry, Joseph A.
21: 0434
Mabry, Joseph A.
21: 1025
Mabry, Joseph A.
21: 1076
MacGreal, Peter
25: 0283
Machen, John
2: 0536
Machen, Leah
2: 0536
Mackey, Neoma
23: 0074
Maclin, James C.
16: 0279
Maclin, Sachfield
16: 0279
Macon, John T.
12: 0296
Maddin, James A.
19: 0858
Maddin, Sarah E.
19: 0858
Maddin, Thomas J.
19: 0858
Maddox, Lorenzo D.
1: 0631
Maddox, Samuel P.
18: 0093
Madison
6: 0200
Magard, Margaret
20: 0176
Magehan, Joseph M.
5: 0739
Magevney, Michael
20: 0453
Mahala
4: 0805
Mahala
13: 0800
Mahala
22: 0513
Mahan, James
13: 0800
Mahan, James
13: 0814
Mahan, Thomas
14: 0610
Mahone, Edward F.
14: 0088
Majors, Thomas
10: 0076
Malinda
3: 0509
Malinda
3: 0706
Malinda
6: 0200
Malinda
7: 0308
Malinda
7: 0492
Malinda
15: 0799
Malinda
18: 0854
Mallory, Peggy S.
10: 0650
Mallory, Peggy S.
McLemore
11: 0467
Mallory, Thomas G.
10: 0650
Mallory, Thomas G.
10: 0829
Malone, George L.
11: 0836
Malone, George T.
15: 0169
Malone, Mary Laird
11: 0836
Malone, Mitchell
1: 0024
Malone, Norton [?] J.
15: 0169
Malone, Robert C.
15: 0169
Malone, Ruth Lindsay
15: 0169
Malone, Sarah
15: 0169
Malone, Sarah Abagail
15: 0169
Malone, William G.
15: 0169
472
Manda
15: 0087
Manerva
20: 0930
Maney, James
10: 0714
Maney, Martha L. A. C.
Murfree
10: 0714
Maney, Salley H. Murfree
10: 0714
Maney, Thomas
13: 0576
Maney, William
10: 0714
Maney, William
13: 0576
Manifee, J. H.
18: 0717
Mann, Pamelia
23: 0262
Mann, Patrick
17: 0076
Mann, Robert W.
22: 0389
Mansker, John G.
14: 0471
Mansker, Thomas W. G.
14: 0471
Marable, John H.
13: 0772
Margaret
4: 0634
Margaret
5: 0278
Margaret
6: 0200
Margaret
15: 0087
Margaret
22: 0513
Margarite
3: 0389
Marguerite
3: 0375
Margueritte
3: 0566
Maria
7: 0059

Marianne
4: 0757
Marie
3: 0566
Mariquette
4: 0514
Marks, James M.
2: 0272
Marks, Samuel
25: 0519
Marks, Sarah E.
2: 0272
Marr, Agatha Sally
Perkins
17: 0701
Marr, Agathy Sally
Perkins
16: 0586
Marr, Nicholas L.
16: 0586
Marr, Nicholas L.
17: 0701
Marr, Peter N.
14: 0014
Marsh, Simeon
17: 0146
Marsh, Solomon
21: 0349
Marsh, Solomon
21: 0464
Marshall, Adana
20: 0930
Marshall, Amanda C.
20: 0930
Marshall, Andrew C.
20: 0930
Marshall, Ann B.
20: 0930
Marshall, Elizabeth
18: 0126
Marshall, Elizabeth M.
20: 0930
Marshall, Ellen F.
20: 0930
Marshall, Gilbert
14: 0359
Marshall, Gilbert
20: 0778
Marshall, James
20: 0930
Marshall, James G.
20: 0930
Marshall, Jane Childress
10: 0599
Marshall, John R.
20: 0930
Marshall, Joseph K.
20: 0930
Marshall, Mary C.
20: 0930
Marshall, Matt M.
15: 0073
Marshall, Robert A.
20: 0930
Marshall, Samuel B.
10: 0599
Marshall, Samuel P. L.
14: 0744
Marshall, William A.
20: 0930
Martha
9: 0599
Martha
9: 0687
Martha
15: 0616
Martha
18: 0460
Martha
20: 0930
Martha
21: 0279
Martha
22: 0513
Martha Ann
7: 0212
Martha Jane
2: 0740
Martin, Abram
15: 0073
Martin, Abram
18: 1094
Martin, Alfred
11: 0731
Martin, Benjamin
2: 0632
Martin, Benjamin S.
19: 0397
Martin, Brice
10: 0820
473
Martin, Brice
11: 0380
Martin, Charles
21: 0522
Martin, D.
22: 0597
Martin, Elizabeth
11: 0380
Martin, George W.
11: 0425
Martin, George W.
15: 0178
Martin, James H.
17: 0839
Martin, James N.
20: 0063
Martin, Jefferson
17: 0437
Martin, John
13: 0420
Martin, John F.
18: 1094
Martin, John W.
21: 0686
Martin, Louisa M.
19: 0499
Martin, Mary
19: 0202
Martin, Nancy
10: 0820
Martin, Neill
23: 0693
Martin, Rachel Lucas
10: 0820
Martin, Ralph
15: 0178
Martin, Robert
14: 0133
Martin, Thomas
11: 0425
Martin, Thomas
12: 0287
Martin, William
10: 0820
Martin, William
11: 0380
Martin, William L.
15: 0068
Martin, William P.
20: 0063

Martin, Wilson T.
15: 0068
Martin & Co.
18: 0013
Martin Jordan, Nancy D.
17: 0577
Mary
3: 0927
Mary
4: 0940
Mary
6: 0200
Mary
7: 0224
Mary
8: 0332
Mary
14: 0620
Mary
15: 0087
Mary
18: 0460
Mary Ann
2: 0652
Mary Ann
2: 0740
Mary Ann
4: 0137
Mary Ann
5: 0067
Mary Ann
5: 0158
Mary Ann
18: 0824
Mary Ann
18: 0854
Mary Charlotte
6: 0697
Mary Jane
22: 0513
Mason, Edgar
8: 0897
Mason, Margaret J.
20: 0853
Mason, Marmaduke
19: 0049
Mason, Marmaduke D.
15: 0490
Mason, Willie T.
20: 0853
Massengill, Henry
15: 0385
Massengill, Michael
15: 0385
Massey, Eliza
21: 0546
Massey, Elizabeth
21: 0546
Massey, Joseph
21: 0546
Massey, Malania
21: 0546
Massey, Malvina
21: 0546
Massey, Margaret
21: 0546
Massey, Martha
21: 0546
Massey, Sherwood
11: 0585
Massey, William
21: 0546
Massie, Sallie
21: 0036
Masterson, Thomas G.
26: 0414
Masterson, Thomas G.
26: 0422
Masterson, Thomas G.
26: 0487
Masterson, Thomas G.
26: 0492
Mathes, Cassandra Clark
15: 0462
Mathes, E. Smith
15: 0462
Mathes, Euphrasia
McKee
15: 0462
Mathews, Charles A.
16: 0058
Mathews, Delitha M.
16: 0058
Mathews, Eliza J. Wade
16: 0160
Mathews, Epps L.
16: 0160
Mathews, James E.
16: 0058
474
Mathews, Nancy
16: 0058
Mathews, Susan P.
16: 0058
Mathews, Thomas J.
17: 0002
Matilda
3: 0444
Matilda
4: 0207
Matilda
4: 0434
Matilda
4: 0689
Matilda
4: 0805
Matilda
4: 0823
Matt
19: 0135
Matthews, James H.
26: 0258
Matthews, Thomas W.
19: 0041
Matthews, William P.
20: 0453
Mauldin, Alexander
1: 0655
Mauldin, Nancy
1: 0655
Maxey, John A.
16: 0739
Maxey, John A.
22: 0601
Maxey, Rowlett P.
16: 0739
Maxey, Rowlett P.
22: 0601
Maxwell, Benjamin F.
19: 0765
Maxwell, Cornelius
14: 0166
Maxwell, David
22: 0065
Maxwell, David
22: 0072
Maxwell, David
22: 0077
Maxwell, David
22: 0083

Maxwell, David
22: 0111
Maxwell, David
22: 0159
Maxwell, David
22: 0250
Maxwell, David
22: 0282
Maxwell, Louisiana Lane
19: 0765
Maxwell, Nancy Peak
14: 0166
Maxwell, William Henry
19: 0469
May, Andrew J.
17: 0058
May, Eliza F.
17: 0058
May, John
19: 0417
May, Morris
23: 0090
Mayberry, Frederick
10: 0775
Mayfield, John M.
16: 0630
Mayfield, Quarles T.
21: 0625
Mayfield, Sutherland S.
17: 0058
Mayfield, William C.
15: 0594
Mayor and aldermen of
Pulaski, Tennessee
22: 0597
Mays, Peter
21: 0742
Mays, Peter
21: 0784
Mays, Peter
22: 0149
Mayson, Marmaduke
19: 0160
Mazolete
3: 0375
McAdams, Nathan O.
18: 0961
McAffee, Alfred B.
8: 0298
McArthur, Nicholas
23: 0783
McBee, Gainum
14: 0426
McBride, Francis C.
7: 0984
McBride, Martha Ann
8: 0660
McBride, Sophia
O’Fallon
7: 0984
McBride, Thomas
8: 0660
McCabe, Edmund H.
9: 0318
McCabe, John, heirs of
3: 0639
McCall, Albert J.
16: 0053
McCall, Elijah
2: 0657
McCall, John
14: 0306
McCallum, James
19: 0084
McCallum, James
22: 0282
McCallum, James
22: 0489
McCallum, John S.
22: 0489
McCallum, M.
20: 0453
McCallum, Neill
22: 0489
McCallum, Neill
22: 0663
McCann, John
20: 0562
McClain, Andrew
21: 0986
McClain, Josiah S.
21: 0546
McClarin, Charles
14: 0179
McClarin, Frances M.
14: 0179
McClary, Clem, Jr.
13: 0321
475
McClary, Clem, Sr.
13: 0321
McClary, Eleanor
13: 0321
McClary, Elizabeth
13: 0321
McClary, Mary Ann
13: 0321
McClary, Peter
13: 0321
McClary, Rachel
13: 0321
McClary, Susan
13: 0321
McClay, Daniel
17: 0029
McClay, Harriet
Delbridge
17: 0029
McClelan, Sampson
18: 0605
McClellan, George R.
15: 0385
McClellan, Rebecca
Lucas
18: 0989
McClellan, Robert J.
17: 0297
McClellan, Sampson
22: 0561
McClellan, Samuel
18: 0989
McClellan, Sarah Ann
Hughes
17: 0297
McClelland, Sarah Bryan
5: 0022
McClenon, Benjamin
17: 0106
McCloud, Coleman
22: 0256
McClung, Charles J.
22: 0033
McClure, George E.
22: 0243
McClure, George E.
22: 0291
McClure, Margaret
Madison
14: 0069

McClure, William
22: 0045
McCombs, James
12: 0110
McCombs, Robert
10: 0504
McConico, L. B.
21: 0036
McConnell, Fanny
Snelling
13: 0385
McConnell, James
11: 0412
McConnell, Murray
6: 0472
McConnell, Robert S.
13: 0385
McConnico, Lemuel B.
22: 0118
McCorcle, Alexander
10: 0878
McCord, Allen N.
11: 0507
McCord, Allen N.
12: 0104
McCord, Cowden
11: 0507
McCord, Ed.
22: 0597
McCord, Harvey B.
11: 0507
McCord, Martha Jane
11: 0507
McCord, Mary
11: 0507
McCord, Newton
11: 0507
McCord, William
11: 0507
McCorkle, Elizabeth
Allison
14: 0214
McCorkle, Joseph
14: 0214
McCorkle, Milas
13: 0741
McCoul, Alexander
17: 0076
McCoy, David
26: 0407
McCoy, Esther Gleaves
11: 0891
McCoy, Ezekiel B.
11: 0891
McCoy, Gincy
26: 0407
McCrary, Robert
10: 0168
McCrary, Thomas
10: 0168
McCray, Jane
7: 0440
McCree, E. H.
21: 0442
McCrory, James W.
18: 0728
McCrory, Legate
10: 0705
McCrosky, John
14: 0810
McCulloch, Ann Cannon
14: 0328
McCulloch, Benjamin
14: 0328
McCune, John S.
6: 0472
McCutchen, James
11: 0260
McCutchen, Pleasant
20: 0634
McCutchen, William
4: 0030
McDaniel, Mr.
19: 0882
McDaniel, Ann
14: 0179
McDaniel, Fountain L.
13: 0008
McDaniel, John Thomas
23: 0855
McDaniel, Lydia R.
14: 0179
McDaniel, Martha A.
14: 0179
McDaniel, Nancy
19: 0882
McDaniel, Nancy G.
Belote
13: 0008
476
McDaniel, Samuel L.
14: 0179
McDaniel, William
23: 0855
McDonald, Henry B.
19: 0474
McDonald, Isaac
19: 0721
McDonald, Jason
19: 0721
McDonald, Jonathan
19: 0232
McDonald, Malcolm
22: 0045
McDonald, Margaret
3: 0127
McDonald, Margarett
19: 0721
McDonald, S. O.
22: 0353
McDonald, Susan
19: 0721
McDonald, Thomas
19: 0721
McDonald, William
1: 0002
McDonald, William
14: 0426
McDonald, William
21: 0328
McEachern, Daniel A.
13: 0784
McEwen, John B.
17: 0380
McEwen, John L.
11: 0277
McEwen, Mary A. E.
16: 0147
McEwen, Robert C.
16: 0147
McEwen, Robert H., Jr.
21: 0598
McFadden, William R.
17: 0268
McFall, Enos
12: 0887
McFall, Enos
12: 0898
McFarland, Lucilla
20: 0230

McFarland, M. N.
20: 0230
McGahey, David
14: 0884
McGan, Eli
12: 0650
McGavock, Jacob
17: 0345
McGaw, Samuel P.
18: 1025
McGee, Hugh
12: 0042
McGee, Jacob
23: 0597
McGee, James L.
7: 0883
McGee, John L.
7: 0883
McGee, John M.
5: 0701
McGee, Polly
7: 0883
McGee, Samuel
12: 0042
McGee, William
7: 0883
McGehee, Charles L.
25: 0745
McGehee, John C.
14: 0498
McGehee, Sarah
25: 0745
McGehee, Thomas G.
23: 0722
McGehee, William B.
25: 0745
McGill, James
16: 0128
McGill, Nancy A. M.
Lowe
16: 0128
McGill, Theodore L.
6: 0200
McGilvray, Donald
11: 0498
McGimsey, John W. P.
10: 0490
McGrew, George W.
17: 0397
McGrew, Johnson &
Spear, partners
22: 0597
McGuire, S.
21: 0245
McHenry, Jessup
1: 0364
McIntire, William M.
18: 0388
McIntosh, James C.
19: 0846
McKamy, Andrew
14: 0278
McKay, Dickinson
11: 0891
McKay, Felix G.
22: 0214
McKay, Samuel
19: 0307
McKay, Silas H.
22: 0214
McKee, Evelina
15: 0462
McKee, Ewen Y.
15: 0462
McKee, James P.
15: 0462
McKee, Jane
11: 0034
McKee, John C.
15: 0462
McKee, Margaret
15: 0462
McKee, Robert
15: 0462
McKee, Thomson
15: 0462
McKee, William
11: 0034
McKee, William
15: 0462
McKinney, John A.
12: 0898
McKinney, Samuel
4: 0583
McKinney, Samuel L.
4: 0514
McKinney, Samuel T.
4: 0903
477
McKinney, Thomas F.
23: 0126
McKinnis, Daniel
12: 0156
McKinnis, Nancy
12: 0156
McKinstry, George
23: 0058
McKinstry, George B.
23: 0002
McKissack, Eleanor W.
13: 0181
McKissack, Orville W.
13: 0181
McKissack, William M.
13: 0181
McKissick, Abraham
17: 0689
McKissick, Eliza Smiser
14: 0268
McKissick, Spivey M.
14: 0268
McKissick, William, Jr.
15: 0573
McKissick, William, Sr.
15: 0573
McKnight, James
4: 0030
McLaurin, Ann Laird
11: 0836
McLaurin, Franklin
11: 0836
McLaurin, Franklin T.
15: 0169
McLean, Charles D.
20: 0453
McLean, E. H.
20: 0263
McLean, G.
20: 0453
McLean, Mary Frances
Porter
20: 0263
McLean, Moses
8: 0219
McLean, R. B.
18: 0099
McLemore, Atkins
11: 0793

McLemore, Atkins J.
11: 0467
McLemore, Atkins J.
14: 0359
McLemore, Eudora
16: 0732
McLemore, Eunice A.
Hobbs
21: 0733
McLemore, John C.
12: 0296
McLemore, John D.
11: 0467
McLemore, Nancy D.
16: 0732
McLemore, Peggy S.
11: 0467
McLemore, Robert W.
11: 0467
McLemore, Sugars
16: 0732
McLemore, Sydney S.
21: 0733
McLemore, Virginia
16: 0732
McLeon, Ephraim H.
19: 0023
Mclin, James
22: 0014
Mclin, James S.
11: 0857
Mclin, John A.
11: 0857
Mclin, Margaret E. Clem
22: 0014
Mclin, Sarah Clem
22: 0014
Mclin, William
22: 0014
Mclin, William E.
11: 0857
McLure, Harriet A.
Esselman
21: 0328
McLure, William
21: 0328
McMahan, Anderson
15: 0573
McMahon, Anderson
17: 0689
McMahon, J. H.
20: 0453
McManus, S.
20: 0453
McMillan, Chesley W.
19: 0765
McMillan, James
13: 0110
McMillan, John
13: 0110
McMillan, Joseph W.
18: 0360
McMillan, Sarah A. Lane
19: 0765
McMillan, William M.
18: 0360
McMillen, Warren
22: 0597
McMinn, James
14: 0794
McMinn, Thomas H.
14: 0794
McMullen, Robert B.
21: 1025
McMullin, William
8: 0219
McMurray, Avarilla
16: 0269
McMurray, John
16: 0269
McMurray, John
21: 0696
McMurray, Martha Jane
16: 0269
McMurray, Mary A.
20: 0618
McMurray, William
20: 0618
McMurray, William
Elisha
16: 0269
McMurry, Charles
20: 0948
McMurry, Evelin
22: 0482
McMurry, Francis
Blackwell
20: 0948
McMurry, James
10: 0450
478
McMurry, Jeffry
22: 0482
McMurry, John
20: 0948
McMurry, Lipscomb
[Lipscom]
22: 0482
McMurry, Thomas
22: 0482
McMurry, Vincen
22: 0482
McMurry, William
22: 0482
McMurtrey, William M.
7: 0374
McMurtry, James
6: 0831
McNairy, N. C.
21: 0804
McNary, Elizabeth
18: 0869
McNeel, Harriet
26: 0566
McNeel, Pinckney
26: 0566
McNeel, Pleasant D.
25: 0242
McNeeley, John
17: 0035
McNeil, Hosea
2: 0882
McNeil, Hosea
3: 0085
McNeil, Iby
2: 0882
McNeil, Irby
3: 0085
McPeak, Mathew, heirs
of
7: 0975
McPeak, Susan
7: 0975
McPherrin, Andrew
21: 0957
McPherrin, N. H. Jordan
21: 0957
McQueen, Samuel
13: 0199
McQuire [?], William L.
20: 0230

McRady, Ephraim W.
14: 0395
McRay, Jonathan
21: 0372
McRay, Skelton
21: 0372
McReynolds, John
22: 0024
McReynolds, Nancy
22: 0024
McReynolds, Sarah
22: 0024
McRoberts, O. P.
21: 0245
McRoberts, Oliver P.
20: 0230
McSherry, Patrick T.
7: 0831
McSpanan, Mr.
20: 0230
McWilliams, Mariah H.
18: 0920
McWilliams, Nancy B.
18: 0920
McWilliams, Walton S.
18: 0920
Meachum, Berry
5: 0120
Meachum, Berry
5: 0496
Meachum, Berry
5: 0802
Meachum, Berry
5: 0814
Meachum, Berry
5: 0875
Means, Goolsbury
13: 0420
Meechum, Berry
5: 0359
Meek, Alexander
10: 0016
Meigs, R. J.
20: 0981
Mellody, George
6: 0539
Mellody, George H. C.
6: 0551
Mellvin, Edmond, Sr.
5: 0164
Menafee, Joseph S.
19: 0698
Menafee, Sarah Jane
19: 0698
Menard, Francis
4: 0940
Menard, Louis
4: 0062
Menefee, Nancy
11: 0806
Mer, Jesse
20: 0522
Merchant, Jacob
14: 0666
Mercinda
2: 0652
Meredith, Washington
17: 0540
Meriwether, James P.
20: 0230
Merril, John
18: 0824
Merrill, Charles A.
14: 0107
Merrill, Charles A.
17: 0058
Merritt, Cynthia Cotton
24: 0192
Merritt, Daniel
24: 0192
Merritt, Henry J.
11: 0365
Merritt, Henry J.
11: 0401
Merritt, Rebecca
Newsom
11: 0365
Merritt, Rebecca
Newsom
11: 0401
Merritt, Thomas
11: 0365
Merritt, Thomas
11: 0401
Merry, John
4: 0062
Merry, Samuel
6: 0267
Metcalf, Joseph
20: 0230
479
Metcalf, Sarah
20: 0230
Metcalfe, Thomas
13: 0356
Michael
4: 0689
Miffin, Nancy
4: 0009
Miles
15: 0087
Milhollin, Peter
9: 0730
Milhollin, Sarah A. King
9: 0730
Mill
21: 0279
Millard, Massa C.
25: 0899
Millard, Mossy C.
26: 0441
Miller, A. G.
19: 0945
Miller, Charles W.
25: 0002
Miller, Charles W.
25: 0263
Miller, Eliza O.
7: 0440
Miller, Eliza Rodgers
20: 0503
Miller, Elizabeth
20: 0230
Miller, Emily
7: 0778
Miller, Henry
7: 0778
Miller, James H.
6: 0363
Miller, John
5: 0215
Miller, John
9: 0502
Miller, John M.
20: 0467
Miller, John W.
16: 0643
Miller, John W.
17: 0058
Miller, Joseph
16: 0725

Miller, Joseph
17: 0429
Miller, Mary Hatten
7: 1105
Miller, Minerva Campbell
9: 0502
Miller, Nancy Wilburn
12: 0650
Miller, Peter
22: 0014
Miller, Samuel
7: 1105
Miller, Solomon
26: 0468
Miller, Thomas
20: 0503
Miller, Thomas C. H.
16: 0630
Miller, Thomas J.
12: 0650
Miller, Thomas J.
18: 0126
Miller, William
17: 0839
Miller, William
18: 0180
Miller, William B.
7: 0440
Milligan, Edward
8: 0406
Milligan, Maria
8: 0406
Milliner, Sarah Jane
3: 0002
Milliner, Sarah Jane
3: 0013
Milliner, William
3: 0002
Milliner, William
3: 0013
Mills, Absalom H.
1: 0655
Mills, Andrew
23: 0058
Mills, Benjamin
14: 0908
Mills, Ferdinand
1: 0655
Mills, John
13: 0452
Mills, John
14: 0194
Mills, John
14: 0908
Mills, John S.
1: 0655
Mills, Robert
23: 0058
Mills & Bennett [?]
23: 0503
Milly
3: 0580
Milly
4: 0137
Milly
4: 0300
Milly
4: 0859
Milly
5: 0137
Milly
22: 0513
Milton, Henry
19: 0272
Milton, Mary Braden
19: 0272
Mims, Alexander
26: 0558
Mims, Alexander
26: 0566
Mims, Joseph
26: 0566
Mims, Lambert
24: 0041
Mims, Lambert
26: 0566
Mims, Leonard
26: 0566
Mims, Lombard
24: 0022
Mims, William
2: 0657
Mingles, George
21: 0356
Mingles, Mary Travis
21: 0356
Minor, Caroline
8: 0897
Mirack, Mary
16: 0643
480
Miranda
22: 0513
Miskell, William A.
23: 0646
Mitchel, Arthur
4: 0792
Mitchel, Elijah
4: 0703
Mitchel, Elijah
4: 0716
Mitchel, Elijah
4: 0757
Mitchel, Elijah
4: 0823
Mitchel, Martin
4: 0624
Mitchel, Martin
4: 0805
Mitchell, Alexander W.
1: 0024
Mitchell, C. Henry
1: 0752
Mitchell, Catharine
21: 0564
Mitchell, Christine
1: 0752
Mitchell, David, Jr.
12: 0156
Mitchell, David R.
15: 0788
Mitchell, Isaac
11: 0917
Mitchell, James
7: 0506
Mitchell, James
7: 0524
Mitchell, James
22: 0181
Mitchell, James M.
12: 0767
Mitchell, James M.
16: 0186
Mitchell, M. W.
21: 0564
Mitchell, Martha
19: 0599
Mitchell, Martha Jones
11: 0917
Mitchell, William
10: 0762

Mitt, Mary Cate
13: 0641
Mix, E.
20: 0453
Mockabee, Elizabeth
19: 0002
Mockabee, John T.
19: 0002
Mockabee, Margaret
19: 0002
Moffat, Robert
12: 0951
Moffett, Walter
22: 0597
Moffit, William
15: 0401
Mohorn, John
15: 0560
Mohorn, William
15: 0560
Molly
4: 0107
Moncure, John J.
26: 0735
Monroe, Elizabeth
6: 0563
Monroe, William
6: 0579
Montgomery, A. J.
20: 0453
Montgomery, David L.
14: 0569
Montgomery, Harvey
14: 0569
Montgomery, James A.
14: 0569
Montgomery, Mary
14: 0569
Montgomery, Robert C.
14: 0569
Montgomery, Samuel
14: 0569
Montgomery, Sarah
14: 0569
Moody, George
1: 0154
Moody, Samuel R.
13: 0133
Moody, William
21: 0023
Moon, Charles A.
22: 0159
Moon, Jacob N.
17: 0134
Moore, A.
22: 0403
Moore, Aaron
10: 0465
Moore, Alexander
15: 0706
Moore, Alexander S.
22: 0543
Moore, Amy
7: 0142
Moore, Armstead
22: 0601
Moore, Calvin J.
13: 0199
Moore, David
13: 0215
Moore, Herbert
13: 0215
Moore, James
2: 0882
Moore, James B.
18: 0483
Moore, Jane W.
18: 0483
Moore, Joannah
Buchanan
22: 0543
Moore, John
14: 0650
Moore, John A.
13: 0385
Moore, Joseph T.
21: 0860
Moore, Martha
19: 0221
Moore, Mary T. Perkins
14: 0359
Moore, Matthew H.
9: 0667
Moore, Matthew H.
9: 0683
Moore, Matthew H.
9: 0687
Moore, Nancy Ashby
21: 0860
481
Moore, Richard B.
13: 0547
Moore, Robert N.
7: 0142
Moore, Ruth
14: 0650
Moore, Simeon
15: 0462
Moore, Susan Clark
15: 0462
Moore, Thomas
14: 0359
Moore, William F.
1: 0285
Moore, Wilton J.
24: 0280
Moores, Elizabay
14: 0560
Moores, Elizabeth
14: 0560
Moores, Henry L.
14: 0560
Moores, James B.
13: 0635
Moores, James B.
14: 0560
Moores, John
14: 0560
Moores, William H.
13: 0104
Moores, William H.
17: 0326
Moran, Fredrick O.
19: 0202
Moran, Lavinia
19: 0202
Moran, Samuel
21: 0378
Moran, Samuel Houston
McAlister
19: 0202
Moran, Thomas B.
19: 0202
Moran, Thomas B.
21: 0378
Moran, Winney S.
19: 0202
Moree, Ransom
14: 0666

Morehead, Nancy
1: 0431
Morehead, William F.
1: 0431
Moreland, Vinson
20: 1027
Moreley, Nancy Smith
Heaton
13: 0199
Morgan, Ann Amanda
21: 0043
Morgan, Elizabeth
21: 0384
Morgan, Harwood
21: 0043
Morgan, Irby
22: 0159
Morgan, Jarman
21: 0384
Morgan, Lewis
16: 0473
Morgan, Robert D.
21: 0384
Morgan, Samuel
15: 0799
Morgan, Samuel D.
19: 0568
Morgan, Samuel T.
20: 0453
Morgan, Sarah E.
21: 0043
Morgan, William
21: 0043
Morgan, Willis
12: 0968
Morow, Samuel
20: 0411
Morris, A. T.
25: 0891
Morris, A. T.
26: 0162
Morris, A. T.
26: 0327
Morris, A. T.
26: 0432
Morris, A. T.
26: 0502
Morris, A. T.
26: 0555
Morris, A. T.
26: 0661
Morris, A. T.
26: 0695
Morris, A. T.
26: 0754
Morris, A. T.
26: 0826
Morris, Elijah H.
14: 0794
Morris, Eliza
14: 0537
Morris, Eveline
14: 0794
Morris, Franklin
21: 0564
Morris, Hannah
10: 0130
Morris, Israel
7: 0259
Morris, John
10: 0130
Morris, Joseph
16: 0380
Morris, Malinda
5: 0639
Morris, Milly L.
16: 0380
Morris, Thomas
5: 0639
Morris, Thomas
14: 0537
Morris, Wiley
21: 0564
Morrison, William
17: 0303
Morrow, Eveline
2: 0652
Morrow, Samuel
21: 1041
Morton, John W.
18: 0808
Morton, John W.
18: 0869
Morton, John W.
18: 1129
Morton, Margaret Ann
Patton
18: 0174
482
Morton, William B.
18: 0174
Mosby, J. H.
20: 0453
Mosby, Sarah E. Gaines
16: 0082
Mosby, Sarah E. Gaines
16: 0256
Mosby, William
16: 0256
Mosby, William T.
16: 0082
Moseley, B. F.
18: 0717
Moseley, Benjamin
17: 0511
Moseley, J. B.
20: 0453
Moseley, Jane
2: 0882
Moseley, Jane
3: 0085
Moseley, Sarah
26: 0166
Moseley, Thomas
2: 0882
Moseley, Thomas
3: 0085
Mosely, Edward A.
15: 0073
Mosely, Elizabeth
7: 0762
Mosely, Jacob
7: 0762
Mosely, William
7: 0762
Moses
21: 0564
Moss, Adeline Clark
15: 0462
Moss, Jack
15: 0462
Moss, James
17: 0333
Moss, Russell W.
8: 0778
Motly, Benjamin D.
18: 0195
Motly, Benjamin D.
18: 0845

