1831-166: Willis Smith vs. Alice Smith, etc.

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The cause involved a dispute over the estate of William Smith who died at age 96. Multiple depositions center on Smith's mental health before his death. One deponent recalled Smith claiming to be a French and Indian War veteran. He learned that Congress passed a law giving additional pension to Revolutionary War veterans. Smith believed he should get additional pension for his French and Indian War service. He was told he could not because the pension was only for Revolutionary War veterans. Another deponent was asked how Smith's enslaved people were treated. He recalled seeing one enslaved person at the home of Smith's son Willis Smith. He was chained, wore an iron collar, and had been physically abused. He was punished for being a runaway and stealing meal and bacon from the home of Willis' mother.

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