1888-038: William D. Hammond vs Albert Willis etc

Scope and content:

William Hammond claiming that he is the legitimate child of Marcella (Morris) Hammond and is therefore entitled to a portion of her estate. The majority of the case includes depositions trying to assess the truthfulness of this claim. Many of the deponents are formerly enslaved men and women, several enslaved by the Morris and Hammond families in Richmond and Amherst Co. The depositions compromise much of the case and include discussions of William's epilepsy, accusations of Marcella Hammond being both an alcoholic and adulterer, William's criminal charge of bigamy, the abusive nature of Hammond.

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