The five heirs of Drury Vaughan seek possession of six slaves. In April 1840, the petitioners' uncle, Peter R. Vaughan, conveyed to them a slave named Nelly and her son, Jim, by deed of gift. The slaves have remained in the possession of the petitioners' father, Drury Vaughan, and Nelly has subsequently had four other children. Vaughan has sold two of these slave children, one to W. W. Turner and the other to the firm of Glover and Boyd. All of these parties were aware of the Vaughan children's claims to the slaves. The petitioners fear that their father will sell more of the slaves, thereby further depriving them of their property. They pray that they be declared the rightful owners of the slaves and that all of the slaves, including the two previously sold, be put in their possession "or that their value be accounted for if they cannot be produced." In the decree it is revealed that Drury Vaughan owned a slave in 1836 named "Jane who was levied upon ... & sold" to his father, Peter Vaughan. Peter then returned the slave to his son "perhaps by verbal gift & the said Jane was afterwards exchanged for the negro Nelly." In 1839, Nelly was levied upon by W. S. Wilkins and sold at public auction, where she was purchased by Drury's brother, Peter R. Vaughan.
Result: Granted.
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Repository: Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County Archives
