The relatives of the late Thomas Wright state that he "gave the Land and the greater part of the personal estate ... to a negro man born a slave the property of the said Thomas Wright by the name of Robert Wright which said slave was never legally emancipated." They contend that after Thomas's death "the said Robert Wright was permitted to go at large and by some means possessed himself of the estate." They further cite that Robert "pretended to marry a white woman," Polly Godsy, who bore a son named Thomas P. Wright, and who "left this country." They declare that after Godsy's departure he "took to live with him a white woman by the name of Polly Davidson," who nine months after his death bore a daughter named Martha Anne Davidson, "which said child has since died." They assert that Robert, described as Thomas's "natural son," died in 1818, "still a slave and incapable in Law of holding or disposing of property." They cite, however, that the court assigned Samuel Flemming to administer the property which Robert "possessed himself of" and that Flemming now "refuses to deliver the same to your Orators and Oratrices or to account for the rents and profits thereof." In addition, they point out that Polly Davidson has filed suit "with a view to set up a pretended will" in order to inherit the property. Of the opinion that "much of the will of Thomas Wright deceased as disposes of his estate to Robert Wright his slave as aforesaid is void," the petitioners maintain that "they are as fully entitled to the property aforesaid as if the said Thomas had died intestate." They pray that Samuel Flemming render an account of the estate and deliver the same to them and that this suit "be heard and tried at the same time with the abovementioned suit brought by Polly Davidson."
Result: Dismissed.
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Repository: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
