Sixty-five-year-old Lizy joins her six grown children in requesting that the family be permitted to remain in Tennessee. They point out that they were formerly "the slaves of the late William Crouse," citing that "for many years prior to his death his mind was anxiously engaged upon the subject of emancipating your petitioners." They reveal, however, that they "fell into the hands of false and pretended friends," who kept them in bondage until they instituted a suit for their freedom in the chancery court in 1852; the court ruled in their favor and granted them freedom "upon the condition that they be sent out of the Country to the western coast of Affrica, as is provided by the act of the General Assembly of Tennessee passed 24 February 1854 during the pendency of their bill." Acknowledging the advanced age and infirmity of some of the family members, the petitioners pray that they be granted "the privilege of remaining citizens of Stewart County."
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Repository: Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee
