The executors and executrix of the late Andrew Holmes charge Charles Christie, Valentine P. Luckett, and John M. Russell with delaying the "faithful execution" of Holmes's will "to the great Injury" of the estate's creditors. The late Holmes, with John Boyd, operated a trading firm called Andrew Holmes & Co. In November 1806 the company outfitted a ship under Christie's command "to procure on the Coast of Africa, a cargo of Slaves" and bring them back to Charleston. Instead of docking at Charleston, the ship anchored at Savannah where Christie sold some of the slaves to the Savannah firm of Caig & Mitchell. The petitioners maintain that Christie's actions could cost the estate $20,000. They claim that the custom house at Beaufort recorded 417 slaves aboard Christie's ship. The petitioners ask the court to compel Christie and his co-defendants to account for the sale of these slaves and to pay "all such Damages, Costs, Charges & Expences as have arisen & may accrue in consequence of the improper & illegal Conduct" of the defendants. Included in related documents is the letter of instructions given to Christie for the voyage.
Result: Partially granted.
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Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
