Freed African Americans Win First Inheritance Suit

Freed African Americans Win First Inheritance Suit is a Tennessee historical marker in Washington County.

Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 136 Bob Jobe Rd, Johnson City, TN 37615

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At his death in 1843, Lloyd Ford, Sr. freed his five enslaved children, John, Peg, Edward, Larkin and Rhoda, and left them land and a home near this location. Ford’s son, Lloyd Ford, Jr., contested the will. To fight for their inheritance and freedom, the children asked Phoebe Stuart to file suit as “Next Friend” as they had no legal rights. Tried in Washington County, the court ruled in favor of the children. Appeals in Ford v. Ford recognized the children’s legal rights. Ultimately, the children gained freedom and won ownership of the property.

TodayHistorical map

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Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Historical maps covering this location

1829 · Tennessee (A. Finley, 1829) (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1844 · Kentucky (H. S. Tanner, 1844) (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1846 · Virginia (H. S. Tanner, 1846) (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1847 · Virginia (H. S. Tanner, 1847) (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1892 · Greeneville, Tennessee (USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection)

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Marker text and location from the Tennessee Historical Commission, as the Commission publishes them on its marker map.

Freed African Americans Win First Inheritance Suit

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