Deposition of Shadrack Braswell in Ezekiel Brooks vs. Siddy Brooks case

Letter preceding the depositions:

State of NC

Anson County

To Alexander Brooks guardian for Ezekiel Brooks you are hereby notified that on friday the 8th of March 1850 at the dwelling house of Alfred Leadbetters in Stanly County in this State I shall take the depositions of Col Jacob Austin Shadarac Braswell and others to be read in Evidence in the trial of a cause pending in Anson Court of Equity wherein Ezekiel Brooks By his guardian Alexander Brooks is plaintiff and Siddy Brooks is defendant.

February the 22 1850 Siddy Brooks

By B. L. Green atty

Braswell deposition:

State of North Carolina

Stanly County

In obedience to the closed Commission to the undersigned Justices Directed we Caused the witnesses herin after named to appear before us at the Dweling house of Alfred Ledbetter on the 8 day of March 1850 and Did take their Depositions to be read in Evidence on the trial of a Cause pendeding in Anson Court of Eqity Wherin Ezekiel Brooks by his guardian Alexander Brooks is plaintiff and Sidey Brooks is Defendant all said witness Being duly sworn according to Law -

Shaderric Braswell being first Called and sworn Deposith and Sath as follows - that he was acquainted with Ezekiel Brooks from the Latter part of the yeare 1822 and Croped with him the yeares 1823 and 24 -

question: was ar was not Ezekiel Brooks a good Leader on his farm and New what quality of His Land suited to plant first and what quality suit best far two Stalks in one place

answer: yea a Common Judge of farming

question: Did ar did not Ezekiel purchase a horse from you the firt yeare you moved on his Land

he did him and his Wife together far they would not trad Without the Consent of each other

question: Did ar did not Said Ezekiel go to Church and Conduct him Selfe as the Cogegation generally

Ans: I think he did I never Saw any mis behaviour of him at Church as I recall it

question: was ar was not Said Ezekiel a tolerable good hand to play on a fife

I have heard him playing but wether he had Coud play a tune ar not I Cant say

question: Coud ar Coud not he Swim and Carry a Canoe a Cros the river

Ans: he Could Swim and paddle a Cano a Bout in the river

question: Did ar did not Said Ezekiel and Sidy Live well together and manage the farm well and make plenty far many years

Ans: I know Nothing to the Cotary of thar Living well together and I saw thar Crops far several year a thay was as good as Common

qestion: did ar did not you See William Brooks deputy Sheriff pay unto the said Ezekiel a certin Sum of money he had collected

Ans: I did

qestion: did ar did not Said a Ezekiel thing as mutch of his wife as other men

Ans: I think he did

qestion: what change has since taken place in said Ezekiels mind and when describe near as you can

Ans: I saw him when he a had a spell of sickness and The next time I saw him he was appearantly deranged and how long I do not recollect

qestion: was ar was not The relation of said Ezekiel and Siddy satisfied with their being man and wife for Several years

Ans: I Think They was

Sworn to and Subscribed to before us

Commissions

John Furr JP S. Braswell

H. Carver JP