Description of Petition by James and Josephine Driesback concerning the Will of David Tate, dated February 20, 1854
At the time of David Tate's death in 1829, he left his daughter Josephine a plantation on the Alabama River, four hundred head of cattle, and twenty-two slaves. Josephine was not of age and the property was managed by her mother Margaret Tate and her step-brother William T Powell until Josephine married James B. Driesback. During the management of the estate, "the slaves were hired out for large amounts" and the cattle "greatly increased in number & value." After the death of Margaret Tate and William T Powell, Josephine and James Driesback sued the estate of Powell, requiring an accounting Josephine's inheritance during Margaret and William's management.
The petition consists of 8 pages and a number of related documents totaling 6 pages. There are 39 slaves referenced. The petitioners are James D Driesback and Josephine B Tate (Tait) Driesback. The 7 defendants are Jack Crow, Martha Powell Crow, Jason Staples, Margaret Powell Staples, Mary D Powell Starke, Turner Starke, and William Walker. The other people mentioned in the petition are David Tate and Margaret Powell Tate.
This information and copies of the original petition are available from the The Digital Library on American Slavery, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Citation: Repository: University of South Alabama Archives, Mobile, Alabama,Records of the Chancery Court, Document Number 1839
The slaves listed were:
| Name | Color | Gender | Age |
| Aaron | black | male | |
| Abby | black | female | approx 30 years of age in 1847 |
| Abby | black | female | 40 years of age in circa 1830 |
| Ben | black | male | 30 years of age in circa 1830 |
| Bill | black | male | 12 years of age in circa 1830 |
| Bit | black | female | 25 years of age in 1830 |
| Bradford | black | female | |
| Charlotte | black | female | 25 years of age in circa 1830 |
| Chloe | black | female | |
| Chloe | black | female | approx 2 years of age in 1847 |
| Cuff | black | male | approx 18 years of age in 1847 |
| Cuff | black | male | |
| Daniel | black | male | 8 years of age in circa 1830 |
| Daniel | black | male | 35 years of age in circa 1830 |
| Daphny | black | female | |
| Ellouisa | black | female | |
| Esther ([Easther]) | black | female | 35 years of age in circa 1830 |
| George | black | male | 20 years of age in circa 1830 |
| Hannah | black | female | approx 50 years of age in 1847 |
| Hannah | black | female | approx 4 years of age in 1847 |
| Jim | black | male | approx 15 years of age in 1847 |
| Jonah ([Joanah]) | black | male | 16 years of age in circa 1830 |
| Jumbo | black | male | 35 years of age in circa 1830 |
| London ([Lundon]) | black | male | 35 years of age in circa 1830 |
| Lucy | black | female | approx 14 years of age in 1847 |
| Milly | black | female | 8 years of age in circa 1830 |
| Ned | black | male | 35 years of age in circa 1830 |
| Oscar | black | male | 8 years of age in circa 1830 |
| Patty | black | female | 8 years of age in circa 1830 |
| Phobe | black | female | |
| Pops | black | male | |
| Primus | black | male | approx 5 years of age in 1847 |
| Rose | black | female | 30 years of age in circa 1830 |
| Sam | black | male | approx 30 years of age in 1847 |
| Sharper ([Sharp]) | black | male | 40 years of age in circa 1830 |
| Silky | black | female | |
| Stephen | black | male | |
| Stephen | black | male | 35 years of age in circa 1830 |
| William | black | male |