David Cannon, son of Susannah Cannon Thomas, seeks return of a slave belonging to his late mother and an account of proceeds from the slave's hire. The petitioner claims that the slave, fourteen-year-old Moses, was mortgaged by Susan Thomas for $400 to Joseph Martin in 1819. Cannon states that at the time Moses was worth $800 and his hiring proceeds since that time have averaged $120 per year. His mother died sometime around 1827, and Cannon became administrator of his estate in 1838. Upon assuming administration of the estate, he went to Joseph Martin and demanded the return of Moses, noting that the slave's annual hire since the agreement more than covered the amount of the loan. Cannon says that he "made this demand for the purpose of instituting a suit against the said Joseph," but he was prevented from proceeding further by Joseph's death. In the meantime, Joseph had given Moses to his son, Hunter Martin, who is now administrator of his father's estate. Cannon seeks the return of the slave and an account of his hire. In his answer, Hunter Martin asserts that he found a document among his father's papers proving that there Susannah Thomas had sold the slave to his father, and the great length of time elapsed since then made David Cannon's request a "monstrosity."
Result: Dismissed.
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Repository: Lawrence County Historical Commission Archives, Moulton, Alabama
