John H. Lovelace asks the court's help in recovering his slaves. In 1843, Lovelace received a judgment against his former tutor, George W. Lovelace, for $18,684.12. John Lovelace asserts that "by said Judgment, a tacit and legal mortgage & privilege was recognized and decreed to exist" in his favor "on all the real estate & slaves belonging to said George." All the property was sold at public auction and John became the purchaser of four slaves from the estate. Soon thereafter, he put the slaves "into the possession of one Jane C. Curry, wife of Benjamin P. Curry" with the understanding that, "if she desired to purchase them and would pay" him their value, "he would transfer & sell the same to her." Since that time, the Currys have not made any offer to purchase the slaves, yet they continue to hold them in their possession. John Lovelace therefore prays that the court declare him the lawful owner of the slaves and their increase and that the Currys be ordered to return the slaves to him and to pay "the hire of said slaves at $40 per month." A related document reveals that Jane Curry disputes John Lovelace's claim to ownership of the slaves and asserts that she inherited them from her mother, save a female slave whom she claims to have purchased from Julia M. Lovelace, now Julia Clark.
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Repository: Catahoula Parish Courthouse, Harrisonburg, Louisiana
