MISCELLANEOUS COURT RECORDS  

Generously transcribed & submitted by Sherida Dougherty, thanks Sherida!

[The following records were transcribed from copies found in The Barton Papers – microfilm roll #258.  Transcriptions are as the originals appear – there have been no corrections for spelling, grammar, or punctuation.  Comments of the transcriber appear in brackets [ and are frequently italicized.]

                                                                                                     

White, Emily                                                                                           

vs}  P Cir C Pkg 83

  Charles S. Clarkson                                                                                                

 

Mrs. Emily White

and}  Contract for hire of Slaves

Charles S. Clarkson

D.S. Clarkson

 

Will, Jordan, Richmond, Dennis, Washington, Noah, Gabriel, Joe, Reuben, Ambrose, Moses.

Peggy, Fariny, Lucy, Winny, Mary, Ann, Margery, Susan.

I bind myself not to hire the above named negroes to any other person without permission from the owner.  I also bind myself to keep them on a farm and not suffer them to attend at any distillery.  I also bind myself to pay their taxes to furnish them with the customary quantity of winter & summer clothing Viz.

two shirts a piece for all  two pair of shoes for the men  one pair for the women and children  2 pair socks for the men  one pair stockings for the women   two pair summer pantaloons for the men  one summer dress for the women & girls  one pair winter pantaloon and coat jacket &c for the men & boys  one winter dress for the women girls & children    I also bind myself to pay the full value of any of the above named negroes who may abscond beyond recovery provided I cannot clearly prove that I have made every exertion to recover them.

We or either of us do promise to pay unto Mrs. Emily White the just and full sum of $1125 on 1st day of May 1839 for the hire of the above named negroes for the term of twelve months.

(Witness)                                                                   Charles S. Clarkson

Norman Gray                                                           by D.S. Clarkson

                                                                                    D.S. Clarkson

Hamilton[?] Million, Shff. Harrison Co. certified May 7, 1839, the tax was 12 ½ cents on $100 of property.

9 of the slaves were over 16 years of age & subject to tax.

22 Negroes valued at $8800.

 

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Lawson Oxley                                                                                  P. Cir Ct. Pkg 201

vs}  Petn. filed Oct 10, 1865

Robert Jones

E H Samuels

            That defts in 1864 unlawfully &c took from plff’s possn. four slaves:  Mariah age 23, and her 3 children: slaves were property of plff. & worth $1000 at the time.  Prays for $1000 & $200 damages.

                                                                                    Carpenter & McClintock, for Plff.

Petn. verified Nov 7, 1865, by plff. before J F Ware, CHCC

This suit began in Harrison Circuit Court

Ans. of R. Jones Apr 23, 1866, by W W Trimble

            That Mariah was wife of a negro man Lee and children were by reputation his children, that he went into the service of U S Govt in early part 1864; that this deft was U S Provost Marshall of Har. Co. & E H Samuels was U S Provost Marshall for 6th Dist. of Ky of which Har. Co. was a part; that on July 28, 1864, Jones, who was subject to orders of Samuels rec’d perevitory[?] order in writing to send sd Mariah & children to sd Samuels office in Cov.; that he read the order to Oxley, who said the woman & children would be ready to go on next train in the morning;…Oxley consulted W W Trimble, & Trimble wrote to Samuels & That Jones only read letter to Oxley – used no force – that Oxley sent the negroes to Cov.

            Jones says he had no option but to obey his superior officer; that marshall law had been declared in Ky. & was then in full force; limitaiton of 1 year pleaded.

Apr 23, 1866  application for removal to U S Court

E H Samuels sum. Oct 11, 1865 in Kenton Co.

Robt Jones sum. Oct 20, 1865 in Harrison Co.

 

Subpeonas for Plff – Har. Co.

            T V Dills, C Walton, W L Northcutt, W S Haviland, Mrs. W L Northcutt, R J Daviny, Jno. Marr, Mrs. Larken Garnett, Leon Cuson, Caleb Musser, Mrs. Leon Cuson.

Subpeonas for Deft. Harrison Co.

            W B Glave(?), Joseph Ward, W M Bayless, J F Were, W H McCloud.

Oct Term 1867 Dismd for want of prosecution.

