Case Name: Tucker v. Sweny
Court: General Court of Virginia
Jurisdiction: Virginia
Decision Date: 1731-04
Citations: 1 Jefferson 5
Docket Number: 
Parties: *Tucker v. Sweny.
Judges: 
Reporter: Jefferson
Volume: 1
Pages: 8–9

Head Matter:
*Tucker v. Sweny.
April, 1731.
Debts of Decedent — Liability of increase of Slaves.— Notwithstanding- the act making slaves real estate, kucIi slaves and their increase are liable to satisfy a judgment obtained against the executors of the debtor.
Reported by Sir John Randolph.
See monographic note on “Debts of Decedent” appended to Shores v. Wares, 1 Rob. 1.

Opinion:
The case. Mr. Richard Dandridge recovered judgment against the executors of Nicholas Curie for £507. Curie died possessed of several slaves, and of those slaves after his death, there was a considerable increase. Mr. Dandridge took out a fieri facias, which was served upon several of the slaves which Curie died possessed of, and likewise upon several of the negroes born after his death, and the question is, whether the increase of the negroes may be taken to satisfy this judgment; and it was held clearly they may. Negroes, notwithstanding the act making them real estate, remain in the hands of the executors by that act as chattels, and as such, do vest in them for payment of debts. So that in this case, they are considered no otherwise than as horses or cattle, and there is no doubt but the increase of any living creature, after the death of the testator, are looked upon as a part of his estate, and are liable to be taken for his debts.
The authority for this is Wentworth 83, and it was so adjudged by the Court.