James D'Wolf, a Rhode Island merchant, asks the court to compel Launcelot Bellerby, of Liverpool, England, to account with him for proceeds arising from a joint business venture they undertook in "the African Trade." D'Wolf explains that he "fitted out" three vessels for the purpose of obtaining slaves from Africa and transporting them to America in 1806. Bellerby captained the vessels, disposed of the cargoes, and carried "large numbers of slaves" back to Charleston where "they arrived in safety and at a good market." The petitioner complains that Bellerby has returned to him "but a very imperfect amount" of the proceeds from the market sales; instead, he has "placed the same in the hands" of the firm of Christian and D'Wolf in Rhode Island. Although the petitioner is "considerably the creditor" of Bellerby, he cannot begin "the process of attachment at Common Law" because Bellerby is a "transient person and Foreigner." He asks the court to enjoin the firm of Christian and D'Wolf from paying over to Bellerby the proceeds from the sale of the slaves.
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Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
