{"petition":[{"petition_analysis_number":"20982801","petition_url":"https:\/\/dlas.uncg.edu\/petitions\/petition\/20982801","state":"Maryland","county":"Montgomery","location_type":"County","file_year":1828,"filing_court":"Equity","enslaved_count":1,"fpoc_count":0,"total_people_count":4,"repository":"Maryland State Archives, Annapolis, Maryland","abstract":"In February 1822, John L. Atwood became security for Benjamin Machall for the payment of $575 with interest to William Jarboe.  Atwood alleges that Machall owned a number of slaves who could have satisfied the debt.  He conjectures that once the claim of Jarboe against Machall fell to him as Machall's security, Machall's brother-in-law, Thomas Darby, conspired with Machall to keep the slaves hidden through a pretended title in Darby's name.  The sheriff managed to capture and sell one of the slaves, Harry, for approximately $152.  However, Atwood claims that \"in consequence of the said Darby forbidding the sale in the presence of the bidders,\" Harry sold to a bidder for half of his actual value.  Atwood also alleges that Machall and Darby have executed a pretended bill of sale of the slaves transferring ownership from Machall to Darby.  John Atwood asks the court to subpoena Benjamin Machall and Thomas Darby to answer the charges.","subjects":[{"subject":"Concealing (enslaved)"},{"subject":"Title dispute (enslaved)"},{"subject":"Auctions"},{"subject":"Purchase\/Sale prices (enslaved)"}]}]}