I am sending the transcribed copies of the papers I have regarding the FIRSTsuit. I am including the Decree first and then the initial suit after that. While I have proof read this several times, I urge you to verify for yourself what the suit states and not rely on my feeble efforts. There is a large amount of names and relationships mentioned. In my previous post I broke it down a little while naming heirs. I have not completed the transcripton of the second suit yet, but I have read it numerous times , enough to know that as to the relationship of these named, nothing had changed. It is more clear on the adm. Lewis's relationship to Lewis whose estate he is over. He is his nephew and it says such. I did not include papers that gave no names , one was just a note by Lewis that he has done as ordered(to sell land and slaves).Report of actual sale is at the bottom of this post. Southampton County November Court 1828 This is the decree which more clearly shows who defendant is IF everything lines up correctly at the end of the decree If not I will try something else. .The entire 1st suit located Library of Va. Reel # 421 starts with image # 25 Gideon Harris, Polly Harris, William Felts & Priscilla his wife late Harris ,Joel Harris, Howell Harris, Henry Harris , James Harris and John Grizzard and Sally his wife late Sally Harris which said Gideon, Polly, Priscilla, Joel, Howell, Henry, James, Sally and LEWIS hereafter named DEFENDANT are the children AND HEIRS of JOEL HARRIS dc’d-- --------- William Harris , infant and only child of Hamlin Harris dc’d by the said Howell Harris son of Joel his next friend. -- --Williamson Harris,__ Ferrell and Sylvia his wife late Harris, ___Ferrell and Priscilla his wife late Harris and Henry Harris which said Williamson, Sylvia, Priscilla and Henry are the children and heirs of Howell Harris dc’d.--------Polly Harris, Rebecca Harris, Joel Harris and Cofield Harris which said Polly, Rebecca, Joel and Cofield are the children and heirs of Randolph Harris dc’d------Howell Harris, John T___(Tillman) and Betsy his wife late Harris, Wm Robertson(Robinson) and Nancy his wife late Harris , Henry Williamson(Williams) and Sally his wife late Harris which said Howel, Betsy, Nancy and Sally are the children and heirs of John Harris dc’d---John Christian and Fady his wife late Harris, Wm Green & Jincey his wife late Harris, Grigsby Rush and Priscilla late Harris, Howell Harris, James Harris and Joshua Harris, __ry??(Henry) Harris and Betsy his wife late Green , Olive Green, John McLeod and Fady his wife late Green ___Shamwell and Nancy his wife late Green, which said Betsy, Olive , Fady and Nancy are the children and heirs of Nancy wife of Robert Green now dec’d who was Nancy Harris and ______children and heirs of Sally the dc’d wife of Nathan Horn who was Sally Harris, the names and number of her children being unknown- which said Fady Christian , Nancy Green dc’d , Jincey, Priscilla, Sally, Howel, James and Joshua were the only children and heirs of Olive wife of Joshua Harris dc’d---Harris Reese, Redmond Reese, John Reese, Rivers Reese, Howell Reese, Charity Reese, Arthur Adams & Betsy his wife & Sally & Norfleet Ivey infant children & heirs of Polly Ivey dc’d who was Polly Reese by George Ivey their next friend which said Harris, Redmond, John, Rivers, Howell, Charity, Betsy & Polly were the children & heirs of Sally Reese dc’d formerly Sally Harris----Joel McLemore & Burwell McLemore , children & heirs of Lucy McLemore dc’d who was Lucy Harris ---_________ children and heirs of Suckey Ricks dc’d who was Suckey Harris whose names and number are as yet unknown & who reside out of this commonwealth____COMPLAINTS VS bracket LEWIS HARRIS,son of Joel ,heir as well as in his own right as adm of bracket IN Chancery LEWIS HARRIS the ELDER dc’d DEFENDANT bracket This cause was this day docketed by consent of parties with the officer? Of the Court and came on to be heard on the bill answer docket and was argued by counsel Consideration whereof the Court doth adjudge order and decree that Lewis Harris the defendant in this cause after duly advertising the time and place (continued on next page) of sale the lands and slaves whereof Lewis Harris the Elder died seized and possessed on a credit of 12 months--that he take bonds of the respective purchasers -payable to himself as commissioner with good security, with a deed of trust on the real Estate for its price and that he as commissioner make deeds and bills of sale to the