Griffin v. Potter
New York Supreme Court
Error from the Oneida common pleas. Potter sued Griffin for work, labor and services rendered by him. Potter is a negro; he was born 8th May, 1806, of a mother who was at the time of his birth a slave, and by the act for the gradual abolition of slavery in this state, passed 29th March, 1799, he owed service to the proprietor of his mother until he arrived to the age of twenty-eight years.
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Error from the Oneida common pleas. Potter sued Griffin for work, labor and services rendered by him. Potter is a negro; he was born 8th May, 1806, of a mother who was at the time of his birth a slave, and by the act for the gradual abolition of slavery in this state, passed 29th March, 1799, he owed service to the proprietor of his mother until he arrived to the age of twenty-eight years. In January, 1823, his services were sold to a person residing in Buffalo, and being unwilling to go with his master, he besought the defendant to buy him, telling him that he was to serve until he was 28…
1Opinion of the Court
By the Court,
Savage, Ch. J.
By the act for the gradual abolition of slavery, all children born of slaves, subsequent to 4th July, 1800, were declared to be free, but to continue servants to the owners of their mothers—males till the age of 28, end females till the age of 25. The act of 1817 made it the duty of the masters of such servants to give them certain *211education before arriving at the age of 18, and in default of so doing, declaring the servants free at the age of 18; and in order that it might be known when the age was attained which discharged them from further servitude, the person…
2Cited by11 opinions
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- Maltby v. Harwood & WellsNew York Supreme Court · 1852
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