Jacob, Patsey, Meriwether, Mary and Matilda, all free people of color, declare that Philip Vass manumitted them in his will and that Vass instructed that $2000 be directed for their settlement in North Carolina. They further assert that Vass stipulated that James Young, or any other person who aids his slaves in building houses and relocation, "shall be paid out of the balance of the money which may be remaining of the sum money herein appropriated, three hundred dollars for his services." Petitioner James Young "charges that he has frequently applied to the said Isaac Medley," the executor of the Vass estate, "to pay him as the Trustee for the said emancipated slaves the aforesaid sum of two thousand dollars with interest thereon ... but he has hitherto failed under various pretences to pay any part thereof." The petitioners therefore pray that Medley "may be required to pay to your Orator James Young for the purposes designated by the testator in his said will, the aforesaid sum of two thousand dollars with legal interest thereon," if in the court's opinion said emancipated slaves have "the right to receive the interest."
Result: Denied; appealed; reversed and annulled.
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Repository: Halifax Circuit Court Building, Halifax, Virginia
