Sixty-two Roane County residents ask that Samuel Bassil, "a man of colour, and a Black smith by trade," be granted "the privilledge of proving his accounts against such persons as may employ him to work for them in the way of his trade." They "conceive of no mischief which can result from granting to the said Bassil this priviledge because those whose feelings would not submit to come in contact with a man of colour, upon equal footing, of course would not deal with him." They further affirm that "it is certainly honest that those who employ him to work should be bound to pay him and nothing forms a stronger inducement to industry and honesty, that a certainty of receiving the just rewards of honest labour."
Result: Reported "unreasonable".
Or you may view all people.
Repository: Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee
