Hannah Ducksworth, the widow and executrix of Joseph Ducksworth, states that her late husband "enjoined it on his Executor & Executrix to have" his slaves emancipated. She reports that she petitioned the superior court "praying the emancipation of said negroes, but the presiding Judge was of opinion that as no trust Estate Had been created in said negroes to any person that he could not grant the prayer of the petitioner but was of opinion that it is a proper subject for Legislative Interference." The petitioner therefore prays "that your honorable body pass a Law Emancipating Said negroes, and that they may in future be known By the following names (viz) Chainey Ducksworth, Peggy Ducksworth, Jerry Ducksworth, Daniel Ducksworth, Anderson Ducksworth and Essex Ducksworth."
Result: Senate: judiciary committee discharged.
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Repository: North Carolina Department of Archives and History, Raleigh, North Carolina
