American Historical Ephemera and Photography, Featuring African Americana

Manuscript legal document related to the management and disposition of the estate of Captain John Orndorff (1781-1848). Logan Circuit Court, Logan County, [Kentucky]. Ca 1849-1850. 16pp, 7 1/2 x 9 1/2 in. (creasing, toning). Document outlines a legal dispute among Captain John Orndorff's immediate and extended family members over his estate, the validity of his will, and the care of Orondorff's sole child, with extensive discussion of enslaved persons. Defendant Thomas Gooch answers to the court that he was reluctantly appointed as guardian to Orndorff's only heir, Lorenda Orndorff, and describes his efforts to effect his duties. His statement also suggests there was a conspiracy among Orondorff's enslaved laborers to secure their freedom, writing in small part: "previous to these proceedings a most diabolical attempt, of which he [Gooch]had been fully informed, had been made by one of the slaves of sd John Orndorff prospectively emancipated by the scout clause in his will, and acting at the instance & suggestion of others of slaves to take the life of his infant ward by throwing her in a large reservoir of water. That he had thoroughly investigated this matter - and his investigations resulted in a thorough conviction that a deep & terrible conspiracy had been formed by the slaves of sd Orondorff, whose freedom depended on the death of his ward ... before she should attain twenty one years of age...."

The 1840 U.S. Federal Census indicates that Orndorff enslaved 19 men, women, and children.

[With:] Manuscript legal document for the case Taylor v. Taylor, listing interrogatories associated with multiple plantations, freedom seekers, and the ownership of enslaved persons from the estate of Col. John Taylor. 3pp, 8 1/4 x 13 in. Docketed on verso. One interrogatory states: "state whether a negro named Stafford was not one of the negroes give by Col. J. Taylor to John C. Taylor. Was he a runaway & did not Col. J. Taylor after he had run away get possession of him and sell him or have him sold?...Was the wife of Stafford one of the said negroes? Was she not very feeble when he got her and not more than half a hand?"