Moulton, Jonathan B.
7: 0560
Moulton, Thomas J.
15: 0706
Mount, Sarah Cate
13: 0650
Mountcastle, George E.
13: 0356
Mountcastle, William
22: 0181
M. Shields & Co.
21: 0973
Muirhead, John
11: 0660
Mullagin, John
16: 0501
Mullin, Sarah V.
19: 0307
Mullins, Elizabeth Bush
22: 0154
Mullins, James
18: 0747
Mullins, W. H.
22: 0154
Murchison, Alexander
23: 0667
Murfree, Matthias B.
10: 0714
Murfree, William H.
10: 0714
Murper [?], William
14: 0569
Murphey, Nancy E.
14: 0569
Murphy, William
10: 0069
Murray, Douglass
6: 0831
Murray, Hamilton
19: 0981
Murray, Jabash
4: 0201
Murray, John
6: 0831
Murray, John B.
21: 0643
Murray, John P.
20: 1027
Murray, Jonathan
15: 0127
Murray, Martha
6: 0831
Murray, Mary Ann
6: 0831
Murray, Mary E.
6: 0831
Murray, Sally Ann
6: 0831
Murray, Samuel
6: 0831
Murray, Simon B.
6: 0831
Murray, William A.
6: 0831
Murrell, Zachariah H.
14: 0290
Musick, Ephraim
3: 0824
Musick, Robert
3: 0509
Musteen, Margaret
Devins
15: 0313
Musteen, Shadrach
15: 0313
Myers, Amanda E.
18: 0336
Myers, Caroline M.
18: 0336
Myers, Caroline M. R.
18: 0336
Myers, David R.
18: 0336
Myers, Henry M.
18: 0336
Myers, Jacob
18: 0336
Myers, Jacob E.
18: 0336
Myers, John W.
8: 0660
Myers, John W.
18: 0336
Myers, Madaline J.
18: 0336
Myers, Rowena R.
18: 0336
Myers, Sarah Winn
8: 0660
483
Myers, Theodosia R.
18: 0336
Myers & Co.
20: 0453
Mynatt, Elizabeth
20: 0089
Mynatt, Gordon
20: 0089
Mynatt, Gordon
20: 0570
Mynatt, Hugh S.
20: 0570
Mynatt, Mary
20: 0089
Mynatt, Rufus
20: 0089
Mynatt, Thomas B.
20: 0453
Myrick, William W. K.
11: 0412
Nancy
3: 0509
Nancy
7: 0845
Nancy
13: 0800
Nancy
14: 0620
Nancy
17: 0673
Nancy
17: 0792
Nancy
19: 0588
Napier, Eugenia
21: 0168
Napier, Eugenia E.
15: 0474
Napier, John B.
20: 0842
Napier, John B.
21: 0464
Napier, Madison C.
15: 0474
Napier, Mary E.
15: 0474
Napier, Mary Eliza
21: 0168
Napier, Ophilia A.
15: 0474

Napier, R. S.
21: 0464
Napier, Richard S.
20: 0842
Napier, William C.
20: 0842
Napier, William H.
20: 0842
Nash, Catharine
10: 0705
Nash, Cornelius
10: 0705
Nash, Demsey
10: 0705
Nash, Emma
10: 0705
Nash, John
10: 0705
Nash, John D.
23: 0280
Nashville Building &
Loan Association
21: 0804
Nat
4: 0873
Nat
6: 0200
Nat
7: 0002
Nathan
4: 0703
Nathan
17: 0673
Nathaniel
6: 0794
Nave, John, Jr.
13: 0732
Neale, Richard
12: 0818
Neale, Susan
1: 0655
Neale, William J.
1: 0655
Neblett, Benjamin
20: 0786
Neblett, John
20: 0786
Neblett, Mariah H.
20: 0786
Ned
22: 0513
Needham, John, Jr.
24: 0722
Neely, Elizabeth
12: 0019
Neely, Isaac G.
19: 0526
Neely, Jacob H.
5: 0526
Neely, Jacob H.
5: 0667
Neely, Jacob H.
9: 0383
Neely, Samuel M.
16: 0047
Neely, Thomas
12: 0019
Neill, Andrew
24: 0785
Nelly
3: 0706
Nelly
6: 0200
Nelson
22: 0513
Nelson, Alexander W.
22: 0502
Nelson, Andrew J.
19: 0952
Nelson, Ann H. C.
22: 0502
Nelson, C. W.
16: 0692
Nelson, David M.
22: 0502
Nelson, Elizabeth C.
Wade
16: 0160
Nelson, George F.
16: 0160
Nelson, James P.
19: 0952
Nelson, John L. S.
19: 0952
Nelson, Louisianna E. E.
19: 0952
Nelson, O. P.
14: 0204
484
Nelson, Orville P.
14: 0026
Nelson, Stuart
22: 0502
Nelson, Thomas A. R.
22: 0502
Nelson, Thomas A. R.,
Jr.
22: 0502
Nelson, William C. H.
19: 0952
Nevels, John
19: 0015
Nevels, Josiah W.
19: 0015
Nevels, Tennessee
19: 0015
Nevels, Virginia
19: 0015
Neville, Josiah
14: 0107
Neville, Sarah Beech
14: 0107
Nevills, Josiah
15: 0163
Nevills, Sarah Beech
15: 0163
Newberry, John
1: 0840
Newell, Charlotte
20: 0786
Newell, John
20: 0786
Newell, June
20: 0786
Newell, Lavinia B.
Bosley
20: 0786
Newell, Marietta Neblett
20: 0786
Newell, Mary Eliza
20: 0786
Newell, McNairy
20: 0786
Newhouse, John W.
13: 0512
Newlin, David
15: 0313
Newlin, Elizabeth Devins
15: 0313

Newman, Albert G.
9: 0593
Newman, Andrew
13: 0332
Newman, Catharine Cate
13: 0650
Newman, Charles
19: 0882
Newman, Elizabeth Syler
18: 0155
Newman, Henry
13: 0332
Newman, John Syler
18: 0155
Newman, Piety
19: 0882
Newman, Randolph C.
18: 0155
Newnan, John
10: 0145
Newsom, James E.
19: 0816
Newsom, John
20: 0453
Newton, Amelia C.
3: 0070
Newton, John W.
3: 0073
Newton, Robert
11: 0829
Nichol, Charles M.
20: 0625
Nichol, J. R.
26: 0303
Nichol, James
21: 0894
Nicholas
22: 0684
Nichols, Elizabeth
Trousdale
18: 0700
Nichols, Jesse
22: 0389
Nichols, John B.
18: 0700
Nichols, Quiller J.
25: 0745
Nichols, Warren Joel M.
22: 0389
Nicholson, Annie
22: 0696
Nicholson, Catherine T.
22: 0696
Nicholson, Mary Nash
10: 0705
Nicholson, William C.
10: 0705
Nicholson, William G.
22: 0696
Nickins, William B.
18: 0605
Nickius, William J.
18: 0605
Nipper, Allen
21: 0178
Nixon, George
10: 0364
Nogess, Jacques
24: 0603
Nogess, Queen Elizabeth
24: 0603
Noguess, Jack
25: 0204
Nolan, Rebecca Corley
17: 0615
Nolen, Allen T.
17: 0058
Nolen, Allen T.
18: 0863
Norman, Henry
16: 0128
Norment, Nathaniel E.
12: 0337
North, Anderson
12: 0548
North, Eliza Curd
22: 0024
North, James
12: 0548
North, Marcus D.
12: 1034
North, Pleasant
12: 0548
North, Squire
22: 0024
North, William
12: 0548
Northcut, Eli
9: 0388
485
Northcut, Joseph K.
9: 0388
Northcut, Lemuel
9: 0388
Northcut, Thomas D.
9: 0388
Northcut, William H.
9: 0388
Norvel, James L.
15: 0594
Norvell [?], Elizabeth
Page
22: 0476
Norvell, Minerva
14: 0908
Norvell [?], Nathan N.
22: 0476
Norvell, Samuel
21: 0592
Norvell, Susan
14: 0908
Norvell, Thomas
14: 0908
Nowlin, Anderson
13: 0273
Nowlin, Artimincy
13: 0273
Nowlin, David
12: 0508
Nowlin, Elizabeth Devin
12: 0508
Nuckles, Barbe G.
21: 0724
Nuckles, Mary E. Embry
21: 0724
Nye, Daniel W.
17: 0178
Nye, Elizabeth
17: 0178
Nye, Nathaniel G.
17: 0178
Oakley, Martin W.
20: 0263
Oakly, James
20: 0114
Oakly, Margaret
20: 0114
Oakly, Polly
20: 0114

Oakly, Sarah
Reasonover
20: 0114
Oakly, William
20: 0114
O’Bannon, George W.
7: 0778
O’Bannon, John B.
7: 0778
O’Bannon, Margaret
Elvira
7: 0778
O’Bannon, Mary Eveline
7: 0778
Obaugh, James H.
1: 0455
Obaugh, Matilda Pond
1: 0455
O’Brian, Owen
24: 0094
O’Brien, James
13: 0093
O’Brien, John
13: 0093
O’Brien, Owen
26: 0258
O’Connell, Susan
24: 0173
O’Connell, William
25: 0689
O’Connell, William
26: 0258
Odell, William A.
17: 0178
Odle, Albert R.
17: 0437
Odle, David M.
17: 0437
O’Fallon, John
3: 0720
O’Fallon, John
7: 0984
Offutt, James
6: 0326
O’Flaherty, Thomas
9: 0033
Ogden, F. W.
25: 0728
Ogden, F. W.
25: 0740
Ogelvie, William H.
16: 0070
Ogilvie, Betsy Rainy
21: 0104
Ogilvie, James S.
19: 0023
Ogilvie, Kimbrough T.
21: 0104
Ogilvie, Patsy
21: 0104
Ogilvie, Richard H.
19: 0023
Ogilvie, William H.
19: 0023
Oglevie, James P.
16: 0070
Oglevie, John D.
16: 0070
Oglevie, Mary J.
16: 0070
Oglevie, Richard H.
16: 0070
Oglevie, William H.
16: 0070
Oldham, Robert
21: 0841
Oldham, Williamson S.
26: 0384
Oliver, Mr.
20: 1027
Oliver, Angelina J.
10: 0888
Oliver, Armelia G.
10: 0888
Oliver, Charles Y.
14: 0278
Oliver, Cordelia A.
25: 0293
Oliver, Cordelia A.
25: 0301
Oliver, Cordelia A.
25: 0557
Oliver, Cordelia A.
25: 0850
Oliver, Frances E.
10: 0888
Oliver, Francis H.
10: 0888
Oliver, Lucinda N.
10: 0888
486
Oliver, Martha Ann
20: 1027
Oliver, P. R.
26: 0044
Oliver, Richard
16: 0335
Oliver, William
7: 0440
Oliver, William H.
22: 0149
Olliver, Adeline S. A.
14: 0133
Olliver, Isaac A.
14: 0133
Olliver, William S.
14: 0133
Ordway, Charles N.
21: 0904
Orne, Henry A.
20: 0453
Orr, Ebenezer W.
11: 0412
Orr, Emily Bagly
14: 0884
Orr, John, Jr.
14: 0884
Orr, William W.
11: 0412
Orten, Lucinda Clark
15: 0462
Osbern
2: 0652
Osborn, George
9: 0405
Osborn, Holland
20: 0063
Osborn, Katharine
9: 0405
Osborne, Pleasant M.
1: 0840
Osburn, Ephraim R.
12: 0919
Outlaw, Wright
12: 0662
Overton, J.
20: 0453
Overton, James
19: 0439
Overton, Samuel
11: 0209

Overton, Thomas
21: 0349
Owen, Daniel
10: 0888
Owen, Everett
21: 0079
Owen, Everett
21: 0635
Owen, Herbert
13: 0671
Owen, Isabella
10: 0888
Owen, James E.
17: 0374
Owen, James S.
17: 0374
Owen, Jane E.
12: 0218
Owen, John
21: 0635
Owen, Joshua W.
17: 0227
Owen, Joshua W.
21: 0635
Owen, Littleburry R.
17: 0374
Owen, Mary
21: 0635
Owen, Mary O. Holland
18: 0504
Owen, Mary O. Holland
18: 0511
Owen, Mary Y.
17: 0227
Owen, Miles H.
17: 0374
Owen, Philip A.
17: 0374
Owen, Richard A.
17: 0227
Owen, Richard A.
18: 0511
Owen, Sandy G.
21: 0079
Owen, Sterling
12: 0218
Owen, Susan F.
17: 0374
Owens, Ann L. Rucks
20: 1072
Owens, Joshua W.
21: 0416
Owens, Sarah E.
21: 0416
Paca, John
5: 0093
Pack, Mary S.
21: 0564
Page, America
22: 0476
Page, Ann S.
22: 0476
Page, G. W.
21: 0894
Page, George W.
22: 0476
Page, John
12: 0075
Page, Levisa
22: 0476
Page, Luiza
22: 0476
Page, Margarett A.
Wilson
12: 0075
Page, Martha
11: 0782
Page, Martha
12: 0028
Page, N. A.
22: 0476
Page, R. M. [?]
22: 0476
Page, Thomas W.
22: 0476
Page, W. M.
22: 0476
Page, Willaim B.
22: 0476
Painter, Ann R.
8: 0868
Painter, Catherine J.
8: 0868
Painter, Harriet B.
8: 0868
Painter, Harriet B., Jr.
8: 0868
Painter, John
8: 0250
487
Painter, John
8: 0868
Painter, Marietta
8: 0868
Painter, Mason
8: 0250
Painter, Sarah E.
8: 0868
Paker, Elizabeth
26: 0593
Palm, Swante
24: 0352
Pankey, Thomas A.
12: 0688
Papin, Alexander
5: 0449
Parham, Asa
22: 0403
Parham, E. N.
21: 0023
Parham, Nancy
10: 0161
Parham, Thomas J.
11: 0013
Parham, Winifred L.
Pope
11: 0013
Parish, William G.
11: 0638
Park
22: 0513
Park, Andrew
11: 0623
Park, James
11: 0498
Park, James
11: 0606
Park, James
11: 0623
Park, James
12: 0650
Park, James
13: 0955
Park, Mary S. Maclin
16: 0279
Park, Robert
16: 0279
Park, Samuel
20: 0453

Park, Thomas J.
18: 0365
Park, William
11: 0623
Parker, Mr.
19: 0882
Parker, David
26: 0593
Parker, Lemon
4: 0748
Parker, Martha
19: 0882
Parker, R. A., Jr.
20: 0453
Parker, Rebecca H.
19: 0178
Parker, Sally
21: 0564
Parker, Samuel
19: 0698
Parks, Eli
22: 0597
Parks, George W.
20: 1038
Parks, Jacob
10: 0450
Parks, Loory
20: 1038
Parks, Louisa C.
20: 1038
Parks, Louisa Spriggs
20: 1038
Parks, Samuel C.
20: 1038
Parks, Susan C.
20: 1038
Parks, William
17: 0429
Parks, Woodruff
17: 0481
Parmer, Nancy
7: 0762
Parr, William
2: 0120
Parrott, Cato W.
24: 0066
Parrott, Martha Camster
8: 0925
Parrott, Woodson
8: 0925
Parsons, Joseph
21: 0943
Parsons, Mary
21: 0943
Parsons, Nancy
21: 0943
Partee, Arkey Y.
15: 0137
Partenay, Amable
3: 0500
Partenay, Antoine
Eteinne
3: 0493
Paschall, Andrean
7: 0195
Patillo, David
17: 0397
Patrick, Ann Hassell
12: 1077
Patrick, William
12: 1077
Patrick Henry
4: 0378
Patsey
6: 0794
Patterson, Alexander
16: 0107
Patterson, Camilla
16: 0107
Patterson, Cammilla
16: 0107
Patterson, Catharine
McIntire
13: 0440
Patterson, Eleanor
Benson
22: 0663
Patterson, Elizabeth
16: 0107
Patterson, Henry
16: 0107
Patterson, James
16: 0501
Patterson, Jarell
22: 0445
Patterson, John
13: 0856
Patterson, John C.
22: 0663
488
Patterson, Joseph
16: 0107
Patterson, Margarett
16: 0107
Patterson, Nancy
16: 0107
Patterson, William H.
16: 0501
Patterson, William M.
13: 0440
Pattillo, Sarah Moseley
26: 0563
Patton, Anthony B.
23: 0646
Patton, Columbus R.
23: 0066
Patton, Columbus R.
23: 0844
Patton, Eudora
19: 0968
Patton, John D.
18: 0174
Patton, Lucinda A.
19: 0968
Patton, Lucy
18: 0174
Patton, Matthew C.
23: 0066
Patton, Price J.
21: 0894
Patton, Rosanna
19: 0968
Patton, Septemia C. J.
19: 0968
Patton, Sinclair
23: 0844
Patton, Susannah
19: 0968
Patton, William B.
19: 0968
Paul
3: 0375
Paul
3: 0840
Paul
4: 0186
Paulding, John W.
6: 0267
Payne, Elizabeth
21: 0564

Payne, John
12: 1026
Payne, Joseph
12: 1026
Payne, Robert G.
18: 0824
Payne, Thomas
21: 0564
Peacock, James
20: 0625
Peak, Elizabeth
14: 0166
Peak, George
14: 0166
Peak, Polly
14: 0166
Pearce, Adeline
20: 0253
Pearce, Elizabeth
Gleaves Turner
11: 0891
Pearce, Franklin B.
20: 0253
Pearce, Jessie
1: 0049
Pearce, Wellington
20: 0253
Peck, Amelia
14: 0278
Peck, James H.
3: 0675
Peebles, John W.
14: 0318
Peebles, Mary Elizabeth
Boyd Caruthers
14: 0318
Peery, George
12: 0056
Pegg
6: 0507
Peggy
6: 0500
Peggy
15: 0087
Pelage
3: 0623
Pelham, John B.
1: 0831
Pelham, John B.
1: 0834
Pelkie, Peggy
5: 0496
Pendleton, John
1: 0297
Penn, Creed
13: 0512
Penn, F.
20: 0453
Penn, George W.
14: 0550
Penn, James
20: 0453
Penn, R. M.
9: 0774
Penn, Samuel W.
15: 0269
Penn, Samuel W.
17: 0131
Pennington, Mary Jane
3: 0210
Penny, Frank
17: 0076
Pennybacker, Mark
20: 1019
Penticost, John C.
17: 0333
Peoples, Jane
26: 0566
Pepper, L.
19: 0489
Pepper, W. W.
21: 0564
Pepper, Wesley W.
18: 0453
Pepper, Young
21: 0564
Perdue, James Y.
18: 0223
Perkins, A. Edwin
17: 0369
Perkins, Albert G.
14: 0359
Perkins, Benjamin
11: 0380
Perkins, Charles
14: 0359
Perkins, Charles Anna
14: 0359
Perkins, Charlesanna
12: 0678
489
Perkins, Constantine
14: 0359
Perkins, Constantine
16: 0586
Perkins, Constantine
17: 0369
Perkins, Constantine
17: 0701
Perkins, Daniel P.
14: 0359
Perkins, Drury M.
13: 0057
Perkins, Elizabeth G. S.
Hunt
10: 0829
Perkins, Harriet H.
14: 0359
Perkins, Harriett H.
12: 0678
Perkins, Henry J.
22: 0169
Perkins, James C.
14: 0359
Perkins, John P.
14: 0359
Perkins, Joseph W.
14: 0359
Perkins, Leah A. Cannon
14: 0328
Perkins, Mary Thomas
17: 0369
Perkins, Nicholas E.
16: 0586
Perkins, Nicholas Edwin
17: 0701
Perkins, Nicholas, Jr.
10: 0829
Perkins, Nicholas T.
12: 0678
Perkins, Nicholas T., Jr.
14: 0359
Perkins, P. G. Steven
17: 0369
Perkins, Peter A.
16: 0586
Perkins, Peter A.
17: 0369
Perkins, Peter A.
17: 0701

Perkins, Philip G. S.
16: 0586
Perkins, Philip G. S.
17: 0701
Perkins, Polly M.
McLemore
11: 0467
Perkins, Richard
11: 0380
Perkins, Richard, Jr.
11: 0380
Perkins, Sally
11: 0380
Perkins, Sarah P.
14: 0359
Perkins, Thomas F.
14: 0328
Perkins, Thomas H.
10: 0829
Perkins, William
11: 0380
Perkins, William O.
10: 0382
Perkins, William O., Jr.
11: 0467
Perkins, William O. N.
16: 0586
Perkins, William O. N.
17: 0369
Perkins, William O. N.
17: 0701
Perrin, Luvica King,
heirs of
13: 0821
Perry, Elizabeth Allen
22: 0134
Perry, James F.
23: 0674
Perry, James S.
22: 0265
Perry, Mitchell
22: 0233
Perry, Robert T.
22: 0265
Perry, Rufus
22: 0233
Perry, Sophronia A.
20: 0376
Perry, Thomas
15: 0799
Perry, Thomas J.
22: 0265
Perry, Wiley
16: 0630
Perry, William
15: 0799
Perry, William
22: 0134
Perry, William, Jr.
20: 0376
Perry, Winston
22: 0233
Perryman, Peggy
7: 1094
Perryman, Thomas J.
25: 0781
Person, William
12: 0347
Peter
4: 0123
Peter
4: 0267
Peter
6: 0136
Peter
15: 0799
Peter
22: 0513
Peters, Avarilla
12: 0818
Petillo, John L.
11: 0332
Petit, Mr.
3: 0394
Petry, Solomon
11: 0836
Pettard, Grandison
22: 0597
Pettit, Francis P.
13: 0356
Petty, E. B.
26: 0303
Petty, Nathan
14: 0884
Petty, William
14: 0884
Petty, William H.
15: 0062
Pettygrew, James M.
22: 0543
490
Pettygrew, Martina I.
Buchanan
22: 0543
Petway, George W.
16: 0082
Petway, George W.
16: 0256
Petway, John C.
11: 0704
Petway, Martha Susan
Gaines
16: 0082
Petway, Martha Susan
Gaines
16: 0256
Petway, Mary
11: 0704
Petway, William L.
11: 0704
Peyton, Bolie
19: 0178
Peyton, John C.
19: 0178
Peyton, Joseph Bolie
19: 0178
Peyton, Mary E.
19: 0178
Pharis, Catharine
10: 0191
Pharis, Hyram
10: 0191
Pharis, Nancy
10: 0191
Pharis, Nathan
10: 0191
Pharis, Reuben
10: 0191
Phelon, Isaac
20: 0453
Phelps, George F.
21: 0750
Phelps, James A.
23: 0052
Phelps, Jane McGee
12: 0042
Phelps, Martha Benson
22: 0663
Phelps, William L.
12: 0042

Pheobus, Leonard
17: 0035
Philibert, Joseph
7: 1094
Philips, Catherine
14: 0533
Philips, Ezekiel H.
14: 0290
Philips, James L.
14: 0290
Philips, Sally E.
14: 0290
Philips, Samuel Franklin
14: 0533
Philips, Sarah
12: 0818
Philips, Susan
14: 0533
Phillips, Carolina
1: 0062
Phillips, Elizabeth A.
18: 0093
Phillips, Jackson
17: 0035
Phillips, John W.
25: 0745
Phillips, Martha
McGehee
25: 0745
Phillips, Pressley
9: 0515
Phillips, Robert L.
9: 0183
Phillis
5: 0311
Phillis
6: 0507
Phipps, Durock
16: 0534
Phipps, Montgomery B.
16: 0534
Phipps, Nancy
16: 0534
Phipps, Richardson
16: 0534
Phipps, Robert
16: 0534
Phipps, Susan E.
16: 0534
Phipps, William N.
16: 0534
Pickens, Edmond
26: 0669
Pickens, Mary Ann
13: 0658
Pickens, William K.
13: 0658
Pickett, Edward B.
18: 1019
Pickins, Hamilton
15: 0727
Pickins, Jane
Richardson
11: 0875
Pickins, Matthew G.
11: 0875
Pierce, Jane
24: 0785
Pierce, Polly Ford
13: 0715
Pierpont, Elisabeth
24: 0066
Pierpont, William
24: 0066
Pierre
5: 0864
Pierre
6: 0444
Pike, Albert
2: 0740
Pillow, William H.
14: 0610
Pinkerton, Joseph
20: 0930
Pinkston, David
16: 0607
Piper, Henry
21: 0546
Pipkin, Philip
8: 0326
Pipkin, Philip
8: 0711
Pitcher, John
7: 0102
Pitcher, John
7: 0111
Pitt, Bridger
18: 0043
491
Pitts, Ananias
19: 0122
Pitts, Annanias
19: 0265
Pitts, Fountain E.
19: 0232
Pitts, Fountain E.
21: 0087
Pitts, George W.
19: 0291
Pitts, James
19: 0232
Planters Bank of
Mississippi
6: 0200
Planters Bank of
Tennessee
13: 0356; 17: 0058;
18: 0863
Plemons, Thomas
9: 0405
Plumlee, William
20: 1027
Polk, Andrew J.
22: 0445
Polk, Richard
16: 0256
Polk, Sarah
12: 0775
Poll
6: 0507
Pollan, John
11: 0533
Pollard, Edward V.
19: 0099
Pollard, Malachi W.
18: 0174
Pollard, Mary C. Patton
18: 0174
Pond, Augustus
1: 0455
Pond, Mary Ann
1: 0455
Pond, William, Jr.
1: 0455
Pond, William, Sr.
1: 0455
Pond, Willis
1: 0455

Pope, Ann L.
11: 0013
Pope, Candace J.
11: 0013
Pope, Green S.
17: 0622
Pope, Gustavius A.
11: 0013
Pope, James S.
17: 0622
Pope, Jane C.
11: 0013
Pope, John
17: 0622
Pope, John L.
17: 0622
Pope, LeRoy
20: 0453
Pope, Marguerite
17: 0622
Pope, Mary
13: 0161
Pope, Mary C.
11: 0013
Pope, Oswald
20: 0453
Pope, Rebecca
17: 0622
Pope, Sarah
13: 0161
Pope, Subrina
13: 0161
Pope, William
13: 0161
Pope, William R.
11: 0013
Porch, Delilah
19: 0882
Porch, Henry L.
19: 0882
Porch, William B.
13: 0841
Porter, Bradshaw W.
13: 0547
Porter, Ethel H.
16: 0427
Porter, George
18: 0626
Porter, George
20: 0263
Porter, J. M. N.
20: 0263
Porter, James H.
11: 0260
Porter, John
12: 0110
Porter, John A.
1: 0062
Porter, John B.
11: 0260
Porter, John N.
20: 0263
Porter, Joseph M.
11: 0260
Porter, Josephine
7: 0883
Porter, Mariada Cate
13: 0650
Porter, Mary
11: 0260
Porter, Mary
16: 0256
Porter, Miranda Cate
13: 0641
Porter, Miriam
11: 0260
Porter, Nathaniel
18: 0626
Porter, Nathaniel
20: 0263
Porter, Nimrod
10: 0553
Porter, Rebecca B.
11: 0260
Porter, Reese W.
19: 0749
Porter, Reese W.
20: 0188
Porter, Reese W.
20: 0301
Porter, Reese W.
20: 0625
Porter, Rosana
18: 0626
Porter, Thomas B.
11: 0260
Porter, Thomas J.
13: 0576
Porter, William
11: 0777
492
Porter, William
12: 0110
Poston, John H.
14: 0014
Powel, George R.
20: 0453
Powell, Columbus
21: 0434
Powell, Elizabeth
22: 0024
Powell, George R.
14: 0794
Powell, Henry
5: 0224
Powell, L. B.
15: 0366
Powell, Robert B.
22: 0024
Powell, S. G.
26: 0186
Powell, Samuel G.
23: 0503
Powell, Thomas L.
20: 0411
Powell, Thomas L.
21: 0434
Power, Charles
23: 0968
Powers, Isaac
18: 0155
Powers, Madison
18: 0155
Prather, James V.
6: 0200
Prather, William
1: 0631
Pratt, George W.
18: 0109
Pratt, Hillory C.
1: 0990
Pratt, Polly Boyd
10: 0860
Pratt, Samuel
10: 0860
Pratt, Virgil
6: 0621
Pratte, Bernard
4: 0076
Pratte, Joseph
3: 0892

President and directors
of the Bank of
Tennessee
14: 0810
President and directors
of the Union Bank
13: 0332
President, directors &
company of the Planters
Bank of Tennessee
22: 0513
President, directors &
company of the Union
Bank of the State of
Tennessee
14: 0204
Preston
6: 0200
Preston
7: 0350
Preston, Martha
17: 0076
Prewitt, John M.
24: 0551
Prewitt, Joseph T.
23: 1048
Prewitt, Mary
24: 0551
Price, Benjamin
10: 0191
Price, Bob
18: 1090
Price, Bob
20: 0441
Price, Bob
20: 0453
Price, Charles W.
16: 0617
Price, Elizabeth Pharis
10: 0191
Price, James T.
19: 0937
Price, Nancy E.
19: 0937
Price, Risdon H.
3: 0481
Price, Sarah M.
16: 0617
Price, William T.
19: 0937
Pride, Caesar
22: 0601
Pride, Frederick
22: 0601
Pride, John
22: 0601
Pride, John T.
16: 0739
Pride, John T.
22: 0601
Pride, Merit
22: 0601
Pride, Paul
22: 0601
Pride, Thomas
22: 0601
Pride, Thomas A.
16: 0739
Pride, Thomas A.
22: 0601
Pride, William A.
16: 0739
Pride, William A.
22: 0601
Priest, Richard
24: 0592
Prince, Clarissa
9: 0421
Prince, Giles
9: 0421
Prince, Harry
9: 0421
Prince, Sarah
9: 0421
Prince, Sarah
26: 0394
Prince, William
20: 0353
Prince, William
20: 0990
Pritchitt, Judy
15: 0677
Proctor, Green
14: 0639
Provines, William
6: 0317
Pruitt, Lucy A. Berry
19: 0645
Pryor [?], D. F.
20: 0453
493
Pryor, Edward
1: 0548
Pryor, Johnathan
21: 0471
Pryor, Louisa Page
22: 0476
Pryor, Massy Taylor
21: 0471
Pryor, Spicy Taylor
21: 0471
Pryor, Thomas
22: 0476
Pucket, Jane Peak
14: 0166
Pucket, William
14: 0166
Puckett, Joseph
19: 0272
Puckett, May
19: 0272
Puckett, Thomas
24: 0463
Puckett, William
19: 0272
Pullen, Robert M.
21: 0095
Pullen, Seraphina Suttle
21: 0095
Pulliam, Ann Richardson
11: 0875
Pulliam, Elisha
11: 0875
Purcell, Ann, unknown
heirs of
8: 0868
Purcell, Edward
25: 0576
Purcell, George
8: 0868
Purcell, George,
unknown heirs of
8: 0868
Purcell, Penelope
8: 0868
Purcell, Richard
8: 0868
Purse, William
9: 0774
Puryear, Mordecai C. H.
21: 0104

