Petition for Re-Enslavement, 1860
Item
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Subject of Research
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Petition for Re-Enslavement, 1860
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Story
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Some free Black individuals chose to be re-enslaved, as a result of an act passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 1806 that required formerly enslaved people to leave the commonwealth within twelve months of being granted their freedom. In 1856, the General Assembly passed an act allowing free Black individuals who desired to remain in the commonwealth to petition for re-enslavement. These petitions include the petitioner's name, previous enslaver, means of emancipation, and desired new enslaver.
Mary Elizabeth’s petition: “To the Honorable Lucas P. Thompson Judge of the Circuit Court of Rockbridge County. Humbly complaining showith unto your Honor Your Petitioner, Mary Elizabeth, a free person of color residing in Rockbridge County Virginia over the age of Twenty one years, and who was emancipated by the last Will & Testament of the late William Miller, respectfully represents unto your Honor, that by the provisions of the said will she is now entitled to her freedom, but according to the laws of this State, if she becomes free, she will be compelled to remove to some other State, and this she is unwilling to do, as she was raised in the said County & desires to remain here. She therefore desires to choose a Master, & to become his slave, and she wishes to be allowed to choose the Son of her old master, William Miller, with whom she has always resided & who raised her from childhood. Your Petitioner therefore asks that her Petition may be granted and that the said William Miller may be confirmed as her owner in the mode & by virtue of the provisions of the Act of the Legislature passed at the Session of 1855-6. And your Petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray be.
her X mark
Mary Elizabeth
Signed & acknowledged in our presence.
Edwd. T Dix
Andrew J Leech
John S. Leech James K Leech James R Sterritt
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People
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Mary Elizabeth; Edwd. T Dix; Andrew J Leech; John S. Leech; James K Leech; James R Sterritt
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Place
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Rockbridge County
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Source
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Library of Virginia; Virginia Untold: The African American Narrative; Petitions for Re-Enslavement; “Mary Elizabeth”