The case filed in Pend. Cir. (on change of venue) Jan 22, 1866 

 

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Sarah Asberry                                                                                  P Cir C Pkg 126

v}  Petn. Filed Mch 22, 1856                                                           Records, Atty

George Glenn

a free man of color

1.                  On Dec 28, 1854 plff hired to deft for 1 year, 5 negro slaves, being his wife and children, viz:  Maria age 26 years worth $600, and her 4 children viz:  John age 12, worth $600; Milly age 10, worth $500; Jane age 6, worth $400, and Belinda age 4, worth $300; amounting to $2600; and delivered to him the possession of said slaves, in consideration of $40 the hire of one year from the date of the contract.  Afterwards in Nov. 1855 the deft removed the slaves from the Comth of Ky and converted them to his own use whereby the slaves became wholly lost to the plff.

2.                  The deft agreed to pay plff $40 for the hire of his wife and children for one year.  No part of it has been paid.  Deft is a non resident and has no property in this State, except a tract of land on the waters of the Southfork of Licking containing 65 acres, on which a small balance of the purchase money is yet due.

Sarah x Asberry

Sworn to June 9, 1856

Alfred Riley JPPC

Mch 22, 1856 Charles Duncan appointed Warning Order Atty.

Attachment Bond June 10, 1856                                        Sarah Asbury by John Childers her agent

                                                                                                R. Stowers

Attachment levied on 65 acres land being same conveyed to James Ingels by G T

Talbot &c and sold by Ingels to Glenn.  Delivered a copy to Frederick Femter the

occupant thereof Mch 24, 1856.                                        J A Moore SPC  

June 13, 1856.  Attachment again levied on the 65 acres, and delivered a copy to James Larkin, the occupant holding under the Sheriff.            J A Moore SPC

May 2, 1856 Wm A Brann filed claim on note of Geo. Glenn to J J Ingels for $172.28 for part of purchase money on the 65 acres.            Hauser, Atty.

June 5, 1856 James filed his petition claiming that Glenn had bought the land from him by title bond, and had sold the land back to Ingels who was now the owner.  Ingels was to pay the note held by Wm A Brann.

                                                                                                Fitzpatrick, Atty.

Spoe for Sarah Asbury:  Wm G Woodson & Wm Johnson

Exd June 5, 1856,  J A Moore SPC

 

December the 28 185…twelve mos after date i promise to pay Sarah Asby forty dollars for the hier of his wife and Children for one year witness my hand and the same to be fed and clothed.

Test  John Childers                                                             George x glenn

 

James J Ingels

To}  Title Bond Sept 8, 1851 $400     $140 paid

George Glenn a free man of color

            On waters of South Fork of Licking about 2 miles above Town of Falmouth, Beg at a large Sug near bank of South fork; then S 26-38 E 137 p. to 2 Sug on hill side near top of a ridge; then S 85 E 61 p to Sassfs stump said to have been a corner tree – original trees all down; then N 10 ½ W 154 p to stu. (corner trees not standing) then S 84 W 38 p to stu on bank of South fork (original trees all gone) then up river with meanders S 55 W 9 p; S 61 W 25 p; S 67 W 10 p; S 87 W 17 p to beg. contg. 65 acres.

$137 to be paid Mch 1, next.  $130 due Mch 1, 1853

quit claim deed, that being the kind of deed I rec’d from Talbotts heirs.

                                                                                                James J Ingels

May 20, 1856  I assign my right to within Bond to James J. Ingels.

Ingels                                                                                     George Glenn

Witness                                                                      by F G x Hughs Agent

Levi Coffin

   

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Wm A Brann                                                                                                P Cir C Pkg 135

v}  Petn. in Eq. Filed Nov. 20, 1855                                               Hauser, p.q.

Geo. Glinn, a free man of Colour

James J. Ingels

Note $172.28.  May 18, 1855 to Wm A Brann, due Sept 1, next.

Attest Jacob Highfill                                                           George x Glen

The debt being the balance of the pur. Money due upon the land which said George pur. From J Ingels…upon the South fork of Licking and upon which he resided containing 65 acres more or less bounded as follows towit [repeats the information above]

            The deft George has eloped taking with him his wife and her children, slaves, the property of John Childers or his wife Eliza as he is informed to parts unknown and is now a non-resident of this State, and as plff supposes is a resident of Ohio or some other free State or Canada.

