Wiatt, Rebecca, and their children, people of color, seek their freedom. Vachael Light, their late master, freed the petitioners by his will and the "intention of the sd. testator is shown by being three times expressed in the sd. will, thereby shewing that the sd. testator intended to leave no doubts on the minds of those who should see his sd. will that he meant not to leave any of your Complts. in bondage." Further, it was the "long cherished wish of his life that yr. Complts., to whom he was much attached, should serve no one as slaves" after his death. By another clause in his will, Light left "all his household & kitchen furniture" to Rebecca, as well as the residue of his estate's land. However, the testator's son, Right Light, "has in direct violation of the wishes of his deceased father, gone to the County Court of Sullivan & taken out letters of administration on the estate of his sd. father." Right Light has now sold the property devised to Rebecca and "has, by some means, procured an order ... to sell all the Complts." The petitioners pray for an injunction against their sale and "that they may be secured in their right to freedom under sd. will."
Result: Granted.
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Repository: Archives of Appalachia, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee
