Morgan Bryan died intestate in Kentucky in 1823 or 1824, leaving an estate which included ten slaves. Four of Bryan's heirs charge that his wife Sarah Bryan moved the slaves from Kentucky to Missouri in 1825 without their consent. The petitioners charge that such removal, under the laws of Kentucky, resulted in Sarah Bryan's forfeiture of all rights to the slaves. Upon her marriage to James McClelland in 1827, Sarah Bryan relinquished control of two of the slaves, Phillis and her daughter Milley, to her new husband. McClelland died in 1833 and the slaves were inventoried as part of his estate. The other eight slaves are now in the possession of Sarah McClelland, her son-in-law David Hickman, and two of her sons--John Bryan and Milton Bryan. The petitioners seek an account of the increase and hire of the slaves, a sale of the said slaves, and the distribution of the proceeds among the heirs. A related document reveals that a distribution of the slaves among all the heirs had been effected in 1830. Another related document also reveals that the slave Phillis had been reluctant to move from Kentucky to Missouri, because it had meant a separation from her husband.
Result: Partially granted.
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Repository: Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City, Missouri
