John Colsten and his wife, Alice Orem Colsten, petition the court to subpoena the executors of the estate of Hugh Orem and to order them to return slaves they claim were given to them by Alice's father, Hugh Orem. The Colstens say that he gave a fifteen-year-old slave, Sinah, to Alice as a marriage gift in 1791. When Orem became ill, the Colstens went to live with him bringing with them Sinah and her two children. About six years later, they returned home, leaving Sinah and four children with Hugh Orem to "render him any assistance he might require in his distressed and helpless situation." Now he has died, and his executors, sons Hugh and Speding, "refuse to comply with [the Colstens'] reasonable request" to return the slaves. The Colstens maintain that Orem divided his property among three of his children and cite as proof this excerpt from his will: "I hope my beloved daughter Alse [Alice] Colston ... will be satisfied with what I have already done for her." The petitioners aver this clause refers to Sinah and her children. Her brothers deny knowledge of such a gift and claim Sinah and "her issue" under the provisions of their father's will.
Result: Partially granted; denied.
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Repository: Maryland State Archives, Annapolis, Maryland
