Three "residents on the coast of Princess Ann County and farmers" represent that, in November 1855, the schooner "Mary Elizabeth" sailed from Norfolk bound to Philadelphia "having however secreted on board five slaves, to wit two men, two women, & a child." They recount that said ship ran aground in a storm a few miles south of Cape Henry and that said slaves and two white men, including the captain, "endeavoured to make their escape before day but failed through their ignorance of the locality." The petitioners claim that they were "instrumental in capturing the negroes and the handing them and the white men, over to the proper authorities"; as such, their attendance at the trial in Norfolk "became necessary on several occasions." They report, however, that "for all of which services we received about nineteen Dollars each which did not cover our necessary expences whilst in the city." In addition, the petitioners contend "that the cultivation of Corn (our chief dependence) is all important in the month of June" and that "by our absence sustained serious losses from the neglect of our fields." They therefore "appeal to you for such compensation as shall seem to your wisdom just."
Result: Referred to claims committee.
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Repository: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
