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The bill goes through the contents of their father's will from 1820, and also that of their paternal grandfather Hezekiah Gentry's will also written in 1820. It explains that their mother Sarah Gentry had a life estate in the land and slaves left to her, etc. It says that in 1826, Sarah became indebted to Zachariah Smith Brooks. It says Sarah died in December 1828, and that her heirs wanted the land and slaves sold because the tract of land is small and there are a lot of heirs.

Z. S. Brooks and Whitfield Brooks are both named in the suit. Whitfield Brooks was administrator of Sarah Gentry's estate. Brooks had loaned Sarah Gentry money at various times, including apparently the $200 that she was supposed to pay back to Hezekiah's estate. She couldn't pay any of it back, so she and Z. S. worked out for him to take the slaves and hire them out as a way to make payment on her debts. Whitfield Brooks said he had no problem paying the heirs, but there were unanswered questions about some of the things in Hezekiah's will as well with Thomas's estate because Sarah had made no returns and he did not know who had been paid what.

Zachariah Brooks provides notes showed Sarah's debts as well as the judgment for Hugh Duffy, who said, "I assign all my interest in this execution to A. XS. Brooks, for value rec'd." Dated June 1, 1827. The amount was $200 plus court costs, so it was likely in connection with the $200 already mentioned via Hezekiah's will. After all the accounting, the papers say that each heir's share was $147.93. It also says there were eight legatees. Hezekiah, William, Lavinia, Nathaniel, Elizabeth, John, and Sarah's names are specifically mentioned, but Catherine's is not. Elizabeth, William, and John wound up getting $7.45 because they each owed as securities for one of the notes Sarah had given Z. S. Brooks. The land had been auctioned off at Richard Coleman's in December 1829.

Gilbert Smith was made guardian of minors Sarah Gentry and Nathaniel Gentry. There was a special provision made for Lavinia Gentry Clifton. The papers said that her husband Whitfield Clifton had abandoned her and did not contribute at all to her her support and maintenance. It also said that she was destitute in the state of Georgia, Her share was to be set aside for her use only and that her share was to be paid to Gilbert Smith, her attorney-in-fact.¹