Rebecca Lewis petitions for a separation of property from her husband, Thomas Pickett. Married in June 1825, Lewis brought into the marriage sixteen slaves and sundry property. Pickett sold three of these slaves in 1826 and "appropriated the proceeds of their sale." Five of the other dowry slaves have died since the marriage. In 1836 Rebecca's father, William Lewis, gave her another slave named Daphney, valued at $800. Now, due to the "misfortunes & mismanagement of her said Husband and the derangement of his affairs," Rebecca fears she will lose the rights to her remaining slaves and other property. Therefore, she prays for an inventory to be made of her remaining property and asks to "be separated in property from her said Husband." Further, she seeks to be "authorized to administer her own estate" as a feme sole and to be compensated for her loss of property with a judgment of $6,398.50 with interest. In addition, she requests a writ of injunction to prevent Pickett from removing any of the disputed property out of the court's jurisdiction.
Result: Granted.
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Repository: Pointe Coupee Parish Courthouse, New Roads, Louisiana
