Bertie County NcArchives Court.....Veale, Richard 1812
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Virginia Crilley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00003.html#0000642 November 14, 2014, 10:12 am

Source: North Carolina, Estate Files, 1663-1979 Under Thomas Veale. Familysearch.org
Written: 1812

North Carolina, Estate Files, 1663-1979
Family Search

Accusation by Joel Cooper for his wife, Sally Harrell, that her guardian,
Richard Veale, charged too much for her room & board, and didn't hire out her
Negroes at a good price.

Folder: Thomas Veale  69 images
image 2
The answer of Richard Veal defendant to the Bill of Complaint of Joel Cooper and
Sarah his wife complainants.

This Defendant now and at all times hereafter saving and reserving to himself
all manner of Benefit and advantage of exeception to the many errors and
insufficiencies in Complainants said bill of Complaint conjoined for answer
there unto or is to m___ and to such parts or this Defendant is advised on
material for him to make answer to answerseth and forth.

That he was appointed Guardian to the Complainant Sarah at Bertie County Court,
August Term 1802 and continued to act as such until the marriage of the
Complainants which took place some time in the latter end of the year 1809, that
a settlement was had between this Defendant and Jermiah Mitchell her former
Guardian whereby this defendant came into possession of the Negroes of said
Sarah so as to hire them out on the first January 1803, as stated in the account
annexed to complainants Bill at the time of said Settlement which was made by
Auditors appointed by the County Court of Bertie.  This defendant produced his
amount for the board & clothing of the said Sarah for the years 1801 & 1802 as
she lived with him ? years and also for keeping Negro Woman Lyd & her children
the same years, but her former Guardian, Mitchell alledged that he had nothing
in hand to pay it that her Negroes were expensive & that there was a balance due
him which balance viz. £ 74 4 1 has been since paid by this Defendant whereupon
it was observed by the Auditors that as the property was about to come into the
hands
[image3] of this Defendant, it was unnecessary to take any notice of his account
as it could be hereafter settled when the said Sarah should come of age or marry
or another Guardian be appointed, as the case might happen that this Defendant
has ever since until the intermarriage of the Complainants, boarded & clothed
the Complainant Sarah kept her Netroes & as stated in the account annexed to
Compalinants Bill that as to the charge contained in said Bill of having charged
her the usual sum for Board and Clothing for the year 1808 & afterwards & charge
of £13. 10 for the clothing this defendant states that he charged her Twenty
pounds a year for Board and such articles of homemade clothing as he furnished
her with which he had supposed moderate that as the advanced in years & had an
inclination to dress he thought it but fair she should pay for it therefore
charged her with just articles as she took up herself or he bought for her and
for not giving credit for the hire of her Negroes for the years 1801 and 1802 he
presumes he has already accounted by shewing that he was not Guardian at the
time & did not get possession of her property until 1st Jan'y 1803.  This
Defendant acknowledges that he did set up Negroe Woman Lyd & her children to the
lowest Bidder one year & perhaps for Two but whether two or only one he does not
now recollect, when she may not present because she was not in a situation to be
carried to the place of hiring or she was either lying in or so near her time as
to render it dangerous to move her and that he became the undertaker himself at
a price that he then thought & still thinks a moderate one, for he is convinced
the times she may not present, if more than one
[image4] year of which he is not cdertain, was when she was let out at twenty
pounds, and as to the two last charges for keeping said Woman & children which
complanints particularly object to this Defendant can only say he differs in
opinion with them for he thought & still thinks the charges are not extravagant,
at all events it was less than any other person offered to take them for, and
whether the said Negroes might have been managed to better advantage by hiring
out a Boy to plow, a girl as a nurse & a third for its victuals & clothes this
defendant is unable to say but believes it is a custom in the neighborhood & he
thinks the better way to let them out together.

That as to the Lands, the Complaintant Sarah had none except two small pieces of
piney land both tother not exceeding Twenty five or thirty acres & not cleared
as that no sent could be obtained for them.

