Depositions of Peyton and Jane Graves, 1853, 21 August

File — Box: SC1850-1899.005, Folder: 4234.01

Depositions of Peyton and Jane Graves in the case of Elva v. Edwin Jenkins, August 21, 1853

Content Description

From the Collection: These depositions contain the 1853 testimony of plantation owner Peyton Graves and his wife, Jane Graves, regarding the case of their neighbor Elva Jenkins against her husband, doctor and plantation owner Edwin Jenkins. The documents consist of a series of answers to "Interrogatories" or "Interrogations" posed separately to Peyton and Jane Graves regarding how they knew the Jenkins family and the goings-on they witnessed in the Jenkins household--in particular, a violent incident in which Elva Jenkins was attacked by dogs and left crying, her clothes torn, while Edwin stood over her brandishing a hoe and shouting, “You God damn old bitch, I’ll kill you and go to hell at once.” Other parts of the depositions describe Elva's resentment over Edwin's favorable treatment toward his slaves, particularly his attachment to his slave Becky. There is also mention of a slave named Louisa. The depositions were signed by Commissioner William P. Carter of the Chancery Court of the State of Alabama for Wilcox County.

The materials total fourteen handwritten pages.

Dates

1853, 21 August

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Due to the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to certain materials may require additional advance notice.