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- The Southern Debate over Slavery: Volume 2
The Southern Debate over Slavery: Volume 2
Petitions to Southern County Courts, 1775-1867
Edited by Loren Schweninger
Introduction by Loren Schweninger
Published by: University of Illinois Press
An incomparably rich source of period information, the second volume of The Southern Debate over Slavery offers a representative and extraordinary sampling of the thousands of petitions about issues of race and slavery that southerners submitted to county courts between the American Revolution and Civil War. These petitions, filed by slaveholders and nonslaveholders, slaves and free blacks, women and men, abolitionists and staunch defenders of slavery, constitute a uniquely important primary source. The collection records with great immediacy and minute detail the dynamics and legal restrictions that shaped southern society.
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Contents
Abbreviations
Editorial Method
Introduction
PETITIONS TO COUNTY COURTS
1. Antonio Muray to the Inferior Court, Craven County, North Carolina, 1775
2. Jim to the Court of Quarter Sessions, New Castle County, Delaware, 1783
3. Thomas Hurd and Elizabeth Hurd to the Chancery Court, Fluvanna County, Virginia, 1783
4. Job Garretson to the Chancery Court, Baltimore County, Maryland, 1784
5. Patrick McNemara to the County Court, Frederick County, Maryland, 1786
6. John Moore to the County Court, Accomack County,Virginia, 1789
7. Robert Kerr Jr. to the District Superior Court, Washington District, Tennessee, 1791
8. Margaret Lee to the Superior Court, Washington District, Tennessee, 1795
9. Will, Burwell, Jane, and Lucy to the Chancery Court, Sussex County, Virginia, 1795
10. Stephen Mitchell to the Court of Quarter Sessions, Sussex County, Delaware, 1795
11. Reuben Beckum to the Superior Court, Jefferson County, Georgia, 1799
12. William Rouse to the Equity Court, Charleston District, South Carolina, 1800
13. Amelia Green to the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Craven County, North Carolina, 1801
14. Esther Holman Anderson, Elizabeth Holman Collins, and Margaret Holman Collins et al. to the Equity Court, Charleston District, South Carolina, 1803
15. Citizens of Pasquotank County to the County Court, Pasquotank County, North Carolina, 1804
16. Joseph Johnson to the Equity Court, Charleston District, South Carolina, 1804
17. Joseph Antoine to the Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, 1804
18. The Slaves Held by Lewis Allen to the Superior Court, Richmond, Virginia, 1805
19. Joseph B. Abrahams to the Chancery Court, Henrico County, Virginia, 1806
20. Samuel Warren, Charles Steedman, and Laurens McGregor to the Equity Court, Charleston District, South Carolina, 1807
21. James D’Wolf to the Equity Court, Charleston District, South Carolina, 1807
22. William Winchester and William Owings to the Orphans Court, Baltimore County, Maryland, 1809
23. William Frank to the Superior Court, Territory of Orleans, Louisiana, 1809
24. Samuel Holbrook, Jane L. Holbrook, Matilda Hyland, and the Slaves of the Late Alexander Stewart to the Orphans Court,Somerset County, Maryland, 1810
25. John Humphries to the Inferior Court, Jones County, Georgia, 1811
26. Marie Perron Beaury and Joseph Guerineau to the Equity Court, Charleston District, South Carolina, 1813
27. William Anderson to the Superior Court, Liberty County, Georgia, 1814
28. William Durbin Jr. to the Governor, Maryland, 1814
29. Emilie Dussuau and Francois St. Fort Dussuau to the District Court, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, 1814
30. William Andrews to the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions,Wake County, North Carolina, 1817
31. Dempsey Snipes, John Pattie et al. to the District Court, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, 1817
32. Julien to the District Court, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, 1818
33. Zephir to the Parish Court, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, 1819
34. Frances Claiborne to the County Court, Henrico County, Virginia, 1819
35. Job P. Givhan to the Equity Court, Charleston District, South Carolina, 1819
36. Stephen Hall to the Court of General Quarter Sessions, Kent County, Delaware, 1819
37. Victorine Fortier to the District Court, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, 1819
