The Board of Land Commissioners and other citizens of Jefferson County find free people of color William, Abner, and Aaron Ashworth, Elisha and Eliza Thomas--heirs of Moses Ashworth--and Henry and John Bird as well as Aaron Nelson "to be good and worthy members of the Community in this County." They "discharged the duty of good and patriotic citizens both during the contest with Mexico for our independence ... and since that time as industrious and orderly Citizens." The petitioners put forth, however, that doubts exist as to whether or not they might claim the land they had homesteaded. Declaring that they "view with strong feelings of sympathy the situation of these worthy families," the petitioners ask the legislature to grant the free people of color a right or patent for "the Headrights that would have accrued to them had there been no taint of blood in their veins." They also ask that the land controlled by them be protected against various claimants.
Result: "favorable".
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Repository: Texas State Library-Archives Division, Austin, Texas