            The vendor of the land James Ingels assigned the equitable lien…prays judgt &c.

Ans. of Glenn by H A Fitzpatrick appointed to defend (June 10, 1856).

            Denies each and every allegation.

Comrs Sale, July 7, 1856 to John Childers for $221.64 for 29 ½ A.    

                                                                                                Thos. E. Moore, Cmr.

John Childers transfers his bid for 29 ½ A to James H. Burber.

                                                                                                John Childers

 

Depositions taken May 2, 1856 at Falmouth

James J. Ingels.  I sold the land to Geo Glenn for $400.  He paid me at different times, all of it but $180 for which he executed his note.  I transferred the note to Wm A Brann.  Glenn has left the farm and I suppose he has left the State.  It is said that he ran away with his wife & Children the property of John Childers, and when he left he was living upon the premises.

                                                                                                James J Ingels

Jacob Highfill.  The note was executed in my presence and I subscribed as a witness.  It was a debt created for land sold by Ingels to him.

                                                                                                Jacob Highfill

Pend. Co. Sct.

Matthew Mullins Examr.

 

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Wm A White                                                                                     P Cir C Pkg 126

v}  Petn. Filed May 10, 1856                                                           W W Trimble Atty

John Ingles

About April 23, 1856 plff pur. of deft. a negro man named Henry, about 19 years of age, for $900.  The negro slave was to be delivered to plff & the money paid to deft before the next Saturday evening (April 23 being on Wednesday).

            Plff was making arrangement to raise the money to pay for said boy, and deft told plaintiff that he could not get the negro man for $900.

            Prays damage $200.                                                 Wm A White

Har. Co. Sct.

Sworn to by W A White May 9, 1856

John Trimble Examiner Harrison Co.

Sums Exd on John Ingles May 10, 1856   T E Moore D.S.

 

Ans. June 2, 1856                                                                 W. C. Marshall, Atty

            He never did sell his negro man Henry to plff at the price of $900, nor upon the terms claimed. 

            Ingels had hired his boy Henry to plffs brother-in-law Thomas Corwin for 1 year from Jan 1, 1856 to end on Dec 25, 1856.

            Plff had a difficulty with the negro boy while in possession of Corwin, when deft proposed to sell the boy to him, and for him to whip him as he desired to do.

            White asked Ingels his price and Ingels told him $1000, to be paid the Saturday thereafter $900, and satisfy Corwin for the time he had hired him.  Corwin had paid $100 to Ingels for the hire of said boy, which would make the $1000 Ingels asked.  White never offered to tender the $900 and satisfy Corwin.

                                                                                                John Ingels

Spoe for White

June Term 1856:       (Harrison Co.)  Thomas Boyd, L C Boyd, Ackd by T L Boyd

We of the Jury find for plff $25 in damages.

                                                                                                Wm Johnson, foreman

   

 

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Comth [Commonwealth]                                                                P. Cir. Ct.  Pkg. 209

vs}  Indet. filed Apr 20, 1859                                              W E Arthur Com. Atty

Polly Ann Southgate, a Free woman of Color

            Suffering Slave to go at large &c hire himself – in Mch 1859, being owener of a negro slave Caleb Hitch, did permit sd slave to go at large and hire himself out for his own benefit and the benefit of deft.                          S M King Foreman

Wits for Comth:

Dr J. Wilson

Casper Sharp

Charles Broesuk (Braseke)

Jno B Rawlings

James Kennett

Geo W Jameson

Proceedings by Sums. To deft.  Exed’d Sept 29, ’59  J M Curry SPC

Defts wits:  G.C. Lightfoot, John Southgate, Eliza Hughes (last 2, colored)

            “We of the jury find the defendant Gilty.  S M Bonar, foreman”

Among the several instructions to jury are:

(Refused)  If the deft. authorized & directed Caleb to hire himself to J B Rawlings and rec. the pay therefor in clothing, the jury must find for deft.

Following instruction Refused.

They (the jury) must find for the deft., if they find that she was a free woman of colour, and bought Caleb as her husband.

 

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James and T.A. Frazer                                                                    P. Cir. Ct.  Pkg 189

vs}   Petn. filed Mch 8, 1864                       by                   Boyd, Atty.

Elsey Hughes

            Plffs are admrs. of John H. Frazer, dec’d.

