Free black Thomas Brewster acquired his freedom some time before the passage of 1806 law, but due to "causes which it was not in his power to prevent" he obtained his emancipation deed only recently. The law requires that he emigrate, but he hopes to remain in Virginia. Brewster modestly informs the court that it "does not become him to speak of his character; but he will beg leave to refer to the testimonies accompanying" his petition of "a number of the most respectable inhabitants of the city of Richmond." We learn from a related document that, as early as 1802, one William Austin had told of his intention to purchase Thomas Brewster, then known as Tom, for the purpose of emancipating him, but that he could not do so "untill some Orphan children come of age to whom the said Thos belonged."
Result: To lie on table.
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Repository: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
