{"petition":[{"petition_analysis_number":"21685505","petition_url":"https:\/\/dlas.uncg.edu\/petitions\/petition\/21685505","state":"Virginia","county":"Lancaster","location_type":"County","file_day":17,"file_month":2,"file_year":1855,"filing_court":"Chancery","end_day":17,"end_month":2,"end_year":1855,"ending_court":"Chancery","result":"granted","enslaved_count":0,"fpoc_count":0,"total_people_count":6,"repository":"Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia","abstract":"Tunstall Pierce maintains that \"he is entitled to a share of slaves in the said County of Clark which he [inherited] from\" a Mrs. Laine.  Noting that there are five other heirs, Pierce \"represents ... that the said slaves cannot be divided in Kind, as there are only two of them -- a man & a woman, & that it would be to the advantage of all parties to sell the same & divide the proceeds amongst those entitled.\"  The petitioner further advises that \"as said slaves are in Clark County, & as the expense & trouble of bring[ing] them down to Lancaster would be considerable, your Orator wou[ld] represent that it would be better for the interests of all parties that the same be sold there or in Richmond.\"  Tunstall prays that a guardian be appointed to defend the interests of the five minor heirs and that a sale of the slaves be authorized.","subjects":[{"subject":"Absentee owners"},{"subject":"Enslaver (minors)"}]}]}