Trial summary, Prince William County Court, Billy alias Will alias William a mulatto Slave the property of John Tayloe Esq for Treason

Title

Trial summary, Prince William County Court, Billy alias Will alias William a mulatto Slave the property of John Tayloe Esq for Treason

Description

The summary of Billy's trial included the accusation that he "did in Company of & Conjunction with diverse Enemies of the Commonwealth in armed Vessels feloniously & Traiterously Wage & Levy War against the Commonwealth." His lawyers argued that he was "forced on board agst. his will" and that as a slave he was not afforded the privileges of a citizen, so he owed the state "no Allegiance."

Source

RG 3, Virginia Governor (1779-1781: Jefferson), Executive Papers of Governor Thomas Jefferson: Letters received, 1779-1781. Acc. 44393, State Government Records Collection, Library of Virginia. 11-0757-005.

Date

May 1781

Format

Manuscript

Original Format

Manuscript

Files

Billy 12_1078_008.JPG
Billy 12_1078_009.JPG

Collection

Citation

“Trial summary, Prince William County Court, Billy alias Will alias William a mulatto Slave the property of John Tayloe Esq for Treason,” Library of Virginia, accessed March 28, 2024, https://lva.omeka.net/items/show/8.