Roberts Collections

Question 1st Was you acquainted with Skelton Standifer Georgia before and after he married John Echols daughter.

Answer Witness states he was acquainted with Skelton Standifer in the State of Georgia, he was at that time married to the second wife who was the Daughter of a Man by the name of Echols

Question 2nd. Did Skelton Standifer reside shortly after he married said Echols Daughter in your Father's neighborhood, and if he did, how near did he so reside and how long.

Answer 2nd. Sketlon Standifer resided within about one mile of the residence of my Father, as well as Witness now can recollect, about two years after his intermarriage with Echols Daughter

Question 3rd. Did he have the negroes in his possession during his residence in your Father's neighborhood which he brought to Alabama.

Answer 34d. Witness as near as he can recollect was at the House of Skelton Standifer in the month of May 1823 or 1824, and he was also at the hosue of Jesse Standifer and [end of page]

Page 1st

The State of Mississippi

[Tarndes?] County

By virtue of the annexed commission we have called and caused the [untoef?] Elizabeth Hudson therein named to came before us at the Dewelling house of William Hudson in the State and county aforesaid on the 8th day of January 1848 who after being sworn Sayeth as follows (to wit)

Questions By Plaintiffs. 1st. Are you acquainted with the parties to this [sevet?].

Answer 1st. Yes I am acquainted with John E Standifer Jesse M Standifer James I Standifer and Elisanias Cavaness I am not acquainted with Stephen Erving

Question 2nd Was you acquainted with Skelton Standifer and Lydia Standifer

Answer 2nd I was

Question 3rd did you know who was the Father of Lydia Standifer

Answer 3rd John Echols

Question 4th Did you ever know of John Echols to Loan to Skelton Standifer and Lydia Standefer any negroes

Answer 4th I did

Question 5th What was the names of those negroes

Answer 5th Herena Jim Jonathan Silvia Sarah Matilda and Gilly

Question 6th Was John Echols not in the habit of taking those negroes in his possession and controlling them

Answer 6th He was in the habit of controlling them whenever he saw proper up to the time that he made his will

Question 7th Did you ever hear Skelton Standifer set up any night to those negroes and say that they were his

Answer on Page two

Page 2–

Answer 7th I never did

Question 8th Do you know who the children of Lydia Standifer were

Answer 8th I do

Question 9th Please name them

Answer 9th John E Standifer Jesse M Standifer James I Stanifer and Elisanias Cavaness

Question 10th How long did John Echols live after making his will

Answer 10th About Twelve months to the best of my colection

Questions By Defendant

Question 1st What Relation is there between you and Skelton Standifer deceased

Answer 1st He was my Father

Question 2nd Are you his daughter by his first or his Second wife

Answer 2nd By his first wife

Question 3rd Who was his first wife

Answer 3rd Elizabeth Williams

Question 4th Who was his Second wife

Answer 4th Lydia Echols

Question 5th Where was he married to his second wife

Answer 5th In the State of Georgia Putnam County and he moved from there to Madison County Alabama

Question 6th When was he married to his Second wife

Answer 6th About the year 1810

Question 7th What was your age at that time

Answer 7th About Five years old

Question 8th What is your age now

Answer 8th I am 43 years old the first of March next

Carried to page 3

Page 3rd

Question 9 Did you ever know a negro woman called Herrena once in the possession of the said Skelton Standifer

Answer 9th I did

Question 10th How did said Skelton Standifer acquire possession of her

Answer 10th By being Loaned to his wife

Question 11th Of whom did he get her

Answer 11th From John Echols

Question 12th Do you Rechollect what time he got possession of said negro

Answer 12th In the early party of year 1811 In January or February

Question 13th In what state did he live at time

Answer 13th In the State of Georgia Putnam county

Question 14th How long did Skelton Standifer keep Said negro woman Herena in his possesion

Answer 14th Ten or Eleven years

Question 15th do you know whether or not the said Herrena belonged to the said Skelton Standifer Second wife before her marriage with him

Answer 15th She did not belong to his Second wife before her marriage

Question 16th Do you know of whom she purchased or acquired her

Answer 16th her Father gave Said negros to her

Question 17th How dod he give the negro to her

Answer 17th He gave Said negroes to her during her lifetime and to her bodily heirs at her death

Question 18th When was it that she came in possession of these negroes

Answer I do not Recollect Some months after they were married

Carried to page 4

Page 4

Question 19th On what Terms and what she Paid or was to pay for them

Answer 19th She feed and clothed the old man his lifetime there might have [been?] some contract between him and Father that I knew nothing about I don't know any thing more. I don't know wether there was any contract to that effect or not.

