TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS FROM BLACK CEMETERIES
IN BENTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE
(Revised Edition with Maps)
Compiled by Jonathan K. T. Smith
Copyright, Jonathan K. T. Smith, 1995

(Page 69)

A WEST TENNESSEE SUPREME COURT CASE

In 1815, EDMUNDS BARKER, Sr. of Wake County, North Carolina bequeathed a slave, RACHEL, to his daughter, Prisciller, wjfe of Brittain Barker; after her demise this slave was to descend to her sons Briggs, Sterling and Hosea Barker. Brittain Barker and family moved to Tennessee and in 1834 he sold Ned, Rachel's son, to Zachary Barker. (Benton County Deed Book B, page 255) Years later, in 1846, Sterling Barker of Ballard County, Kentucky and Young Barker of Shelby County, Tennessee made a claim on Ned. Briggs and Hosea Barker of the latter county appointed Young Barker as their representative to secure their claim on this slave also. (IBID. pages 334, 336) Zachary Barker apparently acted in good faith when he purchased the slave, unaware of the condition of Edmunds Barker's will. He and the other Barkers went into court where it was decided against Zachary Barker as the entries in the SUPREME COURT MINUTE BOOK, 1841-1850 reveal:

Pages 606-607:

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(Page 70)

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(Page 71)

As legal representative, Young Barker sold Ned, about 34 years old, to Anderson Lashlee, a Camden merchant (and security for Zachary Barker in his legal hassle), for $550 on June 6, 1849. It was noted in the deed that Ned had "run away. "(Benton County Deed Book C, page 157) Of course, Zachary Barker and his merchant-friend had agreed to pay the heirs for the slave, sub rosa, while they kept Ned safely out of sight until everything had settled down. Ned lived on the Barker farmstead for many years.

 

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