Thirty-eight petitioners represent that the late William Boyd directed in his last will and testament that his executors "educate and instruct his black boy Hardy So far as to Read the Scriptures" and that "when Said boy arived to the age twenty one years that he Should by them be made free." They further state that said Hardy "is now and has for some time past been twenty one years of age" and that the Blount County Court refused to free him unless he "shall remove out of [the state], which Removal the boy is not willing to Comply with." Avowing that Hardy "is harmless humble and inofencive," the petitioners pray that "you will autherise the County Courte of Blount County to Emancipate Said boy and give him the prevalege to Remain in the State of Tennessee untill his own Inclinetions may otherwise Direct him."
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Repository: Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee
