On 16 May 1788 Brand Pendarvis made his will, bequeathing to his wife Mary six slaves "during the Term of her natural life or Widowhood." The will stipulated that the slaves and their children would pass to the children of Joseph and Benjamin Pendarvis after Mary's death. Mary Pendarvis took possession of the slaves and married Charles Jones in 1788 or 1789. At some point, Charles Jones sold Sylvia and her children, who were taken out of the state. After Jones' death, Mary married George Boatwright. Some of the heirs sold their shares in the slaves. Six claimants of the slaves petition the court. They charge that the Boatwrights still possess the slaves and are planning to leave the state, taking the slaves with them. George Boatwright "refused altogether to make any arrangements or accomodations to quit your orators fears or to sell his rights to your Orators or to purchase your orators Rights." The petitioners ask the court to issue a writ of ne exeat against the Boatwrights, to require them to account for the slaves, and to compel them to give bond for the return of the slaves, including Sylvia and her children.
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Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
