“William G. Bozeman, Edith Turner v. TRST(S) OF Nottoway Tribe of Indians” (March 11, 1830)

To the worshipful the County court of Southampton

The petition of Edith Turner respectfully represents, that she is a descendant of a female of the Nottoway tribe of Indians and as such entitled to a share of property in common in the county of Southampton, held by the trustees for the benefit of the descendants of the said tribe. That she has always borne & still maintains “a good moral character,” & hopes to be able to satisfy the court, that she is in no manner likely to become chargeable “to any part of the commonwealth,” should this worshipful court, grant the prayer of her petition. That she is now infirm and old & incapable of making such personal exertions as are necessary for her comfortable maintenance and support.

That by an act of the General Assembly passed on the 23^rd day of February 1824 at the instance of one William G Bozeman a descendant of the said tribe, the court of this county is empowered, to order the trustees to pay the said Bozeman out of the funds of the tribe the amount of the ascertained value of his interest to have and to hold as his individual and absolute property or to assign and set apart to be held by him in manner [illegible] … of the said estate and said personal estate as will be of value equal to the amount of his interest ascertained as aforesaid—

To which act there is a general clause annexed in these words—“Whenever any descendant of a female of the Nottoway tribe of Indians entitled to a share of property in common in the county of Southampton shall apply to the county court of said county for

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Privileges similar to those granted to William G Bozeman the said court after similar notice to the trustees may at their discretion exercise all the powers granted in the foregoing sections for the benefit of such applicants; and if he or she [illegible] he or she shall thereafter enjoy all the rights and privileges which by the [illegible] aforesaid sections are granted to the aforesaid William G Bozeman, provided they are satisfied of the good moral character of the said applicant, & that he or she is not likely to become chargeable to any part of the commonwealth—Your petitioner anxious to avail herself of the benefit of the court and prays the court to have the value of her said [crossed out] in the real & personal estate aforesaid [illegible] accord by reference to a commissioner or in such other manner as the [illegible] of the court may direct and that the same may be allotted to her to be held as her individual and absolute property, & your petitioner will ever pray

Edith Turner

By

W C Parker her attorney

I acknowledge due notice of the above petition

Jer Cobb Trustee

I acknowledge due notice of the above petition Feby 28^th 1830—

[illegible] Trustee

I acknowledge notice of the above petition the 11^th of March 1830

Jn. T. Blow, Trustee