Petition #20184713

Abstract

In 1824, Robert S. Carson conveyed to his daughter Pamela Gibson nine slaves: Olive and her children Winny, Ibby, Rachel, Nicey, Sam, and Ailsey, and Jinny her child Charity. He believed that the conveyance would act as a will, and he could revoke it at any time. When he learned that this was not the case, he attempted to burn the deed, but it (along with a deed for his land) was "rescued from the flames" by a family member. Years later, Jacob Summerlin, administrator of Carson's estate, writes that Pamela and her husband Thomas tricked the illiterate Carson into signing the deed when he was "under the influence of intoxicating liquor ..., and greatly impaired & weakened from the long and habitual use of intoxicating drink." On 2 November 1837, Pamela Gibson died. The next day, Carson dictated a will, directing that his property and slaves be kept together until the youngest daughter by his second marriage came of age and then distributed among his wife Sabry or Sabrina and his children. That night Pamela's son Robert Gibson "seduced & enticed away" Carson's slaves--Jinny, Ibby, Rachel, Winny, Sam, Martha, Sarah, John, Charity, Rufus, Nora, Ailsey and Milly--worth "at least five thousand dollars." Summerlin now asks the court to set aside the controversial deed, to subpoena Pamela's children to account for the slaves in their possession, and to rule as to their rightful owners.

Result: Dismissed; appealed; affirmed.

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Citation information

Repository: Alabama Department of Archives and History, Montgomery, Alabama

Subjects