Nancy Donnell, widow of the late William Donnell, represents that "it is her ardent wish & desire to carry out the will of her deceased Husband" to emancipate seven slaves. Fearing that said emancipation "would not be done after" her death, Donnell discloses that she "Executed to the aforesaid slaves a Deed of emancipation & have had the same duly recorded & attested, with the intention of liberating & sending them away in the life time of your petioner." The petitioner suggests, however, that "a few distant relations, whose covetous & nigardly disposition suffer them, to oppose the object & wish of your petioner in disposing of her own property." Donnell therefore prays that a law be passed "confirming & validating the Acts of the Testator William Donnell & your petioner, as it regards the emancipation of the aforesaid slaves & Authorise your petioner to send them away from this state." The petitioner pledges to "enter into Bond & give Security for any reasonable Sum, that she will remove Said Negroes from this state at any time your body may direct." She further admits that she "cannot die in peace & composedly untill their Freedom is affected."
Result: Rejected.
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Repository: North Carolina Department of Archives and History, Raleigh, North Carolina