The Plaintiffs object to the above Question being asked the witness.

Question 20th State wether or not said Herrena went into said Skelton Standifers possession at the time or soon after his Second Marriage or if not say when

Answer 20th She did not at the time of his marriage I think it was some seven or eight months after Father was married when the negroes came into his possession

Question 21st Tell all about the way that said Skelton Standifer came into possession of said negroes

Answer 21st I can't remember I heard he had hired them of John Echols but I know nothing about the contract

Question 22nd do you know what hire he [Paned]?

Answer 22nd I do not

Question 23rd You say that Skelton Standifer was married to his second wife in the month of May 1810

Answer 23rd Yes

Question 24th What Relation are you to the Plaintiff in this suit

Answer 24th I am his half Sister

Plaintiff objects to the above Question being asked the Witness

Question 25th How long did Skelton Standifer Reside in the State of Georgia after his Second Marriage

Answer 25th Three or four years I don't exactly Recollect wich but I think about four years

Question by Plaintiffs

You state in your answer that it was some Ten or Eleven years that said negroes was in the possession of the said Standifer was John Echols alive all of that time

Answer. No He Lived about seven years after their Marriage

[scan line makes text illegible]

Commissioners fee

#3.00

We John Carr and William Bell the commissioners in the annexed commission mentioned do certify that the above Testimony was taken sworn by us and carefully used over to the witness that her signature is genuine and that we are not of kin or counsel to either of the Parties. Given and under our hands and seals this the 8th day of January 1848.

John Carr

William Bell

[?]

THE STATE OF ALABAMA:–MADISON COUNTY

To Christopher Welsh of John J Rothon of Morgan County in the State of Alabama Greeting:

KNOW YE That we, in confidence of your prudence and fidelity, do hereby commission authorize and require you or [ecther?] of you to call and cause to come before you or [wther?] of you at the house of James Echols in the County and State aforesaid, on the 17th day of April [?] in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.

James Echols and him after being first duly qualified, diligently examined touching his knowledge respecting the matters in difference between the parties, in a suit now pending in our Circuit Court, holden for the County of Madison wherein John E [?] & Other are plaintiffs and Stephen S Ewing is defendant in behalf of the Defendant and his examination, so taken from under your hand and seal send certified to the Judge of Circuit Court for the County of Madison and State of Alabama, at the Court to be hel at the Court House in the Town of Huntsville on the 4th Monday in April [?]

WITNESS, JOHN B. ELDRIDGE, Clerk of our said Circuit Court at office, this 12th day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fort-nine and of American Independence the seventy-3d year.

Issued 12th day of April 1849

Let 2 days notice of the time and place of taking said desposition be given.

Teste: John B Eldridge Clerk C. C.

Recorded April 13th of April 1847

[?]

The State of Alabama

Morgan County

[Persncent?] to the [annoyed?] commission Directed to me Christopher Melch or John T. Rather by the Clerk of the circuit Court of the County of Madison in said State. I have on this 14 day of April 1849 [Coursia?] James Echols the [witheof?] therein named, to appear before me at the name of the said James echols in the said County of Morgan. To give evidence in behalf of the Defendant in said cause knowing in said Circuit Court of Madison wherein John E. Standifer & others are plaintiff and Stephen I Erving in defendant and the said James Echols after being first duly sworn to speak the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth. [?] and sayeth as follows.

Interagatory 1st by defendant. Are you acquainted with the [bastis?] in this [course?]-

Answer 1. I am -

Quest 2nd. Did or did not Skelton Standifer marry Lydia Standifer. a daughter of John Echols of Georgia, and if so when did he marry her?

Ann 2. He did marry her and I was at the marriage but what year or month I do not recolect.

