Daniel Wells v. Benjamin F. Lewis. Deposition of Nathan Soper

 

Maryland, Prince George’s County, ss.

The Deposition of Nathan Soper of the County aforesaid, aged Eighty three two years & upwards, being first duly sworn on the holy evangely of Almighty God, saith that he undertook the management of the Forrest estate of the late Notley Young in the county aforesaid in the year seventeen hundred & sixty two, & continued in that situation Twenty eight years, & knew his slaves at that Farm well. That among other slaves under his management was a dark, not a bright, mulatto woman named Rachel who continued under his management during the whole time aforesaid as a slave & was worked as such: That he never heard her claim her freedom during the time aforesaid; that her hair was short woolly hair: she was a breeding woman when he went to live with Mr. Young; and was the mother of several children, one he recollects was named Nan and another was named Jack. Being asked how old Rachel was when he first knew her, answers that he cannot say, but thinks she was about as old as this deponent. This deponent further saith that   during the time he lived with Mr. Young he never heard any body say that Rachel was entitled to freedom, nor did he hear any talk about it. And further saith not.

Taken by consent of parties & at their request in relation to a suit now depending in the Circuit Court for the district of Columbia, in which a descendant of Rachel is plaintiff, & Ann Cazenave is defendant.

Sworn to before the Subscriber an Associate Justice of the Superior Court of the United States this Twenty ninth day of September 1823. (Nathan Soper his mark +)
G. Duvall: associate J. S. C. U. S.