Esther Bridges seeks to enjoin the sale of 3 enslaved children, who have been levied upon to satisfy the debts of Jessee Bridges. Stating that she enlisted said Jessee "in the purchase of negros for her" in 1820, Esther avows that he used her money to buy "a negro man and his wife named Luke and Matilda," but he titled said slaves in his name. The petitioner notes that she discovered the fraud, but, fearing his creditors would seize the couple and their 3 children, she forgave Jessee's debts in return for a "valid" bill of sale. She now reports that said children, who were not named in the new bill of sale, have been seized and are to be sold soon "unless prevented by your honor." Esther reveals that "she being a widow and having raised sd negro Children with her own they are endeared to her affections and the cruelty of selling them away from their parents would distress her feelings much and in all probability render through grief and distraction their father and mother of little value to your Oratrix." She asks that the parties be restrained "from proceeding any farther in the sale of sd negros," that the children "be delivered up again into the possession of your Oratrix," and that the title to said slaves be "divested out of sd Jessee and Vested in your Oratrix."
Result: Granted.
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Repository: Maury County Historical Society Loose Records Project, Columbia, Tennessee
