"Your petitioners John Franklin Jr and Benjamin S Martin would Shew Your Honor that they qualified as the administrators of Josiah Anthony Decd at the February term of the County Court of Sumner that he left the following children Susan E Jane H Mary E and Patsey all infants that he died possessed of a handsome real and personal estate among others of his negroes he owned a negro man by the name of Mack and under the circumstances surrounding him they have placed said negro in the Jail of this county they will show that the Epperson Springs have been lately burned down and that this boy was hired at those Springs and the owners thereof has some suspicions that said boy had some hand in burning said Springs though proof is not satisfactory fixing the guilt upon him and the owners and the neighbours require his removal from the County Petitioners are satisfied that is manifestly to the interest of said estate to have said negro sold out of the Country and the proceeds divided among the legatees of said estate but Petitioners does not feel themselves authorised to sell said negro without the action of the court therefore they pray your honor to authorise them to sell said slave either privately or publicly fixing a minimum price Petitioners think the said minimum price should be put at $700 cash and if they can sell him for more of course they will do so" [Transcription of petition.]
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Repository: Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee
