<petition><petition_analysis_number>11683918</petition_analysis_number><petition_url>https://dlas.uncg.edu/petitions/petition/11683918</petition_url><state>Virginia</state><county>Richmond</county><location_type>City</location_type><file_day>5</file_day><file_month>12</file_month><file_year>1839</file_year><filing_court>Legislative</filing_court><end_day>6</end_day><end_month>12</end_month><end_year>1839</end_year><ending_court>Legislative</ending_court><result>bill</result><enslaved_count>1</enslaved_count><fpoc_count>0</fpoc_count><total_people_count>1</total_people_count><repository>Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia</repository><abstract>Lillburn Pleasants represents that he was "charged with felony ... &amp; condemned to be hung" in 1833.  He further states that said sentence was later "reprived for transportation &amp; sale."  Pleasants asserts that "at the time of the trial ... he was about the age of twenty five years &amp; bound to serve until he should arrive at the age of thirty" and that said court "tried, convicted &amp; condemned him as a slave for life."  He also declares that he had "no power or legal authority to engage the services of counsel to advise &amp; defend him."  The petitioner "cannot suppose that it is the purpose of the Commonwealth, to make him a slave for life."  He avows that "he has committed no offence authorizing so harsh a punishment &amp; there is no law that justifies its infliction."  Pleasants therefore prays "of your Honorable body to grant him a pardon."</abstract><subjects><subject>Jails/Workhouses</subject><subject>Execution (enslaved)</subject><subject>Trials (enslaved)</subject><subject>Theft by enslaved</subject><subject>Term slavery</subject></subjects></petition>