Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History & Culture Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva's Black History

Record Detail

Record #30 from Abstracts of Petitions to Southern County Courts, 1775-1867

Part of Series B
Microfilm Reel in Collection Series 7
Microfilm Frame on Reel 596
Accession Number (identifies petition on microfilm) 20984515
County Somerset
State Maryland
Year Legislative Petition Filed 1845
Abstract of Petition Rebecca Nelson declares that she has secured two writs of fieri facias in an attempt to force Joshua Hitch to pay a sum of money awarded to her by an 1840 court decree. Unfortunately, Hitch owns no property that can be levied by the sheriff. Nelson explains that Samuel Fenley pretends title to the slaves Hitch owned at the time of the lawsuit under the authority of a bogus mortgage agreement executed by Joshua Hitch and his brother William. Nelson claims that the three men have entered into a conspiracy to prevent her from receiving the money she is owed. Nelso charges that the culmination of this conspiracy, a suit Fenley filed against the Hitch brothers whereby he obtained trusteeship to sell the Hitch property, was a charade toprotect Hitch's property from the execution of his creditors. Fenley has not sold the slaves and instead derives income from their labor. Nelson asks that the three men be subpoenaed to answer her claims, that the defendants' bill of sale be annulled, and that Hitch's property currently in Fenley's possession be sold and the proceeds given to her.

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[Author (if known)], Abstracts of Petitions to Southern County Courts, 1775-1867, [Date (if known)], Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva’s Black History, Nabb Research Center, Salisbury University.

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