Six heirs of the late Martha Rivers sue Rivers' executor and her other heirs for an account of her estate and for the share she willed to them. Rivers stipulated in her will that her slaves were to be permitted "to have as much indulgence consideration and comfort in every respect as the law will permit them in the character of owners to extend to their slaves." She also entrusted George Cooper and Alexander Brown with "two thousand dollars to enable them to support the said slaves when they from age or sickness may become chargeable." In addition, she bequeathed six acres of land and the use of livestock to the slave Peter. Rivers left "the rest and residue" of her estate, including the proceeds from the sale of property in Charleston, to her next of kin, including William and Charles Fripp. Charles died shortly after Martha, leaving a widow and four children. William Fripp and Charles' wife and children complain that Cooper has refused to present his estate accounts or to deliver their inheritance. They ask the court to order Cooper to account for his handling of the estate and to pay to them "their respective shares and proportions of the rest and residue of the Estate."
Result: Partially granted pro confesso.
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Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