Quarles, Emily Ann
26: 0476
Quisenburry, James
7: 0177
Quissenburry, James
7: 0275
Quissenburry, James
7: 0283
Rachael
6: 0794
Rachel
5: 0076
Rader, E. D.
14: 0666
Rader, William
12: 0176
Radford, Robert W.
26: 0508
Ragsdale, Benjamin
13: 0356
Ragsdale, David
14: 0426
Ragsdale, L. F.
21: 1060
Raines, Bailey
18: 0406
Raines, Sarah Jane
18: 0406
Rainey, Stephen W.
12: 1040
Rainey, W. S.
19: 0858
Rainey, Winfield S.
17: 0540
Ralph
4: 0441
Ralph, James H.
1: 0752
Ralph, Sarah
1: 0752
Ramsey, Callaway
13: 0732
Ramsey, Charles T.
4: 0009
Ramsey, John C.
21: 0434
Ramsey, John C.
21: 1025
Ramsey, John C.
21: 1060
Ramsey, Joseph
13: 0420
Ramsey, William
12: 0548
Randal, Harrison H.
8: 0219
Randolph, William
Sullivan
6: 0148
Randon, J. M., estate of
23: 0503
Ranney, Johnson
6: 0018
Ranney, William C.
8: 0219
Ransom, Benjamin
16: 0579
Ransom, Benjamin F.
17: 0268
Ransom, Deveraux J.
16: 0579
Ransom, Gideon
16: 0579
Ransom, Joseph
16: 0579
Ransom, Medicus
16: 0579
Ransom, Whitmel
16: 0569
Ransom, Whitmel
16: 0579
Ransom, William A.
17: 0286
Ransom, William K.
16: 0579
Rasha
2: 0652
Ratliff, Richard
25: 0087
Ravenscroft, Samuel
3: 0661
Rawlings, Asahail
14: 0537
Raworth, Egbert A.
21: 0696
Ray, George
13: 0343
Ray, J. E. R.
20: 0453
494
Ray, Lydia
13: 0343
Ray, Samuel
8: 0240
Ray, Sarah
13: 0343
Raymond, William
5: 0701
Read, David
18: 0869
Read, David
18: 1129
Read, Gilford
21: 0442
Read, Guilford
17: 0402
Read, John
12: 0244
Read, Samuel
11: 0346
Ready, Charles
12: 0749
Reagan, David
13: 0658
Reasonover, Bovee
20: 0114
Reasonover, Elizabeth
20: 0114
Reasonover, Gorey
20: 0114
Reasonover, Jane
20: 0114
Reasonover, Jeremiah Y.
20: 0114
Reasonover, Joseph
20: 0114
Reasonover, Lee
20: 0114
Reavis, James
5: 0002
Reavis, Mark
3: 0727
Reavis, Mark
4: 0956
Reavis, Mark
5: 0002
Rebecca
17: 0673
Record, James C.
14: 0579

Record, James C.
15: 0282
Rector, William
3: 0867
Redford, George R.
20: 0453
Reding, Margaret I.
26: 0274
Reece, Ellinor
13: 0057
Reece, Elvya
13: 0057
Reece, John
13: 0057
Reece, Mary
13: 0057
Reece, Phebe
13: 0057
Reece, William W.
13: 0057
Reed, Levi
21: 0356
Reed, Mary Young
21: 0356
Reed, Robert
21: 0384
Reed, William
17: 0002
Reese, C. K.
25: 0645
Reese, Charles K.
24: 0526
Reese, Charles K.
25: 0050
Reese, Charles K.
25: 0272
Reese, Charles K.
25: 0376
Reeves, Dianah
13: 0279
Reeves, Dianah
13: 0284
Reeves, Elisha
14: 0761
Reid, John
14: 0817
Reid, John
22: 0311
Reid, Louisiana D. Cash
Banks
12: 0524
Reid, Louisianna Dozier
Cash Banks
12: 0193
Reid, Thomas M.
12: 0524
Reid, Thomas McDaniel
12: 0193
Reilly, Bernard
26: 0252
Reily, Wesley
15: 0007
Reindeer, steamboat
9: 0449
Reiser, Eliza Green
15: 0462
Relf, George
4: 0244
Remley, Samuel
26: 0333
Reneau, C. M.
12: 0887
Reneau, Charles M.
12: 0898
Reneau, Mary
12: 0887
Reneau, Mary
12: 0898
Reneau, William
12: 0887
Reneau, William
12: 0898
Renfro, Ann S. Allen
22: 0134
Renfro, John
22: 0134
Renfro, Sarah
19: 0548
Renick, Andrew R.
26: 0608
Renick, Lucy R. Ligon
26: 0608
Renick, William, Sr.
5: 0544
Renshaw, Ira
19: 0455
495
Renshaw, Louisa
Frances Vaughan
19: 0455
Repeto, Bennet
17: 0781
Resier, Daniel
15: 0462
Revis, Charity
22: 0233
Reyburn, Samuel S.
6: 0472
Reymus, Susan
12: 0818
Reynolds
18: 0056
Reynolds, Benjamin
1: 0213
Reynolds, Benjamin
1: 0269
Reynolds, D. O.
22: 0597
Reynolds, David L.
21: 0095
Reynolds, George W.
23: 0532
Reynolds, George W.
23: 0592
Reynolds, John
4: 0253
Reynolds, Phebe
15: 0669
Reynolds, Phebe
17: 0076
Reynolds, Robert B.
21: 0973
Rhea, Catharine
19: 0664
Rhea, Elizabeth
2: 0262
Rhea, Elizabeth J. Carter
17: 0654
Rhea, Harrry
19: 0664
Rhea, James D.
2: 0262
Rhea, James D.
17: 0654
Rhea, Robert P.
15: 0385

Rhodes, Tyree
22: 0597
Rhodes, Vernon
20: 0453
Rhoton, Isaac J.
22: 0134
Rhoton, Tabitha M. Allen
22: 0134
Rice, William L.
22: 0024
Richards, Charles
23: 0311
Richards, Edmund D.
19: 0557
Richards, John
26: 0407
Richards, L. R.
20: 0453
Richards, Nancy
26: 0407
Richards, Nelly
4: 0489
Richardson, A. R.
22: 0597
Richardson, Amos
11: 0875
Richardson, Caroline E.
Walton
26: 0071
Richardson, Hopkins
12: 0156
Richardson, Jane
11: 0875
Richardson, John
6: 0136
Richardson, John
11: 0875
Richardson, John W.
17: 0369
Richardson, Malvina
Perkins
17: 0369
Richardson, Newton P.
26: 0071
Richardson, R. V.
20: 0453
Richardson, Samuel
12: 0257
Richardson, Willie P.
10: 0762
Richardson, Willis
11: 0875
Richmond, Braddock
11: 0932
Richmond, Winnefrid
Ridley Garrett
11: 0932
Riddick, Laura Clem
22: 0014
Riddick, W. S.
22: 0014
Rider, Samuel
8: 0617
Ridgeway, Amanda
Hooks
26: 0367
Ridgeway, Charlotte
26: 0367
Ridgeway, John
26: 0367
Ridgeway, Mary
26: 0367
Ridgley, Stephen
9: 0449
Ridley, Christopher
17: 0577
Ridley, Elizabeth Allison
17: 0577
Ridley, Henry
17: 0577
Ridley, James
14: 0794
Ridley, James
17: 0577
Ridley, John
17: 0577
Ridley, Jones [?]
17: 0577
Ridley, Mary Jane
17: 0577
Ridley, Moses
14: 0794
Ridley, Moses
17: 0577
Ridley, Nancy
17: 0577
Ridley, Robert
10: 0933
Ridley, Sarah
17: 0577
496
Ridley, Thomas
14: 0794
Ridley, Thomas E.
12: 0767
Ridley, Vincent
14: 0794
Ridley, Vincent
15: 0007
Ridley, William A.
17: 0577
Riggs, Alvis J.
11: 0034
Riggs, Benjamin
20: 0099
Riggs, Elizabeth
20: 0099
Riggs, James
9: 0388
Riggs, James
20: 0099
Riggs, James L.
20: 0099
Riggs, Louisa Roberts
20: 0009
Riggs, Martha Ann
20: 0099
Riggs, Samuel A.
20: 0009
Riley, Alfred C.
8: 0720
Riley, Amos
24: 0252
Riley, Emma
8: 0720
Riley, Emma L.
8: 0720
Riley, Harriet P.
8: 0720
Riley, Hezekiah
8: 0720
Riley, Hezekiah, Sr.
8: 0720
Riley, James T.
8: 0720
Riley, Joseph E.
8: 0720
Riley, Louisiana
Hamilton
24: 0252

Riley, William R.
8: 0720
Rives, Ann E.
2: 0337
Rives, Martha E.
Goodloe Robertson
Arnold
12: 0296
Rives, Peter
12: 0296
Roach, John
14: 0119
Roane, Julia
2: 0337
Roane, Sam C.
1: 0024
Robb, Joseph
10: 0847
Robb, Joseph M.
13: 0367
Robb, Martha K. Calhoun
13: 0367
Roberson, William H.
22: 0282
Roberts, Elisha
23: 1039
Roberts, Eliza J.
18: 0700
Roberts, Elizabeth
20: 0009
Roberts, Elizabeth, Jr.
20: 0009
Roberts, Elizabeth
Dowell
21: 0986
Roberts, Francis
19: 0202
Roberts, Francis G.
9: 0154
Roberts, George D.
20: 0009
Roberts, Harriet
23: 0484
Roberts, Harriet
23: 1039
Roberts, Harriet Callier
23: 0903
Roberts, Henry G.
12: 0056
Roberts, Hiram
20: 0009
Roberts, Hugh Lafayette
20: 0009
Roberts, James K. P.
20: 0009
Roberts, John
17: 0076
Roberts, John F.
23: 1039
Roberts, John Finley
23: 0903
Roberts, John S.
23: 0484
Roberts, John S.
23: 0903
Roberts, John S.
23: 1039
Roberts, Leomanda
20: 0009
Roberts, Mary
20: 0009
Roberts, Mary A.
18: 0700
Roberts, Nancy W.
Moran
19: 0202
Roberts, Rebecca
20: 0009
Roberts, Sciotha [?]
20: 0009
Roberts, William
21: 0178
Roberts, William
21: 0986
Roberts, William B.
18: 0700
Roberts, William R.
20: 0009
Roberts, Zadack B.
18: 0700
Robertson, Ann Maria
15: 0019
Robertson, Eliza
14: 0523
Robertson, Frances
14: 0278
Robertson, Francis H.
14: 0278
497
Robertson, James S.
21: 0198
Robertson, Jenny
Hutson
14: 0770
Robertson, Mary
6: 0103
Robertson, Mary
6: 0194
Robertson, Mary
Elizabeth
12: 0296
Robertson, Melissa C.
15: 0127
Robertson, Peyton
11: 0777
Robertson, Willis D.
15: 0019
Robertson, Willis D.
15: 0127
Robeson, Henry
20: 0176
Robidoux, Joseph, heirs
of
3: 0394
Robin
22: 0513
Robinson, Charles F.
3: 0092
Robinson, David
12: 0937
Robinson, David M.
12: 0937
Robinson, Edwin A.
12: 0937
Robinson, Elizabeth M.
12: 0937
Robinson, J. [?]
20: 0453
Robinson, James
3: 0206
Robinson, James
3: 0257
Robinson, James
3: 0269
Robinson, John F.
12: 0937
Robinson, Mary
7: 0356

Robinson, Nancy
Bowman
12: 0937
Robinson, Robert H.
12: 0937
Robinson, Samuel B.
12: 0937
Robinson, William H.
12: 0937
Robison, Daniel M.
19: 0937
Robison, Mary W. Price
19: 0937
Robnett, William C.
8: 0720
Rocheblave, Mary
Louisa
4: 0207
Rocheblave, Philip
4: 0207
Roddie, Reuben
21: 0186
Rodes, J. H.
13: 0093
Rodgers, Agnes
16: 0541
Rodgers, Alexander
20: 0503
Rodgers, Emma
20: 0503
Rodgers, James
26: 0303
Rodgers, John
20: 0503
Rodgers, William
13: 0631
Rodgers, William
18: 0903
Roe, Jacob W.
12: 1026
Roe, John, Jr.
13: 0512
Roe, Martha Rowland
12: 1026
Rogan, Francis
13: 0800
Roger
19: 0599
Rogers, Albert
21: 0564
Rogers, John J.
8: 0219
Rogers, Lucinda
21: 0564
Rogers, William
9: 0002
Rogers, William
21: 0564
Rolla
2: 0652
Rollins, James S.
8: 0660
Ronald, William
6: 0924
Roney, Benjamin
21: 0564
Roney, J. M.
21: 0564
Roney, John F.
21: 0564
Roper, Damarius
1: 0655
Roper, John Y., Sr.
13: 0452
Roper, Thompson C.
1: 0655
Roraback, Isaac
21: 0186
Rosannah
15: 0799
Rose, Mathias
3: 0580
Ross, Edward
16: 0541
Ross, Elijah
14: 0794
Ross, Elleanor Rodgers
16: 0541
Ross, Ely F.
23: 0352
Ross, Sarah B.
14: 0794
Ross, Thomas
15: 0282
Ross, Thomas A.
1: 0840
Ross, W. T.
16: 0147
Ross, William T.
12: 0138
498
Ross, William T.
15: 0062
Ross, William T.
16: 0181
Roulett, Elizabeth
10: 0620
Roulett, John J.
10: 0620
Roulett, Lucy
10: 0620
Roulett, Martin
10: 0620
Roulett, Philip
10: 0620
Roulett, Prudence
10: 0620
Roulett, William
10: 0620
Rour, B. F.
26: 0566
Rour, Josephine
26: 0566
Rowan, Samuel J.
13: 0658
Rowe, Gilliad
12: 0462
Rowe, John L.
12: 0462
Rowe, Lorenzo D.
12: 0462
Rowe, Nancy
12: 0462
Rowe, Samuel L.
12: 0462
Rowe, Thomas
12: 0462
Rowland, Abner S.
19: 0049
Rowland, Abner S.
19: 0160
Rowland, George F.
12: 1026
Rowland, James
12: 1026
Rowland, James C.
12: 1026
Rowland, John W.
12: 1026
Rowland, Mary Ann
12: 1026

Rowland, Sally
12: 1026
Rowland, Temperance
Whitley
19: 0049
Rowland, Temperance
Whitley
19: 0160
Rowland, William F.
12: 1026
Royal, Aurelia A. Graves
26: 0462
Royal, Richard J.
26: 0462
Royster, F. W.
20: 0453
Royster, Joseph
12: 0598
Rucker, Garland
4: 0368
Rucker, Garland
4: 0378
Rucks, Benjamin
20: 1072
Rucks, Edmund
20: 1072
Rucks, Howell T.
20: 1072
Rucks, James
20: 1072
Rucks, Warner T.
20: 1072
Rudd, John
14: 0372
Rudd, Joseph
14: 0372
Rudd, Meany G.
14: 0372
Rudd, William
14: 0372
Ruddle, Stephen
4: 0873
Ruffin, William
20: 0453
Runnels, Hiram G.
24: 0340
Runnels, John
14: 0794
Rushford, William
17: 0076
Rushing, Enoch D.
16: 0240
Rushing, Enoch D.
16: 0630
Rushing, John P.
10: 0626
Rushing, William
10: 0626
Rusk, Benjamin S.
26: 0367
Rusk, David
23: 0484
Rusk, David
24: 0148
Rusk, Rachel Crain
26: 0367
Russell, Alexander
23: 0667
Russell, John
14: 0585
Russell, Lucy B.
9: 0362
Russell, Priscilla Hunter
14: 0585
Russell, Robert H.
25: 0781
Russell, Samuel
7: 0805
Russell, Samuel
7: 0818
Russell, William S.
13: 0260
Rust, William
26: 0285
Rusworm, John S.
11: 0442
Ruth, George W.
12: 0564
Rutherford, Andrew J.
14: 0868
Rutherford, Benjamin O.
20: 0353
Rutherford, Benjamin O.
20: 0990
Rutherford, Benjamin O.
20: 1015
Rutherford, Benjamin S.
14: 0868
Rutherford, Elizabeth
14: 0862
499
Rutherford, Elizabeth
14: 0868
Rutherford, Mary B.
Royester
20: 0353
Rutherford, Mary B.
Royester
20: 0990
Rutherford, Mary B.
Royester
20: 1015
Rutherford, May
20: 0990
Rutherford, Minerva
North
12: 0548
Rutherford, Pleasant
12: 0548
Rutherford, Thomas C.
17: 0354
Rutherford, Thomas W.
14: 0862
Rutherford, Thomas W.
14: 0868
Ruthie Anna Maria
17: 0141
Ruthten & Co.
21: 0894
Ruthven, R. A.
26: 0186
Rutland, James B.
20: 0687
Rutland, Joseph
14: 0119
Rutland, Joseph
20: 0687
Rutledge, Annis R.
15: 0385
Rutledge, George P.
15: 0385
Rutledge, John C.
15: 0385
Rutledge, Richard C.
15: 0385
Rutledge, Sarah C.
15: 0385
Rutledge, William G.
15: 0385
Ryan, Joseph L.
18: 0717

Ryburn, Benjamin
1: 0548
Ryland, John
19: 0469
S & T Aikin & Co.
13: 0161
Sabre
15: 0799
Saffarans, Daniel
15: 0019
Saffarans, Daniel
15: 0127
Sall
6: 0507
Sallee, Elizabeth
9: 0543
Sallee, John H.
9: 0543
Sally
2: 0652
Sally
4: 0634
Sally
6: 0794
Sally
7: 0184
Sally
22: 0513
Sally Ann
15: 0677
Sam
4: 0716
Sam
4: 0805
Sam
15: 0087
Sam
22: 0513
Sammonds, Robert
19: 0690
Samples, Alexander
12: 0548
Samples, Polly North
12: 0548
Samuel
8: 0332
Samuel
21: 0279
Sanders, Alexander
13: 0452
Sanders, Charles G.
12: 0602
Sanders, Chloe
11: 0346
Sanders, Harriett
Sanders
12: 0602
Sanders, James C.
14: 0602
Sanders, Leonard
15: 0397
Sanders, Margaret
12: 0602
Sanders, Mary
15: 0397
Sanders, Mary
16: 0133
Sanders, Mary Smith
12: 0602
Sanders, Meredith
15: 0397
Sanders, Napoleon B.
20: 0453
Sanders, Nathaniel
12: 0602
Sanders, Richard
21: 0564
Sanders, Sally
21: 0564
Sanders, Sally H.
2: 0657
Sanders, Samuel G.
2: 0657
Sanders, Sarah
15: 0397
Sanders, Thomas
15: 0397
Sanders, William
19: 1012
Sanderson, Jemiah
11: 0592
Sandford, James
10: 0695
Sandifer, Patrick
1: 0390
Sandifer, Sarah
1: 0390
Sandiford, John
14: 0506
500
Sandusky, Jacob
22: 0597
Sanford
4: 0956
Sanford
5: 0002
Sanford, Alexander
7: 0805
Sanford, Alexander
7: 0818
Sanford, Eliza Garland
14: 0268
Sanford, William
14: 0268
Sarah
3: 0509
Sarah
4: 0434
Sarah
7: 0454
Sarah
18: 0460
Sarah
19: 0664
Sarah
21: 0279
Sarah
22: 0513
Sardam, Amanda S.
Young
8: 0884
Sarpee, Margarett
4: 0559
Sarpy, John B.
5: 0468
Sarpy, Peter
5: 0746
Satterfield, Basil B.
17: 0280
Saunders, Mr.
14: 0884
Saunders, Cintha Ann
9: 0405
Saunders, Drury
9: 0405
Saunders, John H.
18: 0223
Saunders, Katharine
9: 0405

Saunders, Nancy
9: 0405
Saunders, Polly Ann
9: 0405
Saunders, Samuel A.
18: 0223
Saunders, Sarah Petty
14: 0884
Saunders, William B.
18: 0223
Savery, Asahel
23: 0783
Sawyer, F. A.
23: 0503
Sawyer, Frederick A.
23: 0142
Sawyer, Frederick A.
23: 0158
Sawyer, Jane
23: 0262
Scabrough, James
12: 0312
Scales, Ann Delilah
20: 0786
Scales, Constant
10: 0479
Scales, Gray E.
18: 0184
Scales, Horace G.
20: 0786
Scales, Jeremiah
20: 0786
Scales, Joseph H.
20: 0786
Scales, Mary Eliza
20: 0786
Scales, Rachel G.
20: 0786
Scarbourough, John
12: 0312
Schluter, Emily S.
14: 0179
Schooler, James B.
20: 1048
Schooling, Elizabeth
8: 0973
Schooling, Robert
8: 0973
Scoby, James
19: 0329
Scoggin, Richard G.
11: 0425
Scoggin, Richard G.
13: 0412
Scott, Alexander
4: 0097
Scott, Ann
26: 0407
Scott, Dred
7: 0615
Scott, Dred
7: 0805
Scott, Eleanor A.
14: 0214
Scott, Elizabeth
1: 0655
Scott, Elizabeth
26: 0407
Scott, Elizabeth Wade
14: 0395
Scott, George
17: 0808
Scott, George W.
21: 0442
Scott, Harriet
7: 0717
Scott, Harriet
7: 0818
Scott, Isabella
26: 0407
Scott, Jacob
14: 0395
Scott, James
13: 0871
Scott, James C.
25: 0157
Scott, James C.
25: 0174
Scott, James D.
1: 0390
Scott, John
18: 0259
Scott, John H.
17: 0590
Scott, John M.
14: 0214
Scott, Julia
20: 0768
Scott, Louis
6: 0050
501
Scott, Louisa Hawkins
25: 0157
Scott, Louisa Hawkins
25: 0174
Scott, Martha E.
14: 0214
Scott, Mary Allison
14: 0214
Scott, Priscilla
1: 0390
Scott, Robert F.
14: 0214
Scott, Samuel
14: 0214
Scott, Samuel W.
14: 0214
Scott, Sanders
10: 0011
Scott, Thomas
1: 0655
Scott, Thomas
7: 1059
Scott, Thomas
26: 0407
Scott, Virginia Ewell
17: 0590
Scribner, John
19: 0599
Scruggs, Edward
21: 0643
Scruggs, Finch
21: 0442
Scruggs, James T.
19: 0961
Scruggs, John W.
19: 0961
Scruggs, Keziah
10: 0412
Scruggs, Lucinda
21: 0643
Scruggs, Margaret
21: 0643
Scruggs, Mary Ann
19: 0961
Scruggs, Phineas T.
21: 0442
Scruggs, Sarah H.
19: 0961
Scruggs, Thomas
18: 1129

Scruggs, William
17: 0303
Scruggs, William
17: 0402
Scruggs, William
17: 0808
Scruggs, William
21: 0442
Scudder, James L.
16: 0193
Scypion
3: 0840
Sea, Eli
16: 0101
Sealy, John
25: 0204
Seany
6: 0200
Searcy, Alice P.
19: 0690
Searcy, Edward
8: 0428
Searcy, Edward J.
19: 0690
Searcy, Elvira J.
19: 0690
Searcy, Fanny D.
19: 0690
Searcy, Frances Alloway
13: 0784
Searcy, Judith P.
8: 0428
Searcy, Reuben M.
13: 0784
Searcy, Reuben T.
19: 0690
Searcy, Susannah
Snelling
13: 0385
Sears, Ally White
12: 0164
Sears, Anderson
12: 0164
Sears, John
3: 0727
Sears, Pleasant B.
15: 0361
Seaton, James
21: 0758
Seawell, Benjamin, Jr.
10: 0136
Seay, W. W.
21: 0479
Seay, William W.
20: 0032
Secrest, Drucilla
15: 0718
Secrest, Tyra
15: 0718
Sehon, E. W.
15: 0506
Sessums, Nancy Allen
Kirkland
17: 0243
Sessums, Richard J.
17: 0243
Settle, Joel W.
14: 0080
Settle, Leroy B.
14: 0080
Sevier, Alexander
21: 0957
Sevier, Malinda Jordan
21: 0957
Sewel, William
4: 0489
Seyton
5: 0730
Shackelford Manley &
Co.
21: 0894
Shackleford, Harrison
11: 0555
Shackleford, John
6: 0621
Shaddon, E.
22: 0597
Shade, Adaline Buckner
3: 0654
Shade, William G.
3: 0654
Shamblin, Ahag
17: 0680
Shaner, Francis M.
8: 0884
Shaner, Henry
8: 0884
Shaner, Joseph Y.
8: 0884
502
Sharp, Andrew
21: 0973
Sharp, Elisha
13: 0821
Sharpe, Benjamin
11: 0777
Sharpe, John W.
17: 0577
Sharpe, Milton
18: 0931
Shaw, A. B.
20: 0453
Shaw, Polly
4: 0009
Shaw, Sarah
13: 0133
Shaw, William
4: 0009
Shearin, James F.
17: 0511
Shearin, Mathew
17: 0511
Shearin, Thomas
17: 0511
Shearon, Thomas W.
18: 0270
Shehane, William
13: 0597
Shell, Phillip B.
7: 0778
Shell, Sarah Caroline
7: 0778
Shell, Sarah Elizabeth
1: 0285
Shelley, Anthony B.
14: 0179
Shelley, Marion
14: 0179
Shelton, Agnes
17: 0622
Shelton, Edmund B.
22: 0489
Shelton, Eliza Lyons
17: 0622
Shelton, Ellen J.
17: 0622
Shelton, James
22: 0489
Shelton, John F.
19: 0867

Shelton, Joseph S.
17: 0622
Shelton, Marietta
Minerva
17: 0622
Shelton, Martha Shelton
22: 0489
Shelton, Ralph C.
20: 0204
Shelton, Sarah E.
22: 0489
Shelton, Susan M.
19: 0867
Shelton, W. M.
20: 0453
Shelton, William
17: 0622
Shelton, William
20: 0204
Shelton, Zantippa
22: 0489
Shepherd, James
16: 0725
Shepherd, Jane Miller
16: 0725
Shields, B. G.
23: 0320
Shields, Hugh K.
22: 0282
Shields, Thomas
19: 0221
Shipe, Randall
20: 0570
Shipman, David
4: 0137
Shipman, John M.
23: 0503
Shirley, James A.
6: 0200
Shofner, D. M.
21: 0043
Shofner, Rachel Brittain
21: 0043
Shorter, James H.
13: 0405
Shropshire, Ellen
8: 0814
Shropshire, Josephine
8: 0814
Shropshire, Mary Jane
8: 0814
Shropshire, Randolph
8: 0814
Shropshire, Thomas
Buchanan
8: 0814
Shropshire, Titus
8: 0814
Shropshire, Wilson
8: 0814
Shugart, Eliza Cozby
14: 0426
Shugart, Lemuel
14: 0426
Sigler, Martha A. Holman
26: 0134
Sigler, Rufus B.
26: 0134
Sikes, Agnes
15: 0638
Sikes, Hanna
15: 0643
Sikes, Hanna
17: 0076
Sikes, James Ony
15: 0677
Sikes, Mary Ann
15: 0632
Sikes, William Henry
15: 0626
Silvia
8: 0027
Simmonds, William H.
10: 0573
Simmons, A. A.
22: 0181
Simmons, Alexander
21: 0932
Simmons, David S.
22: 0207
Simmons, Henry J.
16: 0101
Simmons, Jane
22: 0207
Simmons, John W.
22: 0207
Simmons, Marion M.
22: 0207
503
Simmons, Martha Ann
16: 0101
Simmons, William
16: 0101
Simmons, William W.
22: 0207
Simms, B. Fleurnoy
24: 0124
Simpson, Benjamin S.
21: 0742
Simpson, Benjamin S.
21: 0784
Simpson, Benjamin S.
22: 0149
Simpson, John
16: 0716
Simpson, Rice
18: 0109
Simpson, Thomas
26: 0258
Simpson, Thomas W.
21: 0742
Simpson, Thomas W.
21: 0784
Simpson, Thomas W.
22: 0149
Simpson, William F.
21: 0742
Simpson, William F.
21: 0784
Simpson, William F.
22: 0149
Sims, Elizabeth
18: 0184
Sims, John D.
13: 0678
Sims, Julia S. Embry
21: 0724
Sims, Samuel D.
21: 0724
Sims, Samuel W.
25: 0006
Sinda
15: 0799
Singleton, John
4: 0097
Singleton, Nancy
14: 0069
Singleton, Phillis
4: 0097

Sis
21: 0279
Skinner, Nathan
14: 0141
Skipper, Everett
2: 0657
Slaughter, Nancy
15: 0490
Slaughter, Thomas
15: 0490
Slaughter, William, Sr.
12: 0446
Sliger, Adam
19: 0875
Sliger, Adam
21: 0912
Sliger, Elizabeth
21: 0912
Sliger, Henry
19: 0875
Sliger, Henry
21: 0912
Sliger, Henry
22: 0303
Sliger, James
19: 0875
Sliger, James
21: 0912
Sliger, Samuel
19: 0875
Sliger, Samuel
22: 0303
Sliger, Sarah
21: 0912
Sliger, William
19: 0875
Sliger, William
21: 0912
Sliger, William
22: 0303
Sloan, Agness
15: 0378
Sloan, Eliza Lucas
18: 0989
Sloan, Hiram L.
9: 0347
Sloan, John A.
15: 0378
Sloan, Martin W.
14: 0080
Sloan, Martin W.
15: 0378
Sloan, Martin W.
18: 0989
Sloan, Nancy
Blassingame
14: 0523
Sloan, Thomas
14: 0523
Sloane, Archabald
13: 0279
Sloane, Martin W.
13: 0279
Slocomb, John R.
24: 0094
Small, George
11: 0917
Small, H. D.
20: 0453
Small, J. T.
20: 0453
Small, Letitia Lucas
18: 0989
Small, Mary Jane Jones
11: 0917
Small, Rosseau S.
18: 0989
Smartt, Thomas C.
18: 0314
Smartt, William
21: 0356
Smiley, Thomas T.
15: 0347
Smiser, Alfred
14: 0268
Smiser, James
14: 0268
Smiser, John, Jr.
14: 0268
Smiser, Mariah
14: 0268
Smiser, Warren
14: 0268
Smith
6: 0500
Smith, A.
17: 0076
Smith, Adelaide
15: 0462
504
Smith, Ann
9: 0405
Smith, Ann E.
22: 0409
Smith, Ann Eliza Morgan
21: 0384
Smith, Calvin M.
10: 0732
Smith, Cassandra
15: 0462
Smith, Charles P.
19: 0092
Smith, Christiann
16: 0209
Smith, Cloe Ann
7: 0154
Smith, Cloe Ann
7: 0758
Smith, Cornelius
23: 0158
Smith, Della C.
21: 0904
Smith, Dora
20: 0278
Smith, Elial M.
25: 0006
Smith, Elizabeth
15: 0137
Smith, Elizabeth
18: 0854
Smith, Elizabeth
21: 0564
Smith, Elizabeth E.
22: 0002
Smith, Elizabeth M.
18: 0234
Smith, Evander B.
21: 0904
Smith, Francis J.
8: 0240
Smith, George
14: 0471
Smith, George
14: 0794
Smith, George W.
15: 0581
Smith, George W.
17: 0255
Smith, George W.
20: 0453

