Petition #20883493

Abstract

Phillis represents that she and her children are free people of color held as slaves by Pierre Gentin. Phillis informs the court that “she was born free, of free parents, in the State of Pennsylvania, or some other State where Slavery is unknown, and is not recognized by its Constitution or Laws.” Fearing that Gentin will remove her and her children from the state and therefore prevent them from prosecuting the suit, Phyllis asks that they be placed in the Court’s protective custody. Phillis prays that she and her children “be adjudged to be free” and that they be “for ever discharged from servitude.” In addition, she asks for $500 in damages for Gentin’s “illegal detention” of her and her children as slaves since 1830. Related documents reveal that the court concluded that Phillis had been either a free indentured servant or a term slave, whose term of servitude had expired a number of years prior to initiation of her suit. The court therefore decreed her and her children to be free.

Result: Partially granted; appealed; affirmed.

10 people are documented within petition 20883493

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Citation information

Repository: University of New Orleans

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