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James Geekie immigrated from Scotland at the request of a wealthy relative named John White a resident of Albemarle County. White offered to leave his estate to Geekie to encourage him to immigrate. Soon after Geekie's arrival, Geekie claims White began to mistreat him. Upon his death, White refused to live up to his promise made to Geekie except for a small amount of land in Kentucky. In his will, James White emancipated the individuals he enslaved and gave them all of his estate. Geekie made claim to a portion of the estate the enslaved people inherited. Rather than file suit for the property for concern it would delay, perhaps permanently, their emancipation, both parties went to arbitration where an agreement was reached in which Geekie received one-third of the estate. Geekie still had to file suit against the enslaved people because the court had to ensure the interest of the enslaved infants were ensured.

Cause involves sell of enslaved family [unnamed]. Plaintiff purchased an enslaved mother and her children. The husband of the enslaved woman asked the plaintiff to purchase him as well so he would not be separated from his family.

Plaintiff accused defendant of selling him Prudence, unhealthy enslaved woman who suffered from a sexually transmitted disease. Cause includes deposition of physician who examined the Prudence while she was held by Higginbotham. The physician testified that he found the Prudence being kept in a damp cellar during intense cold weather, and that she was salivating due to medication given to her by Higginbotham. The physician diagnosed her with a severe lung infection and some form of a pox spreading over her body. He told Higginbotham to remove Prudence from the cellar because the poor conditions made her health condition worse. He also told him that "his mismanagement of the case endangered the life of the woman" and that the combination of the lung infection and pox "rendered her situation critical and dangerous." The physician was unable to examine Prudence for the STD due to her poor health. The physician was asked to examine the Prudence again while she was in the possession of the plaintiff. The pox had returned. While examining her, the physician discovered that Prudence had an abortion which was "hastened by the circumstances of the woman concealing her state of pregnancy and the medicine administered for the pox." "That a state of pox generally but not always produces abortion - and the disease is hereditary and most generally afflicts the offspring of a mother who is thus afflicted."

Causes concerns Hagar, a man enslaved by Lewis Nevell. Nevell names Hagar head man of a boat giving him authority to make contracts with others including Archibald Lingo. Lingo refused to conduct business with Hagar as an enslaved man, claiming the last time he conducted business with an enslaved man, a man named Jim, Jim then ran away with the money received and believed to have self- emancipated.

Cause concerns the fraudulent sale of enslaved persons. Harriot, Harry, Sarah, and Shadrick claimed to have been emancipated by deed recorded in Lancaster County. [ ChOriginal deed as well as Filed freedom suit in common law. available through Virginia Untold site. See also: Augusta County Chancery Cause 1823-034.]

Plaintiff agreed to serve as substitute on behalf of defendant for a tour of duty during the War of 1812.

Cause involved questions over the categorization of enslaved people as either real property or personal property.

Cause involves Simon, an enslaved man, being given permission by his enslaver to return to Albemarle County from Estill County, Kentucky. "Slave pass" filed as exhibit.

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.

Robert Lewis convicted of the murder of Thomas Noel in 1821 and then Fled Virginia. Lewis' estate was managed by coroner of Albemarle after he left the state, with Morris is seeking payment of debt from Lewis' estate. [See also: Albemarle County - Thompson Noel: Coroners' Inquisitions, 1821 September]