John Garlington states that he purchased "a negro man Tom by trade a House Carpenter" in 1822 for $853 at the "Sale of the Estate of Charles Simmons"; Tom was "at the time between the age of forty and fifty." He further adds that said purchase was made "with a promise and understanding that whenever the said Tom should work and labor for your petitioner by way of accounting & paying" the purchase price, with interest thereon, Garlington would "manumit and Set free the said Tom." Attesting that "said Tom has now fully & amply paid & satisfied" him "in the purchase money and interest," Garlington complains that "the laws of this State at this time prevent your petitioner from putting his promises into execution." The petitioner therefore prays that he be granted "the privilege of manumitting and setting free the said Tom, though it should on imposing the condition of requiring the said Tom to give reasonable Security to be and remain of good character which he has hitherto sustained."
Result: Referred to judiciary committee.
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Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