purchases for the said lands and slaves and how he shall have acted in the previous & make report in order to a further decree. A Copy Teste James Rochelle Clk END OF DECREE The actual names in parenthesis of some illegible writing was obtained when I found a Power of Attorney(they lived out of state) to their brother Howell Harris from them regarding the the recovery of the estates of John Harris and and William Ivy(a relative) and getting their part of those estates. Interestingly enough the POA was dated 1827 a year after Lewis the elder had died and about a year before the suit, yet , they did not seem to be aware that they had any interest in Lewis Harris's estate as there is no mention of it. The INITIAL complaint of the first suit of the Estate of Lewis Harris “The Elder which names his brothers and sisters Southampton County Chancery Causes 1749-1909 microfilmed at the Library of Va. Reel # 421 starting with image #25 The initial cause outside cover filed by the complainants was Oct 1828 the suit was styled as: Lewis Harris’s heirs bracket vs bracket Bill an.(answer) Lewis Harris’s adm. 1828 Oct. decreed as filed of Mason ( John Mason was the attorney for the heirs filing the suit.) To the worshipful the County Court of Southampton sitting in equity Humbly complaining show Unto your worship, your Complts. Gideon Harris, Polly Harris, Wm Felts & Priscilla his wife late Harris , Joel Harris, Howel Harris, Henry Harris , James Harris and John Grizzard and Salley his wife, late Salley Harris which sd. Gideon , Polly, Priscilla, Joel, Howel, Henry , James, Salley and Lewis hereinafter named Defendant are the children & heirs of Joel Harris dec’d ------------Wm. Harris , infant and only child of Hamlin Harris dec’d by the said Howel, son of Joel , his next friend.. Wmson (Williamson) Harris,_______Ferrell & Silvia his wife late Harris, __________Ferrell & Priscilla his wife late Harris, and Henry Harris , which said Wmson, Silvia, Priscilla, and Henry are the children and heirs of Howel Harris dec’d. Polly Harris, Rebecca Harris, Joel Harris, and Cofield Harris which said Polly, Rebecca, Joel & Cofield are the children and heirs of Randolph Harris dec’d ----Howel Harris, John Tilman,& Betsey his wife late Harris, Henry Wm H Robertson & Nancy his wife late Harris, Henry W. Williams and Salley his wife late Harris which said Howel, Betsey, Nancy and Salley are the children & heirs of John Harris dec’d------ John Christian and Fady his wife late Harris, Wm Green & Jincy his wife late Harris, Grigsby Rush and Priscilla his wife late Harris, Howel Harris , James Harris & Joshua Harris, Henry Harris and Betsey his wife late Green, Olive Green, John McLoed and Fady his wife late Green, _____Shamwell and Nancy his wife late Green which said Betsey, Olive, Fady and Nancy are the children & heirs of Nancy wife of Robert Green now dec’d who was Nancy Harris and _____ ____ children and heirs of Salley ^now dec’d wife of Nathan Horn who was Salley Harris, the names & number of her children being unknown --which said Fady Christian, Nancy Green dec’d, Jincey, Priscilla, Salley(deceased), Howel, James & Joshua were the only children and heirs of Olive ,wife of Joshua Harris, dec’d . ___________ Harris Reese, Redmond Reese, John Reese, Rivers Reese, Howel Reese, Charity Reese Arthur Adams & Betsey his wife, & Salley & Norfleet Ivy infants children & heirs of Polly Ivy dec’d who was Polly Reese by George Ivy their next friend, which said Harris, Redmond, ,John, Rivers, Howel, Charity, Betsey & Polly were the children & heirs of Salley Reese dec’d formerly Salley Harris. ---------Joel McLemore & Burwell Mclemore children & heirs of Lucy Mclemore dec’d who was Lucy Harris ____ ____ ____ children and heirs of Suckey Ricks dec’d who was Suckey Harris , whose names and numbers are as yet unknown & who reside out of this Commonwealth. That Lewis Harris, the elder, departed this life in the year 1826 in this county , intestate, unmarried and without issue--that he had no father, mother, brother, sister, grandfather or grandfather(mother) living--but his next of kin were your Complts. and the above mentioned Lewis Harris, son of Joel, children & descendants of the decedents brothers and sisters, Joel, Hamlin, Randolph, Howel, John, Olive(smudged), Salley, Lucy & Suckey __that his estate consisted of about ____slaves, with a good perishable estate , four hundred & fifty six acres of land on which he resided situate in this county, and fifty-nine acres of low ground in