Henry Davis states that in 1858 he visited Walter Hilleary for the purpose of purchasing a young slave girl. Hilleary "immediately caused several slave girls from seven to nine years of age to be brought before your orator and his wife." Davis agreed to purchase a slave girl, Lucy, about nine years of age, and consented to manumit her at the age of twenty-five. Davis states that Lucy has resided with his family since 1858. The petitioner avers that Hilleary now refuses to execute the sale and has petitioned for and obtained a writ of replevin commanding the Marshal of the District of Columbia to deliver the slave into Hilleary's possession. Davis asserts that Lucy "has proven a valuable servant in consequence of the care and attention of your orator and his family whose comfort would be seriously interfered with by her removal." In addition, Davis fears that if Lucy is returned to Hilleary, she will be "reduced into perpetual bondage." He seeks an injunction preventing Davis from further prosecuting the writ of replevin.
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Repository: National Archives, Washington, D. C.
