The heirs of the late Joshua Hadley ask that George Latimer, an in-law, be ordered "to produce all the deeds bonds or other instruments which he may have obtained from Capt. Hadley" so that they may be cancelled. Citing their estrangement from the decedent, they argue that Latimer acted as "a true sycophant adapting all his passions, and inflaming his hatred against his family." They further contend that Latimer induced the said Hadley, who was "old feeble and childish, and worn down with sickness," to sign a will "by which the whole estate was devised to him." Noting that Hadley died in 1830, the petitioners state that Latimer "pretends to claim a large amount of the property" through his use of "various subterfuges." In particular, they aver that Latimer tried to carry certain slaves to Illinois and "attempted to set them free," but the prevailing laws rendered said "attempt to emancipate the negroes ... a futile & void act." The Hadleys reveal that the decedent "first resolved to set all the negroes free, altho ... he never entertained any conscientious scruples upon the subject of slavery," in order to deprive his family of any inheritance. They pray that Latimer be made "liable for all the property real or personal, or money which he may have recd. or fraudulently disbursed." The court opinion cites that Hadley "was averse to slavery and often expressed himself so," and the deposition of William Douglass strongly supports that argument.
Result: Granted; appealed; reversed.
Or you may view all people.
Repository: Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee
