John S. Elder asks the court to compel Minton Thrift, the executor of his late father's estate, to settle the "accounts of his administration" on Herbert Elder's estate. Elder's will directed that his "negro woman Clara and her child Ann Eliza and Clara's increase be given to Gabriel P. Disosway in trust to be sent to Africa to the Colony of Liberia" if they were willing to leave the United States. If they chose not to go, they should be "given within the space of twelve months" to his brother, John Elder. The petitioner informs the court that the slaves "did clearly and unequivocally declare" that they would "rather remain here in slavery" than go to Africa. He asks the court to decree to him "all the slaves left by the testator at the time of his death and the increase of the females born since."
Result: Granted.
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Repository: Circuit Court Clerk's Office, Petersburg, Virginia
