John Willoughby Jr. Petition (June 3, 1777)

John Willoughby Jr. Petition, June 3, 1777, Page 1

John Willoughby
1777
Petition Res^d.
to Committee
upon the State of
the Commonwealth.

John Willoughby Jr. Petition, June 3, 1777, Page 2

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To the Honourable the Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Delegates of the Common-wealth of Virginia. The Petition of John Willoughby of the County of Norfolk humbely sheweth —

That John Willoughby late of the County of Norfolk aforesaid Esquire Deceased was in his Life time Seised of an Estate in Tail in a Certain Tract of Land in the said County called Willoughby’s Point to which were annexed also in Tail amongst others the Eighty one Slaves named in the Schedule hereto annexed; which said Slaves on the fourteenth Day of April in the Year One Thousand Seven hundred & Seventy Six were in the Possession of your Petitioner his Dest Son and Heir apparent. And your Petitioner further sheweth that at the same time he was seised and possessed in Fee Simple of the Six Slaves also mentioned in the said Schedule; all which said Slaves remained with him untill the Resolution of the Committee of Safety for the removal of the Inhabitants of Princesse Ann and Norfolk was published & about to be carried into execution; when the said Slaves rather than be removed deserted and went on board Lord Dunmore’s Fleet, and either died or were carried out of the Country or were otherwise disposed of so that none of them were regained by the said Decedent in his Lifetime or by your Petitioner since his Death. And as the Desertion of the said Slaves was occasioned by the said Resolution, and the rigourous manner in which it was about to be executed; Your Petitioner humbly prays that this honourable House will take his extream hard Case into Consideration and grant him such Compensation and Relief as you in your great Wisdom and Justice shall think proper.

And your Petiti^er shall pray &c.

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Fee Simple

Jn^o. Willoughby

John Willoughby Jr. Petition, June 3, 1777, Page 3