Elizabeth E. Chitwood seeks an injunction against her sister and brother-in-law in order to maintain possession of a slave. In 1840, Chitwood's mother's estate was divided, and three slaves were divided between Elizabeth and her sister Ann M. Elizabeth was allotted a slave named Amy and her child, Minerva, while Ann received a slave named Martin along with a promise of $200 from Chitwood to make up the difference in value. Elizabeth claims that, in order to secure the debt to her sister, she executed a mortgage on Amy in 1842. Soon after, Ann intermarried with Daniel Blakemore; Elizabeth and her slaves went to live with the new couple until 1850. Now, Daniel Blakemore has instituted a suit against Chitwood claiming ownership of Amy by right of the unpaid mortgage. Chitwood maintains that Amy labored for the Blakemores during her stay at their home and that this is more than sufficient to cover the value of the mortgage. Now the petitioner fears that Blakemore is planning to steal Amy, even charging that he or his agent has twice "at a late hour of the night ... attempted to break into the house where she lives when there was no Man at home." Chitwood confides that "Amy is a family Negro of peculiar value, and her value in money would not compensate Complt for her." Therefore, Chitwood prays that the Blakemores be enjoined in their suit against her and that the mortgage be declared satisfied.
Result: Rejected.
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Repository: Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee
