{"petition":[{"petition_analysis_number":"21681511","petition_url":"https:\/\/dlas.uncg.edu\/petitions\/petition\/21681511","state":"Virginia","county":"Winchester","location_type":"City","file_day":0,"file_month":12,"file_year":1815,"filing_court":"District","end_day":0,"end_month":12,"end_year":1818,"ending_court":"District","result":"dismissed","enslaved_count":1,"fpoc_count":0,"total_people_count":20,"repository":"Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia","abstract":"The heirs and legal representatives of the late Enoch Ashby believe that they are entitled to a slave named Frederick.  They report that Enoch's father, Robert Ashby, \"loaned to the said Enoch Ashby a certain negroe man named Frederick for and during the natural life of the said Enoch Ashby & after his decease the said negroe (among other negroes) was to be divided between the wife & children of the said Enoch Ashby.\"  The petitioners reveal that Enoch \"sold & disposed of the said negroe\" even though \"he had but a life estate in him.\"  Citing that Frederick is now in the possession of Joseph Vanmetre, Enoch's children and others pray \"that your honour will decree a restitution of the said negroe man Frederick with the amount of his hire since he came into said Vanmetres possession.\"","subjects":[{"subject":"Title dispute (enslaved)"},{"subject":"Swapping (enslaved)"}]}]}