David Martin died sometime around the year 1835, bequeathing a life estate in his land and slaves to his wife Lucy. The personal property consisted of "eight negroes--four of whom were almost, if not entirely, valueless and the rest yielding but little profit." In 1842, David Martin's three daughters, Jane, Mary, and Martha, purchased their mother's life estate for the sum of $400 and, in counterpart, have assumed her support and maintenance for the rest of her life and the payment of her debts. Now, the sheriff has confiscated two of the slaves to pay Lucy's debts. Since the slaves in question are no longer Lucy's property, the petitioners maintain, they cannot be sold for Lucy's debts. They ask the court for an injunction to restrain the creditors from continuing with their suit and pray that the slaves are returned to their possession.
Result: Injunction granted; made perpetual.
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Repository: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