Elsey Hughes is a free man of color; that he and Paul C. Lair (who is now dead) executed their prom. note Sept 9, 1854 to John Elliott, for $166.66 2/3; that Elliott assigned the note to John H Frazer; (also a 2d note of same date, for like sum).  That deft executed Mtg. to John H Frazer on a female slave Julia Ann, who at that time, and still is the wife of deft., that John H Frazer d. a res. of Harrison Co., intestate.

Ans. filed Apr 20, 1864 by Records, Atto

            That since Mtg was executed, deft has held undistrubed power of his wife Julia, named in sd Mtg under contract with sd Frazer; that sd Frazer agreed to cancel sd Mtg & note for services performed by Julis; that deft & Julia resided at Fal. & she made frequent trips to Cynthiana, where Frazer resided, and performed work for him – to amount equal to the notes, &c.

Judgement for notes & interest; but right to foreclose the Mtg is denied.  Filed Oct 21, 1865

Q?  Why was enforcement of Mtg. denied?

President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of Jan 1, 1863 did not apply to Ky.  The 13th Amendment to Court was in 1865.  

 

Elsey x Hughes (a free man of Coler), of Pend Co.

To}  Mtg Bk L-439  Nov 5, 1855   $100 and other consid’n

John H. Frazer, of Harrison Co.

            A certain female negro Slave name Julia Ann who is my wife

“hath bargained and sold unto John H Frazer of the Co. of Harrison & State aforesaid, a certain female negro Slave name Julia Ann who is my wife.  I warrant the Title of said Slave that she is a Slave for life, and that she is sound in mind and body”.

            Whereas I purchased Said Julia Ann of one John Elliott for five hundred dollars, & executed said Elliott three several notes dated Sept 9, 1854 for $166 60/100 dollars each for the purchas money, the first two notes being signed and executed by P C Lair as my surety, and all of which notes have been sold and assigned by said Elliott to said Frazier now if said notes are paid then the above bill of sale shall be null and void &c &c

                                                                                    Elsey x Hughes

Ack’d Nov. 5, 1855  M. Mullins Clk.

   

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[The following is from the inventory of Francis Coleman’s estate]:

 

Appraisement Nov. 27, 1821                                                          D-269

1 Negro woman       Winny                                                400.00

1 Negro girl               Nancy                                                250.00

1 Negro Boy              Charles                                              250.00

1 Negro Boy              William                                              200.00

1 Negro Boy              James                                                 150.00

 

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[The following is item 5 of Reuben L. Coleman’s Will dated April 26, 1858]:

 

5.                  None of my slaves be sold or seperated from their husbands or wives.  I desire my slaves to be divided amongst my children & not to go out of the family.

   

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Will of Constant Griffin – Free Man of Color

 

I, Constant Griffin of Pend Co. Ky. do hereby make my last will & testmit in manner & form following, that is to say

1.                  I desire that all my Estate bothe Real & personal be immediately sold after my decease.  Out of the money arising therefrom all my Just debts and Funral Expences be paid.

2.                  I give Moses Lowe Five hundred Dollars

3.                  I Give to Samuel Stowers $100

4.                  I Give to Minerva, the wife of R L Coleman’s Black man Charley $300

5.                  I Give to George Mourning $30

6.                  I Give to Daniel Monday $100

7.                  I Give to Sisly Stowers $50

8.                  I Give to Charity Hobday $50

9.                  and lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint Moses Lowe Executor of this my last will & testmit in Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this the 13th of Nov. 1855

F S Fugate                                                                             Constant x Griffin

J W Hume

Codicil

I Constant Griffin of Pend Co Ky. do hereby make & publish this Codicil to be added to my last will & testmit. in manner & form following, to wit.

I give to T W Latimer $50 for waiting on me while sick, & I allso wish to make some alterations in my will in Respect to the $100 which I gave to Daniel Monday  it is my will that said Monday have nothing of my estate more than will pay him for his services in waiting on me  it is my will & desire that all the rest of my Estate Real & personal Be it of what it may not herein before mentioned go to my Executor for his Services.  I also desire my Exr. to take poss’n of all my estate immediately after my decease & dispose of same upon such terms as he may think Best and lastly, it is my Will that this my present Codicil be annexed to & made a part of my last weill & testamit afrs’d in Witness whereof I have hereunto

set my hand & seal this 28th of Dec 1855.

