Wade Boatright purchased a slave named Nelson from Wiatt Pettyjohn for $425 in 1821. He believed the slave to be between thirty and thirty-five years old, but soon discovered from "the Gentlemen who raised said slave" that Nelson was "fully forty years of age." Boatwright explains that he was induced "to give the extravagant price aforesaid" because he wanted to "buy a young negro." Had he known Nelson's age, he would not have paid more than $250 or $300. Boatright also purchased a slave named Frederick at the "enormous price" of $400 from Wiatt's brother, Joseph Pettyjohn. He believed the slave "was sound, & healthy, and of good capacity" but discovered that Frederick was "diseased, and unsound, and of very dull capacity." Boatright asserts that the brothers along with John P. Wilson were "joint owners of both of said slaves" and that the three men are "answerable to your Orator for the frauds practised on him." In response to Joseph Pettyjohn's suit foreclosing on the bond, Boatright seeks an injunction "from all further proceedings at Law on the judgment aforesaid."
Result: Partially granted.
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Repository: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
