Legal Opinion
Mary v. Vestry of William & Mary's Parish
General Court of Virginia
Decided October 15, 1796PublishedCited by 3 opinions
THIS was a petition for freedom. It was admitted that the petitioner was descended from Negro Mary, imported many years ago into this country from Madagascar; and the question was, whether she was entitled to her freedom ?
1Opinion of the Court
The Court.
Madagascar being a country where the slave trade is practised, and this being a country where slavery is tolerated, it is incumbent on the petitioner to show her ancestor was free in her own country to entitle her to freedom.
The petition was dismissed.
2Cited by3 opinions
- Higgins v. CarltonCourt of Appeals of Maryland · 1868
- Gross v. BurnestonCourt of Appeals of Maryland · 1900
- Brittingham v. BrittinghamCourt of Appeals of Maryland · 1925