Johnson and Martha Carter Nelson seek to recover a slave family that once belonged to Martha's father, Joseph Carter. They recount that her father received three slaves "as his portion" of the estate of his mother. The Nelsons further explain that "the said three negroes were the children of a negro fellow called Bob," who they contend "was never legally emancipated, and consequently incapable of acquiring property, and remained a slave till his death." The petitioners point out, however, that the said Joseph "became the owner of said three negroes, and was shortly thereafter derainged and incapable of transacting any business, or of making any valid contract, and while thus derainged he agreed to take from said negro Bob about $70 or $100.00 in property for said three negroes." The petitioners claim that the slaves, who now number ten and who "are now worth $5000 or $6000" and "claim to be free," are in the possession of Matilda Salling, Joseph's sister. Asserting that neither Salling nor her heirs have any right to claim the slaves, the Nelsons pray that the Salling family return the slaves to them and compensate them, with interest, for their hires.
Result: Dismissed.
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Repository: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
