03/08/1858: In Re: Estate of William H. Bryan - Settlement of Estate (Thomas R. Bryan, George Bryan, and James A. Bryan by their Guardian Thomas R. Bryan and Mary Bryan by Benjamin Thompson, her Guardian) - Probate (Minerva)

Entry/Object ID

CC.0388

Collection

1839-1869 Platte County, Missouri, Circuit Court Docket

Archive Items Details

Description

"Most of Bryan's heirs reside in Illinois and complain they cannot profit from the slaves Bryan left because in Illinois "slavery is not tolerated" and slave property is "unsafe" in Platte County. Asks that following slaves be sold: French; Minerva; Alfred" "William H. Bryan died seized and possessed of (were) the following slaves, to wit, French, Minerva, Alfred and Martin Van Buren." Petitioners state "...that one of the slaves, to wit, Minerva, is growing old and in a few years will be worth(sp? worthless?) but that she would now sell for a good price and that the other slaves are yielding but little profit." "That the petitioners above named except Mary Bryan have located in the State of Illinois permanently where slavery is not tolerated and that said slaves being in the County of Platte, the locality of which renders slave property unsafe, all of which renders the property unsafe." See Lewis Swope's 1860 emancipation of Minerva/Manerva, Alfred and Martin Van Buren in Wills and Circuit Court. Missouri Archives Judicial Records Historical Database has an on-line record and scanned case file images.

Date(s) of Creation

3/8/1858

Other Names and Numbers

Other Names

Name Type

Enslaved

Other Name

Minerva

Name Type

Enslaver

Other Name

Bryan, William H. (Estate of)I

Other Numbers

Number Type

Source Citation

Other Number

Missouri State Archives, Judicial Records: (see weblink)

Copyright

Copyright Details

© 2026 BAAC All Rights Reserved

Research Notes

Research Type

Researcher

Person

Bill Nichols

Date

6/5/2025

Research Type

Researcher

Person

Robin Nava

Date

7/5/2025

General Notes

Note

1858.03.08 MJRHD.465489 Estate of William H. Bryan Settlement of Estate C62116_B41F92_BryanEstate.pdf 1858.03.08 MJRHD.465489 Estate of William H. Bryan Settlement of Estate Case Summary.pdf 1858.03.08 MJRHD.465489 Estate of William H. Bryan Settlement of Estate Case Record.pdf

Note

BAAC workbook: 1839-1869 Circuit Court Docket CatalogIt version.xlsx [Circuit MJRHD 02.14.26]

Create Date

September 2, 2026

Update Date

September 16, 2026

Name/Title

03/08/1858: In Re: Estate of William H. Bryan - Settlement of Estate (Thomas R. Bryan, George Bryan, and James A. Bryan by their Guardian Thomas R. Bryan and Mary Bryan by Benjamin Thompson, her Guardian) - Probate (Minerva)