News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-12-27
THE STORY OF A SLAVES LIFE.
Relatives Fighting for the Property of
Mrs. Henrietta Daniels.

The Common Pleas Court of Phila-
delphia referred to Lawyer Jerome v.
MastersOu for audit an account in the
estate of Mrs. Henrietta r. Daniels,
colored, in which several extraordinary
legal questions have arisen. Mrs.
Daniels died in Philadelphia a few
months ago and left $50, OG0 worth Of
property that is claimed by an army Of
her own and her husbands collateral
heirs. The case is in many respects re-
markable, and the proceedings are
watched with great interest by members
of the bar and friends Of the dead wo-
man as well rs ky those who expect to
receive shares of the estate. Mrs.
Daniels, whose maiden name was Rob
InsOn, was born near Charleston, 5. O.,
and was one of the many slaves OF An
drew p. Dwight, wealthy planter.
When Henrietta was II years OF age her
master sent her as a Christmas present to
his sister, Mrs. Fraily, of Charleston.
Mrs. Fraily, however, had no use for the
girl and wanted to send her back. Mr..
Dwight then said he had too many use
less slaves about his house, and asked
his sister to hire the girl to some one
who could pay well for her services.
Henrie tia was rented to Mrs. Furness,
dress-maker, and in a few years later
Mr. Dwight was receiving $40 a month
from the dress-maker for the services of
his slave. In six years Henrietta saved
enough money over and above her
wages to buy, for 5000, her mother, who
still lived on Mr. Dwight's plantation.
When the last of the mon y was paid
Dwight refused to allow the old woman
to JOIN her daughter in Charleston, say
ing that it was enough for her to know
that she was free, nor would he refund
the purchase money. Mrs. Furncss
heard the story, bought Henrietta from
Dwight at 81 800, and then brought
suit to compel him to either give the old
woman her freedom or return the 5000
paid for her. Dwight won the suit, the
court holding that Henrietta's earnings
were as much his property as she was.
The old woman went back into slavery
and died Henrietta then bought her
own freedom, Mrs. Furness allowing her
to put in her wages as partial payment.
After purchasing her freedom she mqr-
ried Asa Daniels, blacksmith, and five
years later she bought him out of slav-
cry, paying 81, 500. In about Is years
this woman had bought her mother, her
self, and her husband, Daniels. She
wanted to come North at once, but Mrs
Furness, who had a great affection for
Henrietta, induced her to remain in
Charleston until Daniels had found en-
ployment in one of the Northern cities.
Daniels came to Philadelphia and found
work in q blacksmith shop which he
afterward owned. A few months later
Mrs. Furness was taken sick and died,
but not before she had given Henrietta
$4,000 in bank notes as a reward for
her faithfulness. She also beqUeathed
to her q house in Charleston, but as col
lateral heirs of the dead woman con-
tested the will, Mrs. Daniels came North
to join her husband.
Shortly after Mrs. Daniels left Charles
ton it was discovered that a few days
before her death Mrs. Furness mad
drawn $4,000 from a bank. The
money could neither be found nor ac-
counted for. The assumption was that
Mrs. Daniels had stolen it, and officers
set out in pursuit of her. In Richmond
Mrs. Daniels learned that she was being
hunted. She secreted herself there for
several weeks and was finally brought to
Philadelphia by an agent of the Under
ground railroad. All this time she had
in her possession Mrs. Furness's written
of the gift of money,
but previous experience made Henrietta
dread the decisions of the Charleston
courts. Upon her arrival here she en-
gagged a lawyer, who at once notified the
Charleston authorities of the true facts
in the case, and there the matter ended.
Mr.. and Mrs. Daniels bought a house
on South street and lived there many
years. He and his wife owned two
shops and score of small
houses in the centre of the
city. They had one son, who was
drowned in the Delaware river four or
five years ago. When old Mrs, Daniels
died Il host of her and her husbands
distant Relations came forward and
claimed tl4asesss To- he ereeerts was
sold ~ order of Ehe court and lie money
was paid into tcOurt. Mr.. Masterson
will, as Auditort, arrange distribution
Of the funds. The lawyers of the col
lateral heirs of Mrs. Daniels hold that
her husbands relatives have no just
claim upon the estate, he having been
her slave by purchase. The legal adj
yisers OF the relatives of Mr.. Daniels
argue, however, that he became a free
man and his wife's equal, and that as
the Philadelphia property was in his
name it should be divided among them.