38. Henry Dickerson to the Circuit Court, Barren County, Kentucky, 1821
39. John Young to the Circuit Court, District of Columbia, 1822
40. Sally Toogood and Martha Toogood to the County Court, Montgomery County, Maryland, 1822
41. Archibald H. Scott to the Inferior Court, Greene County, Georgia, 1822
42. Mary Ann Preato to the Superior Court, West Florida, 1822
43. Barbara Thomas to the Inferior Court, Pulaski County, Georgia, 1822
44. David Burton, Thomas Wright et al. to the Orphans Court, Monroe County, Mississippi, 1822
45. Gideon Thompson and Robert McCombs to the Circuit Court, Rutherford County, Tennessee, 1823
46. Patience Morton, Henry L. Marshall et al. to the Equity Court, Charleston District, South Carolina, 1823
47. Betsy Bonne to the Superior Court, West Florida, Florida, 1824
48. Christina Stanton to the Equity Court, Fairfield District, South Carolina, 1825
49. Helen to the Circuit Court, Washington County, District of Columbia, 1825
50. William R. Maxwell to the Equity Court, Charleston District, South Carolina, 1826
51. Peregrine Hendrickson to the Court of General Quarter Sessions, New Castle County, Delaware, 1826
52. Samuel Cowgil to the District Court, West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, 1826
53. Henry R. W. Hill to the County Court, Williamson County, Tennessee, 1827
55. Polly B. White to the Circuit Court, Bourbon County, Kentucky, 1827
56. John C. Stanly to the Superior Court, Craven County, North Carolina, 1828
57. Jean Dayson to the Parish Court, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, 1829
58. Lucien Fiemster to the Circuit Court, Bourbon County, Kentucky, 1829
59. Jane Dawson to the Superior Court, Randolph County, North Carolina, 1830
60. Rachel Hicks to the District Court, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, 1830
61. Winthrop S. Baker to the Superior Court, Middle District, Florida, 1830
62. Robert Beale to the Circuit Court, Washington County, District of Columbia, 1830
63. David K. Markham to the District Court, St. Landry Parish,Louisiana, 1830
64. Zulma Roy to the Police Jury, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, 1831
65. Joseph H. Waring and Thomas W. Boone to the Equity Court, Charleston District, South Carolina, 1832
66. Kelso Davis to the Superior Court, Craven County, North Carolina, 1832
67. Elizabeth Dial to the District Court, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, 1832
68. William Patrick Davis and Kitty Davis to the Circuit Superior Court, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1832
69. Theressa Taylor to the Equity Court, Charleston District, South Carolina, 1833
70. Thomas Cowles to the County Court, Henrico County, Virginia, 1833
71. Sophia Tydings to the Orphans Court, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, 1833
72. The Administrators of the Late Thomas H. Gist, Baltimore County, Maryland, 1833
73. William L. Brown, Eliza R. Brown et al. to the Circuit Superior Court, Petersburg, Virginia, 1834
74. Elizabeth Marsh, John Murphey et al. to the Superior Court,Greene County, Georgia, 1834
75. Lelia Tucker to the County Court, Lancaster County, Virginia, 1834
76. Milly Bowser to the District Court, Prince George’s County, Maryland, 1835
77. Michael Edwards to the Circuit Court, St. Louis County, Missouri, 1835
78. John H. Sargent to the Equity Court, Charleston District, South Carolina, 1835
79. Pierre Charles to the Police Jury, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, 1835
80. Mary Anne Gray to the Circuit Court, Washington County, District of Columbia, 1835
81. Aimée Canonge to the Parish Court, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, 1835
82. George Peery to the Chancery Court, Knox County, Tennessee, 1836
83. David Cross et al. to the County Court, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, 1836
84. The Children of the Late James Mitchell to the Chancery Court, Charleston District, South Carolina, 1836
85. Richard Coleman to the Criminal Court, Warren County, Mississippi, 1837
86. Thomas Morris and Albert Foster to the County Court, Henrico County, Virginia, 1837
87. Joseph Bernard to the District Court, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, 1837
88. James L. Davis to the County Court, Frederick County, Maryland, 1838
89. Frederick Wesner to the Equity Court, Charleston District, South Carolina, 1838
