{"petition":[{"petition_analysis_number":"10383904","petition_url":"https:\/\/dlas.uncg.edu\/petitions\/petition\/10383904","state":"Delaware","county":"Kent","location_type":"County","file_day":25,"file_month":1,"file_year":1839,"filing_court":"Legislative","result":"read, referred","enslaved_count":0,"fpoc_count":1,"total_people_count":2,"repository":"Delaware State Archives, Dover, Delaware","abstract":"Former Kent County Sheriff Nehemiah Clark denies that he owes the state $136.04, as claimed in the state auditor's report.  In 1828 Clark reports that Absalom Davis, a \"negro man,\" was convicted of a crime and \"sentenced by the said Court to be sold as a servant for a certain term of years, for the payment of the fine &c.\"  Clark therefore \"did proceed to dispose of said negro, by way of public sale\" and sold Davis to a certain Abel Harris.  When it was discovered that the Davis suffered from a life-threatening \"disorder,\" Harris refused to pay.  Supporting Harris's decision, he neither demanded the money nor took legal action, leaving a delinquency in the accounts.  Clark asks the legislature for relief.","subjects":[{"subject":"Jails\/Workhouses"},{"subject":"Diseases (physical)"},{"subject":"Auctions"},{"subject":"Term slavery"}]}]}