Elias, a person of color, "desires, that his freedom be declared in this Hon. Court, & the assent of the State be thus given to complete & perfect his freedom under laws of this state." The petitioner informs the court that Joseph and the late John Inman "became the owners of your orator under the last will & testament of Maj. Joseph Inman." He further avows that the said Inmans "executed & delivered a written instrument under seal, of the date of 13th September 1855, by which they gave to your orator his freedom." Elias reports that "ever since the execution of said instrument, your orator has been claiming his freedom & has been acting entirely for himself as a free person of color." He charges, however, that the said Joseph Inman "has been endeavoring to get possession of your orator & he supposes, that it is for the purpose of claiming him as a slave." The petitioner therefore prays that the defendant be enjoined "from taking possession of or in any manner interfering with your Orator; & that upon final hearing your Orator be declared free."
Result: Granted; appealed.
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Repository: Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee
