Fleming Saunders seeks compensation for the care of Martha Watts, his sister-in-law, who is of "unsound mind, being wholly incapable of taking care of herself or of managing her property." He recounts that in 1837 Martha received an allotment of slaves, "which had been held by a certain Mary Watts (then deceased) during her lifetime, under the last will & testament of her husband William Watts." He further relates that the commissioners assigned to Martha in said division "chiefly negroes whose production value or immediate profit was small" and that "your Orator had thrown upon his plantation and under his care & management a number of breeding women with their families," thereby curtailing his ability to hire them out. The petitioner maintains that he "has been put to great trouble, inconvenience, labor and expense" in raising "a large number of young negroes & their mothers," detailing that he has provided them with land, livestock, clothes, and medical care. He also submits that the said Martha "has been fed from his table, and has exclusively occupied one room of his house." Saunders therefore prays that he be given "such compensation & relief in the premises as may appear to be just & proper."
Result: Dismissed.
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Repository: Circuit Court Building, Rustburg, Virginia
