The heirs of Benedict Walker, whose death "occurred in the midst of the war which is still raging," ask that the "solemn agreement" they "entered into" be honored instead of Walker's will. They represent that several heirs to the estate have been born after the will's execution. They also report that the "testator himself made very great changes in the condition of his real estate by selling portions thereof and by purchasing other farms and tracts of land with respect to which he died intestate having made no disposition thereof in his will." In order "to avoid vexatious and expensive litigation" and so as not to "disturb the harmony of the family," referees distributed the slaves and land in Walker's estate to his said heirs. Noting that the parties "have accepted the settlement and distribution of the real and personal estate of the said B. Walker as made by the referees," the petitioners pray that "your worships will ratify and confirm the report of the referees" and that "parties interested in the estate of B. Walker decd hereafter and from the time fixed in the report hold in severalty the slaves and parcels of land assigned them respectively in said reports."
Result: Granted.
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Repository: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
