To the Honble the Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Delegates.
The Petition of Edmd. Ruffin jnr. humbly Sheweth that in the Month of October 1775 your Petitioner was possessed of Negro Man Slave named Dick, who ran away from a Plantation in Bedford and attempted to get on board Lord Dunmores Fleet lying at Norfolk, but was apprehended and sent to the Publick Jail, that your Petitioner did in the month of December following make application to the committee of Safety for the said slave; but it appearing to the Committee that the said Slave, showed (altho’ in Jail) an insolent and seditious Disposition they refused to discharge him, intending as a Terrour to others to send the said Slave to the West Indies or Lead Mines; but before such step was taken, the said Slave died. Your Petitioner therefore prays such Relief herein as to your honble House shall seem Reasonable, and you Petitioner as in Duty bound shall ever pray.
