John B. Rumph, administrator of Rachel Harris, requests the court's assistance in recovering eight slaves, who are currently in the possession of Jacob Zimmerman and James Coan. The petitioner contends that a female slave named Annican, her seven children, and granddaughter belong to the estate of his mother, the late Rachel Rumph Mellard Harris. He states that, before his death in 1832, his father, Jacob L. Rumph, established a life estate in said Annican for the benefit of his wife Rachel; in 1837, Rachel Rumph married James H. Mellard, who a few years later sold Annican and her seven children to Jacob Zimmerman. The petitioner charges that said Zimmerman has since given Annican's daughter Nancy, and Nancy's daughter Laura, to James Coan. He asserts that the said James Mellard had no right to sell the slaves because the said Rachel's interest in said slaves was only for the duration of her life; upon her death, the slaves were to be distributed among the heirs of Jacob and Rachel. The petitioner states that his mother died in 1858, shortly after she married Dr. Moses Harris. He attests that he has applied to the defendants to produce said slaves, but they have refused. John Rumph asks that Jacob Zimmerman and James Coan be compelled to deliver up the slaves and account for their hires.
Result: Dismissed.
Or you may view all people.
Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
