James Flannigan, an overseer working for Thomas Leftwich, fell into debt. Leftwich agreed to pay the £40 he owed, and Flannigan put up his slave named Betty, "commonly called Betty Flannigan," as security. It was agreed that Flannigan, who was "much attached" to Betty, would keep the slave in his possession and had the right to redeem her at any time, as Leftwich had not been able to pay him regular wages. However, some years later, Leftwich, "disregarding the terms of his agreement," unlawfully took possession of Betty and her three children, born since the time of the original transaction. Leftwich then sold the slaves to Joseph Eckhols. Leftwich is dead, and eighty-five-year-old Flannigan is "much too far advanced in life and decrepit" to file suit against the Leftwich estate. Consequently, for five hundred dollars, Peregrine Eckhols obtained "the right title and interest in & to the equity of redemption of the said mortgaged slave Betty & her children." Eckhols prays "that your honor will decree to your orator the price for which the slaves were sold with the interest thereon."
Result: Dismissed.
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Repository: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