Greenville County. That your worships will perceive at once the utter impractically of a division of this property in kind amongst his heirs, who amount to more than 40 in number ^&their respective shares of the land cannot exceed $100 and who reside in several states of this union __they therefore come, they pray that a sale maybe effected of the whole property and a division had of the proceeds amongst them. They further state, that this worshipful court granted administration on the decedents estate to the said Lewis Harris, son of Joel , as will appear by a copy of the letters of Admn. hereto annexed as a part of this bill. That he has sold the perishable estate and hired out the negroes for this year, and your Complts believe is under no necessity to keep possession of reason on acct of the debts of the estate. That the sale and division above desired cannot be effected with out the aid of this court sitting in equity. In tender consideration whereof and for as much as your Complts are remediles(sic) at law, and only releivable(sic) in this court where such matters are peculiarly cognizable to the end that the said Lewis Harris , son of Joel, adm of the said Lewis Harris dec’d and in his own right be made Defendant hereto. and compelled to answer the allegations hereof, they pray the C-mittis(?) Is(issue?) a direct dr(order?) that your worship will decree a sale of the s’d land and slaves on such terms as your worships may deem best and a division of the proceeds , as also of the balance in the hand of the s’d adm amongst these several heirs of the said decedent , agreeably (sic)to their respective rights - and grant them and such other and general relief in the premises as may be consistent with equity & the nature of their case and as in duty bound, they will ever pray Mason fr C. On the same page is the answer as follows: The answer of Lewis Harris, son of Joel, admitted in his own right as adm of Lewis Harris the elder dec’d To the foregoing bill of complaint. This Respondent serving for answer to the said bill says, that he admits its allegations and has no objection to the decree pray ed for ---& having answered, prays to be hence dismissed END OF INITIAL COMPLAINT AND ANSWER No place in these does it say that Lewis "the elder" who was deceased, is the son of Joel -----It DOES say that Lewis the admin. and heir was the son of Joel Harris ..this Joel Harris was the deceased brother of Lewis "the Elder" ,---- making Lewis the admin. the nephew of the deceased. The later chancery suit of 1830 mentions SPECIFICALLY that the adm. Lewis is the nephew of the Lewis whose estate is in chancery. Note: The children of Olive Harris Harris ’s daughters who had died are mentioned above. Those daughters were Nancy who married Robert Green and Salley who married Nathan Horn. The deceased daughter of Salley Harris Reese whose name was Polly who married __Ivy has children named above as well. Gideon, the son of Joel had been declared presumed dead in 1824 after having been gone far more than seven years and not heard from, this was in regards to his father Joel's estate. Joel had died about 1822. However, he did return in 1824, nothing like an inheritance to bring one back from the dead. Note: Lewis is the only defendant but had to be included with the children of Joel dec’d as he was their brother and heir as well as the one being sued. The other children of Joel and the rest of these are complainants. Later suit will show just how much Lewis must have been trying to keep . In complaint it is noted that he had kept estate (including money since he has “sold” perishables) in his hands “by reason of debt” of the estate .An unfounded and not a good enough or valid reason and the heirs knew it. The value of the estate became clear when these heirs had to go back to court again to get it after it had been awarded to them. He had sold the perishable estate which was appraised Dec. 1827 and turned in Jan. 1828 around 2 years after Lewis died. The inventory is extensive but it would be hard to know if it was all included as it had probably already been sold when appraisal was done. I expect some hogs had been butchered, some brandy consumed, honey gathered from bee hives and cotton seed used., just to name a few. There is no record of anyone who bought the perishables and there was apparently no public sale. Only the sale of slaves and land was recorded later after the suit was filed and about 2 years after Lewis had died. The inventory /appraisal was not filed with the chancery suit, see farther down. The perishables probably never left from Lewis’s possession once he was made administrator. Someone had the livestock, bees (18 hives), brandy, cotton seed and other items in the approx. 