Joe Thompson v. Walter Clarke. Petitioners' Statement of Facts Jennifer Guiliano Trevor Muñoz William G. Thomas III transcription and encoding Samantha M. Bryant Steph N. Camerone Kaci L. Nash Laura K. Weakly University of Nebraska-Lincoln University of Maryland National Endowment for the Humanities 2014 O Say Can You See University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Digital Research in the Humanities
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 Petitioners' Statement of Facts January 4, 1816 Our transcription is based on a digital image of the original. National Archives and Records Administration Record Group 21, Entry 6 Box 123, Folder 446 Case Papers Statement of Facts Civil Petition for Freedom December 1817 Thompson, Elizabeth Thompson, John Saint Mary's County (Md.) Thompson, Joe Thompson, Nelly Thompson, Sarah Anne Clarke, Walter Key, Francis Scott, 1779-1843 United States. Circuit Court (District of Columbia) Washington (D.C.) reviewed document added idno added xml:ids converted to new TEI added Jones forename added attorneys to header edits to tei header encoded and transcribed

Joe Thompson Nelly Thompson & Sarah Anne her infant vs Walter Clarke

Petition for Freedom Dec T. 1815

It is admitted in this case that the Petrs Joe & Nelly were the property of John Thompson of St Mary's County in the State of Maryland & is the person named in the annexed will of said Thompson

It is also admitted that the said John Thompson died some time in the year     180     making his will duly executed & recorded (a copy whereof is herewith exhibited) It is also admitted that the widow of said Testator had no child born after the Testator's death and that she, after his death, & within the time limitted by law made in due form a renunciation of her claims under the said will.

It is further admitted that the said Testator

It is also admitted that the Child Sarah Anne has been born of the said Nelly since the death of the Testator & during the period of servitude of her mother. It is also further admitted that the Deft claims the Petitioners under the said Testator's widow, who took them claiming that, in consequence of her renunciation of the will, she was entitled to one third of all her husbands personal assets not excluding the said negroes. and that the said Petrs do not exceed what would be the widow's thirds of Testator's negroes, if these negroes are not to be excluded.

Upon this statement it is submitted to the Court to decide whether the claim of the negroes under the will can be overthrown by the widow's renouncing it & whether the said child born in the time of her mother's servitude is a slave for life, or bound to serve at all, or how long.

FSKey for Petrs

Jany 4, 1816

373. 330. 354 446

Joe Thompson Nelly & Sarah Ann vs. Walter Clarke

Case stats

what was the value of the negroes? & what the value the residue of the personal estate after payt of Debts? Were these negroes in fact distributed to the widow by order of the orphan's court?

no distribution has been fact made will not the Orphan's Court so distribute to save the specific of freedom to the slaves there is sufficient estate to give the widow