Petition #20184718

Abstract

When Elizabeth Harrison married James Harrison in 1837 she possessed in her own right a number of slaves--Phil, Yeraco, Bob, Caleb, Eady, Little Bob, Little Phil, and Milley--inherited from her deceased father. Although they had signed a prenuptial agreement about her separate property, the couple signed a deed in 1838 showing that the certain slaves were for her separate use. No trustee was appointed. In 1841, a New York firm obtained a judgment against her husband, and in 1842, he declared bankruptcy. In 1846, Elizabeth asked that the slaves "named in said deed, together with their increase & future increase to be the sole and separate property of Oratrix, and also the girl Milley and her increase & future increase, free from the control & management of her said Husband." In this amended bill, she seeks to "reform said deed so as to make it conformable to the intent of herself and husband when it was made and that this Court will secure said slaves from the payment of her said husbands debts from the date of said Deed."

Result: Partially granted.

19 people are documented within petition 20184718

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Citation information

Repository: Lowndes County Courthouse, Hayneville, Alabama

Subjects