Mary E. Dell, administratrix and widow of Amos L. Dell, seeks to settle a slave title dispute with Philip Dell, a supposed trustee. She declares that her late husband held thirteen slaves at the time of his death in 1856 and that said slaves were in her possession as the legally appointed administratrix when the defendant "without the authority of law ... forceably took into his possession and carried away all the said slaves." The said Amos inherited the slaves in question from his late father and brother, Bennet M. Dell and William Dell, respectively. The petitioner "avers that her undisturbed possession of the said slaves, and the said Horse and mules, is absolutely necessary to preservation and protection of the balance of the said Estate; and that otherwise it is liable to loss, and great depredation in value." She therefore prays that Philip Dell, who has taken the property "to injure and oppress your oratrix in the premises, and to vex, hinder and harrass her," be enjoined "not to further molest, interfere or intermeddle with the said negroe slaves."
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Repository: Alachua County Courthouse, Gainesville, Florida