And as for the Work and Labour done by the Complainant Sarah while in the famly
of this Defendant, he denies ever having received any the smallest benefit or
advantage there from the said Sarah was furnished with materials and was at
Liberty and was solicited to work for her own use and benefit, but this
Defendant did not consider it his duty to watch over and compell her to labor as
he would a common servant and he this defendent expressly discloses the work she
done was very thrifling, at all events and considerable enough even had he
received the profits to makt it worth less than the sum charged for her board &
clothing.

This Defendant acknowledges he did not make annual returns to the County Court,
of his proceedings & as Guardian

Thomas and later Richard Veal guardians for:

Board and room for Sally Harrell and Negro woman, Lid and her 2 children.


Sally Harrell married to Joel Cooper
Gabriel Harrell and James S. Grover to settle.
Sol Cherry's account

pg 34 Called to court:
Wm Veale, Polly Wimberly, Tabitha Brazel, Jno Ruffin & Jas Grimes.  in dispute
of Joel Cooper complainant and Richard Veal defendent.    issued Nov 10, 1812. 
to appear Oct 4th Monday 

pg 39 Mar 5, 1813.  Taking deposition of Wm Veal

William Veal sayeth I recollect Richard Veale was at my house and said Sally
Harrell, would not go to school and that he did not know what to do with her,
and my wife told him that she would take her and boad and clother her and he,
Richard Veale, said that she might take her if she would keep her for what he
charged say Thirty or Forty Dollars which I do no recollect.

1st question by Joel Cooper.  Do you think that she Sally, Harrell was treated
and clothed well enough for him to charge forty dollar a year for her board.

Answer: As for the treatment I can say but very little about, more than I have
herd her say that she was not well treated and as far her clothing, I never saw
her extra ordinarally well clothed.

2nd question: by ditto. Don't you know that she worked in the family
Answer: I have seen her frequently carding and spinning but I do not know
whether she was compelled to do it or not.


image 42
Mary Wimberly sayeth that she Sally Harrell was often at work at Mr. Ric'd
Veales & as for her clothing she had but few (question by Joel Cooper)

Do you think she was treated as well as she ought to have been and wasn't she
compelled to work:
Answer: She was compelled to work at some times, at other time she would work of
her own accord.

2nd question by ditto:
What kind of work did she do?
Answer: I have seen her so several kinds of work, such as carding, spinning,
weaving & knitting.

3rd question by ditto:
Do you not think she Sally Harrell did enough to support herself
Answer: I cannot say as to that but I frequently saw her at work.

1st Question by Richard Veale.
Do you think if Sally Harrell, had conducted herself as she ought to have done,
that I would have treated her as well as I could afford.
Answer:  I have herd you tell Saley Harrell that there was Cards & Wheels you
may work for yourselves. If I do a good part by your I shall get no thanks for
it. I keep you for the good will I have for you.

2nd Question by ditto:
Do you not recollect that she had the keys and went to anything that was about
the house.
Answer: I have frequently seen her have the keys. when Mrs. Veale was at home
but when Mrs. Veale was from hom she had not.

3rd Question by ditto:
When you saw her at work was it for me or for herself
Answer; I saw her weaving, carding, spinning and knitting for Mrs. Veale & I
have seen her sewing & weaving for herself and for there this deponant sayet not.
Mary Wimberley   (her own signature)

image 43 lower part
Tabitha Brasel sayeth that while Sally Harrell lived  at Mr. Rich'd Veals I
often saw her at work, such as spining, weaving and knitting.
1st question by Joel Cooper. Do you know that she was compelled to work for the
family.
Answer: I do not know that she was. I believe when she had a mind to work she did.
Question: Was not her clothing very indifferent.
Answer: They was
Question: Had she but very few cloths.
Answer: She had but a few
Question. Do not you think if she Sally Harrell had been put in some other
family, that she would have been brought up in a better manner.
Answer: As to that I cannot tell. I have often heard Mr. Veale say that he
wished to bring her up well

