Muriah [Myra] Reid represents that Sarah Reid [Sarah Ferris], a free woman of color, died in 1834 possessed of a house and lot that she devised in her will "to be in the service of my husband Ben Reid during his natural life and at his death the same shall be given to Sarah Ann Reid" and, upon her death, to "the benefit of her children forever." Noting that the said Ben is a slave held by James Ferguson, Reid relates that she "is informed that doubts are entertained whether Ben Reid the slave can take an estate in land to inure to his master's use or in any other way so as to become a sufficient particular estate to support the remainder over to your petitioner." She therefore asks that "an act of the Legislature may be passed remitting to your Petitioner by the name of Myra Reid and her children Sarah Ann Reid and her heirs, the escheat if there should be any according to Law and vesting in her and her child and her heirs the Estate of Inheritance in fee simple according to the obvious intent and meaning of the will of the Testatrix."
Or you may view all people.
Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
