The widow and children of the late Dr. William Leak seek the sale of the slaves, whom they have inherited from his estate. The petitioners inform the court that said Leak died in 1849 and that his will directed that his "estate both real and personal of every sort and kind" should remain in the possession of his wife "during her life or widowhood or until his oldest child" comes of age, at which time said slaves were to be appraised and assigned in lots, "one lot to each child." Leak's heirs report that "your orator William M Leek has arrived at age and married and that a partition of the slaves has been made in accordance with the will of the Testator." Citing that there is "no Real Estate" in said estate, the petitioners declare that they "are desirous of removing to the south west where they can obtain better and cheaper lands." They realize, however, that "they cannot remove the slaves allotted to them without the consent of their Trustees." Noting that "said slaves cannot be advantageously hired out," the Leaks believe "it would be more to their interest that they should be sold." They therefore pray that said slaves "may be decreed to be sold ... and the proceeds arising from said sale be placed at interest and held" for their use and benefit.
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Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