Att. E M Pogue, Jesse Briant                                             Constant x Griffin

 

Jan. 7, 1856.  Will presented in open Ct. & proved by oaths of R S Fugate & J W Hume; & Codicil was proven in part by the oath of Jesse Bryant, and afterwards on Feb. 4, 1856, was proven in full by oath of E M Pogue, the other subscribing wit.  Given under my hand Mch 8, 1856.                                   M. Mullins Clk

   

 

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Cmth Ky. for use of                                                                                    P. Cir. Ct.  Pkg 209

Manerva, free woman of Color

wife of Charley, a black man

belonging to R.L. Coleman

vs}  Petn. filed June 25, 1859, b Hauser, p.q.

1.                  James S. Hand, Surety on Exrs. Bond of Moses Low…now dec’d late Exr. of Constant Griffin, dec’d a free man of Color

2.                  John McCoy                                     Exrs. of Moses Low, dec’d } Sums. to

3.                  R. M. Low                                               Grant Co.  June 1859

The plff Manerva (Minerva) says Constant Griffin (a free man of color) died Dec…1855; left a will and codicil, & were probated Jan 7, 1856, with Moses Low as Exr. who gave bond with James S. Hand as surety.  Appraisement & Sale Bills filed; and on Aug 1, 1858 Moses Low made settlement of his accts as Exr. before Jas I Hudnall Co Jdg. Which was approved Oct 4, 1858.

There remained in hands of Moses Low, after paying all debts &c the sum of $747.57; that testator left $300 to this plff. Manerva, which has not been paid, though she often demanded same.  Moses Low died, and John McCoy and R M Low Exrs of Moses Low.  Prays judgt for her legacy & for damages &c.

 

Appraisers of Constant Griffin’s Estate:  E M Pogue, Jacob x Asbury, and James x Thompson.  Appraisement Bill $490.85 – consisting of:  household goods, (1 Sugar chest & contents 2.50), sycles, saddle-bags, gun fixtures .75; Tool box & tools $20.00, 1 Pistol $2.00, cutting box $10, scythe & cradle; wagon; wheat $20; 3 Hay stacks $24’ 2 mares $175; Hogs $35; Corn & fodder $40; Gun, flask & shot bag $5.50, saddle $15.

Ans of Jas S. Hand, Oct 20, 1859, by Swoope Atto

            Deft files true & correct copy of will; plff was pd her full share by Moses Lowe during his lifetime; there was not enough to pay all bequests in full, so Minerva was pd her proportion $204.86.

 

Sale Bill of Constant Griffin, Free man of Color.

Names of purchasers:  Feb 18, 1856

W Coleman                                       C. Coleman                           W B Hildridge

L A Clifford                                      Sam Brock                            Geo. Gordon

M. Calwell                                        John Leach                            Minerva Coleman

Wm Hedges                                      T W Latimer                         Wm T. Lowe

John Gill                                           Samuel Stowers                   Charles Coleman

John Crouch                                     James Coleman                    D. Latimer

Jacob Asbury                                    Richard Johnson                 Jas Wells (Wills)

E M Pogue                                        B. Moore                               B H Wells

L S Carter                                          Samuel Henry                      A T Shields

James Faulker                                  Dudley Justice                     R. Asbury

H McNeese                                       A Leach                                 James Mullikin

James Garrard                                  Thos Corwins                      James Moore

G B Dance                                         James F Lowe                       Joseph Ingels

Patrick Finn                                      Joseph Huff                         

 

Memorandum among papers.

Amt of Estate, after paying all debts                                           $737.51

Whole amount of legacies in Will                                             $1080.00

The proportion of each legacy as fols:

Mose Lowe ($500)                            is entitled to                         $341.43

Minerva Coleman ($300)                                                                $204.86

Samuel Stowers ($100)                                                                     $68.28

T W Latimer ($50)                                                                             $34.14

Charity Southgate ($50)                                                                   $34.14

Sisley Stowers ($50)                                                                          $34.00

Geo Mourning ($30)                                                                          $20.48

Receipts from Minerva x Coleman          $206.07

Given to Moses Lowe, and witnessed      $20.00

By John M. Thompson                              $226.07

           

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