James Sproul asks that Henry Chappel "be decreed to deliver to the orator the negroes Children Jack and Jacob," sons of a slave woman recently purchased by him. Sproul relates that he purchased the said female slave and her youngest child, but that her two other children were "exposed to sale" in another lot. He further cites that the said Chappel "told him he ought to buy them as he had the mother upon which your Orator replied he would buy them if they did not go too high." He reports that Chappel feared the prices would be run up if Sproul bid himself and thus offered to bid for him. Sproul accepted the offer and set $375 as the highest amount to be bid. The petitioner submits that Chappel, "who was the Last bidder," offered $376, and the two slave children were "struck off" to him. Sproul explains that Chappel gave "a note of hand for the price of the negroe which said note your Orator has since taken up and tendered to the Defendant and demanded the negroes." Charging that Chappel has refused his request and intends to keep the slaves himself, the petitioner prays that the said Jack and Jacob be delivered up to him.
Result: Denied.
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Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
