Petition #11681301

Abstract

As the "principal miller" in Richard Bate's "manufacturing mill," James Butler was promised his freedom by his owner who was "well pleased with his sobriety, honesty and general good conduct." However, before Bate made good on his promise, James Butler was seized, "with divers other slaves," on "an action of retinue" by his second owner, Captain Richard Williams; in other words James was seized to pay for Bate's debts. Williams, his new owner, "feeling for James's disappointment," promised that he would cause James to be emancipated if James paid him $600 from "his honest labour." Accordingly he executed a bill of sale to John Osborne, James's present owner, "a gentleman in whose entegrety and honor" James "reposed the fullest confidence, on a trust distinctly understood by all parties to the transaction." True to their word, James has now paid Osborne the value of his purchase "to the last farthing." But before he could make the last payment, an "act of assembly pas passed restricting the rights of entire emancipation of slaves at the discretion of their owners." James has now learned he would have to choose between leaving Virginia or remain a slave. He is now an old man--"in a few years the grave will close over his person"--and he wishes to remain near his children and friends. He asks for a law conferring on him the "rights of a free person," and permission to remain in Virginia.

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Citation information

Repository: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia

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