Nathan Sims seeks to stop legal action and to recover money. When his brother Reuben lost a suit, the sheriff seized property, including a female slave named Lot and her two sons. Reuben asked William Rice to buy the slaves, "the negro woman having been the nurse of his daughter & she entertaining a strong feeling of kindness for her." Rice bought the slaves in 1828 for $500, and they returned that day to Reuben's house. Rice said that Reuben's daughter "might pay him his bid ... so soon as she could." Rice later informed the petitioner, who was "acting somewhat in the character of friend & agent" for Reuben's family, that there was a suit pending against Rice and Reuben. In order to have "something to show if called on," he asked Nathan to give him a note for the hire of the slaves. Nathan did so, but Rice later sued him for wrongful conversion of the slaves and for their return. Rice won a $1900-award, the value of Lot and her five children. Nathan avows that he never possessed or claimed the slaves and only wrote the notes for hire at Rice's request; he adds that Rice owes him money. Years ago, James Moorman sent slaves to be sold by Rice's brother George in Mississippi, but George died before delivering the proceeds. Nathan alleges that William Rice obtained the money. Having acquired Moorman's interest in the sale proceeds, the petitioner seeks his share of the proceeds, with interest, and an injunction against any further action on Rice's suit.
Result: Amended.
Or you may view all people.
Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
