Trover Suit Against Robert Hobbs Over the Enslaved Girl Ginny

This post is part of an ongoing project to record names of enslaved people of Greene County, Georgia I find in historical records. 

March Term 1840 
No. (20) Greene Superior Court March Term 1839 
John Dean vs. Robert Hobbs
Trover and C.

To the Honorable Superior Court of said County. The petition of John Dean shows that Robert Hobbs of said County has damaged your petitioner one thousand dollars for that your petitioner heretofore to wit on the first day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight was lawfully possessed as of his own property of the following negro Slave to wit Ginnett otherwise called Ginny a girl about the age of sixteen years old of the value of eight hundred dollars and the yearly value of seventy five dollars and being so possessed thereof your petitioner afterwards to wit on the day and year aforesaid casually lost said negro give slave out of his possession and the same afterwards to wit on the same day and year aforesaid came to the possession of the said Robert Hobbs by finding yet the said Robert Hobbs hath not as yet delivered said negro girl slave to your petitioner though often requested so to do and hath hitherto wholly refused so to do and afterwards to wit on the day and year last aforesaid converted and disposed of said negro girl slave to his own use to the damage of your petitioner one thousand dollars and therefore he brings suit and prays process may issue requiring the said Robert Hobbs in person or by attorney to be and appear at the next Superior Court of said County then and there to answer your petitioner in an action of Trover and Conversion.

Henry Sanford, Ming Wright, Pffs. Attys.

John Dean vs. Robert Hobbs, Trover and C.
The defendant is hereby required personally or by attorney to be and appear at the Superior Court to be held in and for the County of Greene on the second Monday in March next then and there to answer the plaintiffs demand in an action of Trover and C. as in default thereof the said Court will proceed as to Justice shall appertain.

Witness the Honorable Edward Young Hill, Judge of said Court this 16th day of February 1839.

Vincent Sanford, Clk

Translation: In 1839, John Dean sued Robert Hobbs in Greene County, Georgia, claiming that he owned an enslaved girl named Ginnett (Genny), about sixteen years old. Dean said she left his possession on January 1, 1838, and ended up with Hobbs, who refused to return her despite repeated requests. Dean accused Hobbs of keeping or using her for his own benefit—legally called trover and conversion—and sought $1,000 in damages. The court ordered Hobbs to appear at the next Superior Court session to answer the claim.

Reference

Greene County, Georgia, Court Records 1838–1842, image 125, FamilySearch.