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Report of Commissioners appointed to divide the
negro property of James W Crawford's estate

To Bassett G. Lawrence Judge of the Probate Court
of Marshall County, State of Mississippi

The undersigned Commissioners appointed by
this Court, at the last December term thereof, to divide the
negro property of the late James W. Craawford among his
heirs, or distributees, report that, having first given five
days notice to John W. Crawford, the only one of the dis-
tributees resident in this County or State, two of their
number not at the plantation of decedent on the 20th Jan'y
1853; but that, owing to the absence of the other members
of the Commission they adjourned over to the 25th instant, --
of which adjournment they verbally notified the said
John W Crawford then present; -- at which adjourned
meeting at the plantation aforesaid & time aforesaid, the said
John W Crawford heirs again present & waiving all
exception to the notice given him as will appear by the
paper annexed hereto marked C they proceeded to discharge the
duty assigned them by dividing said negro property [??]
seven shares designated 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7, & then assignees,
by lot said shares to the distribution as follows, viz:

Lot No 1 was assigned to the children of Elizabeth Porter deceased
" " 2 " " William W. Crawford.
" " 3 " " Harriet A. Steele
" " 4 " " Martha W. Loring
" " 5 " " Jane W. Leck
" " 6 " " John W. Crawford
" " 7 " " Thomas W. Crawford

The paper marked A. accompanied this
report, exhibits the witness of the service of the first
notice spoken of above

The paper marked B, also accompanying this
report, shown in detail the names & value of the Slaves
assigned to each distributee

And your Commissioners further report
that to equalize the shares among the distributees, they do
hereby award that Martha W. Loring pay unto Harriet
A Steele Seventy five 71/100 dollars ($75 71) & unto Thomas
W Crawford Twenty three 58/100 dollars ($23 58); that John
W Crawford pay unto William W. Crawford, forty
nine 29/100 dollars ($49 29); & that the heirs of Elizabeth Porter
pay unto Wm. W. Crawford one 42/100 dollars ($1,42), unto Jane
W. Leck seventy one cents ( 70), & unto Thomas W Crawford
twenty seven 14/100 dollars ($27,14)

January 25th 1853

Caleb Cox seal
Solomon Crouch seal
W. H. Corington seal