Smith, Granville P.
17: 0333
Smith, Harriet
15: 0137
Smith, Henry
12: 0688
Smith, Henry
21: 0434
Smith, Henry
21: 1025
Smith, Henry
21: 1060
Smith, Henry
21: 1076
Smith, Henry W.
21: 0904
Smith, Hugh
13: 0356
Smith, Isedon
18: 0234
Smith, James
21: 0384
Smith, James W.
10: 0888
Smith, Jane A. Love
10: 0732
Smith, Jane B.
22: 0002
Smith, Jeremiah
15: 0192
Smith, Jeremiah
18: 0989
Smith, Joel R.
14: 0794
Smith, John
13: 0356
Smith, John
21: 0384
Smith, John Hugh
17: 0345
Smith, John L.
21: 0904
Smith, John M.
18: 0961
Smith, John R.
7: 0787
Smith, John R.
21: 0904
Smith, Joseph
12: 0312
Smith, Joseph
15: 0137
Smith, Joseph G.
15: 0462
Smith, Josiah R.
19: 0329
Smith, Louisa Jackson
20: 1072
Smith, Lucy A.
7: 0787
Smith, Marius
8: 0720
Smith, Martha E.
Swanson
18: 0961
Smith, Martha M.
Buchanan
22: 0543
Smith, Mary
14: 0794
Smith, Mary C. Morgan
21: 0384
Smith, Mary J.
22: 0002
Smith, Mildred Foster
20: 0278
Smith, Morgan L.
23: 0804
Smith, Nancy
17: 0767
Smith, Nancy Yancy
Hobson
10: 0695
Smith, Napoleon B.
18: 0234
Smith, Neill McNair
21: 0904
Smith, Overton H.
18: 0234
Smith, Patricia
15: 0137
Smith, Peter
14: 0794
Smith, Reuben
4: 0037
Smith, Robert
16: 0209
Smith, Robert
22: 0445
505
Smith, Robert M.
10: 0695
Smith, Sally
16: 0209
Smith, Samuel
10: 0898
Smith, Samuel
14: 0794
Smith, Samuel
18: 0234
Smith, Samuella
22: 0002
Smith, Sarah B.
14: 0794
Smith, Stephen
4: 0137
Smith, Susan
15: 0137
Smith, Sydney
12: 1052
Smith, Thomas
10: 0820
Smith, Thomas
12: 0337
Smith, Thomas
20: 0570
Smith, Thomas
20: 0981
Smith, William
8: 0720
Smith, William
14: 0794
Smith, William
26: 0721
Smith, William A.
20: 1072
Smith, William D.
22: 0409
Smith, William H.
14: 0794
Smith, William W.
18: 0234
Smith, William Y.
15: 0137
Smithson, Charles W.
19: 0015
Smithwick, A. A.
20: 0453
Smoot, John
20: 0453

Snapp, Jacob K.
12: 0176
Snead, Gracy
17: 0076
Snead, Robert
17: 0076
Sneed, James
10: 0573
Sneed, James
21: 0614
Sneed, Sebron G.
25: 0607
Snelling, Elizabeth
13: 0385
Snelling, John
13: 0385
Snelling, Lemuel
13: 0385
Sniedler, Edward B.
6: 0200
Soaper, James
18: 0013
Soffle, Samuel
14: 0069
Solomon, William H.
20: 0990
Somerville, James
21: 0564
Somerville, Sarah
21: 0564
Sooter, Benjamin
18: 0056
Sophie
3: 0375
Sophie
3: 0840
Southall, John
12: 0980
Southern Central
Railroad Company
22: 0282
Sowell, Charles J.
16: 0151
Sowell, Elizabeth D.
16: 0151
Sowell, Erastus
16: 0151
Sowell, Harriet
16: 0151
Sowell, Hetty
16: 0151
Sowell, James K. P.
16: 0151
Sowell, Peyton
13: 0587
Sowell, Peyton
16: 0151
Sowell, Susan
16: 0151
Sowell, William
16: 0151
Spain, Ann
19: 0867
Spain, Ephraim F.
19: 0867
Spain, James K.
19: 0867
Spain, John W.
19: 0867
Spain, L. K.
20: 0580
Spain, Robert H.
19: 0867
Spain, Sarah S.
19: 0867
Spain, William Henry
19: 0867
Span, Mary Delbridge
17: 0029
Span, William
17: 0029
Sparks, Drucilla
26: 0441
Sparks, Drucilla
Wadlington
25: 0899
Sparks, Elizabeth
23: 0198
Sparks, J. L.
14: 0204
Sparks, William N.
25: 0899
Sparks, William N.
26: 0441
Sparr, John H.
6: 0539
Sparr, John H.
6: 0551
506
Speaks, Mary Ann
7: 0177
Speaks, Mary Ann
7: 0275
Speaks, Mary Ann
7: 0283
Spear, David
22: 0597
Specks, Samuel
1: 0840
Spence, Andrew
4: 0114
Spence, Betsy
4: 0114
Spence, David H. C.
20: 0866
Spence, Dudley
2: 0448
Spence, Margaret Jane
4: 0114
Spence, Mary M.
20: 0866
Spence, R. B. C.
15: 0474
Spence, Samuel
4: 0114
Spence, Sarah A.
20: 0866
Spence, Susan E.
20: 0866
Spencer, E. H.
13: 0587
Spencer, Joel
24: 0506
Spencer, Joel
24: 0781
Spicer, Henry
16: 0335
Spicer, Sarah
16: 0335
Splane, Ann D. W.
23: 0052
Splane, Ann D. W.
23: 0058
Splane, Ann D. W.
23: 0229
Splane, Peyton R.
23: 0052
Splane, Peyton R.
23: 0058

Splane, Peyton R.
23: 0149
Spriggs, Ezekial
13: 0356
Spriggs, Ezekiel
20: 1038
Squire
13: 0905
Squire
17: 0076
Squires, John
15: 0490
Squires, Levi J.
15: 0490
Stacker, John
5: 0719
Stacker, John
6: 0472
Stacker, Samuel
12: 0723
Stacy, Elizabeth Braden
19: 0272
Stacy, Mahlon
19: 0272
Stacy, Sarah
19: 0272
Stacy, William
19: 0272
Stall, George T.
22: 0597
Stall, Sallie L. Goode
22: 0597
Stanfield, Mr.
16: 0607
Stanfield, Nancy D.
Bennett
16: 0607
Stanfill, George W.
19: 0417
Stanfill, John M.
19: 0417
Stanley, Austin C.
17: 0437
Stanley, Pracilla Amanda
17: 0437
Stanley, Wright
Augustus
17: 0437
Stansing, Frederick
8: 0219
Starr, James H.
23: 0977
State of Arkansas
1: 0297
State of Tennessee
22: 0033
Stedman, Joseph B.
1: 0655
Steed, John H.
20: 0453
Steel, Rachel
7: 0515
Steele, John T.
20: 0848
Steele, John T.
22: 0702
Steen, Enoch
7: 0845
Steen, P. W.
13: 0433
Stemmons, John
6: 0563
Stemmons, John
6: 0579
Stemmons, John
8: 0152
Stephen
11: 0932
Stephen
22: 0513
Stephens, Eli H.
17: 0630
Stephens, Gabriel
3: 0245
Stephens, Martha M.
3: 0167
Stephens, Martha M.
3: 0245
Stephenson, Jeremiah
21: 0104
Stephenson, John H.
20: 0441
Stephenson, Marcus
3: 0412
Stephenson, Samuel H.
13: 0215
Stephenson, Sarah
13: 0215
Stephenson, Susan F.
18: 0088
507
Stephenson, Susannah
Winstead
21: 0104
Stephenson, Vernon K.
15: 0214
Stevens, Curtis
11: 0704
Stevens, Henry
11: 0704
Stevens, John
13: 0635
Stevens, John
19: 0329
Stevenson, Eliza T.
Abernathy
22: 0409
Stevenson, Selena
14: 0794
Stevenson, Volney S.
18: 0886
Stevenson, William J.
14: 0794
Stevenson, Willis M.
22: 0409
Steward, David
7: 0762
Steward, Peggy
12: 0488
Stewart, Mr.
16: 0607
Stewart, Alfred
22: 0601
Stewart, Andrew K.
20: 0403
Stewart, Elizabeth Young
21: 0564
Stewart, Henry M.
2: 0867
Stewart, Lucy Pride
22: 0601
Stewart, Montgomery
10: 0145
Stewart, Rebecca
20: 0403
Stewart, Rebecca
Bennett
16: 0607
Stewart, William
12: 0488

Stillman, George
13: 0554
Stip, Elizabeth
7: 0762
Stip, Michael
7: 0762
Stockley, C. A.
20: 0453
Stone, James H.
13: 0420
Stone, Lewis
13: 0941
Stone, Martha
13: 0941
Stone, Samuel E.
14: 0080
Stoner, Isaac
9: 0154
Stones, Benjamin
20: 0625
Stoval, Elizabeth
17: 0076
Stoval, James
17: 0076
Stowe, E.
21: 0894
Stowe, Ebenezer
21: 0546
Strange, Edward
19: 0698
Stratton, Edward
19: 0265
Stratton, Edward M.
19: 0122
Stratton, Martha Page
22: 0476
Stratton, Richard
22: 0476
Strayhorn, John L.
10: 0490
Street, A.
20: 0453
Street, Robert
6: 0200
Strickland, J. W.
22: 0256
Stringer, William H.
14: 0537
Strode, Mary
3: 0809
Strode, Stephen
3: 0809
Strong, Ed
22: 0597
Strong, James
22: 0597
Strong, Robert
6: 0200
Strother, Daniel
5: 0496
Strother, George W.
16: 0119
Strother, Helen M.
Strother
16: 0119
Strother, Henry
16: 0119
Stroud, Beden
23: 0484
Stroud, David
11: 0431
Stroud, Peter
11: 0431
Stuart, Charles
25: 0087
Stuart, Jacob S.
22: 0502
Stuart, James B.
22: 0502
Stuart, John
12: 0548
Stuart, Patrick
14: 0194
Stuart, Phoebe
13: 0715
Stuart, Richard
12: 0446
Stuart, Robert
14: 0038
Stuart, Stephen D.
22: 0502
Stuart, Thomson
15: 0462
Stuart, Thomson
22: 0502
Stull, Isaiah
17: 0303
Stull, Isaiah
21: 0442
508
Sturges, Francis J.
7: 0164
St. Vrain, Charles
4: 0434
St. Vrain, Charles D.
4: 0892
Styles, Mr.
16: 0327
Styles, Amanda
16: 0327
Sublett, Phillip A.
23: 0903
Sublett, Thomas
3: 0694
Sublett, William
3: 0694
Sucky
19: 0588
Sugg, Cullen E.
13: 0057
Sulivan, Ann
18: 0024
Sulivan, Harbert H.
18: 0024
Sulivan, Lee, Sr.
12: 0347
Sullivan, Ann Filts
12: 1018
Sullivan, Lee, Sr.
12: 0355
Sullivan, Rebecca
22: 0233
Sullivan, Samuel
22: 0233
Sullivan, Thomas W.
16: 0065
Sulzbacher, Martin
16: 0369
Summerhill, William
20: 0288
Summerhill, William
20: 0977
Sumner, Peggy
17: 0076
Susan
3: 0463
Susan
4: 0748
Susan
22: 0513

Susette
4: 0253
Suter, James
17: 0243
Suter, Rebecca Allen
17: 0243
Sutter, King
18: 0088
Sutter, Sarah H.
18: 0088
Suttle, Catherine
21: 0095
Suttle, Delphina
21: 0095
Suttle, George E.
21: 0095
Suttle, Harriet A.
21: 0095
Suttle, Leroy W.
21: 0095
Suttle, Lucius D.
21: 0095
Suttle, Wilhemina
21: 0095
Suttle, William D.
21: 0095
Sutton, William
10: 0016
Swafford, Alfred
20: 0009
Swain, John C.
1: 0631
Swales, John
15: 0002
Swales, Sophia A. M.
15: 0002
Swan, Charity
17: 0076
Swan, George
17: 0076
Swan, Harriet
22: 0581
Swan, Isaac N.
17: 0424
Swan, James
2: 0740
Swan, Milly
17: 0076
Swan, Milly
18: 1073
Swan, Milly
18: 1090
Swan, Milly Swan
22: 0581
Swan, Peggy
17: 0076
Swan, Robert M.
16: 0286
Swan, Robert M.
17: 0424
Swan, Samuel G.
17: 0424
Swan, William H.
17: 0424
Swanson, Cataline
16: 0643
Swanson, James
12: 0650
Swanson, James, Jr.
16: 0643
Swanson, Minerva B.
Theobald
16: 0643
Swanson, Monroe
16: 0643
Swanson, Peter
11: 0585
Sweeney, Fountain
6: 0200
Sweeper, Peter
12: 0818
Swing, M. W.
6: 0200
Swisher, Elizabeth Boyd
10: 0860
Swisher, Henry
10: 0401
Swisher, Henry H.
10: 0860
Swisher, James G.
10: 0860
Swisher, Sinai Boyd
10: 0860
Sydnor, John S.
23: 0968
Syler, George
Washington
18: 0155
Syler, Isaac
18: 0155
509
Syler, Jacob
18: 0155
Syler, John W.
18: 0155
Syler, Sarah
18: 0155
Syler, William
18: 0155
Sypert, Juliet B. Jackson
20: 1072
Sypert, Permalia
22: 0233
Sypert, Robert
20: 1072
Sypert, William C.
22: 0233
Tabor, James
23: 0420
Talbot, Elizabeth Norton
11: 0269
Talbot, Thomas
11: 0269
Talley, Ephraim
23: 0553
Talley, Samuel
20: 0128
Tarbox, Jane M.
16: 0601
Tarbox, Lyman
16: 0601
Tarkington, Hannah
11: 0606
Tarkington, James W.
11: 0585
Tarkington, Jefferson O.
11: 0585
Tarkington, John G.
20: 0278
Tarlton, William
3: 0422
Tate, James
12: 0775
Tate, James J.
14: 0119
Tate, Jesse
12: 0775
Tate, Layton
12: 0775
Tate, Mary
12: 0775

Tate, Waddy
12: 0775
Tate, Zedekiah
14: 0119
Tatum, George W.
12: 0761
Taylor, Adeline
8: 0814
Taylor, Alfred M. C.
18: 0672
Taylor, Alfred M. C.
20: 0701
Taylor, C. C.
22: 0014
Taylor, Campbell
24: 0754
Taylor, Campbell
25: 0813
Taylor, Caroline R. Clem
22: 0014
Taylor, Chesley
21: 0471
Taylor, David
21: 0471
Taylor, Elizabeth
21: 0471
Taylor, Espy
20: 0580
Taylor, Hezekiah
21: 0471
Taylor, J. K.
21: 0614
Taylor, Jacob A.
25: 0396
Taylor, James T. R.
14: 0546
Taylor, James W.
25: 0396
Taylor, John
20: 0654
Taylor, John
21: 0402
Taylor, John
22: 0476
Taylor, John H.
14: 0868
Taylor, Madison
20: 0580
Taylor, Nancy P.
20: 0580
Taylor, Nathaniel G.
20: 0701
Taylor, Nathaniel M.
20: 0701
Taylor, Pleasant
21: 0471
Taylor, Susana
Schooling
8: 0973
Taylor, Thomas
7: 0515
Taylor, Thomas
14: 0697
Taylor, Wiley
8: 0814
Taylor, William
8: 0973
Taylor, William C.
20: 0701
Taylor, William D.
13: 0678
Tayon, Joseph
3: 0375
Tayon, Joseph
3: 0389
Teal, George
24: 0252
Tedlock, Hetty T. Clark
15: 0462
Tedlock, John
15: 0462
Teel, George
23: 0812
Temple
2: 0652
Temple, John H.
20: 0453
Temple, L. M.
20: 0453
Temple, Liston E.
16: 0082
Temple, Liston E.
16: 0256
Temple, Paulina F.
Gaines
16: 0082
Temple, Paulina F.
Gaines
16: 0256
510
Templeton, Cynthia
21: 0356
Templeton, Thomas
21: 0356
Terry, Ephraim
25: 0899
Terry, Ephraim
26: 0441
Terry, Mary
26: 0441
Terry, Mary Wadlington
25: 0899
Terry, Nathaniel
16: 0716
Terry, Sarah Simpson
16: 0716
Thadeus Alonzo
6: 0551
Thenia
4: 0538
Theotiste
4: 0086
Thomas
15: 0087
Thomas, Burkley Reed
14: 0481
Thomas, David W.
9: 0421
Thomas, Iredell
25: 0087
Thomas, Iredell D.
24: 0694
Thomas, Iredell D.
24: 0707
Thomas, Iredell D.
24: 0714
Thomas, Isaac
10: 0069
Thomas, James
14: 0002
Thomas, James
17: 0835
Thomas, John
16: 0515
Thomas, Martha B.
Bailey
14: 0481
Thomas, William
20: 0453

Thomas, William
24: 0427
Thomas, William D.
24: 0457
Thomas, William D.
24: 0514
Thomas, William D.
25: 0258
Thomison, Hugh
21: 0010
Thompson, Absalom
22: 0103
Thompson, Alexander
7: 0883
Thompson, Ambrose
3: 0002
Thompson, Ambrose
3: 0013
Thompson, Asa
23: 0553
Thompson, Benjamin
15: 0760
Thompson, Burwell J.
23: 0867
Thompson, Burwell J.
23: 0877
Thompson, Burwell J.
23: 0997
Thompson, Burwell J.
24: 0007
Thompson, Burwell J.
24: 0104
Thompson, Burwell J.
24: 0586
Thompson, Dela F.
19: 0867
Thompson, Elijah
22: 0103
Thompson, Eliza
16: 0462
Thompson, Elizabeth
16: 0579
Thompson, George
12: 0436
Thompson, George W.
2: 0486
Thompson, Gideon
10: 0504
Thompson, Hannah
3: 0002
Thompson, Hannah
Ellen
3: 0013
Thompson, Hannah
Shields
19: 0221
Thompson, Harris
20: 0009
Thompson, Henry
15: 0760
Thompson, Henry
16: 0462
Thompson, Henry J.
2: 0536
Thompson, Hugh
15: 0760
Thompson, Hugh M.
15: 0760
Thompson, J. P.
13: 0093
Thompson, James
14: 0154
Thompson, James
19: 0221
Thompson, James E.
11: 0002
Thompson, James L.
22: 0353
Thompson, James P.
12: 0257
Thompson, John
15: 0214
Thompson, John
16: 0607
Thompson, John
17: 0345
Thompson, John
18: 0835
Thompson, John
McNairy
11: 0812
Thompson, John
McNairy
12: 0035
Thompson, Joseph
16: 0673
Thompson, Joseph
18: 0388
Thompson, Joseph
26: 0134
511
Thompson, Joseph L.
11: 0002
Thompson, Margaret
McGee
7: 0883
Thompson, Milton
14: 0154
Thompson, Moses
15: 0760
Thompson, N. Sultana
Holman
26: 0134
Thompson, Napoleon B.
23: 0257
Thompson, Napoleon B.
23: 0521
Thompson, Napoleon B.
23: 0730
Thompson, Nelson A.
12: 0775
Thompson, Philip
13: 0898
Thompson, Phillip
16: 0456
Thompson, Phillip
16: 0462
Thompson, Samuel
23: 0135
Thompson, Samuel
23: 0428
Thompson, Susanna
Cobb Kneeland
11: 0812
Thompson, Susan S.
Faine
12: 0138
Thompson, Swan
12: 0355
Thompson, Wallace
16: 0462
Thompson, William
3: 0264
Thompson, William
3: 0785
Thompson, William H.
3: 0298
Thompson, William H.
3: 0341
Thomson, James L.
17: 0326

Thorn, Ann Smith
23: 0821
Thorn, Frost
24: 0252
Thorn, Frost
24: 0299
Thorn, John S.
23: 0821
Thornbrough, Allen
16: 0269
Thornton
5: 0269
Thornton, Dr. B.
21: 0750
Thornton, Patsy P.
21: 0750
Throne, R. G.
22: 0111
Thurmond, James H.
17: 0362
Thurmond, Nancy Burns
6: 0379
Tias, Benjamin
14: 0185
Tias, Eliza
14: 0185
Tias, Joseph
14: 0185
Tias, Lavinia
14: 0185
Tias, Sarah
14: 0185
Tidwell, Eli
2: 0652
Tidwell, Eli J.
2: 0508
Tiffin, Clayton
4: 0062
Tiffin, Clayton
6: 0267
Tilford, James
10: 0580
Tilford, John
11: 0660
Tillery, Alexander
20: 0503
Tillery, Charles
20: 0503
Tillery, Martha Rodgers
20: 0503
Tillery, Thomas P.
20: 0503
Tillett, Sarah
11: 0606
Tillman, Lucy
17: 0076
Tillman, Lucy Ann
17: 0076
Tillman, Martha F.
3: 0181
Tillman, Mary Ann
17: 0076
Tillman, Marzee J.
3: 0181
Timberlake, Jehu
22: 0389
Timoleon, steamboat
8: 0002
Tindall, Henry
18: 0511
Tindall, Mary Holland
18: 0511
Tinsley, Samuel B.
15: 0192
Tipton, Albert J.
16: 0692
Tipton, Isaac
16: 0692
Tipton, James I.
16: 0692
Tipton, John B.
16: 0692
Tipton, Samuel
16: 0692
Tipton, Susannah
16: 0692
Titlow, John W.
21: 0957
Titus, F.
20: 0453
Titus, Lydia
4: 0716
Titus, Lydia
4: 0757
Titus, Nase
4: 0805
Tivis, Benjamin Franklin
26: 0713
Tivis, Euphrasia M.
26: 0713
512
Todd, Gabriel
26: 0498
Todd, Thomas
26: 0462
Todd, William, Jr.
26: 0084
Todd, William, Jr.
26: 0462
Toland, Robert
13: 0412
Tolley, William
22: 0134
Tolson, Benjamin
4: 0830
Tolson, Nancy Hill
4: 0830
Tom
4: 0726
Tom
22: 0513
Tomlinson, Charles A.
15: 0498
Tompkins, Joseph R. A.
16: 0725
Toney, Ann Elizabeth
17: 0127
Toney, James Henry
17: 0165
Toney, James R.
18: 0445
Toney, James R.
20: 1072
Toney, John A.
20: 1072
Toney, Joseph
17: 0076
Toney, Joseph
17: 0127
Toney, Lucretia
17: 0076
Toney, Lucretia
17: 0165
Toney, Marquis
Breckenridge
18: 0848
Toney, Mary
17: 0076
Toney, Mary Ann Sikes
17: 0127

Tony, Elijah
19: 0360
Torrence, Anne
20: 0230
Torrence, J. F.
20: 0230
Towers, R. J.
23: 0503
Towns, Margaret
14: 0794
Towns, Robert J.
14: 0794
Townsend, B. M.
17: 0291
Townsend, John E.
15: 0361
Townsend, Nathaniel
23: 0658
Tracy, Edward
4: 0472
Travis, Arthur
21: 0356
Travis, Daniel
21: 0356
Travis, David
21: 0356
Travis, Elizabeth
21: 0356
Travis, Ellen
21: 0356
Travis, James
21: 0356
Travis, Jane
21: 0356
Travis, John A.
21: 0356
Travis, Mary
21: 0356
Travis, Solomon
21: 0356
Traynor, John D.
14: 0426
Traynor, Mary Ann
Cozby
14: 0426
Tribble, America
8: 0660
Tribble, George W.
8: 0660
Trice, D. W.
19: 0272
Trice, Margarette
19: 0272
Trigg, John
20: 0453
Trigg, Joseph
5: 0022
Trimble, Mary E.
25: 0350
Trimble, Moffat E.
25: 0350
Trousdale, James
18: 0700
Trousdale, William
12: 0244
Trousdale, William W.
18: 0700
Trout, Elizabeth Luttrell
20: 0570
Trout, John
20: 0570
Trout, William F.
20: 0570
Truelove
9: 0599
Truelove
9: 0657
Trundle, James
11: 0575
T. S. & S. W. Ayres
20: 0453
Tucker, Amelia
21: 0709
Tucker, Daniel S.
20: 0646
Tucker, Elmira C.
12: 0937
Tucker, Harvey
20: 0562
Tucker, Harvey
21: 0709
Tucker, Lucinda H.
Crawford
22: 0543
Tucker, Margaret S.
12: 0937
Tucker, Pleasant
22: 0543
513
Tucker, Samuel H.
20: 0002
Tucker, Silas
12: 0436
Tucker, Silas
12: 0937
Tune, Elizabeth
19: 0623
Tune, John
19: 0623
Tungate, Francis
13: 0313
Tunstall, H. R.
20: 0230
Tunstall, Lucy
20: 0230
Tunstall, Nancy
2: 0259
Tunstall, Thomas
2: 0259
Tunstall, William
21: 0230
Turnage, R. K.
20: 0453
Turnbo, Elizabeth
Buckner
11: 0543
Turnbo, Nathan
11: 0543
Turner, Abner
21: 0655
Turner, Alfred A.
1: 0851
Turner, Amanda Hill
15: 0282
Turner, Amanda J. Hill
14: 0579
Turner, E.
21: 0132
Turner, E. L.
19: 0433
Turner, Elizabeth Ann
15: 0506
Turner, James
14: 0579
Turner, James
15: 0282
Turner, James J.
21: 0564

Turner, John W.
23: 0804
Turner, Mary P. Hazlett
20: 0230
Turner, Phoebe Butcher
19: 0315
Turner, Priscilla
18: 0489
Turner, Robert B.
6: 0831
Turner, Robinson
13: 0750
Turner, Samuel S.
24: 0319
Turner, Sarah Boulton
21: 0132
Turner, Simon
15: 0506
Turner, Sumpter
18: 0489
Turner, W. K.
19: 0433
Turner, W. W.
19: 0455
Turner, Washington
19: 0315
Turner, William H.
17: 0386
Turner, William K.
12: 0968
Turner, William P.
8: 0814
Tutt, James
9: 0405
Tutt, Lucinda
9: 0405
Twomey, Margaret
16: 0343
Twomey, Thomas L.
16: 0343
Tyree, Richmond C.
13: 0814
Uhls, Bartlett B.
14: 0602
Ulrici, Richard W.
7: 0195
Underwood, Burton
20: 1063
Underwood, Burton
21: 0479
Underwood, Charles
9: 0528
Underwood, Charlotte F.
21: 0479
Underwood, Charlotte
Francis
20: 1063
Underwood, Claiborn
20: 1063
Underwood, Clarissa
22: 0353
Underwood, David
14: 0232
Underwood, Ellis
21: 0479
Underwood, Emma
20: 1063
Underwood, Emmagene
21: 0479
Underwood, Eugene
20: 1063
Underwood, Eugene
21: 0479
Underwood, Francis
9: 0528
Underwood, George W.
9: 0528
Underwood, Harriett
22: 0353
Underwood, James H.
9: 0528
Underwood, Johnson
22: 0353
Underwood, Lafayette
22: 0353
Underwood, Nancy
9: 0528
Underwood, Nancy
14: 0232
Underwood, Sarah
Eades
9: 0528
Underwood, Thomas
9: 0528
Underwood, William
9: 0528
Upshaw, Ellenor P.
22: 0051
Upshaw, George L.
22: 0051
514
Upshaw, James J.
22: 0051
Upshaw, Laura O.
22: 0051
Upshaw, Lewis A.
22: 0051
Upshaw, Littleton A.
22: 0051
Upshaw, Lucinda O.
22: 0051
Upshaw, Mary E.
22: 0051
Upshaw, Priscilla M.
22: 0051
Upshaw, Sarah E.
22: 0051
Upshaw, William E.
22: 0051
Upshaw, William T.
22: 0051
Upton, Nancy
14: 0560
Ussery, Daniel G.
22: 0243
Vaden, Ann
20: 0151
Vaden, Benjamin J.
20: 0151
Vaden, Benjamin J.
22: 0169
Vaden, Elizabeth R.
Jackson
20: 1072
Vaden, Fanny
20: 0151
Vaden, French
20: 0151
Vaden, James H.
20: 1072
Vaden, Lodwick
20: 0151
Vaden, Samuel
20: 0151
Vaden, William
20: 0151
Vaden, William H.
20: 0151
Vaden, Woodson
1: 0390

Vaden, Woodson
20: 0151
Vaden, Zilley
1: 0390
Valle, Charles
3: 0892
Vallentine, H.
20: 0453
Vallois, Francois
3: 0675
Valois, Francois
3: 0623
Vanbibber, Isaac
3: 0444
Vance, Agnes M.
Gilmour
19: 0213
Vance, Anne E. Ewell
17: 0590
Vance, David R.
17: 0590
Vance, Elisha Q.
12: 0028
Vance, James H.
15: 0799
Vance, James H.
20: 0701
Vance, John A.
19: 0213
Vance, Mary
18: 0626
Vance, Mary
21: 0750
Vance, Mary Jane
21: 0750
Vance, Nancy
21: 0750
Vanhorn, John
6: 0317
Vanleer, Anthony W.
14: 0744
Vaughan, Ann Elizabeth
19: 0455
Vaughan, Drury
19: 0455
Vaughan, George P.
19: 0455
Vaughan, George W.
17: 0673
Vaughan, James
2: 0120
Vaughan, James
11: 0731
Vaughan, Margaret M.
19: 0455
Vaughn, Mr.
12: 0176
Vaughn, David H.
20: 0340
Vaughn, Hiram
20: 0340
Vaughn, Joshua T.
20: 0340
Vaughn, Michael
20: 0340
Venable, Simeon
21: 0733
Venable, William Edward
14: 0290
Verhagen, Peter
5: 0831
Vessels, Horace
13: 0678
Vessels, Wiley
13: 0678
Vica
6: 0524
Vickhouse, James
19: 0568
Vina
4: 0624
Vina
4: 0805
Vincent
4: 0307
Vincent
4: 0335
Vincent, Adolphe
4: 0892
Vincent, Cynthia
20: 0176
Vincent, Eliza
13: 0597
Vincent, Frances
13: 0597
Vincent, Harriet
13: 0597
Vincent, Hilliard
13: 0597
515
Vincent, Ire
20: 0176
Vincent, James
13: 0597
Vincent, Louise
4: 0914
Vincent, Lydia
13: 0597
Vincent, Marcelline
4: 0892
Vincent, Maria
4: 0892
Vincent, Mary
13: 0597
Vincent, Richard
13: 0597
Vincent, Sally
13: 0597
Vincent, Susan
13: 0597
Vining, Ann Carty
20: 0998
Vining, Ann Carty
21: 0010
Vining, John
20: 0998
Vining, John
21: 0010
Viny
15: 0087
Violet
15: 0087
Violet Ellen
15: 0087
Virgeson [?], Robert
20: 0453
Vivian, John
7: 0787
Vivian, Nancy Allen
7: 0787
Vivion, Flavel C.
8: 0720
Vivion, George W.
8: 0720
Vivion, Martin
8: 0720
Vivion, Susan
8: 0720
Voight, Frederick
26: 0758

