Case Name: George & Sarah Graves vs. Sarah Clapp
Court: Tennessee Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Tennessee
Decision Date: 1865-09
Citations: 2 Cold. 138
Docket Number: 
Parties: George & Sarah Graves vs. Sarah Clapp.
Judges: 
Reporter: Tennessee Reports
Volume: 42
Pages: 138–139

Head Matter:
George & Sarah Graves vs. Sarah Clapp.
1. Division of Slaves during life estate. Effect of. By an agreement between Mrs. Graves and Sarah Clapp, slaves willed to Mrs. Rutherford for life, and remainder to them, were divided between them. The slaves of Mrs. Graves died in her possession and under her .control. Held, that she was not, at the termination of the life estate, entitled to participate in a division of the slaves assigned to Mrs. Clapp.
PROM KNOX.
There was a decree in this cause in favor of complainants, at the July Term, 1861, Chancellor Seth J. W. Luokey, presiding. Respondent appealed.
Jas. R. Cocee, for complainant.
John Baxter, for respondent.

Opinion:
Milligan, J.,
delivered the- opinion of the Court.
The decree of the Chancellor in this cause must be reversed, so far as it declares that the complainant is entitled to an undivided one-half interest in the slaves, Sarah and Wilburn; and an account for the hire of said slaves, since they went into the possession of the defendant, Sarah Clapp; because it fully appears, that by an arrangement of the parties, the slaves willed to Mrs. Rutherford, for life, with remainder over to the children, were divided in the life-time of Mrs. Rutherford, and the two allotted to Mrs. Graves, Tob and Sallie, both died in her possession, and under her control. She is not, therefore, entitled to participate in a division of the slaves, assigned to the defendant, Mrs. Clapp.
The taxation of the costs by the Chancellor in the Court below, will not be disturbed; and the complainants will pay the costs of this Court.