Jane D. Allen asks the court to confirm her sale of two slaves from her late husband's estate. Thomas J. Allen died in 1843, leaving to the petitioner all of his property "for the better support of herself and for the raising and educating of her children during her natural life." The Allens' three children are entitled to their shares of the estate when they come of age or marry. A slave named Esther and her son, Henry, were part of the estate, but Allen asserts that "said slaves became verry dishonest, of bad habits, and verry imprudent, and often threatened to run off and go to a free state." Esther is of "a verry high temper" and even once "attempted to cut another servant ... with an ax." Finding that "she could not manage them at all,” the petitioner sold the slaves for $1900 to N. G. Rousseau of Mississippi and purchased two other slaves. These slaves were not as valuable as Esther and Henry, and Allen states that "she has the residue of the money to purchase another when ... it is necessary." Allen desires that the two newly purchased slaves and the residue "may be held just as the said Esther and Henry were under said will." She prays that the court confirm her sale of the slaves. In his deposition, Robert Hart reveals that the slave Henry "can read and perhaps write."
Result: Granted.
Or you may view all people.
Repository: Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County Archives