Quest 3. Did or did not [Sonice?] Skelton Standifer ever have a negro girl or woman named Herrena if so when & how did he obtain possession of said negro

Ansr 3. My understand was that my father John Echols did give a negro girl named Herrena to Lydia Standifer the wife of Skelton STandifer and I think that she the said negro was given [yore?] the Time of the marriage of Lydia and that she got her in [popessian?] about the Time her marriage- and that Skelton Standifer brought said negro to this state with him.

Quest 4. If said Skelton Stanafer had an p?] a negro girl named Herrena, Statae whither said girl Herrena had any child or children, when Lydia Standifer obtained possession of her? If not. state whether after [warm?] and when she had a children or children?

Ansr 4. I think she was about time or [Eleanore?] years ala when she was given to Lydia and whether she had a child or not before Skelton Standifer [?] Georgia I do not now recolect.

Quest 5. In what year and in what month did John Echols the Father of Lydia Standifer (wife of Skelton Standifer) remove from the state of Georgia to Alabama, and who came with him from Georgia?

Ans 5. The year or month that John Echols [remove?] from Georgia to Alabama I do not recall. Samuel Echols came with him from Georgia to Alabama:

Quest [6?] Do you know or not whether Skelton Standifer got a negro boy named Jim with his wife Lydia upon their marriage? If so from whom did he get him? and if he [dieperd?] of said negro boy Jim, State when and to whom [ma?] how he disposed of him?

Ansr 6. After John Echols gave the girl Herrena to Lydia he (John Echols) had one man in his employ named Taylor whom it was supposed killed a mare belonging to Lydia by appeasion to compensate Lydia for the loss of said mare he John Echols gave Lydia a negro girl named Clara and I think Jim (who was a son of Clara) was born after the gift of Clara to Lydia?

Quest 7. Do you or not know whether Skelton Standifer ever sod, or disposed of a negro woman named Herrena and a negro boy named Jim? If so, State whom when and for what consideration said Skelton Standifer sold either, or both of them?

Ansr 7. Skelton Standifer [Staged?] all[ninight?] at my House and had with him the Boy Jim and said horses. My understanding was that he was on his way to [Thicke?] William Walkers and that said Walker was to get the boy Jim and the horses to discharge a debt that he [ouge?] Walker, adn that he was there on his way to [ahaien?] [thence?] I State that the negro was especially designed for Walker, whether he was to let Walker have the horses, or sell them for money To discharge the debt I [?] not distinctly recolect.

Quest 8. When did the said John Echols die? State the month and year, in which he died?

Ansr 8. I cannot reolect. I was living in Georgia at the time of his death.

Quest 9. State where said Skelton Standifer lived in the years 1814, 1815, 1816, 1817, and 1818?

Ann 9. I cannot say.

Quest 10. State the [member?] and names of the children of the said John Echols.

Ans 10. The first was named Prudence, Temperance, Catherine, James Lydia Martha Lucy John Samuel.

Quest 11. Did or did not the said John Echols [avice?] his negros amongst his children before he left the state of Georgia? If so, state what negros he gave to each child, or what many, or property and where possesion [was?] [delivered?]?

Ann 11. He did, and [?] [from?] (by my [Srand?] [Jonathen?] Moore) [zeceased?] a negro girl Sarah and John Echols gave to a daughter of Prudence [?] a small negro girl named [?illin?], said negro girl died at John Echols'. John Echols gave to Temperance a negro girl named dolly, and to Temperances daughter a girl named Lucy. To James he gave a boy about ten years old named [Glouscow?] which boy was given me before I was married I [avnia?] said boy nineteen years before I cam from Georgia I left Goergia in the year 1818.

[?] Examined by Plaintiff Council

Quest 1 State how old you are

Ans 1 I am eighty one the 9th of this [month?]

Qut 2 How much younger is your Brother John than yourself?

Ann 2 I think about nine years

Qut 3 Name your [Slu?] [Slucknament?] of your Brother Samuel on [thin?] [Subject?]

Ann 3 I have not but would like to see them

Qut 4 How far did your [Father?] live from Skelton Standifer when in Georgia?

Ann 4 I believe he lived near Skelton Standifer in Georgia between thirty and fourty years ago- my recolection is is not [accestined?]

Qut 5 Did your Father break up House Keeping [Immme?] [duality?] after the death of your mother

Ans 5 I believe after the death of my mother Brother John * his wife lived with my Father until Brother John [went?] into the army.

