Arbitration over Janette
Transcription:
Memo of argument made this 27th of December 1850 between John Churchman of the one part and John K. Brown of the other part.
A controversy has arisen between the said parties under the following circumstances, viz:
The said Churchman, on or about the 1st day of Janurary 1850 hired with the said John K. Brown a negro woman slave named Janette about seventeen years of age, with a child about twelve months old, for the term of one year, to be fed, clothed and situated as hired servants usually are. On the 3d. Day of August 1850, the said slave Janette departed this life on the premises and in the possession of the said John K. Brown.
The said John Churchman alleges that the said John K. Brown is liable to him for the price & value of said slave Janette and for the physician’s charges for attending said slave Janette in her last illness and for other expenses incident thereto which said liability said John Churchman alleges, from information derived from others, to arise from the fact that the said John K. Brown misused and injured said slave Janette so that she died. Which said liability the said John K. Brown denies.
Now this argument…(illegible word–with complaint?)…that the said John Churchman and the said John K. Brown, both desiring to end the said controversy, have agreed and do humbly agree to submit the same to the arbitrament of William Wilson and John Newton, or, in the event of their inability to agree, to the auspices of such persons as the said arbitrators may select.
And the said parties do further agree that such their submission may be entered of record in the County Court of Augusta County in pursuance of the provisions of the code of Virginia Chapter CLIII.
The said parties have also agreed upon Friday the 3d. Day of January 1851 as the time for the trial of the matters herein submitted–the trial to take place in the town of Middlebrook. And if from any cause such trial should not take place on that day then the law shall be had at such other time and place as the said arbitrators shall appoint.
In testimony of all which the said parties have hereto set their hands and seals on the day and year first herein written.
John E Churchman (seal)
John K Brown (seal)
Testa. John B. Baldwin