90. George to the Circuit Court,Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, 1838
91. Hanna Dubberly to the Chancery Court, Louisville, Kentucky, 1839
92. James Thompson to the District Court, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, 1839
93. Eveline M. Whetstone and William Ratcliff to the Chancery Court, Shelby County, Alabama, 1839
94. The Heirs and Testamentary Executor of the Late Eugénie Decuirto the Probate Court,Iberville Parish, Louisiana, 18391
95. Citizens of Vicksburg to the Board of Police, Warren County, Mississippi, 1840
97. Neal and Mary McDonald to the Chancery Court, Barbour County, Alabama, 1842
98. Peter Foust, Sally Foust et al. to the Superior Court, Orange County, North Carolina, 1843
99. John Pendleton to the Circuit Court, Crawford County, Arkansas, 1843
100. Ira Garrett and Nancy to the Circuit Superior Court, Albemarle County, Virginia, 1843
101. Elizabeth Mills Tinges to the County Court, Baltimore County, Maryland, 1843
102. Charles Saunders to the Chancery Court, Louisville, Kentucky, 1844
103. Elizabeth McLauchlin to the County Court, Gadsden County, Florida Territory, 1845
104. Missouri Boyett to the Chancery Court, Sumter County, Alabama, 1845
105. Margaret Hackney and George Dickey to the Chancery Court, Maury County, Tennessee, 1845
106. Marie Françoise to the District Court, Iberville Parish, Louisiana, 1845
107. Walker Reynolds to the Chancery Court, Talladega County, Alabama, 1845
108. Polly Stewart to the District Court, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, 1845
109. Sarah Duncan to the Circuit Court, Clay County, Missouri, 1846
110. Alexander W. Marshall to the Equity Court, Charleston District, South Carolina, 1846
111. A. Foster to the Chancery Court, Spartanburg District, South Carolina, 1847
112. Permelia Russell to the Circuit Court, Boyle County, Kentucky, 1847
113. Harriet Whitehead to the Circuit Superior Court, Southampton County, Virginia, 1847
114. Margaret Collins to the Chancery Court, Mobile County, Alabama, 1847
115. Hugh F. Grant, and Other Officers and Privates of the Glynn County Rangers to the Inferior Court, Glynn County, Georgia, 1848
116. John Russell to the Orphans Court, Baltimore County, Maryland, 1848
117. Milly Brown to the County Court, Shelby County, Tennessee, 1848
118. Betsy Dolliole to the District Court, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, 1848
119. Marie to the District Court, West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, 1848
120. Henry Norrell to the Chancery Court,Tallapoosa County, Alabama, 1848
122. William Watts and Edward W. Saunders to the County Court, Campbell County, Virginia, 1849
123. Henson Ridgway, Stephen G. Capers et al. to the Circuit Court, Washington County, District of Columbia, 1849
124. Mary et al. to the District Court, Concordia Parish, Louisiana, 1849
125. Amanda M. Cannon to the Probate Court, Lowndes County, Mississippi, 1849
126. Rebeca and B. F. Graves to the Circuit Court, Fayette County, Kentucky, 1850
128. William Coppersmith and Elisha S. Nash to the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions,Pasquotank County, North Carolina, 1851
129. Charles K. Reese to the Probate Court, Brazoria County, Texas, 1851
130. Executors and Heirs of the Late Nicholas Perkinsto the Circuit Court, Williamson County, Tennessee, 1851
131. A. J. Ballard to the Chancery Court, Louisville, Kentucky, 1851
132. Lamb Stevens to the Equity Court, Charleston District, South Carolina, 1851
133. William Adams Sr. to the District Court, Tensas Parish, Louisiana, 1851
134. Reuben R. Brown to the District Court, Brazoria County, Texas, 1851
135. Charles, Mary and George Ann Hays and Robert Leachman to the Chancery Court, Greene County, Alabama, 18521
136. John and Amanda Wright to the Chancery Court, Davidson County, Tennessee, 1852
137. Antoine Dubuclet to the District Court, Iberville Parish, Louisiana, 1852
138. Prosper K. Montgomery and John S. Chamblissto the Probate Court, Jefferson County, Mississippi, 1852
Elizabeth Pierce Campbell and John Pierce Jr. to the Chancery Court, Lowndes County, Mississippi, 1852
140. Heirs of the Late William Owento the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Davidson County, North Carolina, 1853
141. John F. Guilmartin and Edwin R. Castellow to the Superior Court, Chatham County, Georgia, 1853
