Petition #20184303

Abstract

Three grandchildren of Keziah Myers--William Myers, Mary Deason, and Jane Wimberly--are suing for an equal share of the value of slave property left by their grandmother. When she died in 1837 Keziah Myers owned several slaves, including Nancy, Katy, Jack, and a girl named Edy. More than two years prior to her death, Keziah gave Nancy and Katy to her son-in-law, Willoughby Deas, and she gave Jack and Edy to her grandson, John Myers, who lived with her. According to the plaintiffs, prior to her death Keziah was "very old and childlike" and not having seen her three other grandchildren since their infancy, she did not have "the same natural affection for them as for their brother John Myers." Willoughby Deas readily accepted the gift and kept Nancy and Katy; John Myers, however, let Deas have the other two slaves in exchange for their estimated value in cash. His intent was to only take his fourth of the inheritance, believing that the other three fourths should be distributed among his siblings. Following Willoughby Deas's death, the petitioners sue his son and administrator, Calvin Deas, for their shares of the inheritance.

Result: Demurred.

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Citation information

Repository: Sumter County Courthouse, Livingston, Alabama

Subjects