2 year time span between the death and the inventory/appraisal . In addition, in the second chancery suit the estate was owed over 200 pds(older debts) and some dollar amounts by persons who were listed as insolvents , about 4 pages of insolvents who owed him money. 200 pds was not to be considered a small sum as it meant sterling which by the 1820’s , if it could have been collected, would probably have been rendered in dollars. No idea how much that would have been at that time. Not only that but, in the second suit, after keeping everything for so long, HE wanted bonds from the heirs, in part, so he could pay their attorney’s fees from their money to get what had been rightfully theirs. He should have been the one who had to pay their attorney out of his part of the estate.!! The last suit was about 4 years after Lewis had died . The last part of the first suit that gives any names is the sale of the land and slaves and it is as follows: The Sale of the Estate of Lewis Harris (the Elder) Accounts entered into Court Records by Lewis Harris (son of Joel), Commissioner to sell Submitted to the Court in May 15, 1829, in parenthesis it was noted it was not due until Dec. 1829. The amounts due are on credit of 12 months which would end in Dec. 1829 attached with the signed letter of compliance with the court’s order The sale was apparently on Dec. 24th 1828. The left column is the property being sold and the buyer in the right column and the amount paid, columns did not line up well when sent to email..hopefully they won't be too badly out of line when posted to the list. Account of Sales of the Land and Negroes belonging To the Estate of Lewis Harris dc’d by Lewis Harris Commissioner appointed by a decree of the County Court of Southampton on a credit of Twelve Months. Dec. 24th 1828 (due Dec. 24th 1829) ___________________________________________________________________________________ 456 Acres Land at $5.00 Oris A. Browne $2280.00 59 acres Low Ground Lewis Dupree 151.00 Negro Fellow George same 499.50 “ “ Will David Westbrook 496.00 “ “ Abram Thos. Applewhite 519.00 “ “ Issac Newit Drew 500.00 “ “ Jacob Howell Harris in NCarolina 513.75 Woman Ginny & 2 children} Artwell(?)& Martha } John Drury 475.00 “ Edith & child Eliza Joel Harris 381.00 “ Pab & child John Thorpe 350.00 “ Girl Cherry Grigsby Rush 130.00 “ Clemy(?) same 165.50 Old Negro Woman Estelle(?) Howell Harris in NCarolina 10.25 “ “ Fellow Austin Symon(Simon?) Powell .25 $6453.25 Lewis Harris Commissioner It is so sad to see slave sales but even worse is that a person, could be bought for .25 cents but I did the math and that is what Austin sold for. This is the same Lewis “the Elder” as the Will Bk 10 pp 80, 81 Jan. 21, 1828 inventory of his estate,as these are the same slave names, so this is the same property. NO will---- just recorded in will book where it seems alot of records without wills were. Since this was many years after the death of Howell Harris h/o Edith Thorp and the father of Williamson who were of Franklin Co. NC, there was another Howell living in NC. I know for certain that Howell and Edith were deceased and that Williamson and brother Henry Harris were already in Carroll Co. Tenn. by the time of the suit. The Howell named in the sale could have been a cousin but it was definitely NOT MY Howell. The actual MONEY from the buyers for these was not due until Dec. 1829 this was filed to prove to the court that a sale had been conducted as ordered The heirs had not received any of their part by May of 1830 . When Lewis finally presented the accounts of the estate to the court in 1830 the total assets on hand were over $11,000.00. out of which was paid funeral and other debts. There was still enough for 45 heirs (including Lewis himself) to receive over $266.00 each. End of Estate Sale Will send more when I find time to finish transcripts of second suit. Remember, verify, as some of the writing was poor and hard to read but I did check it over many times. I have been able to verify MANY of the children named as the heirs by other court records..I also know that a fairly large number of the children of some of these brothers and sisters did not survive to be named in the suits and apparently left no children to be named. Mary Kennedy