At a County Court began and held for the County of Benton at the Courthouse in the town of Camden on the first Monday in September it being the fifth day of said Month and in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & forty two and the 67th year of American Independence there being present and on the bench the worshipfuls, Esquires; D.P. Hudson Chairman, E. Perkins, G.W. Farmer, Esquires to hold said Court of Quorum.
On Motion and for reason appearing to the satisfaction of the Court from evidence adduction to the Court, that John Williams Carroll Blackwell about twenty years of age a light Mulatta, Abel Kendrick Washington Blackwell, aged about sixteen years, a light Mulatta, Stephen Andrew Jackson Blackwell, aged about thirteen years, a light Mulatta and Noel Allen Richison Blackwell, aged about nine years, a light Mulatta, Also all the issue of the body of Edy Blackwell, a free woman of colour formerly a resident of this county and now a resident of Carroll County, and it further appearing to the satisfaction of the Court that the before named persons, the issue and heirs of the said Edy Blackwell are also free persons of colour being born so. It is therefore ordered by the Court that the same be entered of record and that the Clerk certify the same when required.
On Motion of Richard Stray, a freeman of colour 37 or 38 years of age in August past rather dark Mulatto, five feet seven inches high, a scar on the center of the chin occasioned by a whip saw and a small scar near the wrist joint of the left hand And it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court that the said Richard Stray is a free person of colour and that he has been a resident of this State for the last twenty four years, the greater part of which time a resident of this County all of which appeared to the Court by testimony adduced to this Court..
It is therefore considered and ordered by this Court that same be so entered of record of this Court and that the Clerk certify the same when required.
Personally appeared in open Court William Malin and together with him Malakiah Harrison and William M. Malin, his securities and entered into and acknowledged their bond in the sum of five hundred dollars conditioned as the law directs for the faithful performance of William Malin as Administrator on the Estate of James Malin, Deceased, he the said William Malin having Made oath to the same as the law directs it is therefore ordered by the court to have letters of administration on said estate Made acct. in due form when required.
On Motion it is ordered by the Court that James G. Hudson be appointed overseer of the road leading from Camden to Paris to John Beavers and that the following hands work under said Hudson on said road (to wit) A.J. Hudson, W.A. Hudson, G.W.L. Hudson, Geo. Holmark, J.H. Hudson, Jas. Wright, Noel Blackwell, and who formerly worked under him shall now work and all hands within said bounds to work under said Hudson on said road and said road is established in the 2nd Class.
On Motion it is ordered by the Court that William Holmes be appointed overseer of the stage road in room of Wiley Arnold from Tennessee River by the way of E. Crows to the four Mile tree on the Paris road & all the hands that worked under said Arnold or in the bounds shall now work under said Holmes on said road & said road is established in the first class.
On Motion it is ordered by the Court that James Mullinicks be appointed overseer of the road in room of Allen Mullican & that all hands shall now work under said Mullinicks on said road & said road is established in the 2nd Class.
On Motion it is ordered by the Court that William Cantrell be appointed overseer of the road leading from Camden to Perryville in room of A.B. Aden from the town of Camden to the Kirkman's ferry road, hands as follows (to wit) Joseph Wiseman, W.C. Thompson, Bensan Turner, L.H. Thompson, Benj. Thompson, Ira H. Aden, Jackson Utley and Marain Adams & all the hands in the bounds shall now work
under said Cantral on said road is in 2nd Class.
On Motion it is ordered by the Court that E.W. Lynch, John F. Johnson and Jonathan Baker, Sr. be appointed to lay off and set apart a sufficiency of provisions for the widow and family of William Pickler, Deceased, for the term of one year from the death of her husband and make report of the same to the next term of this Court.
On Motion it is ordered by the Court that Eli Hatley be appointed overseer of this road from James Wyly's at the forks of the road to the Hatley branch on the Perryville road & that all hands that formerly worked under Henry Camp or within the bounds shall now work under said Hatley with the addition of Daniel Daulton, Samuel Daulton, James Camp and James Shurley on said road in 2nd Class.
