Isham Linton seeks to recover slaves stolen by his son-in-law. John D. Johnson married Linton's daughter in 1853. The next January, Linton made his will wherein he allotted ten slaves worth about $6000 and a tract of land to his daughter, "free from the control and liabilities of her said Husband." Later that same month, the Johnsons came to live with him, at which time he revealed to them the provisions of his will, to which "Johnson and wife expressed themselves satisfied." Soon after, Linton allowed Johnson to "take and use for the present the said Lands and slaves, and from the income of the same support himself and wife;" Linton, however, would retain title to the property. On 1 August 1855, Linton and Johnson "had an altercation arising out of & connected with the conduct of said Johnson towards his wife." During this argument, Johnson "laid claim to the said negroes and said he intended to sell them to pay his debts." Days later, two of the slaves "disappeared from the Plantation and vicinity and ... one day later the slave Abram also disappeared." Believing that Johnson and his brother have taken the slaves, Linton prays that they be enjoined from removing or selling the slaves out of the state and that they be ordered to return the slaves to him, as "he is much attached to them."
Result: Injunction granted.
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Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
