Levi Hart petitions for a new trial to confirm his title to a slave named Sam. Sam had been the property of Alexander Parker, of Virginia, who conveyed him to his son William Parker. In 1793, William brought the slave to Kentucky, where he continued to hold possession until 1810, when Sam ran away. Shortly thereafter, William died, leaving a will in which he devised the slave to his brother-in-law, David Jenkins, to be sold for the benefit of Jenkins's children. Sam returned, and Jenkins sold him for six hundred and fifty dollars to William Morton; Morton sold him to Levi Hart for the same amount. Hart "thereto set off for New Orleans upon a trading adventure," but was detained in Jefferson County, where John Nelson sued him for possession of the slave, claiming that he had purchased Sam in 1813 from a man named Middleton. Hart had to go down to New Orleans on business and missed the trial due to the slowness of the boat on which he returned. In that trial the slave and damages were awarded to Nelson. Hart now asks the court for a new trial at which he will be able to defend himself against the false claims of Nelson.
Result: Discontinued.
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Repository: Kentucky Division of Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, Kentucky
