Twenty-nine Smith County residents support residency for John and Linsey Pinchum, free people of color who purchased their freedom from Dr. J. M. Luckey. They note that the Pinchums "are now old, and will never have any more children having had a number of them who are mostly living in Smith County, and from whom they dislike to be separated in their old age as will be the case, if they are emancipated under the regulations & restrictions of the act of 1831-2." The petitioners suggest that "if relief can be afforded to them so that they may be emancipated under the former laws or under any others, that would allow them to remain in this state, in reach of their children, it will be meteing to this unfortunate race such mercy and justice as will enliven the remnant of their days, and enable them to go down to the grave in peace."
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Repository: Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee
