Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

Use microfilm (Legislative Petitions, Reel 7).

Preferred Citation

Virginia General Assembly, Legislative Petitions: Petition of Arthur Lee (Alleghany County), 1835 Dec. 28. Accession 36121, State Records Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Acquired prior to 1905 (no other acquisition information available).

Biographical/Historical Information

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.

Scope and Content Information

Legislative petition of Arthur Lee, a free negro of Alleghany County. Arthur Lee was purchased as a slave by Dr. John McDowell of Hot Springs who bequeathed him to Hamilton Brown of North Carolina. Petitioner was able to purchase his freedom and asks for permission for himself and his family to remain in the State.

Arrangement

Legislative Petition collection is arranged alphabetically by locality, and chronologically thereunder.