Qut 6 Did your Father keep house at any Time after the death your mother

Ans 6 I think he did not-

Qut 7 Did your Father Give possession of the negros at the [mivican?] or did he [ectain?] possession himself and sell [them?] [their?] property

Ans 7 As far as I can remember they [marc?] [currica?] into the families To which They were given. I think my Father [wance?] two [Benys?] [Lam?] & Martha [authory?]

Qut 8 Did he give Pampery and Lane to your Brother John Echols before the death of your mother

Ans 8 I Know they were considered John Echols (my Brother) for some Time before the death of my mother

Qut 9 was John & Samuel married before the death of your mother?

Ans 9 They were

Qut 10 How old was [Lane?] and Pampey at the time of your mothers death.

Ans 10 One was [?] [? Twenty years old and the other nine or Ten

To Lydia he gave a negro Girl named Herrena [apterurence?] he gave her a woman named Clara, to Martha a small negro Girl named Dolly, To Lucy a negro Girl named Silva, To John a negro man named Pompey and a boy named [Tom/Jim?], To Samuel a negro boy named Mark [canthony?] I think each child had a [bed?] given there Catherine died before the [avinca?] was made.

Qut 12 Did or did not the said John Echols [have?] a negro Girl named Silvice? If so State whether he brought any Girl, or woman of that name to Alabama;

Ans 12. He did not bring a Girl by the name of Silvia to Alabama

Qut 13 Did or did not John Echols your brother own a Girl named Silvia. If so, who did he sell her to

Ans 13. He did own a negro Girl named Silvia and another named [Juica?] I think Mr. [Bora?] bought Silvia and a man by the name of Stepgen got [Jenica?]

Qut 14 Do or do you not know where your Brother John was when your Father, Skelton Standifer and Samuel Echols came to Alabama

Ans 14 I do, he was in the first [class?] under Floyd in the [Greck?] [war?]. He went out in August.

– an a Six Months [Farer?]

Qut 15 Do you or do you not know, what negroes your Father (John Echols) brought to Alabama?

Ans 15 I believe he brought Tom and Mark. Skelton Standifer brought a boy named Pompey who he had [herea?] from John Echols (My Father)

Qut 16 Do you know how many children Lydia Standifer had before she left the State of Georgia?

Ans 16. My impression is that she had only one but she may have had more

Qut 17 Do you know how many negroes John Echols (your Father) [retained?] to support himself

Ans 17 He [retaind?] Two negro boys as I beleive, named John and Mark. My Father lived [aftermately?] with my Brother Jogn and Samuel Echols hiring his negro boys out, I arrived at these conclusions from [Perforsation?] I further State that he some Times [lrice?] with Skelton STandifer. I was living in Georgia at the Time.

I Christopher Welch of the County of Morgan and State of Alabama Commissioner Do hereby certify that James Echols was first by me [?] Sworn to speak the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth and that the foregoing [auportion?] was [actinadga?] and signed by him and [sealed?] to waiting by me and [takeen?] at the Time and place set for [th in] in [captian?] hereof,

In faith of [sale?] in I have hereunto subscribed my name as commissioner after signed.

This 17th day of April 1849

Christopher Welsh Commissioner

Qut 11 Did Samuel Echols get possession of Mark where the [gift?] was made

Ans 11 Samuel Echols lived ajoining my Father and they worked on the same Land. I suppose the [proceeds?] of his labor went to Samuel Echols, the [haua?] of Time however has [srept?] from my memory many things.

Qut 12 Did your Father make his will in the State of Georgia

Ans 12 He did and presented it to me To read but […]

Qut 13 Did your father in his will dispose of his negroes as you have stated in this deposition?

Ans 13 According to my best recolection did

(to their 13th question & answer the defendant objects)

Qut 14 Was the will which you saw in Alabama a copy of the will recorded here or the original

Ans 14 I cannot say, but I have no doubt it [?] with the one made in Georgia.

(The 14th Interogatory and answer objected to by Defendant_

Int 15 Did your Father have a negro girl or woman to wait upon him after the death of your mother?

Ans 15 He did have a negro girl to wait on him after my mothers death named Clany. to the best of my recollection.

