Petition of freed Billy Brown to the Viriginia General Assembly to remain in Virginia, 1818

Title: Petition of freed Billy Brown to the Viriginia General Assembly to remain in Virginia, 1818
Description: Billy Brown, a 'free man of colour,' had purchased his freedom 9 years earlier and since that time, had been employed by H-SC. Learning that the laws of Virginia required manumitted slaves to leave the state, he petitioned the Virginia General Assembly to be allowed to remain. A number of prominent white men signed the petition attesting to his character but the GA denied the petition (he filed a second petition, also denied, several years later).
Event Type: Legal
Keywords: Petition
Action Status: Failed
Date: December 18, 1818
Date Certainty: Inferred
Location: Prince Edward County
Source: Petition to General Assembly, LVA
Primary Participant: Billy Brown
Freedom Status: Free
Author: Billy Brown
Organization: Hampden-Sydney College
Source Resource: http://otg.hsc.edu/api/items/398
Source Site: http://otg.hsc.edu/s/on-these-grounds/page/welcome

Hampden-Sydney College