Tuesday, October 19, 2010

1817 PULASKI COUNTY GEORGIA SLAVE DOCUMENTS

“On or before the first day of January Eighteen Hundred and Seventeen we or each of us do promise to pay Jas Bryan or bearer the sum of one hundred and seventy eight dollars for THE HIRE OF TWO NEGROS upon condition of the said Negroes continuing with us twelve months from the date this 11th of January 1816.
Sam Fowle

The second from Pulaski, County, GA recording the details of a lawsuit that arose over this slave hire debt in the first paper above. The first two pages of this second document read in part as follows:

“Pulaski County, Georgia. The petition of James Bryan showeth that Samuel Fowle and Joseph Reid . . . promised to pay J. Bryan (your petitioner) or bearer the sum of one hundred and seventy eight dollars for THE HIRE OF TWO NEGROS upon condition of the said Negroes continuing with us twelve months from the date of the aforesaid note, and your petitioner affirms(?) that said two negroes hired as aforesaid did continue with said Samuel and Joseph for the term of twelve months . . . said Samuel & Joseph being so indebted though often requested, have never paid your petitioner said sum of money or any part thereof, but so to do they have refused . . . Wherefore your petitioner prays process may (?) requiring said Samuel Fowle and Joseph Reid, personally or by attorney to be and appear at the next Superior Court to be held in and for the County of Pulaski, there suffer to answer your petitioner in an action upon the case.”
The document is signed by Richard Jones (an attorney?).

The third page of this second document is a note directing the SHERIFF OF PULASKI COUNTY to detain the two defendants, signed by Edward Smith Clerk in the name of Judge Christopher B. Strong.

The fourth page has several different notes & annotation written upon it, including another note from Richard Jones. There is also a statement “Personally served each of the Defendants with a copy of the writ. 22nd March 1817”signed by B. Barker, Sheriff. There is also the following note: “WE THE JURY FIND FOR THE PLAINTIFF THE SUM OF ONE HUNDRED & SEVENTY EIGHT DOLLARS WITH INTEREST & COST OF SUIT,” Signed Stephen Mitchell, Juror.

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