Winny Allison, the widow of Francis Allison, asks that William Halbert fulfill his obligation to "support and maintain your oratrix." She recalls that her late husband signed over his “real and personal” property, including “land and negroes,” to one Jacob Meador in 1831. The deed stipulated that Meador was to take control of Allison’s plantation and slaves on the condition that he would “support and maintain” him and Winny during their “natural lives in comfort, decency and plenty.” Meador honored the agreement until 1835, when he left the state "to evade the claims of his creditors.” Meador’s creditors then attached his property, including the lands and slaves received from Allison. Allison, however, was able to recover and retain his property, until he conveyed it to William Halbert, one of said creditors. Halbert kept his promise to support the Allisons until Francis died in 1840. Thereupon, Winny claims, that he began to mistreat her, attempting to poison her and threatening to “run” the slaves to Arkansas. Seventy-six-year-old Winny Allison, having left Halbert's home, charges that she has been "thrown upon the charity of the world,” and is “in the most distressing poverty, destitute of a home, children and relations." Believing that she has a lien on the property if the specific conditions of the deed are not met, she prays that Halbert be enjoined from taking the slaves from the state; that he be ordered to fulfill the contract clause relating to her comfort and support; and that, in the event of her “failing to obtain” performance on the deed,” her right to dower be granted.
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Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
