The administrator and relatives of the late Early Benson "desire their interests in the estate." They inform the court that the intestate died in 1863, possessed of land and slaves. They further report that "the slaves were divided in Nov. 1863" and that all but one child received "an equal share, or as near equal as practicable." The petitioners point out that the "distributees present were satisfied with the division" and that "most of them received the shares allotted to them, and took charge of them." However, "some of the negroes remained on the farm ... because the parties ... were afraid if they removed them, they would run away the Federal army ... coming into the neighbourhood a few days after." The petitioners now request that a recently discovered marriage contract between the intestate and his wife be constructed by the court, "that an account of advancements be taken, and the rights of all the parties declared, and that the real be sold and the proceeds divided among those entitled."
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Repository: Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee
