William Kennedy, alias Candy, is a slave of J. Purnell Pendleton, of Winchester, Virginia. Pendleton permitted Kennedy to hire himself out in Virginia and the District of Columbia. Kennedy is now confined in the private jail of William H. Williams for "alledged misbehavior." He asserts that Pendleton "finding that wages were higher in this part of the District than in Virginia, & with a view to hire your orator permanently in the city of Washington & to evade the laws in force against the importation of slaves to reside in Washington county in said District, did practice the expedient & device of letting your orator hire himself by the month either in Virginia or this District." Kennedy believes that this violation of the law entitles him to his freedom and has filed "his petition for freedom." He seeks an injunction against William Gadsby, Augustus Newton, William H. Williams, and J. Purnell Pendleton to prevent them from removing or selling him beyond the jurisdiction of the court. He also asks that the defendants may be summoned to answer his complaint.
Result: Granted.
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Repository: National Archives, Washington, D. C.
