Oscar Taliaferro explains that, a number of years ago, he was able to accumulate $400 toward the purchase of his freedom. The money was entrusted with his then owner, James Blakey, "to keep for him." But before Blakey could execute a deed of emancipation in favor of Oscar, he "became so embarrassed" with debts that Oscar became "in danger not only of losing" his money, as he did, but of being sold to someone else and "separated from his wife a slave in Richmond." Consequently, with Blakey's permission, he convinced Richmond resident George Taylor to purchase him and to allow him to return the purchase money in installments of "from one to fifty dollars." By 1842, Oscar had reimbursed Taylor and the latter has since that time been "willing & anxious" to "execute the promised deed of manumission." However, Oscar, reluctant to leave his slave wife behind if forced to emigrate as the law requires of emancipated slaves, he continued accumulating funds with the object of purchasing and freeing her. As he was close to "accomplishing the object" of his efforts, he was struck down by illness and forced to use his savings for medical care. He no longer has the money to purchase his wife's freedom. He therefore seeks the "interposition" of the legislature to grant him permission to remain in the state if emancipated, so as to allow him to "enjoy the freedom he has so long struggled from, & the society of the being he cannot abandon."
Result: Referred to committee for courts of justice.
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Repository: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