142. Mary Vance and Samuel Jones to the Chancery Court, Bedford County, Tennessee, 1853
143. John Brown to the Chancery Court, Maury County, Tennessee, 1853
144. John C. and George W. Humphries to the District Court, Madison Parish, Louisiana, 1853
145. Citizens of Wayne County to the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Wayne County, North Carolina, 1854
146. Hannah A. H. and Alexander H. Abrahams to the Equity Court, Charleston District, South Carolina, 1854
147. Lucy B. Russell to the Court of Common Pleas, St. Louis, Missouri, 1855
148. Elizabeth Price Johnson to the Superior Court, Greene County, Georgia, 1855
149. Francis Terence to the District Court, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, 1855
151. John B. O’Neall to the Equity Court, Newberry District, South Carolina, 1855
152. Charles Harris to the Circuit Court, Bourbon County, Kentucky, 1856
153. John W. Franklin to the Circuit Court, Sumner County, Tennessee, 1856
154. Henry and Sally Hensly to the Orphans Court, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, 1856
155. Stephen Ridgley to the Court of Common Pleas, St. Louis County, Missouri, 1856
157. Susan C. and John Belcher to the Chancery Court, Perry County, Alabama, 1857
158. Former Slaves of the Late L. W. T. Land to the Circuit Court, Princess Anne County, Virginia, 1857
159. William Robinson to the Circuit Court, Chesterfield County, Virginia, 1858
160. Constance Bique Perrine to the District Court, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, 1858
161. Daniel to the District Court, San Augustine County, Texas, 1858
162. Ezekiel Mills to the Orphans Court, Baltimore City, Maryland, 1858
163. Stephen Odell to the Probate Court, Adams County, Mississippi, 1858
164. Daugherty Gause to the District Court, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, 1859
165. Mary E. Baines and Isaac N. Maynard to the District Court, West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, 1859
166. Andrew G. Gordon to the Probate Court, Marion County, Florida, 1859
167. Leasey Harrist o the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Kershaw District, South Carolina, 1860
168. Mary Jane Mason to the Orphans Court, Baltimore City, Maryland, 1860
169. Hannah Null to the Probate Court, Lauderdale County, Mississippi, 1862
170. Philip Meredith to the Clerk of the Circuit Court, District of Columbia, 1862
172. Dolly A. Briggs to the County Court, Southampton County, Virginia, 1862
174. Edmond Pickens to the District Court, Nacogdoches County, Texas, 1863
175. Parker J. and Selena A. Holland to the Equity Court, Charleston District, South Carolina, 1863
176. Caroline Scott to the Court of Ordinary, Richmond County, Georgia, 1863
177. Nathan Hopkins to the Circuit Court, Talbot County, Maryland, 1864
178. Sally M. Yerger to the Probate Court, Hinds County, Mississippi, 1866
179. Jack Robinson to the Circuit Court, Albemarle County, Virginia, 1866
180. Brotherly Association of Charleston to the Equity Court, Charleston District, South Carolina, 1867
The Race and Slavery Petitions Project
Acknowledgments
Glossary
Bibliography (primary sources found in volume)
Index
Back cover
“When your Orator returned Home he found his Wife in Tears, and upon inquiery of the cause, she informed your Orator that the aforesaid Haley had Grossly abused and insulted her, and amongst other terms of opprobriousness had called his said Wife a Damned Liar--upon which your Orator pusued the said Haley . . . and upon overtaking him, inflicted Several blows, for the gross and degrading insult offered his Wife--and your Orator hopes that such a State of insubbordination in a man of his Colour, would well justify the Deed.”--from “Joseph B. Abrahams to the Chancery Court, Henrico County, Virginia, 1806”
"For serious scholars of both American slavery and pre-Civil War America this volume is essential."--H-CivWar
"A landmark feat of historical discovery and retrieval. . . . A truly fascinating glimpse into the thoughts and personal conduct of otherwise obscure men and women of both races in the pre-emancipation south."--Civil War Book Review
"A terrific addition to our knowledge about slavery."--The North Carolina Historical Review
"Schweninger has compiled another extraordinary volume of primary source documents revealing the scope and details of the experience of slavery in the US South. . . . Highly recommended."--Choice