Richard S. Broughton seeks the resolution of a slave title dispute. In 1820, Sarah T. Branford, widow of Barnaby Branford, made a settlement "previous to and in consideration of a marriage" to the said Richard. In said marriage settlement, Sarah claimed that "she was possessed in her own right of ten negroes," which were conveyed in trust to James Sharpe and Paul Ulmer. In 1833, the Broughtons sold fifteen slaves in Branford's estate to discharge Branford's debts; the petitioner purchased two slaves, Tom and Mary, for $4,245. However, Broughton did not realize that these slaves were in "his marriage settlement, and upon the discovery of that fact he has become very uneasy." After Branford's death, the petitioner "came to an account" with Branford's children as they came of age and ensured the equitable division of slaves; Richard assumed the estate was settled. However, Charles G. Branford, one of Barnaby's children, plans to claim Tom and Mary after the death of Sarah, basing his claim on said marriage settlements. Broughton therefore prays that said marriage settlement be reformed and confined to Sarah's property only and that his title to Tom and Mary be confirmed.
Result: Granted pro confesso.
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Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
