"Humbly Complaining your Petitioner William of Color by his next friend L Pepper would Show your Worships that his master departed this life in the year 1842 and made his will at that time and gave the body of his Estate to his wife Elizabeth his widow during her life, and at her death to his Son Sampson Johnson except boy William Who he directed to be Set free upon the death of his Widow, Your petitioner States that he is free by said Will, that it vested him with a present right to future freedom, and that by the verry Terms of the Act of 1842 which was the law when the Will was made and continued, so he has a right to his freedom with permission to remain in the State and prays the Court to give him the Same, Petitioner States that he has Made his application to this Court time and again, but has been hindered and delayed by Said Sampson Johnson upon Some feigned pretext, he now hopes & prays the Court will give him a hearing and decree him free with permission to remain in the State &c." [Transcription of Petition]
Result: Granted; appealed; affirmed.
Or you may view all people.
Repository: Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee
