Petition by the executors of the estate of Edmund Townsend, 1854

              [Page 1]

Whereas, in pursuance of a decree of the Court of Chancery held at Huntsville for the 29th Chancery District of the State of Alabama, made at the special term of said court, held on the last monday in January 1854 in a cause therein pending, between Samuel Townsend [1] and John E. Townsend executors of the last will and testament of Edmund Townsend [2] deceased, complainants, and Henrietta Johnson and others defendants, the said Executors were ordered and directed to sell at public auction, the real estate and personal property belonging to the estate of said decedent, and whereas, amongst the slaves belonging to said estate, there are two female slaves, named Elizabeth M aged about fourteen years and Virginia aged about eleven years, whom the said testator by his will, acknowledged to be his children and the undersigned heirs at law, and distributees of the estate of said decedent, in order to prevent the said female slaves from falling into the hands of strangers; and that their condition of slavery may be ameliorated, as far as possible,  We, Thomas Townsend, Samuel C. Townsend, Henrietta Johnson, Muntford R. Townsend, Parkes S. Townsend, Jones D. Crow, & Upton S. Crow

of the one part and Samuel Townsend and John E Townsend of the other part, do hereby covenant and agree amongst ourselves, and with each other, that

[Notes]

[1] Samuel C. Townsend b. ca. 1826 in Va.
[2] Edmund Townsend d. 1853