This part of the chapter is about a case of Robert Wright’s will that disappeared after his death. Several people claimed to have read the details of the missing will on the eve of Robert Wright’s death. These people who claimed to have read the will eventually appeared in court to give their testimonies. According to the various testimonies given, Wright’s will indicated that his property was to be divided. Wright’s infant son, Thomas Wright was to receive the largest portion of land located at the North side of Beaver. On the other hand, the property on the South side was to be given to Polly during her lifetime and then later to any child Polly might have had within nine months of Wright’s death. Polly Davidson was Robert Wright’s legitimate wife.
According to Polly, Robert Wright’s sister, Betsy was responsible for the missing will. Polly claimed that Betsy had destroyed the Will at the time when Robert was dying. Polly claimed that the will and other confidential papers were kept in the Beaureau, located in the room which Robert laid. On that fateful evening, Betsy asked for the keys to this Beaureau from Polly and opened it. Later on, Polly found out that the Will and money worth $ 100 was missing. She concluded that Betsy was responsible for the missing will and money since she is the one who opened the Beaureau on the evening when Robert was dying.
The other evidence that Betsy was responsible for the missing will and money came from Catherine Stockton’s testimony. Catherine testified in court that immediately after Robert’s death, she saw Betsy and heard her boasting to her fellow blacks that she had managed to conquer all the white folks by stealing Wright’s will, and all the money he had. Due to evidences from Polly and Catherine, Betsy and her daughter were jailed one month after Robert Wright’s death. Betsy’s brother in-law, James Turner was also jailed together with Betsy and her daughter. The court demanded that they produce the missing will, which they did not. However, they were eventually released as per the court’s order.
Polly filed a law suit whose subject was Robert’s putative will in the year 1819. The lawsuit was filed against Samuel Fleming, a county court appointee as a temporary curator of Wright’s estate until the will case was settled. Both the plaintiff and defendant’s sides gathered affidavits from several sources such as neighbors and family members for a period of more than a year. This case led to fracturing of Beaver creek neighborhood for instance family members from Stephen Perrow, Polly’s lawyer, wound up on opposing sides. Betsy, Sylvia and other members from the Robert Wright’s black and mulatto family gave support to Fleming. These members stood to gain if at all Thomas Wright inherited the entire property of his late father.
There was a twisting turn of events in April 1820 when the white members of Wright family filed a cross suit. According to the suit, Robert Wright was a slave, incapable of inheriting any property from his father in 1805, on the grounds that he had never been legally emancipated. Hence, the court decided to use Thomas Wright’s will since he was not married. Thomas Wright’s will indicated that he, Thomas had duly emancipated his father, Robert Wright. This statement was enough evidence to give Robert Wright the freedom to inherit property from his father. Hence, the case was settled and Thomas Wright inherited his father’s property.
