John and Elizabeth Reed seek to settle her late father's estate. Thomas Wilson died in 1838, and by his will he ordered that his widow Mary should receive land and two slaves named Bill and Amy; the remainder of the estate was to be sold and then divided among his heirs. As executors, John Reed and George Wilson, son of the testator, had the property sold per the will's directions, and Reed is now in possession of the "net balance" of the sale. He was set to distribute the proceeds among the heirs when John Wilson objected, asserting that they had not accounted for all of the estate's assets. Reed counters that, during the last years of his life, Thomas Wilson had "an attack of appoplexy" that rendered him "unfit to transact his own business." During these years, George and Mary Wilson had "undue influence" over Thomas, convincing him to distribute slaves to them and to George's children. Other heirs of the estate also admit to receiving gifts of slaves prior to Thomas's death, but they are willing to account for these gifts, "provided that George would do so also." However, George has refused to do so. The petitioners pray that the other heirs be made to interplead to this bill and to account for the gifts they received from Thomas during his lifetime and that a proper distribution of the estate's remainder be ordered.
Result: Partially granted.
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Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
