John P. Waters, "a very poor man," admits that he "became attached" to Elisabeth Culms, a woman of color, who moved into his house in 1795; fourteen years later, he and the said Elisabeth have "six fine children." He further relates that he "did Intend to make her his lawfull wife but being informed that such a connection would be Illegal it was from time to time defered to the present day." Waters states, however, that "envy and Malice has at last siezed on the heart of a neighbor who gave our Solisitor Information of my unfortunate Situation and manner of living," whereby he and Elisabeth were indicted and fined twenty-five pounds apiece "for living together in an unlawfull manner." The petitioner prays that the said fines may be remitted or that he be granted "other relief as you in your wisdom may think fit."
Result: Rejected.
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Repository: North Carolina Department of Archives and History, Raleigh, North Carolina
