Margaret Goodrich, the widow of John Goodrich, represents that the Committee of Safety assigned the slaves belonging to her late husband’s estate to work in the mines but agreed "to assign a Certain portion thereof to the use of your Petitioner for the maintenance of herself and younger Children" and to give her forty pounds annually to hire said slaves to work on her two plantations. The widow reports, however, that she cannot retain any hired slaves except for short intervals, "the said slaves either from inclination or seduction have so frequently absconded from their duty as to leave her Crop in a condition which precludes all hope of its being sufficient to supply the wants of her family." The petitioner therefore prays that "this Honourable House would be graciously pleased to make order for the restitution of the Slaves belonging to the Estate of her husband, to be employed by her for the support of herself and young children." Goodrich "has reason to believe that the affection which they retain for her and the authority which she would have over them would attach them to her interest, and enable her more effectually to answer the reasonable expectations of her Children."
Result: Rejected.
Or you may view all people.
Repository: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
