William M. Wilburn, a nonresident of Virginia, represents that "he purchased of a certain Gray Carrell a negro man named Ezekiel." He further reports that shortly thereafter the said Ezekiel instituted a suit "for his freedom against your petitioner claiming to have been emancipated by the Will of a certain Robert Bailey of Surry County;" consequently said Ezekiel "was taken out of his possession." The petitioner reveals that "during the pendency of this suit the negro man Ezekiel committed a crime for which he was arrested and the law being that he should be tried as a free man he was tried convicted and sent to Penitentiary for fourteen years where he is now confined." Wilburn therefore prays "your Honorable Body to put him in possession of the said negro man or pay him his value." The petitioner asserts that, if put in possession of Ezekiel, "he has directed his agent to sell him to some person who will transport him beyond the confines of your State."
Result: Rejected.
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Repository: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
