Early Governors' Papers

M^cMinnville 2^d May

His Excellency Joseph M^cMinn

Sir

The Inclosed affidavits if in your oppinnon [sic] deserves attention you will be so good as to exerses [sic] you authority to The Governor or his sucksers [sic] to Isue [sic] In the State of allebama [sic], His Proclamation to Bring the [?] to Justice ^The said Hammon and regain That which is Stolen -

I Have the Honour to be Your Exelencys Hum^l Ser[page damaged

Rob French

N B. forward Your Proclemation [sic] under cover directed to Thomas Hopkins or my self at this place

R. F.

The affidavit of Thomas Keef of Lawfull [sic] Age after being duly Sworn deposeth and Saith that he on the 11^th Instant was a going to a Plantation of Thomas Hopkins in The County of warren, on arriving within Sight of the same, he discovered a negro man, mont [sic] his horse, as if somthing [sic] matereal [sic] was the matter, when he road [sic] up hastily to him and stated, that a man by the name of John Hammons, had Just taken out of the possession of Thomas Hopkins, a negro Girl. who he Called Aza, at the mussels of a rifle gun, and requested me to pursue him, and try to regain the Property, I did so, and in a short distance from the Plantation I Overtook Hammons, in Possession of the Girl, I Asked him what he was about, His blasfimous [sic] ^oaths disturbed my year [sic] and his Threats of death to those who would attempt to take the Girl or molest him, gave me reasons to Beleave [sic] which I do beleave [sic], that he was taking unlawfully the Property of said Hopkins

The affidavit of James S. Tompson of Lawfull age after being duly sworn Deposeth and saith that Rob^t French acting as agent for Thomas Hopkins being Informd [sic] that a Certain man by the Name of John Hammons had unlawfully taken Out of the Possessin of said Hopkins, one Negro Girl, and the Mother, Pursud [sic] after her I the said Tompson was Imploy^d By said Robert French as asting agent For Thomas Hopkins to pursue on and regain the Stolen Property, I did So, and In the County of Jackson In the State of Allebama [sic] the residence of Said Hammons whare [sic] I saw In possession of Said Hammons the negroes as described to me Viz. a woman about forty three years of age and a Girl

about 17 Years of Age which property I Have Just Reasons to beleave [sic] is ^the property Belongs to Thomas Hopkins, his thrats [sic] of Killing Any One that would attempt to fource [sic] the said negroes Out of his Possession and from what Knoledge [sic] I Have of the matter I do beleave [sic] He the said Hammons is unlaffey [sic] in possession of two Negroes the property of Thomas Hopkins

Leighton Ferrell Justice of the peace

Jas S. Mampson

sworn & subscribed to before me Leighton Ferrell Warren County Tennessee 5 May 1820

We the undersigned Judges of the Supreme Court for the State of Tennessee sitting at Knoxville at the July term A. D. 1827 thereof do certify to his Excellency the Governor in and over the State of Tennessee that these pendig and for hearing and decision in said Supreme Court at Knoxville at the present term the following causes; to hear and determine which there is not a competent court=; two of the present members of the Court being incompetent to decide thereon: That is to say

1 John Tonner (Tonner) } Dispos^d of vs W^m Jennings & Ryal Jennings = 2 John A. Rogers & Jacob Hackney vs Martin Beaty & others = 3 John Cocke & John F. Jack vs Robert M^cGinnis admr = 4 Joseph P. Minnick's Lessee vs John Cocke and others

5 James G. Harris admr of Elizabeth M^cEthatton vs John Cocke admr of Henry Howel and the Heirs of said Howel & al. = 6 John and Ann Condley vs James G. Martin, Thomas Hopkins and William Cocke's Lessee ~ ~ = 7 John Meek vs Marcus Bearden & Morton Peterson = 8 John Cocke vs John Stuart & Geo. Stuart Executors of David Stuart dec^d. Knoxville Equity

2928 3030