Petition #21381607

Abstract

Dempsey and Rosa Cothran sue Rosa's father, David Waters, for the title to a tract of land that was promised to them by Waters prior to marriage in February 1815. The couple's fathers each agreed to give them property amounting to $1500, in order to "encourage your orator & oratrix who were marrying young with a handsome beginning." The two men entered into arbitration to ensure that the gifts would be equal, and an impartial committee decided that Waters owed the couple an additional $50 in order to balance the gifts. The in-laws renegotiated the terms of their largess, which included three slaves between them, but the petitioners now complain that Waters has not delivered goods "near to the value in either quantity or quality of those furnished by" Dempsey's father, Samuel Cothran. The petitioners also report that, although David Waters has delivered the two slaves he promised to them, he "now pretends to claim the same." The Cothrans ask the court to enforce the original arrangement agreed to in arbitration.

Result: Settled.

9 people are documented within petition 21381607

Or you may view all people.

Citation information

Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina

Subjects