Von Phul, Henry
6: 0200
Votean, Isaac
3: 0509
Waddell, B. B.
20: 0453
Waddingham, William
7: 0454
Wade, Alexander
16: 0160
Wade, Ann
11: 0412
Wade, Austin M.
14: 0395
Wade, Elizabeth T.
16: 0160
Wade, Granville Noah
16: 0160
Wade, Hampton
11: 0412
Wade, Henry
13: 0541
Wade, Horatio
11: 0412
Wade, James M.
13: 0356
Wade, Levi
12: 0937
Wade, Mordecai B.
14: 0908
Wade, Robert
11: 0412
Wade, Susan P.
16: 0160
Wade, Wilson N.
16: 0160
Wadley, Cynthia A.
Hollowell
18: 0099
Wadley, John W.
18: 0099
Wagstaff, James M.
22: 0159
Wahrendorff, Charles
4: 0472
Wait, Elenor
4: 0009
Wait, Henry
4: 0009
Walden, Charles H.
21: 0608
Walden, James W.
14: 0119
Walden, Rachael Tate
14: 0119
Walker, Andrew B.
15: 0248
Walker, Charles
25: 0308
Walker, Gabriel L.
10: 0580
Walker, George W.
21: 0426
Walker, Henry I.
22: 0282
Walker, James
10: 0553
Walker, James
24: 0439
Walker, John
10: 0424
Walker, John C.
22: 0282
Walker, John W.
18: 0043
Walker, Joseph G.
10: 0820
Walker, Josephus
18: 0544
Walker, Mary
15: 0087
Walker, Mary Dever
10: 0424
Walker, Priscilla
18: 0544
Walker, Samuel D.
5: 0144
Walker, William
5: 0076
Walker, William
5: 0158
Walker, William
14: 0240
Walker, William C.
1: 0154
Wall, John
18: 0728
Wall, Joseph W.
18: 0056
516
Wall, Martha
18: 0728
Wall, Samuel
6: 0886
Wall, Susan P.
12: 0591
Wallace, Charles H.
21: 0655
Wallace, John W.
17: 0345
Wallace, Joseph
11: 0401
Wallace, Joseph
17: 0021
Wallace, Mary C.
17: 0345
Wallace, Richard H.
11: 0555
Wallace, Tabitha
17: 0345
Wallace, William J.
17: 0345
Wallace, William S.
24: 0173
Waller, Catherine
Johnson
21: 0221
Waller, John P.
18: 0863
Waller, John P.
18: 0869
Waller, John P.
18: 1129
Waller, McNairy
18: 0808
Waller, Willie
21: 0221
Walling, Jesse
19: 0099
Walling, Jessee
20: 0176
Wallis, George
16: 0335
Wallis, Mariah
16: 0335
Walsh, Elizabeth
Eastwood
6: 0379
Walsh, Joseph
6: 0379

Walsh, Thomas
18: 1094
Walthall, Ann Eliza
14: 0359
Walthall, Thomas
14: 0359
Walton, James
4: 0123
Walton, James
4: 0267
Walton, James
6: 0200
Walton, John B.
14: 0471
Walton, Josiah
14: 0471
Walton, Martin
13: 0433
Walton, William
14: 0471
Ward, A. D.
25: 0745
Ward, Ann
26: 0833
Ward, Bryant
10: 0847
Ward, David C.
13: 0512
Ward, Edward
10: 0471
Ward, Eliza
16: 0186
Ward, Emily
16: 0186
Ward, Harriett Moores
14: 0560
Ward, Henry
18: 0223
Ward, Hezekiah
16: 0186
Ward, Hillary
16: 0186
Ward, John
10: 0847
Ward, Mary
25: 0745
Ward, Nathan
14: 0560
Ward, Rawley W.
3: 0067
Ward, Rufus
16: 0186
Ward, Thomas
24: 0599
Ward, Thomas
25: 0383
Ward, Thomas
25: 0386
Ward, William R. D.
23: 0257
Warden, Elmore
22: 0476
Warden, John
22: 0476
Warden, John W.
21: 0860
Warden, Lavina
21: 0860
Warden, Travis
21: 0860
Ware, Pamelia Taylor
14: 0697
Ware, William K.
14: 0697
Warford, J. B.
20: 0701
Warren, Charity
22: 0233
Wash, Polly
5: 0739
Washburn, Benjamin B.
20: 1027
Washer, Mary Simpson
16: 0716
Washer, William
16: 0716
Washington, Tenor
4: 0548
Waterford, Adam
11: 0058
Waterford, Adam
12: 0361
Waterford, Alexander
11: 0058
Waterford, Calvin
11: 0058
Waterford, David
11: 0058
517
Waterford, David, the
Elder
12: 0361
Waterford, David, the
Younger
12: 0361
Waterford, Eliza
11: 0058
Waterford, Frankey
11: 0058
Waterford, Granville
11: 0058
Waterford, Hamilton
11: 0058
Waterford, Lettitia
11: 0058
Waterford, Marian
11: 0058
Waterford, Melinda
11: 0058
Waterford, Sarah
11: 0058
Waterford, Walter
12: 0361
Waterford, William
11: 0058
Waterhouse, Richard, Sr.
26: 0593
Waters, Gilbert A.
20: 0930
Waters, John
4: 0009
Waters, Laban L.
16: 0020
Waters, Robert C.
9: 0183
Wathen, Ignatius
4: 0009
Wathen, Ignatius R.
6: 0018
Wathen, Mary Ann
4: 0009
Wathen, Mary Ann
6: 0018
Wathen, Richard
6: 0018
Watkins, J. S.
20: 0701
Watkins, James
14: 0515

Watkins, John
16: 0630
Watkins, Joseph
16: 0556
Watkins, Mary Ann Wade
16: 0160
Watkins, Samuel B.
16: 0160
Watkins, William E.
18: 0013
Watkins, William E.
20: 0230
Watkins, William E.
21: 0245
Watkins, Wilson L.
16: 0160
Watson
22: 0513
Watson, Harrison E.
23: 0812
Watson, Harrison E.
24: 0252
Watson, Martha
12: 0602
Watson, Mary Jane
23: 0812
Watson, Mary Jane
24: 0252
Watson, Nancy Page
22: 0476
Watson, Ringrose D.
6: 0103
Watson, Ringrose D.
7: 0356
Watson, Thomas
12: 0968
Watson, Thomas
22: 0476
Watson, Thomas T.
12: 0602
Watterson, William B.
21: 0043
Watterson, William D.
21: 0043
Waugh, Alexander
9: 0599
Waugh, Alexander
9: 0655
Waugh, Alexander
9: 0657
Waugh, Alexander
9: 0660
Waugh, Alexander
9: 0663
Waugh, Alexander
9: 0667
Waugh, Alexander
9: 0687
Weakley, Robert Locke,
III
20: 0634
Weakly, Robert Locke
12: 0096
Weaver, Benjamin
17: 0021
Weaver, Dempsey
19: 0166
Weaver, James
12: 0696
Weaver, John
17: 0021
Weaver, Martha M. Gault
17: 0021
Weaver, Sarah Frances
19: 0166
Webb, Benjamin
13: 0856
Webb, Bernard Burch
19: 0715
Webb, James G.
20: 0188
Webb, James G.
20: 0301
Webb, John L.
20: 1072
Webb, Louisa
19: 0715
Webb, Mary M.
13: 0043
Webb, Mary P. Hibbetts
20: 1072
Webb, William L.
13: 0043
Webber, Elizabeth
8: 0720
Weber, John H.
3: 0493
Weber, John H.
3: 0500
518
Webster, Emily G.
12: 0470
Webster, Mary Ann Hill
14: 0579
Webster, Mary Hill
15: 0282
Webster, Robert P.
12: 0470
Webster, William
15: 0282
Webster, William W.
14: 0579
Weedon, Augustine
11: 0555
Weekfall, Frank
17: 0076
Weir, James
25: 0781
Welch, Ann
1: 0990
Welch, John
1: 0990
Wells, Frederick
2: 0657
Wells, Thomas
21: 0598
West, Arminda E.
Crawford
22: 0543
West, Benjamin F.
13: 0678
West, Claiborne
15: 0413
West, Darius
21: 0564
West, Edward H.
21: 0831
West, George
10: 0364
West, Jonathan
1: 0049
West, Malinda
21: 0564
West, Patterson B.
18: 0259
West, Thomas R.
22: 0543
West, William G.
13: 0678

Westbrook, Dr. J. B.
21: 0674
Westbrook, Mary E.
Dortch
21: 0674
Westfield, David
14: 0523
Wharton, George
10: 0441
Wharton, George R.
12: 0138
Wharton, John A.
23: 0142
Wharton, Sarah Anne
23: 0525
Wheat, Milton P.
16: 0673
Wheatley, William W.
19: 1005
Wheatly, Lucinda
17: 0076
Wheaton, L. M.
20: 0453
Wheeler, Benjamin
3: 0167
Wheeler, Benjamin
3: 0245
Wheeler, Benjamin F.
6: 0018
Wheeler, John
3: 0167
Wheeler, John
3: 0245
Wheeler, Otis M.
24: 0124
Wheeler, Otis M.
24: 0329
Wheeler, Priscilla S.
3: 0245
Wheeler, Prissilla S.
3: 0167
Wheeler, William
3: 0245
Wheeler, William H.
3: 0167
Whipple, J. W.
24: 0575
Whitaker, Henderson C.
25: 0816
Whitaker, Isaac
23: 0943
Whitaker, John
11: 0709
Whitaker, Josephus L.
19: 0066
White, Aaron C.
18: 0013
White, Alfred C.
17: 0044
White, Amy Owen
13: 0671
White, Archibald C.
14: 0388
White, Archibald C.
15: 0594
White, Archibald C.
18: 0800
White, Avarilla
19: 0173
White, Baker
17: 0362
White, Elizabeth Haynie
13: 0452
White, G. S.
20: 0570
White, Halsey
6: 0794
White, Henry
14: 0784
White, Jackson B.
22: 0094
White, James
13: 0658
White, James D.
13: 0367
White, John
19: 0383
White, John P.
22: 0159
White, Joseph
13: 0452
White, Joseph
13: 0671
White, Kenelm
12: 0164
White, Levi B.
14: 0784
White, Mary McMurray
16: 0269
519
White, Robert
19: 0173
White, Sarah Jane Black
17: 0044
White [?], Thomas
22: 0597
White, Thomas J.
5: 0346
White, William L.
19: 0099
White, Wilson
10: 0553
White & Jones
11: 0412
Whitehorn, H.
20: 0453
Whitelaw, Alice
17: 0076
Whitelaw, Alice H.
15: 0649
Whiten, Maria
4: 0368
Whiten, Maria
4: 0378
Whiteside, Josiah
8: 0190
Whitesides, John
3: 0509
Whitesides, Phebe
3: 0509
Whitesides, Thomas,
representatives of
3: 0509
Whitfield, Francis
19: 0816
Whitfield, George W.
21: 0237
Whitfield, James
19: 0816
Whitfield, Monroe
19: 0816
Whitfield, Sarah
19: 0882
Whitfield, T. J.
19: 0882
Whitfield, Tabitha
19: 0816
Whitfield, Thomas J.
21: 0237

Whithorne, William J.
17: 0511
Whitley, Elizabeth
19: 0160
Whitley, James W.
19: 0049
Whitley, James W.
19: 0160
Whitley, Lucy A.
19: 0049
Whitley, Lucy Ann
19: 0160
Whitsitt, Samuel D.
21: 0268
Whitworth, James
15: 0127
Whitworth, William
21: 0614
Wiatt
17: 0673
Wickliff, Jacob
14: 0523
Wickliff, Laura
14: 0523
Wickliff, Mary
14: 0523
Wickliff, William
14: 0523
Wilbarger, James H.
25: 0632
Wilbourn, Polly
Armstrong
11: 0354
Wilbourn, William
11: 0354
Wilburn, Daniel
12: 0650
Wilburn, Elizabeth
12: 0650
Wilburn, Robert
3: 0706
Wilburn, Sarah
12: 0650
Wilcox, Catherine
25: 0728
Wilcox, Catherine
25: 0740
Wilder, Benjamin
4: 0342
Wilder, Benjamin
4: 0497
Wilds, John P.
25: 0838
Wiles, Elizabeth Nash
10: 0705
Wiles, Michael
8: 0704
Wiles, Samuel
10: 0705
Wiley, Eli
6: 0379
Wilhoite, Letsy W. Pratt
18: 0109
Wilkerson, W. G.
22: 0597
Wilkerson, William
22: 0597
Wilkerson, William H.
15: 0019
Wilkes, Nathaniel R.
20: 0376
Wilkes, Richard
11: 0412
Wilkes, Sarah Foster
20: 0278
Wilkes, William
20: 0278
Wilkeson, James
21: 0564
Wilkeson, Lina
21: 0564
Wilkins, John
11: 0002
Wilkins, John A.
11: 0002
Wilkins, Nancy L.
11: 0002
Wilkins, Sally B.
11: 0002
Wilkinson, Ann Eliza
23: 0229
Wilkinson, Edward
14: 0744
Wilkinson, Edward Gantt
3: 0892
Wilkinson, Emma C.
14: 0744
Wilkinson, Georgetta C.
20: 0786
520
Wilkinson, Hansel T.
21: 0804
Wilkinson, James
4: 0867
Wilkinson, James I.
3: 0892
Wilkinson, Joseph
Stoughton
3: 0892
Wilkinson, T. W.
20: 0453
Wilkinson, Walter
3: 0892
Wilkinson, William H.
20: 0786
Willett, George W.
14: 0204
William
3: 0840
William
4: 0137
William
6: 0794
William
19: 0489
William
26: 0824
William Henry
6: 0500
Williams, Alexander
13: 0008
Williams, Alexander
18: 0398
Williams, Alexander
19: 0981
Williams, Alexander
20: 0188
Williams, Alexander
20: 0301
Williams, Alexander
20: 0774
Williams, Alfred
17: 0076
Williams, Benjamin W.
11: 0442
Williams, Betey
2: 0652
Williams, Christopher H.
17: 0577

Williams, Elizabeth
8: 0428
Williams, Ellis
26: 0134
Williams, Francis
14: 0523
Williams, Harrison H. M.
8: 0868
Williams, Henry W.
16: 0369
Williams, J. D.
20: 0453
Williams, James
11: 0480
Williams, James M.
21: 0841
Williams, James S.
11: 0480
Williams, Jane Allison
17: 0577
Williams, Jesse
17: 0291
Williams, Jesse
18: 0903
Williams, John
11: 0480
Williams, John Henry
20: 0188
Williams, M. W.
22: 0033
Williams, Martha J.
Belote
13: 0008
Williams, Mary
16: 0318
Williams, Mary Harrison
16: 0369
Williams, Mary S.
26: 0462
Williams, Mary
Witherspoon
19: 0548
Williams, Polly Holman
26: 0134
Williams, R. N.
18: 0460
Williams, Samuel
12: 0564
Williams, Susan
11: 0442
Williams, Wiley
4: 0300
Williams, Wiley
4: 0859
Williams, William
19: 0548
Williams, William B.
16: 0318
Williams, William H.
16: 0369
Williamson, George
13: 0741
Williamson, S. B.
20: 0453
Williamson, William
13: 0741
Williford, William L.
22: 0256
Willis, Betsey Ann
18: 0751
Willis, Elisha
11: 0543
Willoughby, Aza
6: 0111
Wills, Durry Reasonover
20: 0114
Wills, E.
20: 0114
Wills, Elizabeth
Reasonover
20: 0114
Wills, Richard
20: 0114
Wilson, A. M.
22: 0489
Wilson, Abel
2: 0657
Wilson, Andrew
17: 0386
Wilson, Bayley
21: 0104
Wilson, Boone
13: 0089
Wilson, Burton
19: 0690
Wilson, Charlotte A.
19: 0058
Wilson, Daniel
5: 0164
521
Wilson, David F.
19: 0058
Wilson, Enos
15: 0087
Wilson, Francis Sanders
15: 0397
Wilson, Isaac B.
18: 0785
Wilson, James H.
16: 0082
Wilson, James R.
9: 0154
Wilson, James White
7: 0778
Wilson, Jane
7: 0778
Wilson, Jane Gragg
17: 0263
Wilson, John
1: 0370
Wilson, John
5: 0366
Wilson, John
21: 0104
Wilson, John H.
7: 0778
Wilson, John H.
24: 0107
Wilson, John H.
24: 0148
Wilson, John H.
25: 0899
Wilson, John H.
26: 0441
Wilson, John J.
19: 0058
Wilson, John M.
21: 0471
Wilson, Joseph
7: 0778
Wilson, Lavina
14: 0878
Wilson, Lucy Ann
21: 0104
Wilson, Margaret E.
19: 0058
Wilson, Martha
12: 0075
Wilson, Marvin
2: 0657

Wilson, Mary
17: 0076
Wilson, Mary Jane
9: 0154
Wilson, Mason
21: 0104
Wilson, Matthew
17: 0263
Wilson, Precious M.
7: 0778
Wilson, Rachael L.
19: 0058
Wilson, Reuben
17: 0386
Wilson, Richard L.
1: 0370
Wilson, Samuel
15: 0413
Wilson, Samuel
21: 0104
Wilson, Sarah
26: 0441
Wilson, Sarah
Wadlington
24: 0107
Wilson, Sarah
Wadlington
25: 0899
Wilson, William A.
19: 0058
Wilson, William B.
7: 0778
Wilson, William H.
15: 0397
Wilson, Zantippa L.
McCallum
22: 0489
Wilthoite, John
18: 0109
Wilthoite, Pierce
18: 0109
Wilthoite, Wilborn
18: 0109
Wims, Joseph B.
12: 0602
Wims, Mary B. Sanders
12: 0602
Winchester, F.
20: 0453
Winchester, George W.
16: 0082
Winchester, George W.
16: 0256
Winchester, Malvina
Gaines
16: 0082
Winchester, Malvina H.
Gaines
16: 0256
Winchester, Poleman
14: 0179
Winfrey, Samuel
19: 0446
Winfrey, Thomas A.
18: 0428
Wingfield, Joseph L.
14: 0395
Wingfield, Lucy
14: 0395
Wingfield, Lucy Ann
14: 0395
Winn, John B.
16: 0220
Winn, K. J. B. L.
20: 0453
Winnette
3: 0824
Winney
3: 0509
Winstead, John M.
20: 0618
Winstead, John M.
21: 0104
Winstead, Samuel
21: 0104
Winstead, William
21: 0104
Winston, Frank V.
22: 0332
Winston, James
14: 0817
Winston, James
22: 0332
Winston, John
14: 0817
Winston, Mary
14: 0817
Winston, Mary
22: 0332
522
Winston, Thomas F.
22: 0291
Winter, John
2: 0657
Wisdom, Vinna
22: 0715
Withers, Marquis W.
9: 0241
Witherspoon, Charles
19: 0548
Witherspoon, George
19: 0548
Witherspoon, James H.
19: 0548
Witherspoon, Thomas
19: 0548
Witt, Mary Cate
13: 0650
Witworth, James
15: 0019
Wofford, William
23: 0877
Womack, David F.
15: 0192
Womble, Loyd Y.
21: 0198
Wood, Alexander
12: 0548
Wood, James
18: 0109
Wood, Margaret J.
Wilhoite
18: 0109
Wood, Nancy North
12: 0548
Wood, Stephen
17: 0397
Wood, William
12: 0951
Woodcock, Mary
Eastwood
6: 0379
Woodcock, William
6: 0379
Woodfolk, Alethia Scott
10: 0210
Woodfolk, Martha
Williams Munford
10: 0210

Woodfolk, William
10: 0210
Woodfolk, William
12: 0818
Woodring, George W.
19: 0291
Woodruff, William
5: 0366
Woodruff, William E.
1: 0328
Woods, Green
10: 0580
Woods, James A.
18: 0238
Woods, John
14: 0460
Woods, Joseph
11: 0571
Woods, Joseph
11: 0763
Woods, Robert
11: 0571
Woods, Robert
11: 0763
Woods, William L.
5: 0346
Woodson, Cuffy
10: 0534
Woodson, John W.
18: 0989
Woodson, Mary C. Lucas
18: 0989
Woodson, Warren
5: 0022
Woodward, Elizabeth
Montgomery
14: 0569
Woodward, James
14: 0569
Wooland, Henry
13: 0547
Woolard, Henry
13: 0927
Wooton, Thomas W.
15: 0154
Word, America
11: 0448
Word, Caroline M. Wade
16: 0160
Word, John C.
16: 0160
Word, Judith
12: 0048
Word, Thomas H.
12: 0048
Workman, Samuel
20: 0522
Worley, Augusta M.
21: 0522
Worley, E. Embry
21: 0522
Worsham, Maria G.
16: 0739
Wortham, Augustine W.
20: 0820
Wortham, Augustine W.
20: 0831
Wortham, James J.
20: 0820
Wortham, James J.
20: 0831
Wortham, Sarah H.
Cross
20: 0820
Wortham, Sarah H.
Cross
20: 0831
Worthan, John W.
20: 1072
Worthan, Mortier [?] L.
20: 1072
Wrather, Rolly M.
14: 0784
Wright, A.
20: 0453
Wright, Amanda Harris
18: 0251
Wright, Bennet
12: 1009
Wright, George
22: 0663
Wright, J. W.
21: 0564
Wright, John
18: 0251
Wright, John, Jr.
11: 0768
Wright, John Hall
18: 0251
523
Wright, Joseph Newton
18: 0251
Wright, Lewis
14: 0119
Wright, Louisa L.
8: 0428
Wright, Marcus J.
20: 0453
Wright, Margaret
21: 0564
Wright, Mary Ann
18: 0251
Wright, Mary C. S. Wood
6: 0621
Wright, Narcissa Benson
22: 0663
Wright, Nathaniel
12: 1009
Wright, Peter
4: 0726
Wright, Reuben, Sr.
17: 0749
Wright, William
6: 0621
Wynne, Augustus
19: 0611
Wynne, Laura J.
19: 0611
Yancey, Ellen
12: 0775
Yancey, Layton
12: 0775
Yancey, Nancy R.
12: 0775
Yancey, Richard
12: 0775
Yancy, Ellen B.
12: 0711
Yancy, Layton
12: 0711
Yancy, Nancy B.
12: 0711
Yancy, Richard
12: 0711
Yant, Travis A.
22: 0673
Yant, William D.
22: 0673
Yarborough, Benjamin T.
15: 0760

Yarborough, Rebecca
Thompson
15: 0760
Yarborough, Sampson
15: 0760
Yarbrough, William P.
16: 0607
Yates, Wilkinson H.
19: 1012
Yell, James
2: 0508
Yell, James
2: 0652
Yerby, Robert M.
25: 0628
Yerby, Robert N.
3: 0287
Yerger, Ed M.
20: 0453
York, Joseph
3: 0401
York, Samuel H.
20: 1027
Young, A. B.
21: 0564
Young, A. D.
21: 0564
Young, Aaron
4: 0867
Young, Alfred
8: 0884
Young, Andrew J.
21: 0804
Young, Annette
21: 0804
Young, Daniel
14: 0761
Young, Daniel
21: 0804
Young, Edward
9: 0326
Young, Elijah
24: 0714
Young, Elijah F.
8: 0884
Young, Elizabeth
8: 0884
Young, Ellen
21: 0804
Young, Ellen M.
21: 0804
Young, F. S.
21: 0564
Young, Ferdinand J.
12: 0643
Young, G. S.
21: 0564
Young, Henry T.
21: 0804
Young, Iredell
21: 0804
Young, Isabella
8: 0884
Young, Jacob
21: 0655
Young, James
20: 0453
Young, James H.
21: 0655
Young, James H.
21: 0696
Young, John
4: 0221
Young, John
4: 0236
Young, John B.
8: 0884
Young, John C.
22: 0409
Young, John D.
21: 0804
Young, John L.
12: 0643
Young, Joseph A.
8: 0884
Young, Josiah
14: 0395
Young, Lemuel
21: 0804
Young, Lucy
21: 0564
Young, Marcus
21: 0564
Young, Mary
18: 1008
Young, Mary A.
8: 0884
524
Young, Minerva
Abernathy
22: 0409
Young, Napolean B.
12: 0643
Young, Samuel A.
7: 0861
Young, Sarah M.
8: 0884
Young, Sophia Gleaves
11: 0891
Young, Spencer
22: 0409
Young, Tazwell
21: 0804
Young, W. A.
22: 0597
Young, Waddy
21: 0804
Young, William
11: 0891
Young, William
16: 0212
Young, William
18: 0195
Young, William
18: 0747
Young, William
18: 0845
Young, William B.
12: 0968
Young, William T. L. B.
12: 0643
Young, Willie
12: 0711
Zabitte
3: 0375
Zachery, Bartley
21: 0608
Zachery, Sarah C.
Kimbro
21: 0608
Zarecor, George
17: 0749
Zollicoffer, Felix K.
15: 0112
Zollicoffer, Felix K.
16: 0002

GEOGRAPHIC INDEX
The following index is a guide to the locations represented in the petitions in this microform
publication. The first number after each entry refers to the reel, while the four-digit number
following the colon refers to the frame number of the Petition Analysis Record (PAR) that
precedes each petition. Hence, 2: 0536 directs the researcher to the PAR at Frame 0536 of
Reel 2. By referring to the Reel Index, which constitutes the initial section of this guide, the
researcher will find the accession number, the geographic location, and an abstract of the
petition.
Arkansas
see Arkansas County, Ark.
see Bradley County, Ark.
see Calhoun County, Ark.
see Chicot County, Ark.
see Clark County, Ark.
see Crawford County, Ark.
see Drew County, Ark.
see Hot Spring County, Ark.
see Jefferson County, Ark.
see Lafayette County, Ark.
see Ouachita County, Ark.
see Phillips County, Ark.
see Poinsett County, Ark.
see Pope County, Ark.
see Pulaski County, Ark.
see Saline County, Ark.
see Sevier County, Ark.
see Union County, Ark.
Arkansas County, Ark.
2: 0536
Bastrop County, Tex.
23: 0708, 0722; 24: 0274, 0526, 0566–
0575, 0592–0596, 0738, 0754–
0768, 0799; 25: 0002, 0062, 0263,
0293, 0301, 0546, 0557, 0632,
0639, 0813, 0850; 26: 0274, 0686,
0691, 0693, 0731, 0735, 0824
Bedford County, Tenn.
12: 0002, 0488, 0495, 0508, 0564,
0705, 0951; 13: 0047, 0385, 0856;
525
15: 0002; 16: 0193, 0240, 0630,
0673; 17: 0511, 0590, 0630;
18: 0109, 0626, 0747; 19: 0623,
0799; 20: 0263; 21: 0384
Bexar County, Tex.
25: 0350
Blount County, Tenn.
16: 0318
Boone County, Mo.
3: 0727, 0809; 4: 0114, 0389, 0726,
0830, 0956; 5: 0002–0022, 0366,
0654, 0701; 6: 0002, 0317, 0563–
0604, 0886; 7: 0762, 0787, 0861,
1105; 8: 0152, 0367, 0660, 0720,
0973; 9: 0326, 0388–0405, 0593,
0730–0752
Bowie County, Tex.
23: 1048
Bradley County, Ark.
1: 0851; 2: 0272, 0288, 0508, 0612,
0632, 0652; 3: 0167, 0245
Bradley County, Tenn.
12: 1034; 13: 0260, 0273, 0356, 0641,
0650, 0658, 0821, 0833; 14: 0094,
0426, 0523, 0537; 15: 0235, 0573;
16: 0286, 0343; 17: 0002, 0424,
0680, 0689; 18: 0360, 0365;
19: 0369; 20: 0009, 0467, 0503,
0522, 1038; 21: 0178, 0198;
22: 0024

Brazoria County, Tex.
23: 0033–0066, 0126, 0142–0168,
0229–0239, 0446, 0503, 0525,
0561–0574, 0674, 0804, 0844,
0912, 0968; 24: 0002, 0022–0066,
0291, 0340, 0401–0414, 0439,
0503, 0506, 0551, 0781, 0815;
25: 0050, 0054, 0242, 0248, 0272,
0283, 0376, 0576, 0584, 0628,
0645, 0825, 0887, 0891; 26: 0154,
0159, 0162, 0203–0216, 0315,
0324–0327, 0414–0437, 0476–
0492, 0502, 0555–0558, 0566,
0584, 0661–0664, 0695, 0754,
0826–0836
Calhoun County, Ark.
3: 0210
Cannon County, Tenn.
13: 0420; 21: 0356
Cape Girardeau County, Mo.
3: 0412, 0639, 0646, 0654, 0661, 0694,
0785; 4: 0009; 5: 0526, 0639, 0667,
0674; 6: 0018; 7: 0410, 0778, 1006,
1018; 8: 0219, 0250, 0868, 0884,
0897, 0925; 9: 0347, 0383, 0502,
0515
Carroll County, Tenn.
17: 0848
Cass County, Tex.
24: 0481
Chicot County, Ark.
1: 0655, 0752
Clark County, Ark.
1: 0002, 0032, 0049, 0213, 0269, 0370,
0390, 0431, 0840; 2: 0448
Coffee County, Tenn.
18: 0751; 21: 0043
Cole County, Mo.
4: 0201
Comal County, Tex.
26: 0186
Crawford County, Ark.
1: 0024, 0297
Davidson County, Tenn.
10: 0161–0185; 11: 0932; 12: 0337,
0643; 13: 0034; 14: 0133, 0395,
0460, 0515, 0595, 0697, 0744,
0761–0770, 0817; 15: 0019, 0062,
0112–0127, 0178, 0214, 0340–
0347, 0366, 0474, 0506; 16: 0002,
526
0026, 0082, 0119, 0256–0279,
0601; 17: 0243, 0273, 0303–0314,
0333–0354, 0402, 0472, 0502,
0832–0835; 18: 0013, 0043, 0198,
0238, 0251–0270, 0428, 0460,
0717, 0791, 0835, 0848–0854,
0874, 0931, 0979, 1008; 19: 0092,
0166, 0185–0202, 0221–0232,
0246, 0280, 0307, 0433, 0439,
0446, 0455, 0474, 0506, 0557,
0568, 0611, 0669, 0739, 0749,
0816, 0867, 0882, 0898, 0981;
20: 0026, 0143, 0164, 0188, 0204,
0230, 0253, 0288, 0301, 0321,
0340, 0353, 0391, 0562, 0580,
0625, 0634, 0646, 0654, 0687,
0774, 0778, 0786, 0803, 0820,
0831, 0873, 0888, 0894, 0977,
0981, 0990, 1015, 1110; 21: 0087,
0161–0168, 0221, 0237–0245,
0268, 0378, 0402, 0426, 0442,
0522–0533, 0592, 0598–0614,
0655–0709, 0733, 0773, 0804;
22: 0094, 0118, 0190, 0214, 0311–
0332, 0422, 0684
Dickson County, Tenn.
12: 0312, 0723, 0761, 0968, 1077;
13: 0085; 17: 0839; 19: 0537;
20: 0842; 21: 0349, 0464
Drew County, Ark.
2: 0657
Dyer County, Tenn.
19: 0002
Fayette County, Tex.
23: 0320; 24: 0352
Fort Bend County, Tex.
23: 0352
Franklin County, Mo.
9: 0154
Franklin County, Tenn.
11: 0623; 13: 0750; 14: 0290, 0299,
0546; 17: 0481; 18: 0155, 0666,
0681; 19: 0135; 21: 0205, 0724,
0758, 0848; 22: 0430
Giles County, Tenn.
10: 0947; 11: 0425, 0614, 0829, 0836,
0917; 12: 0110, 0138, 0287, 0580,
0591; 13: 0181, 0313, 0412, 0665;
14: 0088, 0388; 15: 0169, 0587,
0594; 16: 0369; 17: 0044, 0645;

