On 1 December 1839, Mary Burnham "placed in the hands" of her son, John Gamblin, three slaves. Burnham explains that "it was agreed and understood" that John was "to bring said negroes to Texas and raise a crop for your petitioner." In 1840, Gamblin died. Neill Martin then obtained letters of administration on Gamblin's estate and took possession of the slaves. Burnham charges that she "has by her legally authorized agent demanded possession of said negroes" but that Martin "refuses to give them up." Furthermore, Gamblin's widow Lena has since married Shadrach Brily [Briley], who is also trying to gain possession of the slaves. Burnham notes that the hire of the slaves is "reasonably worth" two hundred dollars a year. She asks that the sheriff "take and sequester the negroes aforesaid so that they be held forthcoming to answer the final decree of your honorable Court" and that Martin be summoned and ordered to return the slaves and account with her for the value of their hire. The petitioner describes each slave by his or her scar(s), one "occasioned by a burn" and one "occasioned by a fall."
Result: Partially granted; settled.
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Repository: Nacogdoches County Courthouse, Nacogdoches, Texas
