Mason v. Matilda

This cause comes up oh a bill of exceptions from the Court held for Washington county, District of Columbia, in which Matilda, a negress, brought suit in behalf of herself and her three children; to receive their freedom.

The material facts in the causé are these : One James Craik, through whom the plaintiffs in this Court make title, some time in the year 1792 brought Matilda from the State ofMaryland into Fairfax county in Virginia, and there settled and resided until his death, in all about two and twenty years.

During this time, the three children of Matilda were born, and the whole…