Personally appeared in open Court Nicholas Brewer and together with him D. Brewer, J.T. Florence and John Wynn his securities and entered into & acknowledged their bond in the sum of Seven hundred dollars conditioned as the law directs for the faithful performance of Nicholas Brewer as administrator of the Estate of James Brewer, Deceased, or having been absent for the last fifteen & not having been heard of, said Brewer having taken the oath required by law, it is therefore ordered by the Court that Nicholas Brewer have letters of Administration made out in due form when applying for said estate.
On Motion it is ordered by the Court that Malachia Harrison, E. Burkett and P. Mullinicks be appointed to lay off & set apart one years' provisions for the widow and family of James Malin, Deceased, for one year from the death of her husband and make report of the same to the next term of this Court.
Personally appeared in open Court Willis C. Thompson and tendered his resignation as Commissioner in Civil District No.5, it being received by the Court, it is therefore ordered by the Court that the Sheriff hold an election forthwith to fill said vacancy.
On Motion it is ordered by the Court that Joseph Walker be appointed overseer of the Ross' ferry road from little Cypress Creek to the Carroll County line and that the following hands work under said Walker on said road (to wit) all the hands that formerly worked under Julius Cole in the bounds shall now work under said Walker and said road is in the 2nd Class.
On Motion it is ordered by the Court that William Warmack be appointed overseer of the road from Willis Rushing's to the Paris road near the Levy on this side of Wyatts Mill and the following hands work under said Warmack or in the bounds on said road hands as follows, David Busby, Burwell Bell, Will Cole, Starling Brewer, Archilus Wilson, Henry Rayburn, Daniel Buchanan, L.W. Brewer, John G. Allen, Edward Brewer, Wm. Taylor, Robert Jones, W.J. Greer, A. Smith to work under said Warmack and said road is in the 2nd Class.
John Ferguson, a free person of colour filed his petition in this Court praying the benefits of the Acts of the General Assembly passed at Nashville on the 4th day of February 1842 entitled "An Act to Amend the laws now in force in relation to free persons of colour and it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court from the petition here filed and other evidence that said Ferguson is a person of good character and ought to be permitted to reside in this County, upon condition that he comply with said Act of the General Assembly. And thereupon the said John Ferguson together with A.C. Presson, Thomas Jones, E.W. Hagler and A.J.B. Hudson, his securities appeared in open court and entered into and acknowledged their bond in the sum of five hundred dollars, conditioned that the said Ferguson shall keep the peace and be of good behaviour toward all free white citizens of this State and shall not become chargeable to the county. And the privilege of remaining in this County was thereupon allowed unto him.
On Motion it is ordered by the Court that Acey Rushing be appointed overseer of the Paris road from Rushings Creek Meeting house to the edge of Sandy Bottom and that all the hands that formerly worked under Bloodworth or in the bounds shall now work under said Rushing and said road is in the 1st Class.
William Northington filed his petition in this Court praying of setting free and emancipating his slave Peter about forty two years of age, and for considerations therein appearing to the satisfaction of the Court. It is ordered by the Court that said petition be granted, and that said slave Peter be emancipated and set free. And thereupon the said petitioner William Northington filed in writing Emancipating the said slave Peter and the due Execution thereof having been proven by the oaths of D.P. Hudson and James Wyly the subscribing witnesses thereto, which was ordered by the Court to be recorded.
And therefore the said Peter Northington filed his petition in this Court praying benefits on an Act of the General Assembly of this State passed at Nashville the 4th day of February 1842, entitled "An Act to Award the law now enforced in relation to free persons of Colour". And for reasons therein set forth. It is ordered by the Court that said Petitioner be allowed the benefits of said Act upon condition he complies with the requisitions of the same and thereupon the said Peter Northington the petitioner together with James S. Sayles and Edward Hatley his security appeared in open court and entered into and acknowledged their bond in the sum of five hundred dollars, conditioned that said Peter shall well and truly keep the peace and be of good behavior towards all free white citizens of this State and shall not become chargeable into this County and thereupon the privilege of remaining in this County was allowed unto him.
Court adjourned until Court of Course.
D.P. Hudson
E. Perkins
J.P.
Geo. W. Farmer
J.P.