Grace, "a free woman of Colour," seeks to restrain the administrator of the late James Ryan "from and against Selling and disposing of your Oratrix." Grace reveals that "she formerly belonged to and was the Slave of James Ryan Esquire" and that he "for many years previous to his death was very infirm and subject to frequent fits of severe disposition -- that during said Term your Oratrix acted as nurse for him and as his most Confidential Servant." She avows that the said Ryan did "duly make, execute, publish and declare, his last will and Testament, in which among other bequests, a particular provision was made, that immediately after the death of said James Ryan Esquire ... the Executor or Executors in said Will mentioned should set free and Emancipate your Oratrix." Grace charges Lawrence Ryan, the brother of her late owner, with "representing said James Ryan as dying Intestate," and receiving "Letters of Administration on the Estate of said James Ryan Deceased," whereby he "has endeavoured to Sell and dispose of your Oratrix, and threatens to sell her as a Slave in the Country." Grace therefore prays for the issuance of an injunction.
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Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
