Rebecca Maples, the widow of John Maples, and her children seek the court's assistance in recovering a group of slaves. They represent that the said Maples "duly executed and delivered" a deed in 1845 that conveyed a female slave named Martha, her children, and their increase to William T. Brooks to be held in trust for Maple's use and benefit "during his life;" upon his death, the slaves were "to be enjoyed by your Oratrix Rebecca Maples, his wife, during her life;" upon her death, the slaves were to be held in trust for Rebecca's children. Subsequent to the execution of said deed, John Maples conveyed "all his right, title and interest, in said slaves" to James A. McCrorey. Noting that the said Maples is dead, his heirs contend that he "conveyed only the restricted interest in said slaves to which he was entitled" not the "absolute interest therein." They further charge that McCrorey understood this but that he nevertheless "removed said slaves to parts unknown" or "has the same concealed, so that your Orators and Oratrixes are entirely uninformed where said slaves are now to be found." The petitioners therefore pray that the said McCrorey "be compelled to account for and pay the full value of said slaves together with their hire" or deliver them up to be governed by the terms of said deed of trust.
Result: Amended; dismissed.
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Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
