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BLACK WOMAN SUES MAN FOR ILLEGAL ENSLAVEMENT: A fascinating document from a lawsuit brought befor...

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:200.00 - 300.00 USD
BLACK WOMAN SUES MAN FOR ILLEGAL ENSLAVEMENT: A fascinating document from a lawsuit brought befor...
BLACK WOMAN SUES MAN FOR ILLEGAL ENSLAVEMENT: A fascinating document from a lawsuit brought before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in March of 1799, whereby "Jane", a black woman claiming to be legally free and to reside in Washington County, Pa. (Pittsburgh) sues one Edward Morrell for wrongful kidnapping and enslavement. The 2pp. folio court document outlines the details of the case, in which " Jane "...sets forth her claim and sues for $500 damages (an extremely large sum of money for the period) and Edward Worell. Mr. Worrell had once resided in Washington County, Pa., but had since moved to Virginia, taking "Jane" with him. In 1780 Pennsylvania had begun a 20-year program to emancipate its slaves, and it is likely that the Pennsylvania slave owner moved his slaves to Virginia in order to avoid having to free them. That Jane, though imprisoned in Virginia and likely penniless, had legal representation, and also that her case was being heard in the State Supreme Court, leads one to believe that abolitionist groups had taken an interest in her case, as the case might set legal precedent about the right of slave owners to remove their slaves from a state after that state announces that it intends to emancipate them. Overall very good. $200-300