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Note: Per the will of Spotswood Braford, the 500 Acre Mountain given to Amanda Jane Braford could go only to her Children, not her Husband if she died. Sometime after her death, Thomas left home and became a hobo, got sick in Niagara Falls and died in Cincinnati?. In 1916 Charles B. Fitch and Mary Clayton sued Lula Pritchard and Edgar Marsellus Moore to sell the mountain to the Sate of Virginia. The lawsuit was resolved by dividing the land with C.B. and Mary receiving about ½ and Lula and Edgar receiving about ½. Apparently Lula gave her part to Edgar. Charles B. Fitch was in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
Amanda Jane was well educated and family legend says she attended Hollins College although the College has no record of her as an alumni.
Rockbridge Chancery Court File 1900-030
«u»P202 Jane T Moore vs Spotswood Braford Administrator. 12 Jan 1880
«/u»The examinations of George O'Connell & others of lawful age taken on the 12«sup»th«/sup» day of January 1880 before JK Edmondson, one of the Commissioners in Chancery of the Circuit Court of Rockbridge County at the office of the said Commissioner, under a decree of said Court fironoced? in the Chancery such finding therein between Spotswood Braford's Adm~ Plaintiff and Spotswood Braford Devisees & defendants, to be used as evidence before said Commissioner in behalf of the claim filed by Jane T Moore against Spotswood Braford's Estate
«tab»Sanent?, D E Moore Esq, Counsel for Claimant
«tab»" W P Horton, Esq " " Estate
George O'Connell, a witness of lawful age being first duly sworn answered and says -
1«sup»st«/sup» interrogatory. State whether you lived at Spotswood Braford's and if son when and how long.
Ans. I did live with him, the best end of ?? year. I lived there during the time Mrs. Moore lived there. He died the year after I was there.
2«sup»nd«/sup» I. Was Mrs. Moore there all the time you were there?
Ans. Yes sir. She may have been about a few days, but a very few.
3«sup»rd«/sup» I. Do you know what service she rendered there?
Ans. No sir. She was there and staid in the room and waited upon the old gentleman himself. He had other employees to do the work.
4«sup»th«/sup» I. Which was the condition of Mr. Braford's health at that time?
Ans. His health was medium ??. He was going about, some chance ?? was such ??, was not confined to his bed.
5«sup»th«/sup» I. Was there any other white woman about the House?
Ans. I am not prepared to say. He had a cook before Mrs. Moore came there, but whether she was there at the time Mrs. Moore came, I cannot say.
6tn I. Was she there after Mrs. Moore came?
Ans. She was not.
7«sup»th«/sup» I. Was this woman there as you have said keeping the house too?
Ans. She was there as a cook, & there was no other one else there, & I suppose she was keeping the house also.
8«sup»th«/sup» I. Where was Mrs. Moore living before she came there?
Ans. She was living at her house, the mountain place, about 3-1/2 miles away, with her family.
Cross Examination
9«sup»th«/sup» I. Please state if Mrs. Moore had her family with her during the time you speak of, & if so, state the number of her children & their ages as ?? as you can & the length of time that they were there.
Ans. She had a part of them ?? a portion of the time two, & sometimes more & (a boy? one). The ages as near as I can remember were 7 & 8 & one was born there. They were there a good portion of the time, I can't say exactly.
10«sup»th«/sup» I. Did you overhear the old gentleman complain of the children being there?
Ans. Not to my recollection sir. He would at times complain of them annoying him.
Re examination
11«sup»th«/sup» I. Was Mrs. Moore's oldest child there before she came herself?
Ans. Yes sir. I think she was there but I won't be positive she was there when I was there.
2«sup»nd«/sup» Cross Examination
12«sup»th«/sup» I. Please state the age of the child as near as you can & if she was able to be of much or any service?
Ans. 8 or 9 years as near as I can come to it. I don't see of what service she could have been. She may have handed the old gentleman a drink of water or his stick, but that was about all.
And further the examined saith not
George "his X mark" O'Connell
Sworn to and subscribed before me as Commissioner aforesaid this 12«sup»th«/sup» Jan 1880
J K Edmonson, Commis
Mr. C A Overton another witness of lawful age being first duly sworn answers & says.
1«sup»st«/sup» I. Please state how long Mrs. Moore lived at Spotswood Braford's and when she lived there?
Ans. Well I do not know how long she lived there. She was there last August two years ago & I moved up there on the place February 1878 & she was there then & she went home the June following.
2«sup»nd«/sup» I. Do you know which service she rendered there?
Ans. She was just attending to the housekeeping, had the management I suppose.
3«sup»rd«/sup» I. Did you ever hear Mrs. Braford speak of any enumeration to her for her service?
Ans. No sir I never did. I heard him say after she left there, that he felt that he ought to give her something. I had heard him speak of making her a ?? or something like that.
Cross examination
3«sup»rd«/sup» I. Please state where you were living in Aug 1877 & when you lived from then ?? up to Feby 1879, when you speak of going to the Braford's place?
Ans. I lived at Cass? Wells? 7 or 8 miles from Mr. Braford's from Aug 1877 up to the time I went to the Braford's place.
4«sup»th«/sup» I. Were you at the old gentleman's house after living those years?
Ans. No sir I was not.
5«sup»th«/sup» I. When you were there did Mrs. Moore have her family with her there?
Ans. I think her children were some of that, whether all I don't remember.
6«sup»th«/sup» I. Did you ever hear the old gentleman make any complaints about her being there on account of the annoyance given him by the children?
Ans. Well I have heard him complain of the children annoying him.
7«sup»th«/sup» I. Was the old gentleman's health such at any time before his death as to require the constant attention or service of ano? one as a nurse prior? to the time you worked there?
Ans. Well he was always going about when I was there.
8«sup»th«/sup» I. Did not Mr. Polk Braford have employed all the help necessary to do the cooking, washing in the family?
Ans. There was generally a cook there whenever I was there.
9«sup»th«/sup» I. Do you know anything about the old gentleman's giving Mrs. Moore a cow a short time before his death?
Ans. Yes sir, she got a cow from there. I don't know who gave it to her & I don't know whose cow it was.
Re-Examination
10«sup»th«/sup» I. Was there a white woman employed about the home before Mrs. Moore went there?
Ans. I don't remember much about Mrs. Moore's going there & I don't know. A Mrs. Burks was living there before Mrs. Moore went there & a Mr. Coleman was there at the same time of Mrs. Burks I think. Mrs. Burks was a daughter of old man Braford & a sister of Mrs. Moore.
And further this examinant saith not
C A Overton
Sworn to and subscribed before me as Commissioner aforesaid this 12«sup»th«/sup» Jan 1880.
J K Edmonson, Commis in charge
Rev S B Price another witness of lawful age being first duly sworn answers & says.
1«sup»st«/sup» Interrogatory. Please state whether you were frequently at Mr. Braford's house during the latter part of his live?
Ans. I visited him regularly ?? the interval was sometimes long according to whether was sick or not.
2«sup»nd«/sup» I. Please state if you know how long Mrs. Jane Moore lived there & in what capacity & what service she rendered?
Ans. From Mrs. Braford's death to Mr. Braford's death was about 3 years & a half as to the best of the question, my impression is that she was there the most of the time, ?? 3«sup»rd«/sup» of the time. As to the service she was his housekeeper all the time & his nurse when he was sick.
3«sup»rd«/sup» I. Was he sick often during that time, as to require her nursing?
Ans. Several times sir. He was delicate all the time and several times ill.
4«sup»th«/sup» I. Was he so sick in those attacks as to require the constant attention of a nurse to look after him?
Ans. He needed the ?? of a careful female relative in the home
5«sup»th«/sup» I. Had a sister of Mrs. Moore been there before she came?
Ans. Mrs. Burks had been there sometime before Mrs. Braford's death & perhaps for a year afterwards.
6«sup»th«/sup» I. Had Mrs. Burks any family there with her?
Ans. During her sojourn there, which was long, she did have her daughter with her from time to time, and her daughter, Mrs. Sterrett, was there.
7«sup»th«/sup» I. Do you know how Mrs. Moore happened to go there to live?
Ans. I know nothing except as a daughter, her families needed her attendance.
8«sup»th«/sup» I. Did you hear Mr. Braford say anything about rewarding her for her service?
Ans. No sir.
Cross examination
9«sup»th«/sup» I. Please state whether in your opinion or from any knowledge you may have in regard to the matter, the services performed by Mrs. Moore were in consideration of her love & affection for her father, or on account of any compensation, which may have been promised her for such services?
Ans. I had never thought?? of compensation in connection with the service until I had been called to this examination. I wish in add in justice to Mrs. Moore, if it is a question of compensation, her services were rendered at a great sacrifice of her own interest on account of separation from her husband & most of her family, but they were living then in a home furnished by Mr. Braford & in which they are still living.
The examinations of Wm C Flint Witness of lawful age taken on the 12«sup»th«/sup» day of January 1880 before J K Edmondson, one of the Commissioners in Chancery of the Circuit Court of Rockbridge County at the office of the said Commissioner, under a decree of said Court in a Chancery suit depending therein between Spotswood Braford's Adm~ Plaintiff and Spotswood Braford Devisees & defendants, to be used as evidence before said Commissioner in behalf of said Braford's Estate as claim by Mrs. Jane Moore.
«tab»Sanent?, W P Horton, Esq Counsel for S Braford's Adm
" D E Moore Esq, " " Mrs. Moore Claimant Wm C Flint of lawful age, being first duly sworn, answers & says.
1«sup»st«/sup» Interrogatory. Please state where you lived during the years 1876, '77 & 78. How often you were at the residence of the decednt & what opportunity you had to become informed of the facts connected with the residence of Mrs. Jane Moore there, of the services rendered by her to her father and of the consideration to which she may be entitled for the same?
Ans. I lived on Mr. Braford's land as a tenant. It is hard to say how often I visited the deceased? At his residence, he & myself were very intimate. I visited him very frequently at his residence as he was old and infirm & at his residence would need to him as he was very anxious? to hear the news of the country. I frequently saw Mrs. Moore there.
2«sup»nd«/sup» I. Please state which were the services rendered by Mrs. Moore after the death of her mother, Mrs. Braford, & up to the time of her father's death?
Ans. Well she seemed, I think, to take charge of the house & ?? herself into it.
3«sup»rd«/sup» I. Was not Mrs. Moore & her family pretty much supported by Mr. Braford during the time she was at her fathers?
Ans. I can only speak of Mrs. Moore & one child, frequently I think she had other children with her of which I have often heard the old gentleman complain saying which once he was very fond of children, but they annoyed him very much.
4«sup»th«/sup» I. Did you once hear him say anything about compensating Mrs. Moore for her Services?
Ans. I did not sir. In the contract between the old gentleman and Starke Braford for the lease of the plantation, certain things were provided for in the contract, and Stark thought that the presence of Mrs. Moore there was a violation & an imposition on him & their support too much of burden & he threatened to give up the lease, but the old gentleman told him that he could not turn Mrs. Moore away, as she would suffer, having no means of support. Stark then acq?? and dropped the matter.
5«sup»th«/sup» I. From what you saw and know of the services rendered by Mrs. Moore do you or do you not think her entitled to any compensation ?? over & above which she and her family received from the decedent in her lifetime.
Ans. I do not.
Cross Examination
6«sup»th«/sup» I. Did you ever hear any conversation between Mrs. Moore & her father in regard to compensation?
Ans. I did not sir.
7«sup»th«/sup» I. Was she present when the conversation referred to in your answer to 4«sup»th«/sup» question in ?? took place between old Mr. Braford & Stark in regard to her living on the place.
Ans. She was not sir. I asked Mr. Braford ?? & we took a seat on the lawn in front of the house. After consultation with him, we called Mr. Stark Braford down & by agreement they consented not to cancel the lease.
8«sup»th«/sup» I. You said in answers to said 4«sup»th«/sup» question in ?? which old Mr. Braford said that he could not turn he away, as she had no other means of support, didn't she have the pach? of land on which she and her husband now reside, & was it not reserved for her, in the said contract with Stark Braford?
Ans. I should have said that she was in a destitute condition - not well provided for. She did have the hatch? of land referred to in the question.
And further this examinant said not
Wm C Flint
Sworn to and subscribed before me as Commissioner aforesaid this 12«sup»th«/sup» Jan 1880.
J K Edmonson, Commis in charge
James S Braford being another witness of lawful age being first duly sworn answers & says.
1«sup»st«/sup» Interrogatory. Please examine the Part? Now shown you, filed by Mrs. Jane T Moore agt the estate of Spotswood Braford dec, being for services rendered the deceased for the last two years two & half months of his life & state if in your opinion she is entitled to recover the same & if not, upon what fact & circumstances such opinion is founded?
Ans. I know that my sister Mrs. Moore has been with her father & that her husband never has made a support for her & I think that she is very amply enumerated for all she has done for him. I have heard my father say that he would much rather for her to be at home than to be with him & that if they were to go home, he would be afraid that they would suffer for something to eat & therefore he would keep them with him. He thought that Mr. Moore as he had to feed his family, ought to try to clothe them. I know in my own certain knowledge that he clothed them very poorly. My father I know furnished them with two cows to help support their family - one in Lynchburg & one in Botetourt at least Mr. Moore started with the one in Lynchburg, but the cow never got there.
2«sup»nd«/sup» I. Can you state of your own knowledge whether or not the supplies ?? furnished Mrs. Moore during the time covered by this account was ample compensation for the services needed to your father by her during the same time?
Ans. I do honestly think so.
Cross examination
3«sup»rd«/sup» I. How long have your sister and Mr. Moore been married?
Ans. About fifteen years I think. I was in the state of Louisiana at the time of their marriage.
4«sup»th«/sup» I. You say that you were in the state of Louisiana when they were married. How long after their marriage were you there & did you come from there directly home?
Ans. I was there probably a year afterwards & I came from there in Nov 67 directly home.
5«sup»th«/sup» I. You stated that Mr. Moore had never made a support for his family. So you know that of your knowledge & will you state if he did not who did support them?
Ans. I know since the date of his difficulty in Lynchburg, some six years since, that my father & Polk have been supporting them.
6«sup»th«/sup» I. Were there Cow from them while she was at your fathers in his service as claimed?
Ans. One of them was
7«sup»th«/sup» I. Was or was not this cow given to Mrs. Moore after old Mr. Braford's death by Polk as compensation for her service?
Ans. I do not recollect whether it was after his death or not.
And further this examinant saith not
Jas S. Braford
Sworn to and subscribed before me as Commissioner aforesaid this 12«sup»th«/sup» Jan 1880.
J K Edmonson, Commis in charge
Note. In the file on page 282 APPEARS to be a receipt from Mr. Thomas H Moore & Amanda Jane his wife for $212.00 (2 years, 2-1/2 months at $8 per month). This receipt is not dated. It is possible it is in fact a Claim represented by the depositions taken in Mr. Edmonson's office 12 Jan 1880 and was never paid.
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