18: 0093, 0184, 0800, 0817, 0920;
19: 0084, 0122, 0265, 0272, 0291,
0300, 0715, 0765, 0952, 0961;
20: 0002, 0602, 0848, 0853;
21: 0036, 0095, 0328, 0336, 0625,
0742, 0750, 0784, 0797, 0904;
22: 0002, 0045, 0051, 0065, 0072,
0077, 0083, 0111, 0149, 0159,
0207, 0243, 0250, 0256, 0282,
0291, 0409, 0489, 0597, 0663, 0702
Gillespie County, Tex.
26: 0320
Grayson County, Tex.
26: 0762, 0797
Green County, Ky.
10: 0210
Grimes County, Tex.
24: 0467
Guadalupe County, Tex.
24: 0239, 0785; 25: 0781
Harrisburg County, Tex.
23: 0262
Hickman County, Tenn.
10: 0775
Hill County, Tex.
25: 0519
Hot Spring County, Ark.
1: 0455
Howard County, Mo.
7: 0059
Jackson County, Tenn.
10: 0191; 12: 0818; 18: 0398, 0605
Jefferson County, Ark.
2: 0262, 0337
Jefferson County, Mo.
3: 0635; 4: 0037; 6: 0379; 7: 0801,
0975, 0984; 8: 0045, 0054, 0240,
0258, 0326, 0711, 0908, 0915
Jefferson County, Tex.
24: 0078, 0085, 0192, 0603; 25: 0204,
0224, 0396, 0728, 0740, 0838;
26: 0166, 0237, 0333, 0563, 0679,
0713, 0721
Kentucky
see Green County, Ky.
Knox County, Tenn.
10: 0041, 0097; 11: 0575, 0768;
12: 0056, 0696, 0711, 1049;
13: 0110, 0592, 0631; 14: 0069,
0278, 0554, 0620; 15: 0447;
527
16: 0335, 0617; 17: 0021, 0291;
18: 0903; 19: 0846; 20: 0063, 0089,
0411, 0570, 0966; 21: 0023, 0318,
0434, 0932, 0943, 0957, 0973,
1025, 1041, 1060, 1076, 1095;
22: 0033, 0181
Lafayette County, Ark.
1: 0548
Lafayette County, Mo.
5: 0544; 9: 0241
Lawrence County, Tenn.
17: 0429
Lewis County, Mo.
6: 0794
Lincoln County, Mo.
5: 0381
Lincoln County, Tenn.
13: 0057, 0089, 0104; 15: 0073, 0087,
0357, 0361, 0401; 16: 0065, 0147,
0181; 17: 0263, 0326; 18: 0002,
0088, 0406; 19: 0213; 20: 0128,
0998; 21: 0010, 0860; 22: 0134,
0543, 0673
Linn County, Mo.
7: 0937
Madison County, Mo.
5: 0199, 0207, 0215, 0224, 0232, 0240,
0249, 0260, 0269, 0788; 6: 0894,
0924; 7: 0374
Marion County, Mo.
6: 0621; 8: 0428, 0778; 9: 0543
Marshall County, Tenn.
12: 1040; 13: 0117, 0122, 0255, 0597;
14: 0074, 0579, 0585, 0878, 0884;
15: 0257, 0269, 0282, 0293, 0302,
0313, 0698, 0706, 0718, 0727,
0740, 0760, 0788; 16: 0380, 0445,
0501; 17: 0131
Maury County, Tenn.
10: 0424, 0465, 0471, 0479, 0490,
0534, 0553, 0695, 0749, 0762,
0878; 11: 0034, 0332, 0412, 0457,
0533, 0543, 0592, 0709, 0875;
12: 0470, 0767, 0775, 0919, 0937;
13: 0061, 0073, 0169, 0215, 0223,
0229, 0399, 0405, 0541, 0547,
0554, 0587, 0848, 0927; 14: 0057,
0065, 0232, 0240, 0248, 0268,
0436, 0610, 0711; 15: 0007, 0030,
0137, 0248, 0454, 0498, 0532,

Maury County, Tenn. cont.
0687; 16: 0043, 0047, 0151, 0186,
0209, 0220, 0515, 0523, 0541;
17: 0035, 0280, 0362, 0540;
18: 0103, 0436, 0595, 0824, 1025;
19: 0058, 0066, 0548, 0588, 0599,
0772, 0858; 20: 0073, 0278, 0376;
21: 0056, 0140, 0254, 0502, 1130;
22: 0103, 0265, 0445
McDonald County, Mo.
8: 0027
McMinn County, Tenn.
14: 0372
Missouri
see Boone County, Mo.
see Cape Girardeau County, Mo.
see Cole County, Mo.
see Franklin County, Mo.
see Howard County, Mo.
see Jefferson County, Mo.
see Lafayette County, Mo.
see Lewis County, Mo.
see Lincoln County, Mo.
see Linn County, Mo.
see Madison County, Mo.
see Marion County, Mo.
see McDonald County, Mo.
see Monroe County, Mo.
see Montgomery County, Mo.
see Newton County, Mo.
see Perry County, Mo.
see Pike County, Mo.
see Platte County, Mo.
see Ray County, Mo.
see Saline County, Mo.
see Schuyler County, Mo.
see Scott County, Mo.
see St. Charles County, Mo.
see Ste. Genevieve County, Mo.
see St. Francois County, Mo.
see St. Louis County, Mo.
see Warren County, Mo.
see Washington County, Mo.
Monroe County, Mo.
6: 0831; 7: 0883
Montgomery County, Mo.
8: 0190
528
Montgomery County, Tenn.
10: 0364, 0898; 12: 1052; 13: 0133,
0177, 0332, 0772; 14: 0014, 0141;
17: 0466, 0622; 20: 0099
Nacogdoches County, Tex.
23: 0103, 0184, 0198, 0222, 0304,
0484, 0606, 0619, 0693, 0761,
0855, 0926, 0943, 0977, 1024;
24: 0107, 0161, 0248, 0280, 0283,
0286, 0299, 0381, 0385, 0423,
0444, 0488, 0675; 25: 0106, 0157,
0174, 0374, 0598, 0657, 0816;
26: 0367, 0394, 0532, 0669, 0758
Newton County, Mo.
9: 0477
Ouachita County, Ark.
2: 0120
Overton County, Tenn.
14: 0166; 17: 0386; 19: 0721
Perry County, Mo.
5: 0278; 9: 0183
Phillips County, Ark.
1: 0062, 0285; 2: 0259, 0402, 0486,
0498, 0505, 0587, 0603, 0731,
0738, 0792, 0812, 0853, 0856,
0867; 3: 0037, 0051, 0067, 0102,
0106, 0109, 0186, 0230, 0287
Pike County, Mo.
9: 0774
Platte County, Mo.
8: 0936; 9: 0002
Poinsett County, Ark.
2: 0882; 3: 0085
Polk County, Tex.
26: 0498
Pope County, Ark.
3: 0241
Pulaski County, Ark.
1: 0328, 0364, 0631, 0739, 0742, 0745,
0831, 0834, 1019; 2: 0596, 0626,
0740, 0874, 0879; 3: 0045, 0070–
0073, 0092–0099, 0116–0140,
0181, 0201–0206, 0235–0238,
0257, 0269, 0292, 0324, 0338, 0359
Ray County, Mo.
6: 0326
Red River County, Tex.
24: 0319

Rhea County, Tenn.
10: 0130; 14: 0569
Robertson County, Tenn.
13: 0161; 18: 0453; 19: 0489; 21: 0564
Rutherford County, Tenn.
10: 0504, 0714; 11: 0638, 0731, 0857;
12: 0096, 0436; 14: 0348, 0784,
0794; 15: 0397, 0581; 16: 0058,
0078, 0091, 0096, 0101, 0107,
0113, 0128, 0133, 0160, 0552,
0556, 0569, 0574, 0579, 0626;
17: 0029, 0255, 0260, 0268, 0286;
18: 0099, 0180, 0234, 0483, 0763;
19: 0945; 20: 0866
Saline County, Ark.
1: 0154; 2: 0331, 0334, 0479, 0591,
0623; 3: 0002, 0013, 0144, 0153,
0261, 0264, 0276, 0282, 0298,
0302, 0321, 0327, 0335, 0341,
0346, 0349, 0352
Saline County, Mo.
8: 0594
San Augustine County, Tex.
23: 0074, 0090, 0135, 0257, 0280,
0311, 0420, 0428, 0435, 0521,
0532, 0553, 0592, 0597, 0646,
0730, 0742, 0750, 0794, 0812,
0821, 0867, 0877, 0903, 0962,
0981, 0997, 1039; 24: 0007, 0073,
0104, 0124, 0148, 0252, 0264,
0329, 0586, 0694, 0707, 0714;
25: 0077, 0087, 0568, 0899;
26: 0225, 0252, 0407, 0441, 0462,
0468, 0508, 0593, 0601, 0676
Schuyler County, Mo.
8: 0814
Scott County, Mo.
6: 0363; 9: 0599, 0655, 0657, 0660,
0663, 0667, 0683, 0687
Sevier County, Ark.
1: 0872; 2: 0002
Shelby County, Tenn.
13: 0433, 0440, 0871, 0876, 0885,
0891, 0898, 0905, 0912, 0919,
0923; 14: 0185, 0481, 0498, 0506,
0873; 15: 0329–0336, 0606–0682;
16: 0413–0427, 0451–0495;
17: 0066–0127, 0134–0174, 0756–
0803; 18: 0517, 1073, 1090;
529
19: 0383, 1005; 20: 0432, 0441,
0453; 22: 0581, 0696, 0715
Shelby County, Tex.
26: 0084
Smith County, Tenn.
10: 0136, 0457, 0655, 0820, 0847,
0888; 11: 0042, 0209, 0283, 0326,
0354, 0431, 0660; 12: 0156, 0347,
0355, 1009, 1018, 1026; 13: 0146,
0279, 0284, 0290, 0512, 0635,
0784; 14: 0080, 0306, 0560, 0602,
0639, 0650; 15: 0068, 0154, 0192,
0378, 0420, 0490; 16: 0212, 0716,
0739; 17: 0615; 18: 0024, 0195,
0412, 0445, 0476, 0700, 0845,
0989, 1019; 19: 0049, 0130, 0160,
0329, 0360, 0388, 0992, 1031;
20: 0018, 0114, 0151, 0948, 1048,
1063, 1072; 21: 0002, 0132, 0230,
0479, 0546, 0841, 0894, 0986;
22: 0169, 0233, 0298, 0353, 0389,
0403, 0476, 0482, 0561, 0601
St. Charles County, Mo.
3: 0463; 9: 0213
Ste. Genevieve County, Mo.
3: 0892; 7: 0421, 0539; 8: 0536;
9: 0196, 0528
Stewart County, Tenn.
10: 0626; 12: 0662; 18: 0056, 0084;
19: 0417
St. Francois County, Mo.
8: 0508
St. Louis County, Mo.
3: 0375–0401, 0422–0444, 0481, 0509–
0623, 0675, 0706–0720, 0795,
0824–0887, 0927–0983; 4: 0002,
0030, 0062–0107, 0123–0192,
0207–0378, 0425–0716, 0734–
0823, 0859–0940; 5: 0067–0164,
0311–0359, 0449–0496, 0663,
0719–0758, 0802–0875; 6: 0050–
0312, 0444–0551, 0647–0697,
0936; 7: 0002, 0102–0356, 0440–
0529, 0560–0758, 0805–0845,
1028–1094; 8: 0002, 0063–0139,
0262–0332, 0406, 0617, 0704,
0950–0964; 9: 0033–0080, 0168,
0318, 0362, 0421–0449, 0670, 0692
Sullivan County, Tenn.
11: 0058

Sumner County, Tenn.
10: 0450, 0615, 0801; 11: 0346, 0380,
0515; 12: 0042, 0164, 0244, 0602,
0672; 13: 0002, 0008, 0154, 0307,
0343, 0367, 0452, 0800, 0814,
0941; 14: 0179, 0194, 0312, 0471,
0550, 0862, 0868, 0908; 15: 0413,
0560; 16: 0053, 0170, 0327, 0358,
0725; 17: 0178, 0204, 0749, 0808,
0827; 18: 0489, 0531, 0544, 1094;
19: 0178, 0397, 0404, 0499, 0690,
1012; 20: 0068, 0544, 1027;
21: 0344, 0471; 22: 0154, 0455,
0462
Tennessee
see Bedford County, Tenn.
see Blount County, Tenn.
see Bradley County, Tenn.
see Cannon County, Tenn.
see Carroll County, Tenn.
see Coffee County, Tenn.
see Davidson County, Tenn.
see Dickson County, Tenn.
see Dyer County, Tenn.
see Franklin County, Tenn.
see Giles County, Tenn.
see Hickman County, Tenn.
see Jackson County, Tenn.
see Knox County, Tenn.
see Lawrence County, Tenn.
see Lincoln County, Tenn.
see Marshall County, Tenn.
see Maury County, Tenn.
see McMinn County, Tenn.
see Montgomery County, Tenn.
see Overton County, Tenn.
see Rhea County, Tenn.
see Robertson County, Tenn.
see Rutherford County, Tenn.
see Shelby County, Tenn.
see Smith County, Tenn.
see Stewart County, Tenn.
see Sullivan County, Tenn.
see Sumner County, Tenn.
see Warren County, Tenn.
see Washington County, Tenn.
see White County, Tenn.
see Williamson County, Tenn.
see Wilson County, Tenn.
530
Texas
see Bastrop County, Tex.
see Bexar County, Tex.
see Bowie County, Tex.
see Brazoria County, Tex.
see Cass County, Tex.
see Comal County, Tex.
see Fayette County, Tex.
see Fort Bend County, Tex.
see Gillespie County, Tex.
see Grayson County, Tex.
see Grimes County, Tex.
see Guadalupe County, Tex.
see Harrisburg County, Tex.
see Hill County, Tex.
see Jefferson County, Tex.
see Nacogdoches County, Tex.
see Polk County, Tex.
see Red River County, Tex.
see San Augustine County, Tex.
see Shelby County, Tex.
see Travis County, Tex.
see Walker County, Tex.
Travis County, Tex.
23: 0002, 0658, 0667, 0783; 24: 0094,
0173, 0418, 0427, 0457, 0463,
0494, 0514, 0534, 0542, 0599,
0722, 0747; 25: 0097, 0258, 0308,
0314, 0333, 0342, 0383, 0386,
0433, 0607, 0619, 0686, 0689,
0710, 0718, 0745, 0871, 0913;
26: 0002, 0027, 0035, 0044, 0053,
0057, 0071, 0079, 0128, 0134,
0144, 0258, 0285, 0303, 0308,
0336, 0347, 0384, 0518, 0524,
0608, 0699, 0706, 0740, 0782
Union County, Ark.
1: 0990
Walker County, Tex.
25: 0006
Warren County, Mo.
9: 0137
Warren County, Tenn.
12: 0257, 0548; 18: 0314
Washington County, Mo.
3: 0493, 0500; 8: 0166
Washington County, Tenn.
10: 0002–0007, 0016, 0063–0076,
0145, 0371; 12: 0176, 0361, 0446,
0462, 0887, 0898; 13: 0093, 0199,

0715, 0732; 14: 0026, 0038, 0051,
0204, 0214, 0666, 0675, 0810;
15: 0385, 0462, 0799; 16: 0657,
0692; 17: 0524, 0654, 0673;
18: 0336, 0375, 0672, 0705, 0946;
19: 0030, 0338, 0469, 0519, 0664,
0875; 20: 0701, 0914, 1019;
21: 0186, 0279, 0372, 0831, 0912;
22: 0014, 0303, 0441, 0502
White County, Tenn.
10: 0580; 19: 0099, 0698, 0793;
20: 0176
Williamson County, Tenn.
10: 0011, 0382–0412, 0435–0441,
0497, 0573, 0599, 0620, 0650,
0701–0705, 0732, 0815, 0829,
0860–0873, 0933; 11: 0002–0027,
0050, 0203, 0253–0277, 0365,
0401, 0442–0448, 0467–0507,
0555–0571, 0585, 0606, 0650,
0704, 0726, 0745–0763, 0777–
0812, 0891; 12: 0019–0035, 0048,
0061–0087, 0104, 0193, 0218,
0296, 0524–0541, 0598, 0650,
531
0678–0688, 0749, 0791, 0980–1005;
13: 0043, 0209, 0321, 0527–0534,
0576, 0611, 0671–0709, 0841,
0950–0955; 14: 0099–0107, 0154,
0318–0328, 0359, 0415, 0533;
15: 0163, 0408, 0691; 16: 0020,
0035, 0070, 0139, 0301, 0534,
0561, 0586, 0607, 0643, 0732;
17: 0058, 0227, 0297, 0369–0380,
0397, 0414, 0437–0454, 0492,
0577, 0701; 18: 0126, 0174, 0504–
0511, 0728, 0785, 0808, 0863,
0869, 0886, 0961, 1129; 19: 0015–
0023, 0041, 0053, 0072, 0173,
0240, 0257, 0526, 0787, 0937,
0968, 1046; 20: 0403, 0424, 0555,
0618, 0768, 0812, 0924, 0930;
21: 0079, 0104, 0398, 0416, 0635,
0643, 0816, 1119; 22: 0513
Wilson County, Tenn.
10: 0789; 13: 0741; 14: 0002, 0119;
18: 0223, 0388; 19: 0315, 0645;
20: 0032

SUBJECT INDEX
The following index is a guide to the subjects in this microform publication. The first number
after each entry refers to the reel, while the four-digit number following the colon refers to the
frame number of the Petition Analysis Record (PAR) that precedes each petition. Hence,
3: 0809 directs the researcher to the PAR at Frame 0809 of Reel 3. By referring to the Reel
Index, which constitutes the initial section of this guide, the researcher will find the accession
number, the geographic location, and an abstract of the petition.
Abandonment
Missouri 3: 0809; 7: 0539; 8: 0045,
0908, 0936
Tennessee 10: 0130; 12: 0048, 0061;
13: 0440, 0941; 14: 0585; 15: 0002,
0235; 19: 0338; 20: 0002, 0026,
0143, 0424, 0894
Texas 25: 0308
Abolition
Tennessee 10: 0815
Accidents
Missouri 8: 0262
Administration of justice
see Crime
see Habeas corpus
see Injunctions
see Jails
see Judicial disputes
see Laws
see Legal rights
see Prisoners
see Sheriffs
Adultery
Missouri 6: 0604; 8: 0045
Tennessee 11: 0932; 14: 0481;
16: 0343; 17: 0227; 18: 0375, 0961;
19: 0338, 0369; 20: 0894; 22: 0430
Texas 24: 0603
Alimony
Missouri 7: 0539
Tennessee 10: 0412, 0898; 11: 0034;
12: 0061, 0462, 0536; 13: 0229;
533
14: 0074, 0436, 0585, 0650;
15: 0002, 0030, 0532, 0687, 0718;
16: 0301, 0343, 0380, 0617;
17: 0021; 18: 0406, 0791, 0874;
19: 0072, 0519, 0526, 0739, 0898;
20: 0026; 21: 0635, 1130
Texas 25: 0825
see also Divorce
American Indians
Missouri 7: 0845
Tennessee 14: 0620
Texas 24: 0785; 25: 0157; 26: 0669
Apprenticeship
Tennessee 10: 0016; 22: 0696
Arson
Tennessee 19: 0397; 21: 0328
Assault
Missouri 5: 0002, 0758, 0875; 6: 0144;
7: 1067; 9: 0326
Tennessee 10: 0775; 12: 0218
Texas 25: 0781
Attitudes
see White attitudes toward free persons
of color
see White attitudes toward slaves
Auctions
Texas 25: 0050
Banks
Tennessee 13: 0332, 0399; 14: 0204;
16: 0240; 17: 0058; 18: 0863
Black civil suit
Missouri 5: 0875

Black genealogy
Missouri 3: 0840, 0927
Tennessee 18: 0626
Black petitioners
black sues white
Missouri 3: 0412, 0546, 0556, 0824;
5: 0719; 6: 0144, 0924; 7: 0250,
0524; 8: 0950; 9: 0168, 0421,
0655, 0657, 0667
Tennessee 11: 0058; 15: 0799;
20: 0634; 21: 0279, 0625;
22: 0190, 0601
see also Freedom suits
Black property owners
Tennessee 17: 0280
Black sues white
see Black petitioners
Bond
Missouri 4: 0472; 6: 0894
Tennessee 11: 0606; 15: 0163;
16: 0427; 17: 0146, 0303, 0402;
19: 0537; 20: 0432, 0453, 0778,
1019; 21: 0268
Texas 24: 0299, 0463; 25: 0686, 0891
Businesses
Missouri 8: 0250, 0868
Tennessee 12: 0080, 0791; 15: 0587;
19: 0846; 20: 0831; 21: 0178;
22: 0673
Texas 23: 0090
see also Banks
see also Merchants
Casually lost
see Slaves, missing
Children of free persons of color
Missouri 3: 0840; 4: 0434, 0689, 0703,
0716, 0757, 0805; 5: 0067, 0093,
0343; 6: 0697; 7: 0232; 8: 0964
Tennessee 12: 1040; 22: 0441
Children of slaves
Arkansas 3: 0298
Missouri 7: 0883
Tennessee 10: 0815; 14: 0639
Texas 23: 0553; 24: 0414, 0488;
25: 0899; 26: 0084
see also Sale of slave children
Children of whites
Arkansas 3: 0210
Missouri 6: 0326
534
Tennessee 11: 0829; 13: 0307;
16: 0586; 18: 0234, 0445; 20: 0424
Texas 25: 0097, 0887; 26: 0518
Civil War
Arkansas 3: 0349, 0352, 0359
Tennessee 22: 0663, 0702
Texas 26: 0584
Clothing
Texas 24: 0596
Compensation
Arkansas 3: 0245
Missouri 3: 0422; 5: 0002, 0701;
6: 0363, 0886, 0924; 7: 0861;
8: 0002, 0190, 0262, 0428, 0508,
0536, 0617, 0778; 9: 0002, 0033,
0052, 0080, 0213, 0241, 0326,
0347, 0362, 0383, 0421, 0515,
0593, 0670
Tennessee 10: 0069, 0161; 11: 0638;
12: 0688, 0723, 0818; 13: 0385;
14: 0094, 0154, 0240, 0675, 0862;
15: 0163, 0178; 16: 0119, 0181;
17: 0178, 0354, 0466, 0689;
18: 0126, 0360, 0854, 0863, 0886,
1025; 19: 0066, 0084, 0122, 0265,
0291, 0360, 0537, 0846; 20: 0002,
0009, 0176, 0411, 0625, 0831,
0842, 0866; 21: 0178, 0198, 0402,
0841, 0932; 22: 0045, 0601
Texas 23: 0090, 0168, 0592, 0597,
0606, 0742, 0750, 0783, 0804,
0962, 0981, 1048; 24: 0055, 0066,
0078, 0085, 0094, 0124, 0148,
0239, 0252, 0264, 0319, 0329,
0439, 0694, 0707, 0714; 25: 0006,
0283, 0568, 0598, 0657, 0781,
0838; 26: 0044, 0252, 0285, 0336,
0367, 0394, 0468
Concealment of slaves
Tennessee 10: 0457, 0789; 14: 0069;
15: 0361, 0573; 16: 0601; 17: 0397;
19: 0291
Texas 25: 0342
Confederacy
Arkansas 3: 0349, 0359
Confiscation
Missouri 9: 0670
Tennessee 10: 0041, 0789; 12: 0951;
13: 0085, 0117, 0161, 0209, 0405,
0512, 0576, 0665, 0833, 0841;

14: 0002, 0080, 0088, 0133, 0784,
0810; 15: 0019, 0127, 0302, 0347,
0401; 16: 0047, 0212, 0369, 0501;
17: 0021; 18: 0013, 0886; 19: 0066,
0084, 0130, 0265; 20: 0570, 0687,
0778, 0803; 21: 0087, 0198, 0245,
0464, 0894, 0957; 22: 0422
Texas 23: 0058, 0135, 0867; 24: 0002,
0299; 25: 0087
Conscription
Texas 26: 0713
Cotton
Arkansas 3: 0264
Tennessee 16: 0058
Texas 26: 0216, 0664
Crime
Texas 23: 0981
see also Arson
see also Assault
see also Jails
see also Kidnapping of free persons of
color
see also Murder
see also Rape
see also Theft
Deaths, black persons
Missouri 5: 0701; 6: 0002
Tennessee 10: 0161, 0504; 17: 0749
Deaths, intestate (without a will)
Arkansas 3: 0051, 0067, 0070, 0102
Missouri 5: 0654
Texas 24: 0722; 26: 0035, 0079, 0414
Deaths, white persons
Arkansas 3: 0302, 0346
Tennessee 11: 0269; 12: 0287;
18: 0763
Debt
Arkansas 1: 0213, 0269, 0370, 0840;
2: 0402, 0612, 0632, 0657, 0731
Missouri 3: 0394, 0639, 0694, 0720,
0887, 0983; 4: 0009; 5: 0654;
6: 0018, 0263; 7: 0410, 0861, 1018;
8: 0152, 0219, 0897; 9: 0752
Tennessee 10: 0097, 0136, 0185, 0364,
0401, 0441, 0479, 0490, 0553,
0580, 0626, 0655, 0933, 0947;
11: 0027, 0203, 0209, 0332, 0346,
0401, 0412, 0425, 0442, 0490,
0515, 0571, 0575, 0623, 0638,
0650, 0660, 0731, 0763, 0793,
535
0857; 12: 0002, 0096, 0138, 0296,
0347, 0355, 0791, 1049; 13: 0085,
0089, 0093, 0104, 0110, 0146,
0161, 0177, 0255, 0260, 0273,
0279, 0284, 0332, 0356, 0399,
0405, 0412, 0433, 0512, 0541,
0547, 0554, 0576, 0587, 0592,
0631, 0685, 0927; 14: 0002, 0014,
0080, 0088, 0133, 0204, 0312,
0388, 0515, 0550, 0602, 0610,
0666, 0784, 0810; 15: 0007, 0019,
0112, 0119, 0127, 0154, 0169,
0214, 0408, 0594; 16: 0035, 0047,
0065, 0091, 0096, 0240, 0501,
0725; 17: 0058, 0178, 0268, 0345,
0362, 0397, 0424, 0429, 0466,
0511; 18: 0043, 0180, 0198, 0238,
0259, 0398, 0666, 0808, 0848,
0863, 0869, 0920, 1019, 1129;
19: 0030, 0130, 0192, 0232, 0240,
0300, 0469, 0698, 0981, 1012;
20: 0188, 0301, 0503, 0562, 0625,
0803, 0842, 0998; 21: 0002, 0087,
0237, 0245, 0268, 0349, 0434,
0464, 0471, 0479, 0533, 0546,
0592, 0608, 0686, 0742, 0784,
0804, 0831, 0841, 0860, 0894,
0904, 0943, 0957, 0973, 1025,
1041, 1060, 1076; 22: 0065, 0072,
0077, 0083, 0094, 0103, 0111,
0118, 0149, 0159, 0169, 0233,
0243, 0250, 0256, 0265, 0282,
0291, 0389, 0422, 0445, 0455,
0561, 0673
Texas 23: 0052, 0058, 0066, 0126,
0222, 0262, 0311, 0435, 0484,
0521, 0606, 0646, 0658, 0667,
0783, 0855, 0867, 0877, 0968;
24: 0002, 0022, 0041, 0055, 0124,
0148, 0319, 0352, 0423, 0815;
25: 0087, 0263, 0519, 0576, 0584,
0816; 26: 0027, 0186, 0207, 0303,
0308, 0508, 0691, 0693, 0731,
0735, 0836
Disease
Arkansas 1: 0024; 2: 0259; 3: 0206,
0257, 0324
Missouri 3: 0661, 0727; 5: 0674;
6: 0002, 0317

Disease cont.
Tennessee 13: 0750; 17: 0511, 0749;
18: 0024, 0195; 19: 0793; 20: 0128,
0888; 21: 0161, 0546; 22: 0181
Distribution of slaves
Arkansas 2: 0882
Missouri 3: 0795; 7: 0778, 0984;
8: 0367; 9: 0137, 0405, 0502, 0528,
0730
Tennessee 10: 0435, 0620, 0695, 0705,
0714, 0829, 0860; 11: 0002, 0013,
0253, 0260, 0365, 0448, 0467,
0507, 0704, 0751; 12: 0019, 0488,
0598, 0602, 0650, 0672, 0678,
0887, 0997; 13: 0043, 0057, 0154,
0215, 0313, 0385, 0547, 0696,
0741; 14: 0099, 0185, 0214, 0232,
0268, 0290, 0299, 0306, 0318,
0359, 0415, 0498, 0523, 0554,
0569, 0579, 0794, 0884; 15: 0068,
0313, 0357, 0366, 0397, 0454,
0498, 0581, 0691, 0698, 0706;
16: 0002, 0020, 0053, 0070, 0078,
0101, 0107, 0113, 0128, 0133,
0139, 0151, 0160, 0186, 0279,
0534, 0556, 0579, 0732; 17: 0029,
0044, 0204, 0255, 0260, 0286,
0297, 0369, 0374, 0380, 0414,
0590, 0827; 18: 0088, 0099, 0223,
0234, 0483, 0504, 0544, 0700,
0979, 1008, 1094; 19: 0023, 0049,
0053, 0160, 0213, 0246, 0257,
0272, 0307, 0329, 0404, 0499,
0765, 0787, 0816, 0882, 0937,
0961, 0968, 1046; 20: 0009, 0114,
0151, 0176, 0340, 0376, 0403,
0467, 0503, 0618, 0646, 0866,
0924, 1072; 21: 0036, 0043, 0095,
0132, 0221, 0372, 0643; 22: 0014,
0134, 0298, 0403, 0476, 0543
Texas 23: 0320, 0722; 24: 0173;
25: 0062, 0710; 26: 0053, 0057,
0134, 0216, 0407, 0492, 0566
Divorce
Arkansas 2: 0272, 0591, 0792
Missouri 3: 0809; 5: 0639; 6: 0604;
7: 0539, 0584, 1006; 8: 0045, 0908,
0936
Tennessee 10: 0130, 0412, 0650, 0898;
11: 0034, 0932; 12: 0048, 0061,
536
0193, 0218, 0462, 0536; 13: 0229,
0290, 0440, 0941; 14: 0074, 0436,
0481, 0506, 0585, 0595, 0650;
15: 0002, 0030, 0235, 0447, 0532,
0687, 0718; 16: 0301, 0318, 0343,
0380; 17: 0227, 0492; 18: 0270,
0375, 0412, 0681, 0791, 0874,
0961; 19: 0072, 0338, 0369, 0439,
0519, 0526, 0611, 0623, 0669,
0739, 0772, 0898, 0992; 20: 0026,
0143, 0424, 0580, 0701, 0888,
0894; 21: 0318, 1130; 22: 0430
Texas 23: 0304, 0561; 24: 0073, 0551,
0603; 25: 0224, 0350, 0825;
26: 0347, 0532, 0713, 0762
see also Alimony
see also Marriage
Domestic violence
Arkansas 2: 0272
Missouri 7: 0584, 1006
Tennessee 10: 0412, 0650; 11: 0034;
12: 0536; 14: 0481, 0595; 15: 0447,
0532, 0687; 18: 0270, 0406, 0412,
0681, 0791, 0874; 19: 0439, 0611,
0623, 0669, 0739, 0772; 21: 0318,
1130
Texas 23: 0304; 24: 0073, 0551, 0603;
25: 0350; 26: 0347, 0713
Dower
Arkansas 1: 0990; 3: 0002, 0102, 0186,
0276
Missouri 7: 0975, 0984; 8: 0973;
9: 0154, 0528
Tennessee 10: 0435, 0829; 11: 0709;
12: 0019, 0524, 0898, 1077;
15: 0357, 0706; 16: 0128, 0732;
17: 0044; 19: 0945; 20: 0099;
22: 0134, 0207, 0476
Texas 23: 0503, 0912; 26: 0134, 0691,
0693
Education of free persons of color
Tennessee 10: 0016
Education of whites
Tennessee 10: 0471; 14: 0065, 0560;
18: 0705; 21: 0344, 0662; 22: 0702
Texas 23: 0977; 25: 0272, 0376
Elderly slaves
Tennessee 18: 0388; 20: 1072

