SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, VA - COURT - JOHNSON et al. V. HARRIS et al., 1771
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Southampton Co., VA, Chancery Court Papers, 1771-006 
abstracted by Matt HARRIS [brackets, line breaks 
   & surname capitalization mine] 
Library of Virginia [LVA] Archives Reading Room, Richmond, VA 
(LVA Index No. 1771-006, not filmed) 


[brief #1, one large sheet of fragile paper, folded to create 4-page booklet, 
with bill on 1st page, answer on 3rd, & docket notes on 4th page] 

[1st page of 4; bill of complaint; tattered along top edge] 

     ['To the'; torn] wors['hip']ful court of Southampton
          county sitting in chancery. 

Humbly complaining shew unto your worships your orators: 
["Sarah C" struck out] Shadrach JOHNSON & Ann his wife ['and'] 
Sarah COLLIER an infant by Rich.d KELLO her next friend 
That one George COLLIER late of this county / dece'd your Oratrixes father/ 
["being" struck out; "died seized &" inserted] possessed of a an [sic] 
estate in Lands Slaves & personal Chattels ["having first" inserted] made 
his last will & testament in writing bearing date the 6" day of July 1757. 
wherein he devised all his estate both real & personal to his wife ["Jane" 
inserted] and after her death to be equally divided between his three 
daughters, to wit Rebecca /who hath intermarried with one Simon HARRIS; 
&your, [sic] oratrixes Ann &Sarah, 
Your orators Shew that the said Jane COLLIER hath departed this life 
whereby your Oratrixes are entitled to the following negro Slaves to wit 
Sarah Nan Mille Jonas Abram & Sam - 
that after the death of the said George COLLIER the afs'd Simon HARRIS 
obtained Letters of administration on the estate of the said George 
with his will annexed in the court of this county ["from" struck out] 
to which will they crave leave to refer/.  
That your Oratrixes being ["greatly" struck out] entitled to partition & 
division of the said Slaves have applied to the said Simon HARRIS who hath 
by virtue of his adm'on possessed himself of the said Slaves. for that 
purpose but as your Oratrix Sarah is and infant Such Partition cannot be 
made binding without the decree of this worshipful Court 
To the end therefor that the said Simon HARRIS & Rebecca his wife may 
upon their corporal oaths full true &perfect answer make to all &singular 
the allegations of this bill as particularly as if the Same were again 
repeated - 
&that this worshipful court will [decree" struck out; "appoint inserted] 
Some fit & able persons to make partition & division of the afs'd Slaves. 
Sarah Nan Mille Jonas Abram &Sam equally between your Oratrix' &the said 
Rebecca that the Same may be decreed firm Stable &binding between the 
parties. 
&that your worships will make Such other decrees as may be agreeable to 
equity 
May it please &c 
[page end] 

[2nd page of 4 left blank] 

[3rd page of 4; answer of the defendants] 

     The ['answer of Simon'; torn] HARRIS & Rebecca his wife 
     to ['the bill of complaint'] of Shadrach JOHNSON & Ann 
     his ['wife & Sarah'] COLLEAR ["defend" struck out] Complts. 

These defendants saving &c for answer to the Complts. 
   bill say that it is true that George COLLIER [altered from "COLLEAR"] made 
   Such will, wherein is Such devise.  that the def. 
   administered thereon & possessed himself of the Slaves 
   named in the bill  that this def: intermarried with 
   one of the daughters of the said George COLLIER &. is 
   willing such partition & devision may be made 
   by [illegible] persons to be appointed by this Court. 
   &prays to be hence desmissed 
                                   Simon HARRIS 
[page end] 

[4th page of 4; docketing] 

JOHNSON & al} 
     v      } 
HARRIS &c   } 

   Bill & 
   Ans 
Dec.r 1770 
Decree for Part [partition] 
  Jany. 1771. 
final Decree 


[brief #2- Decree; one small sheet, equal to one-eighth of the large sheet 
above, on the same type of paper] 

In obedience to a decretal order of the county court of Southampton in 
chancery in a suit there depending between Shadrach JOHNSON & Ann, his wife, 
& Sarah COLLIER an infant Plts and Simon HARRIS and Rebecca his wife, 
which said Simon is adm'or&c of George COLLIER dece'd defend.s 
we the Subscribers therein appointed have made partition & division of the 
following Slaves: to wit Sarah Nann. Mille. Abraham [sic] Jonas & Sam 
between the Plts Mary [sic] Sarah & the defend. Rebecca in the following 
manner to wit., 
to the defendant Simon in right of the said Rebecca the Slave Nann: 
to the Plaintif Shadrach in right of the said Ann. 
the Slaves Jonas Sam & Sarah: 
& to the plaintif Sarah the Slaves Mille & Abraham 
as in & by the said order we are required 
Given under our hands this first ..   day January 1771 
                                        Cha.s COSBY 
                                        Edm.d TYLER 
                                        ~~~~~~~~~~~ 
[page end] 

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