Watt and Allen, "infant children of colour who have obtained the leave of this court to sue in forma pauperis for the recovery of their freedom," do "humbly conceive themselves entitled" to their freedom. The petitioners point out that "Judith the mother of the plaintiffs hath been formally emancipated by the executor And after the emancipation of their mother the plaintiffs were born or if not after her formal emancipation at least after her title to freedom was complete." Watt and Allen charge that the executor of Davies's estate, Nathaniel Manson, "upon some ground unknown to your orators detain them in slavery." They therefore ask that Manson be summoned to answer their charges and that they "may be emancipated and set free."
Result: Dismissed without prejudice; granted.
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Repository: Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
