W. T. Branham seeks to alter the terms of a deed of trust. He informs the court that he conveyed twenty-seven slaves in 1850 to Thomas R. Brown in trust for the "support, maintenance, education, use, benefit and behoof" of the Branham children. The petitioner confesses, however, that he was "unhappily much addicted to intoxication" at the time and argues that said deed "was not drawn in accordance" with his wishes and directions. He reports that, since the deed's execution, his wife and one of his children have died, two trust slaves have been born, and six additional slaves have been purchased for $2400 by the estate trustee. Branham notes that the deed specified that only Brown, as trustee, can acquire proceeds from the hire of the trust slaves; nonetheless, he has applied to Brown "to permit him to receive the income of the negroes" for his support and that of his children. Lamenting that he has "been deprived of all means of living," the petitioner prays that he may be allowed to collect sufficient funds for his support and the maintenance and education of his children. Branham further requests that the deed of trust be extended to include his son, who was born after the original deed was drawn.
Result: Partially granted.
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Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
