Laban Belote et al vs James Harrison et als - 1808 - Transcribed by Gail M. Walczyk
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Belote vs . . . Suppoe: in Chan: Harrison & al
1808 November 15th Decree for Division of the Slaves &c
The Commonwealth of Virginia to the
Sheriff of Northampton County Greeting: We command you that you summon James Harrison, Keley Harrison,
Sukey Harrison, Sally Harrison & Robert Harrison to appear before our Justices of our Court of our said
County in Chancery at the Court House on the second Monday in November next to answer a Bill in Chancery
exhibited against them by Laban Belote & Levin Belote. And this they shall in no wise omit under the Penalty of £100 And have then there this Writ Witness Thomas Lyttleton Savage Clerk of our said Court this 21st day of September 1808 in the 33d Year of the Commonwealth Thos Lytt: Savage
To the Justices of Northampton County court in Chancery Humbly complaining Show unto your worships your orators Laban Belote & Levin Belote that, Abigail Belote the mother of your orators was in her lifetime possessed of the following Negroes to wit Jeny Littleton, Mary Lucy, Eady , Jonathan & Isaac, that your orators mother being so possessed of & having a fee simple right in said Negroes on the __ day of _____ in the year ____ departed this life after having made & executed a last will & testament. Your orators further show to your worships that their said mother Abigail Belote in her said last will & testament devised the said slaves to be distributed as follows, one third part to your orator Laban Belote, one third part to your orator Levin Belote & one third part to be equally divided among her relations James Harrison, Keley Harrison Sukey Harrison, Sally Harrison & Robert Harrison children of Robert H. Harrison, so that the said legatees of the said Abigail Belote are intitled to hold in the following manner & proportions towit, to your orator Laban Belote one third part to hold as his own proper Slaves to your orator Levin Belote one third part, to James Keley, Sukey, Sally & Robert Harrison to each one fifth part of one third, to hold as aforesaid, agreeable to the act of assembly in such cases made & provided. But now so it is may it please your worships that the said James, Keley, Sukey, Sally & robert Harrison are infants of tender years & incapable as your orators are advised to make a division of said slaves so as to be valid & binding upon them without the aid of a court of chancery - In the premisses without the aid of your worships in chancery To the end therefore that the said James, riley, Sukey, Sally & Robert Harrison may true perfect & distinct answer make to all & singular the premisses as truely & particularly as if here again repeated & they interrogated & that a division by sale or otherwise of said slaves may be directed & inforced by your worships between the parties aforesaid agreeable to law in such manner & by such means as to your worships may seem meet & proper, amy it please your worships to grant to your orator the Commonwealth's writ of Subpona &c.
The answer of James Harrison, Keley Harrison, Sukey Harrison, Sally Harrison & Robert Harrison by Littleton Upshur Junr their guardian especially appointed to defend the suit. These Respondents saving & reserving to themselves all benefit of exception to sail bill for answer thereto, Say, that the facts stated ion said bill are true & these respondents have nothing to say or alledge against a division being made of the slaves in the bill mentioned agreeable to Law & the prayer of the bill, & thereupon they submit to this court to make such decree in the premisses as may seem consonant with Law & Justice without that any other matter &c & pray to be hence dismissed the court Littleton Upshur Junr C. B. Upshur
Sources:
_____. Northampton County VA Chancery Causes, 1721-1816. Laban Belote et al vs James Harrison et als 1808-015. Local Government Records Collection, Northampton County Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. Accessed 24 January 2010.</http://www.lva.virginia.gov/whatwehave/local/chancery/index.htm>