When Edward Robinson and Nancy Holley married, Nancy's father, Thomas Holley, delivered to Edward two slaves named Dempse and Will of the value of $1,000, as his daughter's marriage portion. Edward Robinson held the slaves in his possession for fifteen years; he died intestate, leaving his widow and four children. It appears that, although Edward Robinson had enjoyed all the privileges of ownership over the two slaves during his lifetime, Thomas Holley still considered himself the slaves' owner; for after his son-in-law's death, he executed a deed of gift of the two slaves in favor of his daughter in the form of a life estate, with the remainder to be divided among her children after her death. Nancy Holley Robinson remarried and then died in 1816. The slaves are now in the possession of her widower, Thomas Spencer. Although two of the Robinson children have sold their distributive shares in the slaves to the petitioner, Elam Hobbs, Spencer refuses do a distribution among the heirs, alleging various reasons. Hobbs asks that Spencer be compelled to answer his allegations in detail and to deliver up his rightful share in the slaves, including the value of their hires.
Result: Settled.
Or you may view all people.
Repository: Jones County Courthouse, Gray, Georgia
