Petitions & Transcripts > Petition 11585306
Harrison County, Texas, 1853
To the Honorable the Senate & House of Representatives of the State of Texas The undersigned J F McDonald respectfully represents that he is the owner of a negro man known by the name of Henry Moore who is about forty years of age and of black complexion- that said Henry has faithfully and obediently served him and all others to whom he has belonged and who have had him under their charge and that his faithfulness industry integrity and general good deportment have enable him in addition to the service rendered his master to accumulate a sufficient sum of money to purchase his freedom and he now desires by paying me the said McDonald his master master his value in money to obtain his freedom and I the said McDonald upon these terms am willing and desirious to emancipate and set him free from servitude and grant him personal freedom and liberty so far as he in accordance with the law may be permitted to enjoy the same- And we the undersigned Citizens of Harrison County and State of Texas respectfully represent and say that we have long known the said negro man Henry, that he is a man of fixed honesty integrity industry and general good deportment and conduct and that he is respectful and humble in the presence of the white population regardless of their rank or condition in life and that he would remain and continue so to be if emancipated from servitude and permitted to remain in the state of Texas- and that we believe that if the said Henry were emancipated and permitted to remain within the limits of the state of Texas that his deportment and conduct would tend to the promotion of public order and decorum among all upon whom he might have or exert any influence- and that he would studiously avoid creating discontent and dissatisfaction among slaves with their condition and we believe that he would promptly discourage and discountenance the attempt in others so to do and that he would endeavor to suppress such a feeling if he found it existing- and we believe that as a negro he would be a friend of order and decorum and that his residen residence in the state after emancipation would not prejudice or have a tendency to prejudice the well being and interest of society or of individuals- and we believe that he would rely upon honest labor integrity and industry for a support and that by these means he would support and maintain himself and acquire enough in this way to sustain him in infirm old age so that he will not become or be a public charge and finally we are willing for him to be emancipated and remain in the state of Texas and reside among us if after emancipation he may desire so to do Wherefore we pray your Honorable body to pass an act authorizing the said McDonald to emancipate the said Henry in the state of Texas and authorizing the said Henry upon and after his emancipation to be and remain permanently in the state of Texas emancipated and set free from involuntary servitude
[signed] Joseph F. McDonald C- A- Frazer S R Peny E C Beuzley H Key T T Gregg Saml P Taylor Edward Clark T. A. Harris N W, Eames [12 additional signatures]
Source: Records of the Legislature, Petition of Joseph F. McDonald, et al., to the Texas Senate and House of Representatives, 8 December 1853, Memorials and Petitions, RG 100, Texas State Library-Archives Division, Austin Texas. No act was passed. PAR #11585306.