Town of East-Hartford v. Pitkin
Supreme Court of Connecticut
This was an action of assumpsit. The declaration alleged, That Elisha Pitkin, a settled inhabitant of East-Hartford, died in August, 1819; that he left, at his decease, a negro female slave, named Flora, who then was, and ever since has been, a settled inhabitant of that town; that he was, during his life, and his estate has been, since his death, liable for her support; that she was and is part of the estate of the deceased; that she was never manumitted, but now is, and…
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This was an action of assumpsit. The declaration alleged, That Elisha Pitkin, a settled inhabitant of East-Hartford, died in August, 1819; that he left, at his decease, a negro female slave, named Flora, who then was, and ever since has been, a settled inhabitant of that town; that he was, during his life, and his estate has been, since his death, liable for her support; that she was and is part of the estate of the deceased; that she was never manumitted, but now is, and ever since his death, has been holden as a slave, and part of the estate of the defendants as executors. The declaration…
1ConcurrencePeters, J.
1. I concur in the opinion of my Brother Daggett, on the first point, that being poor, destitute, in want of food, clothing, medicine and attention, and without ability to support her, is a sufficient averment of Flora’s inability to provide for herself: if not, it is owing to the poverty of the English language, which Camden says, “ is as copious, pithy and significative as any other in Europe.” Bailey’s Dict. Introduct.
2. I also concur in the result of his opinion on the second point; but not for the reasons by him assigned. The relation of master and servant, or qualified slavery, has…
2Cases cited12 opinions
- Sumner v. WilliamsMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1811
- Griswold v. BigelowSupreme Court of Connecticut · 1826
- Belden v. SeymourSupreme Court of Connecticut · 1830
- Inhabitants of Winchendon v. Inhabitants of HatfieldMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1808
- The Mary and Susan .—RichardsonSupreme Court of the United States · 1816
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