Pleasant McCutchen, a free man of color, prays that Robert L. Weakley III be forced to return McCutchen's wife and daughter. On 7 March 1854, McCutchen bought his wife Tempe from Weakley for $600, of which he paid $280 cash and executed a promissory note for the rest. He and his wife then moved to Stewart County, "where he rented some land," and they lived there until Christmas 1856. At that time, "he was ordered away by a committee of the citizens ... under apprehension of an insurrection of the slaves." McCutchen brought his wife and daughter Mary Anna to Nashville, but discovered that "excitement was also prevailing here, in regard to the prevalent rumor of insurrection." He appealed to Weakley for protection, but Weakley seized his wife and daughter and refused to return them or let him finish paying for Tempe. McCutchen asks that Weakley be compelled to accept the rest of the purchase money, to comply with the contract, and to return his wife and child. In his answer, Weakley maintains that he sold Tempe to her husband for $400 less than her true value, because he wanted her freed. He charges that he retrieved Tempe and Mary Anna from Stewart County because Pleasant "tried to sell and mortgage his wife." Weakley states his willingness to carry out the contract as long as "the rights of the said Temperance may be fully protected."
Result: Partially granted; settled.
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Repository: Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County Archives