Questions by Rich'd Veale
1. Do you not think that she had her part of cloathing
A: I believe she had but they were very indifferent
2. Have not you seen her at work for herself, and heard me tell her that there
was a plenty of cotton and glax to spin and that she might spin for herself as
much as she wanted.
A: I have seen her at work and have heard you tell her she might spin for herself
3.When Sally Harrel went from home was she not clothed as well as common.
A: She was clothed in common English clothes and further this deponent sayeth not
Tabitha X Brasil


pg 45
Jno Ruffin  sayeth all that I know of it is that at a hiring of negroes at the
Hotell or the ___ of the road, Mr. R'd Veale mentioned that there was a certain
negro woman and children that belonged to Sally Harrell which was not at the
place of hiring and the said Richard Veale took the said negroes he being the
lowest bidder.

1st question by Joel Cooper
Have you not seen a negro boy by the name of Ishmael, driving and in very cold
weather, bare of clothing.
Answer: I have seen the boy at times very bare at other times I have seen him
tollerable well clothes

2nd question by ditto:
Are you acquainted with the boy Ismael and what do you think he would have hired
for the year that Sally Harrell was married.
Answer: I cannot say as to any certain price. I think he was worth something

1st question by Ric'd Veale
Have you not seen tht said Negro woman and children on the ground at the place
of hiring
Answer: I saw her there once and further this deponant sayeth not.  John Ruffin
(his signature)

image 46
1st question of James Grimes by Joel Cooper.
You are acquainted with the negros belonging to Sally Harrell
Answer: I am.

2nd question by ditto
Do you not think if the negroes had been carried to the place of hiring that
they would have hired to a greater advantage.
Answer: I do not recollect that I ever knew them hired but once, but what they
was on the ground & I asked Ric'd Veale why they were not there, and he said the
wench was not in a situation to turn out.

3rd. Question by ditto
What do you think Ishmael worth a year?
Answer: That is a question I am not able to decide on. I supp;ose he was worth
something more than his board.

4th question by ditto:
Do you not think that two smaller boys might have been put out for their
victuals and clothes, one or two years before Sally Harrell was married.
Answer: I believe one of them might have been put out for his victuals and
clothes one or two years before Sally Harrell was married

5th question by ditto:
Do you not think the charge very high for Sally Harrell's board.
Answer: I do not as to my own part I would not have kept her for three times the
sum

1st question by Ric'd Veale. Mr. Grimes was you not one of the auditors to
settle the accounts of Richard Veale Guardian to Sally Harrell.
Answer: I was

2nd question by ditto
Was not Mr. Veale's account laid before the auditors.
Answer; They were and Mr. Cherry read over the accounts, and said you are both
of age and can settle your own accts to which the parties, viz Rich'd Veale &
Joel Cooper, consented to refer the accounts to Gabriel Harrell & James S.
Grover and I have not herd from them since, and further this deponant sayeth
not.  Jas Grimes

Additional Comments:
Who is Sally Harrell? 

April 29, 1792.  Sarah Harrell Admin granted to on estate of William Harrell.  
Division of estate: Aug 1796. 1)Jason Gardner  2)Orphan Josiah Harrell 3)Orphan
Sarah Harrell, Negroes Toby, Lid and Ismael.  Jesse Averet was apptd gdn of
orphans Joseph [sic] & Sarah May 8, 1799.  Jeremiah Mitchell was apptd gdn of
the orphans Josiah & Sarah Harrell May 13, 1799.
This MATCHES for Richard Veale becoming guardian 1802.  NEGROS match!!

issued Nov 10, 1812.  to appear Oct 4th Monday  for witnesses to appear in court
about Joel Cooper accusation that Richard Veale charged too much for Sally's
board and clothes and didn't hire out her negroes to cover part of that cost
from the estate.

I believe this Richard Veale to be the son of Thomas Veale

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