Pamelia Embry, a free woman of color, seeks a settlement from Simpson J. Embry, the executor of the estate of Pamelia's late husband, Peter Embry. The petitioner charges that she is Peter's "sole legatee and entitled to the whole estate of her said husband." She disputes a "pretended settlement" that Simpson Embry has filed with the clerk of court, citing "erroneous" credits, in particular, those arising from rents collected on her late husband's real estate. She also accuses Embry of taking advantage of her "distressed" situation by mismanaging a trust estate set up so that she could "remain in the country and enjoy her property" after Peter's death. She explains that Embry now "claims the whole of said property and denies that your oratrix has any interest therein." She "finds herself stripped of every thing and has not even a friend in the person of said administrator who is exceedingly unkind to her, and growlingly furnished her a few of the absolute necessaries of life." Confiding in the court that she "cannot stand the life she is now living," she asks them to "set aside" the trust deed and to compel Simpson to equitably settle with her. Peter Embry's will reveals that he purchased Pamelia and emancipated her after 1836 and that he desired that his executor purchase the couple's daughter, Margaret, from Thomas Howard in order to emancipate her as well.
Result: Denied; appealed; reversed and remanded.
Or you may view all people.
Repository: Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee
