Suit was originally brought against Elias Maddox, exe. for Betsy Harding, Sally Newsom's mother; the Newsoms had intended to pay for their land with this money. Dickinson replaced Maddox as exe. Stated charge is "covenant broken to [plaintiffs'] damage." "Harbert" is sometimes spelled "Herbert"; "Elias" is sometimes "Ellis." Plaintiffs' statement is signed by John Catron, later a member of the U.S. Supreme Court during the Dred Scott decision.