Petition of Madison Douglas to Remain in Highland County, 1862, circa

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888

Summary

Creator:
Highland County (Va.) Circuit Court
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Petition of Madison Douglas to Remain in Highland County, 1862, circa. The petition identifies Douglas as a free Negro of the age of 21 years. The petitioner also requests an opportunity to produce satisfactory proof of his being of good character, sober, peacable, orderly, and industrious.

Biographical / historical:

Highland County was so named because of its mountainous terrain, and it is sometimes called the Little Switzerland of America. It was formed from Pendleton (now in West Virginia) and Bath Counties in 1847.

In 1806, the General Assembly moved to remove the free negro population from Virginia with a law that stated that all emancipated slaves, freed after May 1, 1806, who remained in the Commonwealth more than a year, would forfeit their right to freedom and be sold by the Overseers of the Poor for the benefit of the parish. Families wishing to stay were to petition the legislature through the local county court. Beginning in 1837, freed slaves could petition the local courts for permission to remain.

Acquisition information:
This item came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Highland County (Va.).
Physical description:
1 p.