John and Daniel J. Townsend join their sister, Theodoria Elizabeth Smith, and their brother-in-law, Thomas P. Smith, in asking that Daniel J. Townsend be allowed to buy the slaves currently held in trust for the said Theodoria. They relate that their father, Daniel Townsend, conveyed certain slaves to John and Daniel J., "In Trust for the sole and separate use of the said Theodoria during her natural life." Noting that there are now more than fifteen slaves in said trust estate, the Townsend brothers reveal that they "have planting interests of their own which require their whole attention" and that Thomas Smith "is engaged in mercantile pursuits in the city of Charleston and by reason that neither of them is in a situation to give proper attention to the slaves of the said Trust Estate the same has proved unprofitable and the said Trustees think it advisable to change the investment." The petitioners assert that "they are unwilling that the said slaves should be sold to strangers" but that Daniel J. "is ready and willing to purchase said slaves, at their full and fair value." Since Daniel J. is trustee of said slaves, they realize that the court must sanction such a sale. They therefore pray that "the said John Townsend may be directed and empowered to sell the said slaves with leave to the said Daniel J. Townsend to become the purchaser."
Or you may view all people.
Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