Elderly whites
Tennessee 11: 0042; 12: 0446;
13: 0343; 14: 0248; 16: 0617;
17: 0502; 18: 0126; 21: 0079, 0140
Emancipation
Arkansas 2: 0002, 0652, 0740
Missouri 3: 0389, 0422, 0546, 0556;
4: 0137, 0207, 0351, 0368, 0378,
0489, 0526, 0624, 0634, 0823;
5: 0093, 0158, 0278, 0318; 6: 0200,
0326, 0500, 0507, 0794; 7: 0002,
0059, 0224, 0245, 0350, 0492,
0883; 8: 0063, 0074, 0085, 0096,
0108, 0115, 0127, 0139, 0814,
0950; 9: 0318, 0774
Tennessee 10: 0007, 0011, 0701, 0815,
0873; 11: 0283; 12: 0257, 0312;
13: 0704, 0715, 0800, 0950, 0955;
14: 0471, 0533, 0817; 15: 0506,
0664, 0760; 16: 0043, 0420, 0427,
0451, 0456, 0466, 0478, 0739;
17: 0066, 0076, 0146, 0150, 0291,
0756, 0767, 0781, 0798, 0832,
0835; 18: 0903, 1073; 19: 0557,
0664, 1005; 21: 0279, 0625;
22: 0332, 0441, 0561, 0684
Texas 23: 0997; 24: 0007, 0104
see also Purchase of slaves for
emancipation
Emigration
Arkansas 3: 0238
see also Immigration
see also Migration
Estates
Arkansas 1: 0431, 0631, 0851, 0872;
2: 0486, 0587, 0731, 0738, 0740;
3: 0067, 0085, 0167, 0261, 0264,
0282, 0287, 0321, 0341, 0346, 0352
Missouri 3: 0635; 6: 0472; 7: 0421,
0801; 8: 0250
Tennessee 15: 0169, 0385, 0462, 0760;
17: 0243, 0354, 0590; 18: 0848;
19: 0446; 21: 0750; 22: 0311, 0403,
0581, 0715
Texas 23: 0002, 0033, 0052, 0058,
0184, 0198, 0239, 0257, 0280,
0352, 0574, 0619, 0674, 0708;
24: 0274, 0280, 0291, 0340, 0401,
0405, 0463, 0503, 0592, 0599,
0722, 0747, 0754, 0764, 0768,
537
0799; 25: 0002, 0258, 0383, 0386,
0584, 0632, 0813; 26: 0035, 0079,
0166, 0237, 0303, 0414, 0422,
0482, 0492, 0563, 0676, 0686,
0706, 0833, 0836
see also Deaths, intestate
see also Heirs
see also Heirs, slaves
see also Inheritance
see also Slaves in estate
see also Trust estate
see also Wills
Families, black
Arkansas 1: 0328
Missouri 3: 0375; 4: 0002; 5: 0663;
6: 0500; 7: 0250, 0762; 8: 0298,
0428, 0594, 0814; 9: 0213
Tennessee 13: 0199, 0800; 14: 0550,
0620; 17: 0803; 19: 0099, 0166;
20: 0068; 21: 0442; 22: 0154
Texas 26: 0053, 0207
see also Children of free persons of
color
see also Children of slaves
see also Purchase of slave families
Families, slaveholder
Arkansas 1: 0455, 0631, 0742; 2: 0479,
0486, 0498, 0623, 0652, 0812,
0853, 0879; 3: 0013, 0045, 0070,
0092, 0099, 0106, 0109, 0116,
0153, 0230, 0235, 0257, 0269, 0338
Missouri 3: 0654; 8: 0367
Tennessee 14: 0166, 0232; 18: 0531,
0544; 20: 0164
Texas 23: 0198, 0574, 0693, 0708,
0844; 24: 0161, 0401, 0488
Families, suits within
Arkansas 1: 0655, 0752
Missouri 4: 0114, 0830; 5: 0022
Tennessee 10: 0076, 0191, 0371, 0573,
0599, 0749, 0820; 11: 0042, 0283,
0326, 0480, 0533, 0614, 0709,
0806; 12: 0042, 0075, 0164, 0361,
0643, 1052; 13: 0008, 0181;
14: 0166, 0711; 15: 0420, 0727,
0740; 16: 0119, 0692, 0716;
17: 0615; 18: 0093, 0103, 0109,
0155, 0360, 0398, 0476; 19: 0202,
0329, 0360; 20: 0376, 0786, 0820,

Families, suits within cont.
Tennessee cont.
1027; 21: 0002, 0378, 0592, 1095;
22: 0024, 0303
Texas 23: 0446; 24: 0192; 25: 0106,
0433, 0607; 26: 0384, 0679
Fees
Tennessee 21: 0750, 0986
Feme sole
Arkansas 2: 0792
Missouri 8: 0936
Tennessee 17: 0227; 19: 0526, 0772;
20: 0701, 0888; 21: 0643
Finances
see Banks
see Compensation
see Debt
see Estates
see Fees
see Interest rates
see Securities
Firearms, slaves
Missouri 5: 0758
Fraud
Arkansas 1: 0024; 2: 0448, 0508
Missouri 3: 0892; 4: 0389, 0726;
5: 0381, 0674; 6: 0002, 0200, 0267,
0317, 0363, 0379, 0539, 0551;
8: 0406, 0536; 9: 0593
Tennessee 10: 0191, 0580, 0626, 0655,
0749, 0762; 11: 0042, 0431, 0555,
0768; 12: 0056, 0462, 0548, 0643,
0662, 0711, 0898, 0968; 13: 0034,
0093, 0122, 0133, 0284, 0356,
0635, 0641, 0732, 0814, 0856;
14: 0194, 0312, 0426, 0506, 0761;
15: 0019, 0490, 0740; 16: 0193,
0286, 0327, 0541; 17: 0002, 0273,
0326, 0630, 0680, 0848; 18: 0024,
0056, 0184, 0365, 0800, 0903;
19: 0092, 0417, 0749, 0793, 0799;
20: 0204, 0288, 0580, 0687, 0873,
0914, 1027, 1048; 21: 0140, 0186,
0349, 0356, 0614, 0686, 0709,
0733, 0758, 0784, 0816, 0841,
0932, 0943; 22: 0065, 0072, 0077,
0083, 0103, 0111, 0159, 0181,
0190, 0243, 0250, 0256, 0282
Texas 23: 0311, 0761, 0943; 24: 0352;
25: 0106, 0396, 0838; 26: 0044
538
Freedmen/freedwomen
Tennessee 22: 0311
Texas 26: 0824
Freedom
Texas 26: 0225
see also Abolition
see also Emancipation
see also Freedom papers
see also Freedom suits
see also Purchase of freedom
Freedom papers
Missouri 4: 0726; 7: 0440
Tennessee 17: 0106; 19: 1005
Freedom suits
Arkansas 1: 0328; 2: 0002
Missouri 3: 0401, 0412, 0422, 0444,
0463, 0481, 0509, 0546, 0556,
0566, 0580, 0623, 0675, 0706,
0840, 0867, 0927; 4: 0002, 0030,
0062, 0076, 0086, 0097, 0107,
0123, 0137, 0186, 0192, 0207,
0221, 0236, 0244, 0253, 0267,
0300, 0307, 0335, 0342, 0351,
0368, 0378, 0425, 0434, 0441,
0464, 0489, 0497, 0514, 0526,
0538, 0548, 0559, 0583, 0605,
0624, 0634, 0655, 0680, 0689,
0703, 0716, 0734, 0748, 0757,
0792, 0805, 0823, 0859, 0867,
0873, 0892, 0903, 0914, 0940,
0956; 5: 0067, 0076, 0093, 0111,
0120, 0137, 0144, 0150, 0158,
0164, 0199, 0207, 0215, 0224,
0232, 0240, 0249, 0260, 0269,
0278, 0311, 0318, 0343, 0346,
0359, 0449, 0468, 0485, 0496,
0526, 0544, 0663, 0667, 0719,
0730, 0739, 0746, 0788, 0802,
0814, 0831, 0864; 6: 0050, 0083,
0103, 0111, 0126, 0136, 0144,
0148, 0194, 0200, 0312, 0326,
0444, 0500, 0507, 0524, 0539,
0551, 0647, 0697, 0936; 7: 0002,
0059, 0102, 0111, 0142, 0154,
0164, 0177, 0184, 0195, 0212,
0224, 0232, 0245, 0250, 0259,
0283, 0308, 0350, 0356, 0440,
0454, 0492, 0506, 0515, 0524,
0560, 0576, 0615, 0717, 0758,
0805, 0818, 0831, 0845, 1028,

1059, 1067, 1086; 8: 0027, 0063,
0074, 0085, 0096, 0108, 0115,
0127, 0139, 0332, 0704, 0814,
0950, 0964; 9: 0168, 0196, 0318,
0599, 0655, 0657, 0660, 0663,
0667, 0683, 0687, 0692, 0774
Tennessee 10: 0063; 12: 0110, 0361;
13: 0321, 0611, 0715, 0800, 0814;
14: 0533; 15: 0799; 16: 0657;
17: 0673; 18: 0056, 0314, 0626,
0824, 0854; 19: 0489, 0599, 0875;
20: 0522; 22: 0303, 0513
Free persons of color, business
Tennessee 10: 0534; 18: 1025
Free persons of color, children of
Missouri 3: 0840; 4: 0434, 0689, 0703,
0716, 0757, 0805; 5: 0067, 0093,
0343; 6: 0697; 7: 0232; 8: 0964
Tennessee 12: 1040; 22: 0441
Free persons of color, civil suits
Missouri 4: 0472; 5: 0002; 6: 0924
Tennessee 18: 0084
Free persons of color, education of
Tennessee 10: 0016
Free persons of color, expulsion
Arkansas 1: 0297
Tennessee 10: 0002; 13: 0534, 0709,
0871, 0876, 0885, 0891, 0898,
0905, 0912, 0919, 0923; 14: 0873;
15: 0329, 0336, 0606, 0611, 0616,
0621, 0626, 0632, 0638, 0643,
0649, 0657, 0669, 0677, 0682;
16: 0043, 0413, 0462, 0473, 0486,
0490; 17: 0099, 0106, 0121, 0127,
0141, 0165, 0169, 0174, 0773;
18: 0460, 1090; 19: 0664; 20: 0432,
0441, 0453, 0768
Texas 26: 0225
Free persons of color, kidnapping of
Missouri 7: 1094
Tennessee 10: 0063; 12: 0591
Free persons of color, occupations
Tennessee 12: 0446, 0919
Free persons of color, population
Tennessee 17: 0076
Free persons of color, property owners
Missouri 6: 0267, 0794; 9: 0692
Tennessee 11: 0058; 18: 0517;
19: 0135, 0315; 22: 0190, 0581
539
Free persons of color, purchasing own
family
Missouri 8: 0240; 9: 0692
Tennessee 10: 0011, 0534; 12: 0312,
0361; 13: 0321, 0704; 16: 0456;
17: 0090, 0113; 18: 0605, 1073;
20: 0263, 0634
Free persons of color, regulations
Arkansas 1: 0297
Tennessee 12: 0919; 13: 0321, 0527,
0534, 0709, 0871, 0876, 0885,
0891, 0898, 0905, 0912, 0919,
0923; 14: 0873; 15: 0329, 0336,
0606, 0611, 0616, 0621, 0626,
0632, 0638, 0643, 0649, 0657,
0669, 0677, 0682; 16: 0043, 0209,
0413, 0462, 0473, 0486, 0490,
0739; 17: 0070, 0099, 0106, 0121,
0127, 0141, 0165, 0169, 0174,
0792, 0803, 0835; 18: 0084, 0460,
0517, 1090; 19: 0383, 0489, 0588,
0664; 20: 0432, 0441, 0453, 0768;
22: 0033
Texas 25: 0519
Free persons of color, slave owners
Missouri 5: 0343, 0359, 0802, 0814,
0875; 8: 0240
Tennessee 10: 0011; 13: 0704;
17: 0076, 0090, 0113, 0280;
18: 0605
Texas 23: 0103; 26: 0679, 0721
Free persons of color, suing free
persons of color
Tennessee 18: 0375, 1025
Free persons of color, women
Missouri 7: 0275
Tennessee 10: 0801; 13: 0534;
16: 0209; 17: 0141, 0773, 0792;
19: 0383; 21: 0398
Texas 26: 0320, 0498, 0524
Free persons of color and slaves
Tennessee 13: 0527; 18: 0626;
19: 0599
Free persons of color held as slaves
Arkansas 2: 0002
Missouri 3: 0824, 0887, 0927; 4: 0002,
0097; 5: 0067, 0311, 0318, 0359,
0544, 0802, 0814; 7: 0232, 0283,
0308, 0529, 0845, 1094; 9: 0168

Free persons of color held as slaves
cont.
Tennessee 10: 0016; 12: 0818;
13: 0611; 14: 0620; 18: 0314, 0824
Texas 24: 0785
Free persons of color sold as slaves
Missouri 7: 1094
Tennessee 10: 0063, 0069, 0801;
12: 0312
Texas 24: 0785
Genealogy, black persons
Missouri 3: 0840, 0927
Tennessee 18: 0626
Genealogy, white persons
Tennessee 15: 0462; 20: 0230
Gift of property
Arkansas 1: 0548; 2: 0536
Missouri 9: 0002, 0347
Tennessee 10: 0145, 0626, 0732;
11: 0354, 0380, 0412, 0448, 0592;
12: 0042, 0347, 0355, 1052;
13: 0161, 0181, 0199, 0343, 0367;
14: 0744; 15: 0560; 16: 0523;
17: 0035, 0481, 0689; 18: 0103,
0184, 0198, 0412; 19: 0455, 0645;
20: 0032, 0786; 21: 0372
Texas 24: 0107, 0192, 0542; 25: 0386,
0740; 26: 0462, 0721, 0758
Grains and grain products
Texas 25: 0087
Guardianship
Arkansas 1: 0032, 0364, 0739, 0742,
0745, 0831, 1019; 2: 0288, 0331,
0334, 0498, 0505, 0587, 0591,
0623, 0853, 0867, 0874, 0879;
3: 0045, 0092, 0099, 0102, 0106,
0140, 0181, 0201, 0210, 0230,
0235, 0238, 0241, 0327, 0335, 0338
Missouri 3: 0635, 0785; 6: 0563, 0579
Tennessee 10: 0615, 0878; 11: 0253,
0457; 12: 0075, 0176, 0470, 0580,
0591; 13: 0073, 0223; 14: 0697,
0761; 15: 0269, 0293; 16: 0445;
17: 0131; 18: 0483, 0705; 19: 0084,
0192; 20: 0687, 0812, 0848;
21: 0079, 0416, 0426, 0696, 0773,
0797; 22: 0045, 0702, 0715
Texas 24: 0248, 0283, 0286, 0418,
0439, 0444, 0481, 0514, 0575,
0781; 25: 0157, 0248, 0258, 0308,
540
0314, 0546, 0619, 0628, 0639,
0645, 0740, 0850, 0887, 0891,
0913; 26: 0002, 0057, 0071, 0128,
0144, 0154, 0258, 0324, 0333,
0426, 0437, 0518, 0608, 0740,
0782, 0824, 0826
Habeas corpus
Missouri 3: 0389, 0824, 0887; 4: 0097,
0170, 0236, 0497; 5: 0158, 0311;
7: 0177, 0529
Heirs
Arkansas 1: 0032, 0285, 0364, 0390,
0431, 0742, 0752, 0831, 0851,
0872, 1019; 2: 0120, 0331, 0334,
0479, 0508, 0652, 0867; 3: 0037,
0067, 0073, 0085, 0099, 0140,
0144, 0167, 0276, 0287, 0292
Missouri 4: 0037; 6: 0379; 7: 0778,
1105; 8: 0166, 0326, 0660, 0720,
0884, 0915, 0925; 9: 0137, 0477,
0528, 0730
Tennessee 10: 0620, 0695, 0705;
11: 0020, 0751; 12: 0598, 0650,
0678, 0887, 0997, 1005, 1018;
13: 0199, 0313, 0385, 0772;
14: 0026, 0038, 0107, 0179, 0185,
0268, 0278, 0318, 0328, 0359,
0372, 0395, 0498, 0546, 0794;
15: 0366, 0397, 0454, 0462;
16: 0082, 0101, 0107, 0113, 0133,
0160, 0186, 0193, 0256, 0335,
0552, 0574; 17: 0002, 0204, 0243,
0255, 0297, 0369, 0437, 0524,
0577; 18: 0700, 0728, 0751, 0817,
0946, 0979, 0989, 1008, 1094;
19: 0049, 0246, 0272, 0961, 0968;
20: 0089, 0114, 0230, 1072;
21: 0043, 0095, 0336, 0848, 0912;
22: 0409, 0543
Texas 23: 0033, 0320, 0674, 0722,
0844, 1024; 24: 0385, 0418, 0503,
0592, 0675, 0768; 25: 0374, 0619,
0632, 0710, 0718, 0850, 0899;
26: 0134, 0333, 0407, 0476, 0566,
0608, 0740, 0833
see also Heirs, slaves
see also Inheritance
see also Wills

Heirs, slaves
Tennessee 15: 0506; 17: 0673;
18: 0056, 0460; 20: 0930; 22: 0513
Hiring out
Arkansas 2: 0288, 0479, 0591, 0626;
3: 0144, 0298, 0302, 0324, 0327,
0335, 0341
Missouri 3: 0591; 5: 0701; 7: 1086;
8: 0054, 0326, 0711
Tennessee 10: 0161, 0185, 0382, 0471,
0497; 11: 0326, 0401, 0660, 0777,
0857; 12: 0470, 1040; 13: 0034,
0169, 0177, 0433, 0597, 0784,
0841; 14: 0057, 0065, 0328, 0426,
0610, 0697, 0711, 0862, 0878;
15: 0340, 0378, 0413, 0587, 0594;
16: 0058; 17: 0354; 18: 0705, 0848;
19: 0030, 0122, 0446, 0469, 1012,
1046; 20: 0002, 0009, 0848, 0924;
21: 0056, 0198, 0344, 0402, 0426,
0592, 0674, 0686, 0986, 1060;
22: 0045, 0462, 0597
Texas 23: 0066, 0142, 0158, 0168,
0229, 0521, 0804, 0877; 24: 0066,
0104, 0239, 0248, 0252, 0340,
0526, 0675, 0694, 0707, 0714;
25: 0006, 0050, 0054, 0174, 0248,
0272, 0314, 0376, 0546, 0871;
26: 0144, 0159, 0162, 0203, 0285,
0324, 0327, 0394, 0422, 0432,
0437, 0468, 0487, 0502, 0555,
0558, 0661, 0695, 0699, 0706,
0754, 0826
House servants
Tennessee 18: 0251
Texas 23: 0090
Immigration
Texas 25: 0519
see also Emigration
see also Migration
Indentures
Missouri 7: 0177, 0283, 0308
Tennessee 10: 0801; 12: 1040
Indians
see American Indians
Industrial slaves
Tennessee 15: 0474; 19: 0417
Infanticide
Missouri 7: 0374
Tennessee 17: 0701
541
Inheritance
Arkansas 1: 0752; 3: 0292
Missouri 4: 0830; 6: 0472, 0563, 0579;
7: 0787
Tennessee 10: 0168, 0191, 0401, 0497,
0599, 0615, 0714, 0732, 0829,
0847, 0860, 0878, 0888; 11: 0002,
0260, 0283, 0354, 0380, 0480,
0498, 0555, 0585, 0614, 0704,
0812, 0829, 0875, 0891, 0917;
12: 0028, 0087, 0096, 0508, 0541,
0548, 0580, 0711, 0775, 0937,
1009, 1026; 13: 0043, 0047, 0452,
0650, 0696, 0821; 14: 0214, 0471;
15: 0137, 0282, 0760; 16: 0058,
0065, 0327, 0561, 0569, 0607,
0626, 0643; 17: 0029, 0303, 0402,
0540, 0577, 0590; 18: 0093, 0174,
0476; 19: 0041, 0178, 0213, 0221,
0315, 0388, 0548, 0690, 1031;
20: 0032, 0164, 0820, 0914, 0948;
21: 0168, 0205, 0384, 0402, 0426;
22: 0214, 0265, 0489, 0502, 0597,
0684
Texas 24: 0381; 25: 0077, 0106, 0396,
0745; 26: 0128, 0441
see also Estates
see also Heirs
see also Heirs, slaves
see also Wills
Injunctions
Arkansas 2: 0632
Missouri 3: 0661, 0694, 0983; 4: 0472
Tennessee 12: 0035, 0723, 0749;
13: 0279, 0658; 17: 0622; 18: 0388,
0672; 19: 0300, 1012
Insanity
Arkansas 1: 0002; 3: 0269
Tennessee 12: 0591, 0761; 13: 0223,
0273; 14: 0051, 0154, 0395, 0675;
15: 0269, 0293; 16: 0445; 17: 0131,
0502; 18: 0024, 0785; 20: 0063,
0253, 0812; 21: 0079, 0140, 0416,
0696, 0773, 0860
Texas 24: 0764
Insolvency
Tennessee 12: 0749

Insubordination
Tennessee 18: 0747; 19: 0058, 0858,
0867; 20: 0321, 0391, 0544;
21: 0336; 22: 0002
Insurrection
Missouri 6: 0267
Interest rates
Tennessee 11: 0209, 0346; 15: 0594;
18: 0013, 0238, 1019
Interracial mixing
Arkansas 3: 0210
Tennessee 13: 0290
see also Interracial sex
see also Slave/white attachment
Interracial sex
Missouri 4: 0030; 6: 0604
Tennessee 10: 0130; 11: 0932;
12: 0218; 13: 0290; 16: 0380;
18: 0824; 19: 0280, 0369, 0519,
0557, 0992
Texas 25: 0825
Intestate
see Deaths, intestate
Jails
Arkansas 3: 0127
Missouri 7: 0374, 0529, 1086
Tennessee 12: 0564; 14: 0460
see also Prisoners
Judicial disputes
Tennessee 13: 0002; 15: 0799;
22: 0332
Texas 24: 0319; 26: 0154
Kidnapping of free persons of color
Missouri 7: 1094
Tennessee 10: 0063; 12: 0591
Labor
see Apprenticeship
see Free persons of color, occupations
see Hiring out
see House servants
see Industrial slaves
see Labor contracts
see Overseers
see Skilled slaves
Labor contracts
Tennessee 12: 0446
Texas 23: 1048; 24: 0094; 25: 0050,
0598; 26: 0699
542
Land ownership
Missouri 6: 0472
Tennessee 10: 0136, 0371, 0553, 0599;
11: 0058; 15: 0282; 18: 0436, 0672;
19: 0173, 0300, 0506, 0793;
20: 0353, 0503, 0990; 21: 0662;
22: 0149, 0502, 0561, 0663
Texas 23: 0149; 24: 0239, 0747;
25: 0062, 0272, 0376; 26: 0508,
0836
see also Property ownership
Law enforcement
see Crime
see Sheriffs
Laws
Missouri 5: 0449
Tennessee 10: 0002; 11: 0812;
13: 0433, 0871; 17: 0832; 21: 0522,
0625; 22: 0422
Texas 23: 0646; 26: 0320, 0498, 0524
see also Free persons of color,
regulations
see also Legal rights
Lawyers
Tennessee 16: 0181; 20: 0981, 1110;
21: 0986
Texas 25: 0728; 26: 0336
Legal rights
Missouri 3: 0493, 0500; 4: 0186, 0192,
0201, 0236, 0351, 0748, 0940;
5: 0663, 0746, 0758; 6: 0083, 0312,
0894; 7: 0275, 0758; 8: 0964;
9: 0683
Texas 26: 0394
Liberia
Tennessee 10: 0002; 15: 0087;
18: 0084; 19: 0588; 22: 0513
Liquor
Tennessee 12: 0048, 0056; 15: 0560;
17: 0326, 0492; 18: 0428; 21: 0186
Livestock
Missouri 9: 0593
Tennessee 21: 0178, 0932
Texas 24: 0799; 25: 0242
Loyal slaves
Tennessee 10: 0873; 16: 0420, 0427,
0466, 0478; 17: 0066, 0756, 0781,
0798; 18: 0903; 19: 0875
Texas 23: 0997

Magistrates
Missouri 4: 0186, 0192; 6: 0312
Marriage
Arkansas 2: 0812
Missouri 7: 0584; 9: 0183
Tennessee 11: 0782, 0836; 17: 0362;
19: 0698; 21: 0522, 0635, 0957
Texas 23: 0484
see also Divorce
see also Prenuptial agreements
Merchants
Missouri 3: 0394
Tennessee 11: 0027; 12: 0287
Texas 24: 0352
Migration
Missouri 6: 0524; 8: 0027
Tennessee 13: 0440
Texas 26: 0608
see also Emigration
see also Immigration
Minors
Arkansas 1: 0739, 0745, 0831, 1019;
2: 0331, 0334, 0505, 0587, 0596,
0623, 0874; 3: 0106, 0140, 0144,
0201, 0235, 0241, 0287, 0335, 0338
Missouri 5: 0719; 6: 0539, 0551;
7: 0421; 9: 0663, 0683, 0687
Tennessee 11: 0592; 12: 0176;
13: 0073, 0784; 16: 0556; 17: 0029;
18: 0483, 0835; 19: 0185; 21: 0161,
0398, 0797; 22: 0462, 0696
Texas 23: 0229, 0428, 0903, 1039;
24: 0283, 0418, 0427, 0444, 0481,
0781; 25: 0308, 0314, 0628, 0639,
0645, 0686, 0745, 0850, 0887,
0891, 0913; 26: 0002, 0128, 0154,
0258, 0315, 0324, 0333, 0721,
0740, 0782
Minor slaveholders
Tennessee 14: 0141, 0154, 0697;
15: 0474
Mulattoes
Missouri 6: 0670; 8: 0258
Tennessee 13: 0955; 19: 0557
Murder
Tennessee 16: 0586
Northern states
2: 0867
543
Occupations
see Apprenticeship
see Free persons of color, occupations
see Hiring out
see House servants
see Industrial slaves
see Labor contracts
see Overseers
Orphans
Missouri 3: 0635
Tennessee 22: 0696
Overseers
Tennessee 14: 0388
Texas 23: 1048; 25: 0301, 0557, 0598
Passing as white
Tennessee 20: 0853
Paternalism
Tennessee 10: 0701; 12: 0257
Texas 26: 0824
Physicians, nonslave
Tennessee 13: 0177
Texas 23: 0052
Poison
Tennessee 17: 0701; 20: 0391
Poor whites
Tennessee 16: 0601
Prenuptial agreements
Missouri 6: 0018
Tennessee 12: 0193; 13: 0671;
16: 0318, 0369; 19: 0474; 22: 0663
Prisoners
Missouri 4: 0170; 7: 0275
see also Jails
Property ownership
Missouri 7: 0801; 8: 0868
Tennessee 10: 0041; 13: 0008;
21: 0773; 22: 0149
Texas 26: 0426
see also Free persons of color, property
owners
see also Land ownership
Purchase of freedom
Tennessee 15: 0664
see also Self-purchase, freedom
Purchase of slave families
Tennessee 11: 0575; 12: 0056, 0244,
0355; 15: 0248; 20: 1038; 21: 0709

Purchase of slaves
Missouri 5: 0674
Tennessee 10: 0041, 0097, 0424, 0450,
0465, 0553, 0573, 0933; 11: 0731,
0745, 0768; 12: 0080, 0767, 0951;
13: 0117, 0146, 0169, 0209;
15: 0163; 16: 0119, 0220, 0523,
0630; 17: 0131; 18: 0195, 0388,
0717; 19: 0506, 0715, 0749, 0846;
20: 0063, 0128, 0873; 21: 0023,
0186, 0268, 0608, 0662
Texas 23: 0667
Purchase of slaves for emancipation
Tennessee 10: 0534; 16: 0456, 0657;
17: 0090, 0113, 0134; 18: 1073;
22: 0033
Rape
Missouri 9: 0326
Residency
Arkansas 1: 0297
Missouri 3: 0401, 0444, 0463, 0481,
0509, 0566, 0580, 0623, 0706,
0867; 4: 0076, 0086, 0107, 0123,
0137, 0207, 0221, 0244, 0253,
0267, 0300, 0307, 0335, 0342,
0368, 0378, 0425, 0434, 0441,
0464, 0489, 0514, 0538, 0548,
0559, 0583, 0605, 0624, 0655,
0680, 0689, 0703, 0716, 0734,
0748, 0757, 0792, 0805, 0823,
0859, 0867, 0873, 0892, 0903,
0914, 0940, 0956; 5: 0076, 0111,
0120, 0137, 0144, 0150, 0164,
0199, 0207, 0215, 0224, 0232,
0240, 0249, 0260, 0269, 0346,
0468, 0485, 0496, 0526, 0730,
0739, 0788, 0831, 0864; 6: 0050,
0083, 0103, 0111, 0126, 0136,
0148, 0444, 0647, 0936; 7: 0102,
0111, 0142, 0154, 0164, 0184,
0195, 0212, 0259, 0356, 0454,
0506, 0515, 0560, 0576, 0615,
0717, 0805, 0818, 0831, 1028,
1059; 8: 0332, 0704; 9: 0196
Tennessee 13: 0527, 0709, 0876, 0885,
0891, 0898, 0905, 0912, 0919,
0923; 14: 0873; 15: 0329, 0336,
0606, 0611, 0616, 0621, 0626,
0632, 0638, 0643, 0649, 0657,
0664, 0669, 0677, 0682; 16: 0209,
544
0413, 0462, 0473, 0486, 0490;
17: 0070, 0099, 0121, 0127, 0141,
0146, 0150, 0165, 0169, 0174,
0773, 0792, 0803, 0835; 18: 0517,
1090; 19: 0383, 0588; 20: 0441,
0768
Runaways
Arkansas 3: 0127
Missouri 3: 0375; 5: 0667; 8: 0002,
0258; 9: 0241, 0362, 0383, 0449
Tennessee 10: 0097, 0185, 0504;
11: 0726; 12: 0564, 0818; 13: 0848,
0856; 14: 0460; 15: 0178, 0788;
16: 0495; 17: 0645; 18: 0717;
19: 0058, 0280, 0952; 20: 0544,
0853; 22: 0353
Texas 24: 0329; 25: 0342; 26: 0044
Sabotage
Tennessee 16: 0220
Sale of slave children
Arkansas 1: 0213, 0328; 2: 0596, 0603
Missouri 6: 0317
Tennessee 10: 0762, 0947; 11: 0412,
0533; 12: 0495, 0705, 1049;
13: 0814; 14: 0014, 0299; 16: 0552;
17: 0314; 18: 0436, 0666, 0920;
19: 0867, 0945; 20: 0403, 0990,
1015, 1048; 21: 0533, 1025, 1119;
22: 0024, 0409
Texas 24: 0506
Sale of slaves
Arkansas 1: 0213, 0269, 0285, 0455,
0834; 2: 0288, 0448, 0536, 0612,
0738, 0874; 3: 0073, 0153, 0201,
0206, 0245
Missouri 3: 0591, 0639, 0646, 0661,
0720, 0727, 0785; 4: 0114, 0389,
0830; 6: 0194, 0263, 0563, 0579,
0886; 7: 0410, 1105; 8: 0152, 0219,
0406, 0915; 9: 0154, 0405, 0752
Tennessee 10: 0076, 0145, 0168, 0364,
0441, 0479, 0490, 0580, 0655,
0847, 0933; 11: 0020, 0050, 0203,
0209, 0269, 0277, 0332, 0365,
0425–0442, 0490, 0507, 0571,
0606, 0650, 0726, 0745, 0763,
0782, 0793, 0875, 0891; 12: 0002,
0087, 0104, 0176, 0296, 0337,
0347, 0436, 0602, 0672, 0688,
0767, 0775, 0968, 0980, 0990,

