Francis Terry Leak Papers

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 distributees 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

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Ma/ 17th. 1852. Rain in the fore noon to day, It a light one in the morning ft a heavier one in the evening, yesterday. Sot out aeao Potato slips, 17 rows, sowed Red Popper in the garden Gathered turnip seed The rain to day hindered our operations some. The 16 scrapers passed over the U acre field, It the Bluff field, excepting about 20 rows - In all about 50 acres. The hoes chopped out the Bars field, the 11 acre field, It about lit acres of the Bluff field, In all about hi acres. The Corn plows (9) finished the Kenedy field It plowed about 10 acres In the Bostwick field. Thermometer at U8 at sunrise Wrote to my son W. J. Leak. Received a letter from W. B . Miller inquiring as to the solvency of Jno Redus. Wrote to him on the 20th. May 18th. 1852.

The oats are beginning to head. The smallest seem to be heading first The scrapers finished the balance of the Bluff field, a l l of the Pores field, & about 15 acres of the Mil Jam field - In all about 66 acres The hoes finished the balance of the Bluff field It about 35 acres of the Ponds field - in all about 63 acres •

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