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
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 April 25, 2024, https://lva.omeka.net/items/show/8.