Elizabeth Frances Rogers represents that, shortly after marrying William Collins in 1825, she received from her mother's succession five slaves valued at $2,000. In 1829, her husband swapped one of the slaves, named Maria, for another slave, named Narcisse. He then sold Narcisse for $600 and converted the proceeds to his own use. He sold three more slaves and used part of the proceeds to buy two male slaves in Kentucky. He also bought a female mulatto slave named Martha. She contends that, although Collins gave her possession of the slaves for a while, he had in fact purchased them in his name. He has now "clandestinely" removed the slaves from her possession, is repeatedly threatening to "ruin" her, and has abandoned her. Claiming that the “embarrassed circumstances” in which her husband finds himself are putting her property in jeopardy and that his cruelty makes it impossible for her to continue living with him, she prays the court for a separation of "bed & board." She asks that the slaves be recognized as her separate property and seeks a writ of sequestration for their protection until the case is resolved. She also prays for a mortgage on her husband’s property to secure her claim.
Result: Partially granted.
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Repository: St. Landry Parish Courthouse, Opelousas, Louisiana
