William Watts and Edward Saunders, "Committee of Martha Watts, a person of unsound mind," ask to sell one hundred twenty-seven slaves, "of both sexes, and of various values and ages, ranging from infancy to extreme old age." They cite that fifty-five of the slaves "are on the plantation of Edward Watts" and the remaining seventy-two "are on the plantations of Fleming Saunders," as the said Martha "has no land, on which said negroes or any of them can be placed." They surmise "that the great majority of these negroes, are women and children ... not now or for some time to come, likely to be, valuable and productive, as labourers, but actually a serious burden on the estate, as they have been, for many years past." They conclude that the slaves "must be hired or put out, into the hands of third persons, in whose possession, they would be unproductive, or worse, and moreover would not be likely to increase in general value, by increase, or otherwise." They therefore pray "that the Court will examine all proper evidence, touching the matters embraced hereby, and make such order and decree, as to the Court, may seem meet and proper, both as to the sale of the said negroes, and the appropriation of the proceeds, when collected." An account of the sale held 30 April 1849 reveals that sixty-five slaves sold for $26,270, the average price per slave equaling $404.15.
Result: Granted.
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Repository: Circuit Court Building, Rustburg, Virginia
