William Farrer claims a Negroe Woman named Dina Archey lately embarked to go to Nova Scotia and brought on Shore for Examination. She produces a certificate from Brigadier General Birch Commandant of the City of New York dated 2d May 1783 “That the Bearer Dinah Archey being a free Negro has the Commandant’s Permission to pass from this Garrison to whatever Place she may think proper.”
She now acknowledges that She was formerly the Property of John Bains of Crane Island Norfolk County Virginia and that he sold her as he then said to the Claimant with whom She lived about three years and until he was obliged to leave the Country on account of the War and went to England leaving this Negro Woman behind him. And She further says that the said John Bains afterwards told her that he had never given the Claimant a Bill of Sale for her and compelled her to return to him where She remained until the Expedition up the Chesapeake under Sir George Collier and General Mathews when she came with them to New York.
The Claimant upon being asked declares himself to be a British Subject: Whereupon
The Board are of the Opinion that they are not authorized to determine the Question between the Claimant and the Negroe Woman and therefore refer the matter to the Commandant and Police of the Garrison.
