1833-008: Exr of Raphael Conn v. Mary J. Conn, etc.

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In his will, filed in Page County in 1831, Raphael Conn emancipated all seventeen of the people he enslaved. The court ruled that the enslaved people may be hired out or sold to pay for his estate's debts while the legacy of his niece, Mary J. Conn, is protected-thus increasing his debts. All of this is not lost on those he enslaved as they were named defendants along with his niece to the suit. In their answer, they fight back stating that "their liberty should be place on a higher footing than the legacy of his niece which is so far a special legacy." They ask the court to release them from their servitude. Instead, they were hired out and his estate earned $185.00 However, the estate remained $600.00 in debt. SEE ALSO: 1834-007.

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