Oct 10, 1854 Greenberry Smith Answers, four pages
Dublin Core
Title
Oct 10, 1854 Greenberry Smith Answers, four pages
Description
Four pages long. First, of four pages, this document is a letter written by Greenberry Smith in response to Letitia Carson filing her first lawsuit against him. On this first page, this response is split into three sections. The first counters Letitia's claim that she worked for David Carson and says that it is not true "that plaintiff worked, labored, and performed services for David Carson." He follows this by countering that these services would not be worth the $1000 Letitia Carson requested. The second section claims that as a defendant, Greenberry believes Letitia was enslaved in the state of Missouri by David Carson and carried to Oregon Territory, continuing the relationship of "master and slave." The third section goes on to discuss Letitia's children with David Carson and asserts that Carson's boarding and clothing of her children was worth the labor she did for him.
On the second page, Greenberry Smith claims that Letitia's emancipation is worth any of the labor she did for David Carson. He goes on to discuss a time in which Letitia was sick and could not work, meaning that David Carson had to pay for both her medical aid and the work she could no longer complete. Greenberry Smith again notes how David Carson boarded and clothed Letitia's children at his expense, concluding that "attention bestowed upon her during her sickness the trouble & expense of bringing her across the plains was reasonable worth as much as any and all services rendered by plaintiff to deceased David Carson."
On the third page, Greenberry Smith mentions again that David Carson was not indebted to Letitia Carson in any way. This page is signed by Kelsay and Logan, the defendant's attorneys.
The final page of Greenberry Smith's answer to Letitia's lawsuit. On this page, Smith concludes his argument, saying that he believes due to Letitia's enslaved status, sickness, and all the care, attention, and expenses David Carson dedicated to her and her children, that she is not owed any money by David Carson's estate. He signs the page, as does Jas H Slater, the clerk of the District Court of the Oregon Territory.
On the second page, Greenberry Smith claims that Letitia's emancipation is worth any of the labor she did for David Carson. He goes on to discuss a time in which Letitia was sick and could not work, meaning that David Carson had to pay for both her medical aid and the work she could no longer complete. Greenberry Smith again notes how David Carson boarded and clothed Letitia's children at his expense, concluding that "attention bestowed upon her during her sickness the trouble & expense of bringing her across the plains was reasonable worth as much as any and all services rendered by plaintiff to deceased David Carson."
On the third page, Greenberry Smith mentions again that David Carson was not indebted to Letitia Carson in any way. This page is signed by Kelsay and Logan, the defendant's attorneys.
The final page of Greenberry Smith's answer to Letitia's lawsuit. On this page, Smith concludes his argument, saying that he believes due to Letitia's enslaved status, sickness, and all the care, attention, and expenses David Carson dedicated to her and her children, that she is not owed any money by David Carson's estate. He signs the page, as does Jas H Slater, the clerk of the District Court of the Oregon Territory.
Creator
District Court Benton County
Source
Oregon State Archives
Publisher
LCLP
Date
1854-10-10
Contributor
Bob Zybach
Rights
No Copyright, Public Domain
Format
JPEG image
Language
English
Type
Legal Document
Identifier
Oregon-23
Coverage
David Carson Estate, Territory of Oregon, County of Benton, Soap Creek Valley
Collection
Citation
District Court Benton County, “Oct 10, 1854 Greenberry Smith Answers, four pages,” Letitia Carson Digital History Collection , accessed April 20, 2024, https://letitiacarson.omeka.net/items/show/34.