John Collinson died leaving a will that offered freedom to certain slaves if they would emigrate to Liberia. Moses, a slave willing to accept the bequest under the condition stipulated, petitions that John Collinson, executor of the late Collinson's estate, "retains your petitioner in Slavery working him and using him as a Slave." Due to the executor's action, Moses complains that he is "Wholly unable to Comply with the condition upon which his Freedom was given him." Moses alleges that Collinson pretends that the personal estate of the late Collinson is insufficient to discharge the debts the owed by the estate and he refuses to take the steps necessary to settle the estate. Moses seeks an accurate accounting of the estate to determine the status of his freedom and that of his late master's other slaves. [An item in the court records of the Orphans Court, dated 6 August 1839, cites the appearance of "Negro Eliza Whittington a Slave left by the Will of John Collinson to be free on the condition of her emigrating to Liberia or to remain in the State and continue to be the Slave of the representatives of Thomas Tongue." The record reports that "the Said Eliza doth in open Court make Election to remain in the State as a Slave and Serve the representatives of Thomas Tongue in preferance to Emigrating to Liberia. The Girl Eliza appears to be about fifteen years of age." This notation was found following an order related to PAR #20983909. Data concerning Eliza Whittington is contained in this petition.]
Result: Granted.
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Repository: Maryland State Archives, Annapolis, Maryland
