Slavery
Wilcox County, AL, July 26, 1850
Contested Slaves - Alabama Judge Decides Possession
ADS

[SLAVERY.] George Goldthwaite, Autograph Document Signed, Order in Crumpton et al. v. Crum and Delaney, July 26, 1850, Wilcox County, [Alabama]. 2 pp., 8" x 12.5". General toning and soiling; some separation on folds; small holes on one fold.

With this order, Judge George Goldthwaite of the Eighth Judicial Circuit in Alabama gives the defendants in a case over the ownership of slaves an opportunity to claim the slaves if they post a bond for $3,000. Otherwise, the plaintiffs can post a bond of $5,000 to have possession of the slaves.

Excerpt
"The Register of the Chancery Court of Wilcox County will issue an order to the Sheriff of said County directing him to take possession of the negroes named and described in complainants bill and hold them and should the Defendants or either of them, or their agent or attorney in fact, or the agent or attorney in fact of either of them within ten days after said negroes are in taken give bond with good security in the sum of Three thousand Dollars payable to the said Frank Crumpton and wife, and the said Samuel D. Crum as the next friend of the said Benjn D. Crum, Donald S. Crum and Jacob A. S. Crum conditioned to have the said slaves and their increase forthcoming to abide the further order or decree of the Chancery Court of Wilcox County then said slaves are to be delivered to the said Defendants their agent or attorney in fact giving such bond. If such bond is not given within the ten days then the sheriff to deliver possession of the said slaves to the said Frank Crumpton and the said Samuel D. Crum or either of them on their given the like bond, but no such order is to issue until the complainants Frank Crumpton and Samuel D. Crum or either of their choice agents or atty in fact give bond in good security to be approved by said Register in the sum of five thousand Dollars payable to the Defendant & Preston Delaney & conditioned to indemnify said Delaney and said Sarah Jane Crum from all costs and damages they or either of them may wrongfully sustain.
"26th July 1850 Geo Goldthwaite / Judge 8th Circt"


George Goldthwaite (1809-1879) was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point from 1823 to 1826. He moved in 1826 to Montgomery, Alabama, where he read law in his brother's office. He was admitted to the bar in 1827 and practiced law in Pike County before relocating to Montgomery. In 1835, he married Olivia Price Wallach of Boston, and they had six children. In 1843, the legislature elected him as a Democrat to be a circuit judge, and he was reelected in 1850 by popular vote. In 1852, the legislature elected him to an expanded Alabama Supreme Court. He was elected as Chief Justice in January 1856 but held the office for only thirteen days before resigning to resume the practice of law. During the Civil War, he served as adjutant general for the State of Alabama for three years. From 1866 to 1868, he again served as a circuit judge. He represented Alabama in the United States Senate from 1871 to 1877 but did not run for reelection.

Samuel D. Crum (1809-1884) was a planter in neighboring Lowndes County, Alabama. Benjamin Dulaney Crum (1833-1883), Donald L. Crum (b. 1835), and Jacob A. S. Crum (b. 1841) were siblings and perhaps the children of Sarah Jane Crum Dulaney (b. 1805), who may have been Samuel D. Crum's sister.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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