In 1845, Zenas L. McCrary, slave owner and farmer, died. He left a widow, Delia C. McCrary, and three children: Nancy, Clementine, and three-year-old James. McCrary was "seized and possessed of a considerable estate," including ten slaves. In his will, he appointed Richard M. Doss as executor, and requested that his lands, horses, cows, hogs, farming equipment, and crop be sold to pay his debts. He gave his wife and son seven of the slaves to be equally divided between them when the son arrived at maturity. Doss turned the seven slaves--Judith, Ellen, Mary, Jane, Alabama, John, and Louisa--over to the widow, who, in 1847, married Abraham L. Ferguson. The slaves remained in Ferguson's possession until his death in 1852. Robert T. Johnston became administrator of the Ferguson estate, and took possession of the slaves. He also holds a girl named Savilla born "of sd female slaves" since Ferguson's death. James McCrary, now ten, claims that he has never received his "interest and property in sd slaves, and his rights to one half of the yearly product [hire] of sd slaves." He requests that an account be submitted and the usual subpoena issued.
Result: Granted.
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Repository: Pickens County Courthouse, Carrollton, Alabama
