John B. Eldridge sues to reclaim property. Eldridge explains that Jesse Mathews died intestate in 1843 "as well as he now remembers." In September 1850, the county court appointed Eldridge to administer Mathews' estate. Eldridge charges that Thomas J. Mathews, son of the intestate, "forced the...widow to leave the...farm and late residence of his said father" and took control of the entire estate. Mathews sold some of the property and "the balance he used as his own and has sold and disposed of the same privately as best suited his convenience." Eldridge also claims that Mathews fraudulently sold several slaves belonging to the estate and has used the others without paying for their hire. The petitioner further charges that Mathews took money and financial documents on hand when his father died. Mathews refuses to return any property or account for it. Eldridge requests that the court compel Thomas J. Mathews and his alleged associate William Reed to account for and return all property belonging to the estate of Jesse Mathews. He also asks for an injunction against Mathews to prevent him from "selling or removing" the remaining slaves.
Result: Partially granted.
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Repository: Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee
