Library of Virginia
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Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Processed by: Craig Moore
There are no restrictions.
Use microfilm (Legislative Petitions, Reel 1).
Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Petitions: Petition of Patty (Accomack County), 1838 Jan. 2. Accession 36121, State Records Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.
Acquired prior 1905 (no other acquisition information available).
Petitions to the General Assembly were the primary catalyst for legislation in the Commonwealth from 1776 until 1865. Public improvements, military claims, divorce, manumission of slaves, division of counties, incorporation of towns, religious freedom, and taxation were just some of the concerns expressed in these petitions. The petitions often contain hundreds of signatures and are a useful tool in genealogical research. Frequently, the petitions contain supplementary support documents useful in research including maps, wills, naturalizations, deeds, resolutions, affidavits, judgments, and other items.
Legislative petition of Patty of Accomack County, a free negro freed by Catherine Coward, asking for permission to remain in the state.
Legislative Petition collection is arranged alphabetically by locality, and chronologically thereunder.