Int 16 Did the girl Fillin which your Father gave to Prudences Daughter [die?] in the possession of your Father

Ans 16 I think she did she was [?] for my niece and died in the possession of my Father

Int 17 When did you move to this State

Ans 17 in 1818-

Int 18 Did you ever see your Father after he left Georgia

Ans 18 I never did

Int 19 Did your Father give the girl named Clary to Lydia before the death of your mother

Ans 19 I think he did

Int 20 Did Skelton Standifer [own?] any property at the time he married Lydia

Ans 20 I think he owned no negroes but had some Land and horses

Int 21 Did your Father come to Abalama with Skelton Standifer

Ans 21 I think my Father removed to this county with Samuel Echols but did not [overtake?] Standifer as I [… (hard to read)]

Int 22 Where did your Sister [Temperance?] [live?] when in Georgia

Ans 22 She live near my Father a while then removed to Jasper County [some?] distance off.

Int 23 Did all the children live near your Father

Ans 23 They did for a Time and afterward moved some distance off

Int 24 Did you [Know?] Nancy [Brother?] have old was she at her [?] [?] Marriage

Ans 24 I did She was the daughter of Skelton Standifer by his first wife and at the time of the marriage she was small and [?] [this?] [?] sayeth not

[James?] Echols

The above is dated to April 17, 1849.

Title sheet with only a couple of words

Title sheet

Very faded title sheet

Case form letter

the year 1409?

Answer. I lived with my father the said Skelton Standifer during that time. He lived in the State of Georgia until the year 1814, at which time he moved to the state of Alabama, Madison County, and I was with him.

Question 11th. In what year and month did John Echols die, and at what house?

Answer. He died in the year 1817, and in the month of May at the house of Samuel Echols.

Question 13th. Do you, or do you not know in what year and month John Echols was thrown from his horse and injured? If so, at what house was said Echols, at the time of said accident.

Answer. He was thrown from his horse in the year 1817 and in the month of January. and he was at the house of his son John Echols, when the accident happened.

Question 13. Do you, or do you not know, to what place John Echols was [removed?] from the house of his son John Echols, and who assisted in [removing] him?

Answer. He was removed from the house of his son John Echols, to the house of his son Samuel Echols, and he was removed by some of the family or negroes of the family.

Question 14. Do you, or do you not know whether your father Skelton Standifer removed from Madison County, Alabama, to Lawrence County Alabama, near Courtland in said state. If so, state about what time he did remove, and how

The conversation continues to the next page, documented below.

long did he live in Lawrence County near Courtland?

Answer. My father removed from Madison County to Lawrence County near Courtland in the year 1817- and he there resided some four or five years.

Question 15. Do you, or do you not know- what negroes your father Skelton Standifer took with him from Madison County to Lawrence County near Courtland when he removed? If so state the names of the negores.

Answer. My father took with him, from Madison County to Lawrency County five negroes- to wit the boys Jim and Jonathon and the women [Vilsy?] [Herrena?], and Sarah. The boy Jim and the woman Herrena were brother and sister, and [Vilsy?], Sarah, and the boy Johnathan, were children of the woman [Herrena?].

Question 16. […]

Answer. […]

Question 17. State how many children your father has by his second wife, Lydia, [farmer?] by Lydia, Echols, and their names, and where do they now reside?

Answer. John E. Standifer and [Jilse?] M. Standifer - both of whom now reisde in the state of Texas - James [I?]. Standifer who now resides in Monroe County Mississippi -

The conversation continues to the next page, documented below.

and [Lysissu?] [Carbiness?] who now resides somewhere in the state of Mississippi.

Question 18. Where did your father reside the first year he came to Alabama?

Answer. The first year my father came to Alabama in Madison County he overseed for Luellen Jones, whose plantation I understand is now owned by the heirs of Doctor David Morre deceased and lies within a few miles of Huntsville. Ala. He then removed to a plantation which I understand is now owned by Dr Binford in Madison County Alabama about the year 1817 and in the month of Feburary.

And further this deponent said not.

Susanah H [Woullows]?

Sworn to and Subscribed by said witness before me the 3 Day of November 1849 in [?] where of I here have unto set my hand and seal this the 3rd of November 1849 in the county of Winston and State of Mississippi.

Murphey [Earghon?]

Commissioner