Edward Brailsford seeks compensation for two runaway slaves who were shot down by a patrol in pursuit of "a Gang of run away Negroes." He explains that he had hired out twenty-two-year-old Cyrus and twenty-seven-year-old Absolam to one Capt. Brandt. He further recalls that said slaves were "stout, prime, healthy and valuable negroes and field hands" who "conducted themselves well"; however, "from some cause unknown to your petitioner," said slaves ran away from the said Brandt in 1814. It was at this time, the petitioner declares, that a "very troublesome and offensive" gang of runaway slaves was on the loose, requiring that the militia be called out to apprehend said slaves. Brailsford believes that his slaves were mistaken for part of said gang and consequently they were both shot down, Absolam being killed "on your petitioner's plantation” where he “had gone ... for the purpose of seeing his Wife" whom Brailsford held. The petitioner asserts that "by their death" he "has sustained a considerable loss and as they were killed by persons vested with authority by the State and for the public Good, he humbly conceives that he is entitled to a remuneration for his said losses."
Result: Referred to claims committee.
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Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
