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Aberdeen Petition (November 5, 1783)

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Aberdeen Petition, Page 1Aberdeen Petition, Page 2
CONTEXT

In this petition dated November 5, 1783, an enslaved man named Aberdeen petitions the House of Delegates for his freedom. Aberdeen claims he is owed his freedom for leaving his Loyalist enslaver instead of joining the fleet of John Murray, fourth earl of Dunmore, and for laboring for seven years in Chiswell’s lead mines. The General Assembly granted Aberdeen’s freedom alongside enslaved people who served in the army.

Author: Aberdeen
    Transcription Source: Aberdeen: Petition, Virginia Untold: The African American Narrative Digital Collection, Library of Virginia, https://rosetta.virginiamemory.com:443/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE2770787.

    FULL TEXT

    Aberdeen Petition, Page 1
    Aberdeen Petition, Page 1

    To the Honourable the Speaker & House of Delegates

    The Petition of Aberdeen Rais’d by John Goodridge and waited on him untill his takeing the side of the British, Humbly Sheweth, that your Petitioner at that time left his sd. Master & Deliver’d himself to James Hopper, understanding his sd. Master had order’d all his servants to go on Board the fleet at Norfolk — in May 1776 was taken from Williamsburg by Colo. Lynch to the Led Mines, where he has labour’d Honestly Ever since — for which service & the Leaving his sd. Master & freinds he grounds his hope your Honourable House will give him his freedom — & he as in Duly Bound &c.

    Aberdeen Petition, Page 2
    Aberdeen Petition, Page 2

    — Page 2 —

    Aberdeens peto
    November 5th 1783
    to lie on the table.

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    APA Citation:
    Aberdeen. Aberdeen Petition (November 5, 1783). (2025, July 02). In Encyclopedia Virginia. https://encyclopediavirginia.org/primary-documents/aberdeen-petition-november-5-1783.
    MLA Citation:
    Aberdeen. "Aberdeen Petition (November 5, 1783)" Encyclopedia Virginia. Virginia Humanities, (02 Jul. 2025). Web. 25 Aug. 2026
    Last updated: 2025, July 02
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