1005; 13: 0047–0061, 0085–0089,
0104–0110, 0122–0154, 0215,
0255, 0260, 0399–0412, 0452,
0512, 0576–0592, 0631, 0650–
0658, 0696, 0732, 0750, 0833,
0848–0856, 0927; 14: 0002, 0026,
0094–0099, 0179, 0240, 0290,
0306, 0388, 0460, 0506–0523,
0546–0554, 0569, 0602, 0675,
0744–0761, 0784, 0868, 0884;
15: 0062, 0119, 0154, 0178, 0269,
0293, 0313, 0340–0347, 0361,
0385, 0401, 0490, 0691, 0788;
16: 0002, 0020, 0035, 0047–0053,
0091–0096, 0139, 0147, 0151,
0181, 0279, 0335, 0358, 0445,
0495, 0523, 0569, 0574, 0586,
0626; 17: 0058, 0263, 0268, 0286,
0326, 0345, 0380, 0386, 0414,
0424, 0472, 0622, 0630, 0645,
0701, 0827; 18: 0088, 0109, 0174,
0180, 0238, 0251, 0365, 0398,
0428, 0511, 0531, 0595, 0747,
0763, 0785, 0845, 0989; 19: 0015–
0023, 0053–0058, 0130, 0160–
0166, 0185–0192, 0232–0240,
0257–0265, 0280, 0307, 0397,
0404–0417, 0446, 0455, 0499,
0765, 0799, 0816, 0858–0882,
0952, 0981; 20: 0089, 0188, 0278,
0288, 0301, 0321, 0340, 0353,
0391, 0411, 0544, 0555, 0562,
0625, 0654, 0820, 0842, 0853,
0977, 0998, 1110; 21: 0010, 0036,
0087, 0132, 0161, 0168, 0221,
0245, 0254, 0328, 0336, 0349,
0356, 0378, 0434, 0464, 0471,
0479, 0502, 0546, 0614, 0674,
0696, 0724–0758, 0784, 0831,
0848–0912, 1041, 1076, 1119;
22: 0002, 0014, 0033, 0051–0094,
0111, 0134, 0154, 0159, 0207,
0233, 0256, 0282, 0303, 0353,
0389, 0409, 0445, 0455, 0502
Texas 23: 0311, 0435, 0525, 0730,
0855; 24: 0002, 0041, 0055, 0124,
0423, 0427, 0457, 0467, 0506,
0526, 0586, 0738; 25: 0283, 0816;
26: 0252, 0303, 0308, 0384, 0731,
0735
545
see also Purchase of slaves
see also Sale of slave children
see also Slave prices
see also Slave trade, domestic
see also Trading of slaves
Securities
Tennessee 10: 0069, 0401; 11: 0442,
0543; 13: 0260, 0848; 15: 0587;
18: 0808; 19: 0291; 20: 0774;
21: 0608, 0742; 22: 0243, 0250,
0291
Texas 23: 0968
Self-purchase, freedom
Missouri 3: 0591; 4: 0062, 0726, 0867;
7: 0440
Tennessee 13: 0611; 14: 0533;
16: 0420, 0451; 17: 0066, 0134,
0150; 18: 0259, 0314; 19: 0599,
1005
Separation of property
Tennessee 14: 0248, 0537
Servants
see House servants
Sexual relations
Tennessee 14: 0436; 18: 0961
see also Interracial sex
Sheriffs
Missouri 6: 0894; 7: 0524
Ships
Missouri 7: 1067; 8: 0617; 9: 0449
Siblings
Missouri 8: 0250
Tennessee 16: 0579; 17: 0374;
19: 0937; 21: 0724
Skilled slaves
Tennessee 12: 0761; 14: 0119, 0348;
17: 0832; 18: 0251; 19: 0122;
22: 0673
Texas 24: 0264
Slave killed
Missouri 8: 0262; 9: 0080
Texas 25: 0006, 0871
Slave management
Arkansas 2: 0856; 3: 0109, 0127, 0321,
0349
Missouri 8: 0054, 0258, 0711, 0897;
9: 0383
Tennessee 11: 0777; 13: 0223;
18: 0126, 0747; 19: 0858; 21: 0502,
0674; 22: 0002

Slave management cont.
Texas 24: 0414, 0596; 25: 0301;
26: 0159, 0203, 0437, 0482, 0664
see also Overseers
Slave owners
Arkansas 3: 0276
see also Women slave owners
Slave prices
Arkansas 1: 0269; 3: 0181
Tennessee 12: 0980; 13: 0117, 0955;
20: 0263; 21: 0614
Texas 23: 0532
Slaves
see Children of slaves
see Concealment of slaves
see Distribution of slaves
see Elderly slaves
see Emancipation
see Free persons of color and slaves
see Free persons of color sold as slaves
see Heirs, slaves
see Industrial slaves
see Loyal slaves
see Purchase of slaves
see Runaways
see Skilled slaves
see Slave killed
see Slave management
see Slave owners
see Slave prices
see Slaves, missing
see Slaves as property
see Slaves in estate
see Slaves mortgaged
see Slave title dispute
see Slave trade, domestic
see Slave trials
see Slave/white attachment
see Term slaves
see Theft by slaves
see Theft of slaves
see Trading of slaves
see Transportation of slaves
see Virtually free slaves
see Voluntary slavery
see Warranty on slaves
see White attitudes toward slaves
see Women, slaves
546
Slaves, missing
Texas 23: 0420, 0428, 0553, 0742,
0750, 0794, 0812; 24: 0085
Slaves as property
Arkansas 3: 0206
Missouri 3: 0809; 4: 0201; 7: 0937;
9: 0515
Tennessee 11: 0431, 0575, 0592, 0623;
12: 0156, 0287, 1034; 13: 0356,
0541, 0554; 14: 0088, 0133, 0204,
0312, 0810; 15: 0112, 0413, 0498,
0581; 16: 0466; 17: 0021, 0502,
0749; 18: 0406, 0845, 0869, 0931,
1129; 19: 0611; 20: 0774, 0778,
0786, 1063; 21: 0598; 22: 0291,
0445
Texas 23: 0761, 0867, 1024; 24: 0094;
25: 0242, 0645
Slaves in estate
Arkansas 1: 0049, 0154, 0285, 0364,
0390, 0631, 0745, 0872; 2: 0120,
0259, 0262, 0337, 0596, 0603,
0731, 0882; 3: 0013, 0073, 0092,
0167, 0230, 0264, 0282, 0292,
0298, 0302, 0321, 0346
Missouri 3: 0785, 0892; 4: 0037;
5: 0022, 0366, 0381; 6: 0263, 0379,
0621; 7: 0245, 0374, 0762, 0778,
0787, 0975, 0984, 1018; 8: 0054,
0166, 0190, 0219, 0326, 0594,
0660, 0711, 0720, 0868, 0884,
0915, 0925, 0973; 9: 0052, 0137,
0388, 0421, 0477, 0502, 0599,
0655, 0657, 0660, 0663, 0667,
0687, 0730
Tennessee 10: 0168, 0424, 0435, 0471,
0497, 0615, 0620, 0695, 0705,
0732, 0820, 0878, 0888; 11: 0002,
0013, 0020, 0050, 0203, 0253,
0260, 0269, 0277, 0326, 0365,
0380, 0401, 0457, 0467, 0490,
0498, 0507, 0515, 0543, 0585,
0606, 0614, 0704, 0726, 0751,
0806, 0829, 0875, 0891, 0917;
12: 0019, 0028, 0035, 0042, 0075,
0087, 0096, 0104, 0110, 0138,
0156, 0164, 0436, 0470, 0488,
0508, 0524, 0541, 0548, 0580,
0598, 0650, 0678, 0688, 0696,
0749, 0887, 0937, 0980, 0997,

1005, 1009, 1018, 1026, 1049,
1077; 13: 0008, 0043, 0047, 0073,
0089, 0110, 0154, 0215, 0313,
0367, 0420, 0547, 0592, 0597,
0631, 0641, 0741, 0772, 0784,
0821, 0927, 0950; 14: 0026, 0038,
0057, 0065, 0107, 0179, 0185,
0214, 0268, 0290, 0299, 0306,
0318, 0328, 0359, 0372, 0395,
0415, 0426, 0471, 0498, 0523,
0546, 0554, 0560, 0569, 0595,
0610, 0770, 0794, 0868, 0884,
0908; 15: 0062, 0073, 0087, 0137,
0154, 0248, 0257, 0282, 0302,
0313, 0357, 0366, 0378, 0385,
0397, 0408, 0420, 0454, 0490,
0581, 0691, 0698, 0706; 16: 0002,
0020, 0035, 0053, 0065, 0070,
0078, 0082, 0091, 0096, 0101,
0107, 0113, 0128, 0133, 0139,
0151, 0160, 0170, 0186, 0193,
0256, 0269, 0279, 0327, 0335,
0358, 0501, 0534, 0552, 0556,
0569, 0574, 0579, 0626, 0716;
17: 0044, 0178, 0204, 0243, 0255,
0260, 0263, 0268, 0280, 0286,
0303, 0314, 0345, 0369, 0380,
0386, 0402, 0424, 0437, 0466,
0524, 0540, 0577, 0615, 0654,
0680, 0767, 0808, 0827; 18: 0043,
0088, 0099, 0180, 0223, 0234,
0453, 0476, 0504, 0511, 0666,
0700, 0728, 0751, 0763, 0817,
0886, 0920, 0946, 0979, 1008,
1094; 19: 0002, 0015, 0023, 0030,
0041, 0066, 0099, 0178, 0221,
0240, 0246, 0257, 0272, 0307,
0329, 0388, 0397, 0404, 0433,
0548, 0690, 0721, 0765, 0787,
0882, 0945, 0952, 0961, 0968,
1031; 20: 0018, 0068, 0073, 0089,
0114, 0151, 0176, 0204, 0230,
0263, 0278, 0321, 0340, 0467,
0602, 0618, 0646, 0654, 0812,
0831, 0848, 0948, 0966, 0998,
1019, 1063; 21: 0002, 0010, 0043,
0095, 0104, 0132, 0168, 0221,
0230, 0254, 0279, 0384, 0416,
0471, 0502, 0564, 0643, 0655,
0797, 0804, 0831, 0848, 0904,
547
0912, 0973, 1095; 22: 0014, 0024,
0051, 0118, 0154, 0207, 0214,
0233, 0265, 0298, 0403, 0476,
0482, 0489, 0543, 0597
Texas 23: 0002, 0033, 0103, 0126,
0142, 0158, 0184, 0198, 0222,
0239, 0257, 0262, 0280, 0320,
0352, 0446, 0503, 0521, 0574,
0619, 0674, 0708, 0722, 0730,
0821, 0844, 0903, 0926, 0943,
0977, 1039; 24: 0007, 0022, 0041,
0104, 0161, 0173, 0248, 0274,
0280, 0283, 0286, 0291, 0340,
0381, 0385, 0401, 0405, 0414,
0423, 0427, 0444, 0463, 0481,
0488, 0494, 0503, 0506, 0514,
0526, 0534, 0566, 0575, 0592,
0596, 0599, 0675, 0722, 0738,
0754, 0768, 0781, 0799, 0815;
25: 0002, 0062, 0097, 0174, 0248,
0258, 0263, 0293, 0374, 0383,
0386, 0557, 0576, 0584, 0619,
0628, 0632, 0639, 0657, 0686,
0710, 0718, 0745, 0813, 0899,
0913; 26: 0002, 0035, 0071, 0079,
0144, 0159, 0162, 0166, 0203,
0207, 0216, 0237, 0258, 0274,
0308, 0315, 0327, 0407, 0414,
0422, 0426, 0432, 0441, 0476,
0482, 0487, 0492, 0502, 0518,
0555, 0558, 0566, 0584, 0601,
0661, 0664, 0686, 0695, 0699,
0706, 0754, 0782, 0797, 0826
Slaves mortgaged
Arkansas 1: 0002, 0062, 0370, 0840;
2: 0402, 0612
Missouri 3: 0394, 0639, 0694, 0720,
0983; 4: 0009; 5: 0654; 6: 0886;
7: 0224, 0410, 0861, 1018; 8: 0152;
9: 0388, 0752
Tennessee 10: 0364, 0479; 11: 0332,
0346, 0571, 0623, 0650, 0660,
0731, 0763, 0782, 0793, 0857;
12: 0244, 0296; 13: 0104; 14: 0014,
0348, 0515; 16: 0026, 0147, 0515,
0657; 17: 0429, 0630, 0839;
18: 0002, 0043, 0808, 0869, 1019,
1129; 19: 0002, 0232, 0537;
20: 0073, 0188, 0301, 0562, 0774;

Slaves mortgaged cont.
Tennessee cont.
21: 0237, 0434, 0533, 0598, 0943,
1025, 1041, 1060, 1076; 22: 0169,
0455
Texas 23: 0262, 0606, 0658, 0761,
0783, 0855, 0877, 0968; 24: 0107,
0148, 0586; 25: 0263, 0576, 0816;
26: 0027, 0508, 0731, 0735
Slave title dispute
Arkansas 1: 0002, 0049, 0062, 0154,
0370, 0390, 0431, 0455, 0548,
0655, 0840, 0990; 2: 0262, 0337,
0448, 0536, 0657, 0882; 3: 0085
Missouri 3: 0389, 0493, 0500, 0892;
4: 0114; 5: 0022, 0366; 6: 0018,
0363, 0621, 0670, 0831; 7: 0937;
8: 0166, 0190, 0240, 0298, 0428,
0508, 0594, 0720, 0778, 0973;
9: 0002, 0033, 0052, 0154, 0183,
0213, 0347, 0388, 0515, 0543, 0670
Tennessee 10: 0145, 0382, 0424, 0457,
0465, 0762, 0789, 0898; 11: 0354,
0457, 0515, 0533, 0555, 0585,
0836; 12: 0028, 0035, 0080, 0257,
0337, 0495, 0564, 0602, 0643,
0696, 0705, 0711, 0723, 0761,
0775, 0951, 0968, 1009, 1018,
1034, 1052; 13: 0002, 0093, 0133,
0169, 0181, 0209, 0255, 0273,
0343, 0367, 0412, 0420, 0452,
0587, 0597, 0650, 0658, 0665,
0678, 0741, 0821, 0833, 0841;
14: 0038, 0069, 0080, 0119, 0166,
0194, 0240, 0278, 0348, 0372,
0639, 0711, 0744, 0770, 0878,
0908; 15: 0062, 0137, 0192, 0257,
0302, 0347, 0401, 0413, 0420,
0560, 0573, 0727, 0740, 0788;
16: 0082, 0170, 0256, 0269, 0286,
0561, 0673, 0692; 17: 0035, 0333,
0386, 0429, 0481, 0615, 0689,
0808, 0839; 18: 0002, 0093, 0103,
0155, 0184, 0198, 0336, 0360,
0453, 0489, 0605, 0751, 0989;
19: 0002, 0099, 0202, 0360, 0455,
0474, 0568, 0645, 0715, 0721,
0981; 20: 0032, 0073, 0151, 0204,
0467, 0570, 0634, 0654, 0966,
548
1027; 21: 0205, 0230, 0237, 0356,
0378, 0384, 0442, 0598, 0655
Texas 23: 0066, 0074, 0103, 0135,
0142, 0149, 0158, 0168, 0229,
0352, 0420, 0428, 0525, 0532,
0553, 0592, 0597, 0646, 0658,
0667, 0693, 0730, 0742, 0750,
0794, 0804, 0812, 0821, 0903,
0926, 0943, 1039; 24: 0007, 0066,
0078, 0085, 0107, 0192, 0252,
0299, 0439, 0457, 0467, 0534,
0542, 0586, 0694, 0707, 0714;
25: 0054, 0077, 0157, 0204, 0242,
0283, 0333, 0433, 0607, 0657,
0718, 0728, 0740; 26: 0084, 0252,
0285, 0336, 0367, 0384, 0441,
0462, 0468, 0593, 0601, 0669,
0676, 0679, 0758
Slave trade, domestic
Missouri 9: 0033, 0362
Tennessee 10: 0450, 0573; 11: 0638,
0745; 12: 0767, 0791; 13: 0061;
14: 0094, 0908; 16: 0026, 0240,
0630; 17: 0333, 0454, 0848;
18: 0785; 19: 0749; 20: 0981;
21: 0709, 0816
Texas 26: 0027
see also Purchase of slaves
see also Sale of slaves
see also Slave prices
Slave trials
Tennessee 10: 0775; 21: 0328
Slave/white attachment
Missouri 6: 0524
Tennessee 10: 0701, 0873; 11: 0425;
12: 0337, 0436; 14: 0817; 17: 0070;
18: 0453, 0489, 0531; 20: 0873
Soldiers
Tennessee 22: 0482, 0715
Speculators
Tennessee 17: 0454
Suicide
Tennessee 10: 0504
Tenants in common
Missouri 3: 0795; 7: 0762, 0937, 1105;
8: 0367, 0660, 0884; 9: 0405, 0502
Tennessee 10: 0371; 11: 0050;
12: 0104, 0672; 13: 0057; 14: 0099,
0232, 0415, 0579; 15: 0257, 0474,
0498, 0698, 0727; 16: 0078, 0269,

0534, 0732; 17: 0260, 0297, 0374,
0414; 18: 0259, 0428, 0504, 0511;
19: 0015, 0049, 0053, 0160, 0499,
0715, 0816, 0937, 1046; 20: 0278,
0403, 0555, 0646, 0924; 21: 0036,
0254, 1095, 1119; 22: 0094, 0298
Texas 23: 0239; 24: 0467, 0815;
26: 0053, 0367, 0676
Term slaves
Missouri 4: 0030, 0634; 6: 0507
Tennessee 10: 0007; 18: 0854;
20: 0288, 0977, 0981, 1110
Theft
Tennessee 16: 0601; 17: 0002;
21: 0564
Theft by slaves
Tennessee 12: 0990; 13: 0034, 0061
Theft of slaves
Missouri 8: 0508
Tennessee 12: 0495; 13: 0420, 0678;
14: 0537; 16: 0673; 19: 0568;
21: 0758
Texas 23: 0257, 0532, 0597, 0962,
0981; 24: 0264, 0329, 0457;
25: 0333, 0342, 0568; 26: 0669
Tobacco
Tennessee 22: 0169
Trading of slaves
Tennessee 10: 0749; 12: 0244;
13: 0002, 0635; 15: 0068; 16: 0170;
17: 0273, 0333; 18: 0436, 0800;
19: 0092, 0568; 20: 0068; 21: 0230,
0442, 0816
see also Sale of slaves
Transportation of slaves
Arkansas 2: 0508
Missouri 3: 0401, 0444, 0463, 0481,
0509, 0566, 0580, 0623, 0675,
0706, 0867; 4: 0062, 0076, 0086,
0107, 0123, 0221, 0244, 0253,
0267, 0300, 0307, 0335, 0342,
0425, 0441, 0464, 0497, 0514,
0526, 0538, 0548, 0559, 0583,
0605, 0655, 0680, 0734, 0792,
0859, 0873, 0892, 0903, 0914,
0956; 5: 0076, 0111, 0120, 0137,
0144, 0150, 0164, 0199, 0207,
0215, 0224, 0232, 0240, 0249,
0260, 0269, 0278, 0346, 0449,
0468, 0485, 0496, 0526, 0667,
549
0730, 0739, 0746, 0788, 0831,
0864; 6: 0050, 0103, 0111, 0126,
0136, 0148, 0194, 0444, 0647,
0697, 0936; 7: 0102, 0111, 0142,
0154, 0164, 0184, 0195, 0212,
0259, 0356, 0454, 0506, 0515,
0560, 0576, 0615, 0717, 0805,
0818, 0831, 1028, 1059; 8: 0002,
0027, 0332, 0617, 0704; 9: 0080,
0196, 0241, 0318, 0449
Tennessee 10: 0382, 0457, 0465, 0490;
11: 0027; 12: 0541, 0662, 0696,
0705, 1034; 13: 0332, 0554, 0678,
0685; 14: 0069, 0868; 15: 0007,
0073, 0112, 0192, 0361, 0378,
0718; 16: 0220; 17: 0291, 0397,
0454, 0472, 0848; 18: 0365, 0445;
19: 0690, 0898; 20: 0411, 0977;
21: 0733
Texas 23: 0693, 0821, 0962; 25: 0433,
0568, 0607
Trust estate
Missouri 3: 0646, 0654, 0795; 6: 0831;
8: 0778; 9: 0543
Tennessee 10: 0847; 11: 0013, 0777;
13: 0541, 0671; 14: 0194, 0639;
15: 0007, 0068, 0127, 0192, 0340,
0408; 16: 0212, 0286, 0515, 0630;
17: 0540, 0645; 18: 0109, 0336,
0445, 0835, 0931; 19: 0173, 0202,
0433; 20: 0353, 0990, 1015, 1019,
1038, 1063; 21: 0056, 0479, 0724;
22: 0118, 0353, 0389, 0462
Valuation
Arkansas 1: 0834; 2: 0259, 0498, 0603,
0626, 0853; 3: 0002, 0013, 0261,
0352
Missouri 6: 0670
Tennessee 10: 0714; 12: 0002;
13: 0635; 14: 0141; 16: 0358, 0495;
17: 0798, 0839; 18: 0099, 0544,
0595; 19: 0469; 21: 0023
Texas 23: 0126, 0184, 0420, 0592,
0794, 0926; 24: 0022; 25: 0204,
0333; 26: 0057, 0315, 0476
Vendors privilege
Texas 23: 0149
Violence
Arkansas 2: 0812
Missouri 4: 0201

Violence cont.
Tennessee 10: 0775
Texas 25: 0781
see also Assault
see also Domestic violence
see also Infanticide
see also Insurrection
see also Kidnapping of free persons of
color
see also Murder
see also Rape
see also Slave killed
Virtually free slaves
Tennessee 20: 0522
Voluntary slavery
Tennessee 21: 0398; 22: 0441
Texas 26: 0225, 0320, 0498, 0524
Wages
Arkansas 3: 0341
Warranty on slaves
Arkansas 1: 0024
Missouri 3: 0727; 4: 0389; 8: 0406, 0536
Tennessee 10: 0450; 11: 0768;
13: 0122, 0732, 0750; 14: 0119;
15: 0248; 16: 0541; 17: 0273, 0511;
18: 0195, 0800, 0845; 19: 0092;
20: 0063, 0128, 0253, 1048;
21: 0023; 22: 0103, 0181
Texas 25: 0838
Whipping
Tennessee 12: 0990
Texas 25: 0871
White attitudes toward free persons of
color
Tennessee 12: 0919
White attitudes toward slaves
Tennessee 10: 0007; 16: 0451, 0478;
20: 0555
Texas 23: 0304; 24: 0073
White genealogy
Tennessee 15: 0462; 20: 0230
Widows
Arkansas 2: 0856; 3: 0037, 0051, 0116,
0186
Missouri 8: 0925
Tennessee 11: 0709; 12: 0156, 0488,
0662, 0898, 1077; 13: 0307;
14: 0057; 16: 0070, 0643, 0692;
17: 0680; 19: 0135; 20: 0099;
21: 0104; 22: 0051
550
Texas 23: 0280, 0446, 0977; 24: 0494,
0534, 0738, 0764; 25: 0293;
26: 0166, 0686, 0691, 0693, 0797
Wife sues husband
Tennessee 16: 0725
Wills
Arkansas 1: 0154; 2: 0486
Missouri 5: 0381, 0544; 6: 0794;
7: 0002, 0350, 0421, 0492, 0801,
0883, 0975; 8: 0063, 0074, 0085,
0096, 0108, 0115, 0127, 0139;
9: 0599, 0660, 0774
Tennessee 10: 0076, 0136, 0820, 0860,
0888; 11: 0480, 0498, 0543;
12: 0110, 0164, 0937, 1026;
13: 0641, 0715, 0950; 14: 0107,
0770, 0817; 15: 0073, 0087, 0169,
0506; 16: 0607, 0739; 17: 0263,
0291, 0314, 0437, 0524, 0654,
0673, 0767, 0808; 18: 0595, 0728,
0946; 19: 0135, 0178, 0221, 0315,
0489; 20: 0018, 0164, 0376, 0522,
0602, 0914, 0930; 21: 0104, 0564,
0655, 0804; 22: 0214, 0311, 0332,
0482, 0489, 0581, 0601, 0684
Texas 23: 0002, 0619, 0997, 1024;
24: 0161, 0173, 0274, 0286, 0291,
0381, 0385, 0566, 0754; 25: 0002,
0374, 0396, 0689, 0813; 26: 0237,
0274, 0584, 0797
Women
see Divorce
see Dower
see Marriage
see Sexual relations
see Widows
see Women, free persons of color
see Women, slaves
see Women, white
see Women and property
see Women slave owners
Women, free persons of color
Missouri 7: 0275
Tennessee 10: 0801; 13: 0534;
16: 0209; 17: 0141, 0773, 0792;
19: 0383; 21: 0398
Texas 26: 0320, 0498, 0524
Women, slaves
Arkansas 1: 0655, 0834; 2: 0738;
3: 0153, 0257, 0261, 0324

Missouri 3: 0375, 0412, 0493, 0500,
0675; 4: 0170; 5: 0366; 7: 0059,
0758
Tennessee 13: 0955; 17: 0134, 0756,
0781; 20: 0253
Texas 24: 0078; 25: 0054, 0204;
26: 0084, 0487, 0593
Women, white
Arkansas 1: 0032; 2: 0272, 0337;
3: 0181
Tennessee 16: 0541; 19: 0439
Women and property
Arkansas 1: 0049, 0990; 2: 0120, 0626,
0632, 0657, 0740, 0792, 0856,
0879; 3: 0002, 0037, 0070, 0109,
0116, 0186, 0238, 0241, 0282,
0327, 0359
Missouri 3: 0646, 0654; 4: 0037;
5: 0639; 6: 0621, 0831; 7: 1006;
8: 0298, 0908; 9: 0183, 0477, 0543
Tennessee 10: 0650, 0947; 11: 0448,
0467, 0806, 0812, 0836, 0917;
12: 0138, 0193, 0508, 0524;
13: 0229, 0284, 0307, 0772, 0941;
14: 0051, 0278, 0560, 0650, 0666;
15: 0119, 0214, 0447, 0573;
16: 0212, 0301, 0318, 0369, 0515,
0561, 0607, 0643, 0725; 17: 0035,
0472, 0481, 0654; 18: 0013, 0174,
0672, 0681, 0817, 0931; 19: 0041,
0072, 0173, 0185, 0213, 0388,
0474, 0506, 0669, 0698, 0721,
0799, 0992, 1031; 20: 0018, 0099,
0580, 0602, 0618, 0701, 0948,
551
0966, 1015, 1038; 21: 0010, 0056,
0205, 0318, 0344, 0372, 0522,
0635, 0973; 22: 0430
Texas 23: 0074, 0135, 0222, 0484,
0503, 0561, 0912; 24: 0405, 0542,
0551, 0747; 25: 0097, 0224, 0293,
0301, 0350, 0546, 0557, 0689,
0728; 26: 0071, 0186, 0274, 0347,
0532, 0563, 0762, 0833
Women slave owners
Arkansas 1: 0062, 0548, 0739, 0851;
2: 0262, 0402, 0505; 3: 0045, 0051,
0245, 0269
Missouri 4: 0009; 5: 0639; 7: 0787;
8: 0897
Tennessee 10: 0441; 11: 0277;
13: 0279, 0665, 0671, 0685;
14: 0051, 0074, 0141, 0248, 0537,
0579, 0602, 0666, 0862, 0878;
15: 0030, 0214, 0235; 16: 0026,
0147, 0617, 0673, 0716; 17: 0362,
0492, 0622; 18: 0002, 0155, 0223,
0270, 0336, 0489, 0717, 0835;
19: 0166, 0433, 0548, 0623, 0645,
0787; 20: 0143, 0570, 0803, 0866,
0930
Texas 23: 0074, 0435, 0525, 0561,
0812, 0912; 24: 0280, 0494, 0514,
0566, 0575, 0599; 25: 0077, 0174,
0224, 0383, 0689; 26: 0162, 0186,
0327, 0432, 0462, 0502, 0532,
0555, 0558, 0563, 0593, 0601,
0661, 0695, 0754, 0758, 0762

RELATED UPA COLLECTIONS
RACE, SLAVERY, AND FREE BLACKS
Series I, Petitions to Southern Legislatures, 1777–1867
Series II, Petitions to Southern County Courts, 1775–1867
STATE SLAVERY STATUTES
SLAVERY IN ANTE-BELLUM SOUTHERN INDUSTRIES
Series A: Selections from the Duke University Library
Series B: Selections from the Southern Historical Collection,
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Series C: Selections from the Virginia Historical Society
Series D: Selections from the University of Virginia Library
PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN SLAVE TRADE
Series A. Selections from the Rhode Island Historical Society
Series B. Selections from the Newport Historical Society
Series C. Selections from the Southern Historical Collection,
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Series D. Records of the U.S. Customhouses
LETTERS RECEIVED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
RECORDS OF ANTE-BELLUM SOUTHERN PLANTATIONS
FROM THE REVOLUTION THROUGH THE CIVIL WAR
RECORDS OF SOUTHERN PLANTATIONS
FROM EMANCIPATION TO THE GREAT MIGRATION
SOUTHERN WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE 19TH CENTURY:
PAPERS AND DIARIES
UPA Collections from LexisNexis
www.lexisnexis.com/academic