John Snellings, administrator of the late Reuben Dawson's estate, petitions for the return of slaves to Reuben's estate. Snellings writes that in 1828, Reuben was ordered by the court to pay Greene County $2,207.08; William Dawson became his security for this debt. After the judgment, "the sum was levied upon twelve Negroes the property of said Reuben Dawson." William paid $2,164.50 for the slaves, at auction, and made an agreement with Reuben that "said Negroes should be the property of the Said Reuben when he should pay off said execution" and other debts. The slaves returned to Reuben's possession, and upon his death, passed into his wife's possession. When she died, Snellings says, "William took possession of the whole of said Negroes and their increase ... without any lawful authority." The petitioner avers that prior to his death, Reuben had paid off all debt to William, making the slaves Reuben's legal property, and now properly part of his estate. But now, in 1857, William has also died and the slaves are being used by his sons, George, Lucien, and Edgar Dawson. Snellings seeks the return of the remaining slaves, and the interest and proceeds of the slaves that were hired and of those that are now dead.
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Repository: Greene County Courthouse, Greensboro, Georgia
