Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-11-26
THE STORY OF A SLAVES LIFE,
Relatives Fighting for the Property of
Mrs. Henrietta Daniels.
PAilddelpAia Special, aIst


The Common Pleas Court to-day re-
ferred to Lawyer Jerome V. Masterson
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 Pbila-
delphia few months ago and left $50,-
600 worth Of property that is claimed
by an army Of her own and her
husbands collateral heirs. The case is in
many respects remarkable, and the pro-
ceedings watched with great interest by
members of the bar and friends of the
dead woman as well as by those who eX-
pect to receive shares of the estate. Mrs
Daniels, whose maiden name was Robin
son, was born near Charleston, S. c.. and
was one of the many slaves of Andrew
7. Dwight, a wealthy planter When
henrietta was II years of age her
master sent her as a Christmas pres
ent 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 useless slaves about his
house and asked his sister to hire the girl
to some one who would pay we'll for her
services. Henrietta was rented to Mrs.
FurnesS, a dress-maker and in a few
years later Mr.. Dwight was receiving $40
month from the dress-maker for the SER
vices 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 money was paid
Dwight refused to allow the old woman to
join her daughter in Charleston, saving
that 1t was enough for her to know that
she was free, nor would he refund the
purchase money. Mrs. Furness heard the
story, bought Henrietta from Dwight for
$1,000, 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 hold
ing 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 purchas-
ing her freedom she married Asa Daniels,
a blacksmith, and five years later she
bought him out of slavery, paying 81 500.
In about fifteen years this WOman had
bought her mother, herself, and her hus-
band, Daniels. She wanted to come
North at once, but Mrs. Furness, who
had great affection for Henrietta, in
duced her to remain in Charleston until
Daniels had found employment in one of
the Northern cities. Daniels came to
Philadelphia and found work in
blacksmith shop which he after
ward 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 faithful
ness. She also bequeathed to her house
in Charleston, but as collateral heirs of
the dead woman contested the will, Mrs.
Daniels came North to ioin her husband.
Shortly after Mrs. Daniels left Charles
ton it was discovered that a few DAYS be-
fore her death Mrs. Furness had drawn
$4,000 from a bank. The money could
neither be found nor accounted 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 tor
several weeks, and was finally
brought to Philadelphia by an agent of
the Underground Railroad. All this time
she had in her possession Mrs. Furness'
written acknowledgment of the gift of
money, but previous experience made
Henrietta dread the decisions of the
Charleston courts. Upon her arrival
here she engaged lawyer, who at once
notified the Charleston authorities of the
true facts in the case, and there the mat
ter ended.
Mr. and Mrs. Daniels bought a house
on South street and lived there many
years. Daniels died in 1879. He and his
wife owned two blacksmith shops and a
score of small tenement houses in the GEN.
tire of the city. They had one son, who
was drowned in the Delaware river or
years ago. When old Mrs. Daniels died
host of her and her husbands distant
relations came forward and claimed
the estate. The property was sold by
order of the court and the
money paid into court. Mr.. Matter
son will, as Auditor, arrange a distribu-
ton of the funds. The lawyers of the
collateral 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 advi-
sers of the relatives of Mr.. Daniels argue,
however, that when he came North he
became free man and his wife's equal,
and that as the, Philadelphia property
was in his name it should be divided
among them.