Early Governors' Papers

Know all men By these preasants [sic] that I Thomas Conway Senior of Bedford County and state of Tennessee more Divers good causes and Considerations me hearunto moving have and Do By these preasants [sic] nominate Consti tute and apoint my son Joseph Conway of the County and state aforesaid my [true and?] Lawful attorney for me and in my name and for my proper use Benefit to ask Dema nd and recover a Certain negroe [sic] man named Warner aged about 26 years of age Taken from my possesion [sic] in Madison County Mississipi [sic] Territory By my son Thomas Conway Junior and said Convoyed to the State of Kentucky and I do hereby authorise my said atorney [sic] to make use of all lawful ways and means to procure and obtain the said negroe [sic] man Warner in whatever state Territory town or corporation he may be found or in whosoever prossesion [sic] he may Be found By commencing suit atachment [sic] distress or other wise or By apointing [sic] one or more atorneys [sic] to make as he may Deem Best for the recovery of the said negroe [sic] man named Warner and I Do further By these preasants [sic] fully authorise constitute and apoint my said atorney [sic] to make use of all lawful ways and means in his pow= er in whatsoever state or Territory he may find the said negroe [sic] man Warner or in whosesoever hands or posesion [sic] he may Be found to use all of the Lawful ways and means for the re= covery of the said negroe [sic] man Warner as I myself could lawfully do were I personaly [sic] preasant [sic] at the Doing thereof

fully ratifying and Confirming whatsoever of righ [sic] my said atorney [sic] may lawfully do touchin [sic] the premises in Testimoney whereof I have hereunto set my hand and afixed my Seal this 20^th day of September AD 1815

Thomas Conway senior X his mark

test R P Harrison Thomas M Rice Jun^r

State of Tennessee Bedford Circuit Court September Term 1815 I James M^ckissick Clerk of the Circuit Court ^the County of ^of Bedford do hearby [sic] Certify that the Execution of the within power of of atorney [sic] from Thomas Conway to Joseph was proven in open Court By the oaths of Robert P Harrison and Thomas M Rice subscribing witness thereto and ordered to Be Certified-

for registration

in testimony whereof I have hearunto [sic] set my hand and afixed [sic] my private Seal there Being no other seal of office this 28^th day of september 1815

Ja^s M^cKisick

State of Tennessee Bedford County

This day Thomas Conway came personally before me M D Mitchell a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid and made oath that a certain Negroe man called Warner is his property that he the said Negroe was born his Slave and that he this affiant never bargained sold or conveyed the said Slave to any person; that when residing in Madison County in the Mississippi Territory he hired the said Negroe was hired out and that a Son of this affiant without the knowledge or consent of him took the Negroe away and as this affiant was informed, gambled him away and that as soon as he heard where he was, he sent his son Joseph Conway with full authority to sue for and recover the said Slave or to take him into his possession if he could peaceably, and to bring him to this affiant; and that the said Joseph found the said Negro in the State of Kentucky on the publick highway which in the possession of a certain Robert Boyce and he says he can prove by a Citizen of said State that he took the said Slave and brought him to this deponent by virtue of the said authority

Thomas Conway Sen^r X his mark

Sworn to & subscribed before me

M D Mitchell [Justice Peace?]

State of Tennessee Bedford County

This day Henry Conway came personally before me M [Detutehill?] a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid and made oath that a certain Negroe man called Warner lately claimed or pretended to be claimed by a certain Robert Boyce from the State of Kentucky is the property of Thomas Conway and that the said Conway raised the said Slave and that the said Negroe was hired out in Madison County and in the Mississippi territory and Thomas Conway Jun^r without the permission consent or knowledge of his Father who owned the said Negroe took him away and as soon as the said Thomas Conway Sen^r heard where he was he sent his son Joseph Conway for him and the said Joseph brought the said Negroe home to his Father and made it known to his neigh= bours that he had done so

Henry Conway

Sworn to & subscribed before me

M D Mitchell [Justice Peace?]

State of Tennessee Bedford County

This day Christopher Conway made oath that the above named Negro was the property of Thomas Conway Sen^r and he believes that the said Conway never sold the said Negroe nor authorised any person to do so

C. Conway

Sworn to & subscribed be before me

M D Mitchell [Justice Peace?]