View source for Between Pleasants and Logan

{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Virginia: In the High Court of Chancery March 16, 1798. Between Robert Pleasants, son and heir of Jon Pleasants, deed. Pltf. and Mary Logan, widow and administratix of Charles Logan, and divisee of John Pleasants and Jonathan Pleasants, deceased, Elizabeth Pleasants, administratix of Joseph Pleasants, deceased, Isaac Pleasants and Jane his wife, Samuel Pleasants, junior, Thomas Pleasants, junior, and Margaret his wife, Robert Langley and Elizabeth his wife, Daniel Teasdale and Margaret his wife, late Margaret Langley, Elizabeth Langley the younger, and Anne May, Defendants''}}
[[File:BetweenPleasantsAndLogan1800P1.jpg|thumb|300px|right|First page of [[Media:BetweenPleasantsAndLogan1800.pdf|''Virginia: In The High Court of Chancery, March 16, 1798. Between Robert Pleasants, Son and Heir of John Pleasants... and Mary Logan'']] ([Richmond, VA], 1800).]]
Published in [[Media:BetweenPleasantsAndLogan1800.pdf|pamphlet form]] sometime in 1800 or after, this is one of a succession of cases the High Court of Chancery heard on the legality of the wills of John Pleasants III and his son Jonathan Pleasants that freed their slaves if and when the General Assembly passed a law making it legal to do so.<ref>[[Media:BetweenPleasantsAndLogan1800.pdf|''Virginia: In The High Court of Chancery, March 16, 1798. Between Robert Pleasants, Son and Heir of John Pleasants... and Mary Logan'']] ([Richmond, VA], 1800?)</ref>

The decrees of June 7th, September 12th and 26th, 1798, are from the High Court of Chancery of Virginia. Later, in 1799, after the death of Mary Logan, the case was before the Court of Appeals as ''[[Pleasants v. Pleasants]].''

==Document text, 1800==
===Page 1===

<blockquote>
::VIRGINIA:

<div align="center">
In the High Court of Chancery
<br>March 16, 1798<br/>
<br>Between<br/>
[[wikipedia:Robert Pleasants|Robert Pleasants]], son and heir of Jon Pleasants, deed. Pltf.
<br>AND<br/>
</div>

MARY LOGAN, widow and administratix of Charles Logan, and divisee of John Pleasants and Jonathan Pleasants, deceased, Elizabeth Pleasants, administratix of Joseph Pleasants, deceased, Isaac Pleasants and Jane his wife, Samuel Pleasants, junior, Thomas Pleasants, junior, and Margaret his wife, Robert Langley and Elizabeth his wife, Daniel Teasdale and Margaret his wife, late Margaret Langley, Elizabeth Langley the younger, and Anne May, <div align="right">''Defendants.''</div>

On the motion of the Plaintiff by his counsel, the court doth order that the Defendants, who are in possession of any slaves that are the subject of controversy between the parties in this suit, do not carry or remove them, or cause them, or any of them, to be carried or removed out of the commonwealth during the pendency of this suit, or until the further order of the court.

<div align="right">''June'' 7, 1798</div>
On the motion of Daniel Teasdale by his counsel, leave is given
him to amend his answer, whereupon he filed the same.
&nbsp;
<div align="right">''September'' the 12th, 1798</div>

<div align="center">Between</div>
Robert Pleasants, son and heir of John Pleasants, <div align="right">Pltf.</div>
<div align="center">And</div align="center">
Cary Pleasants and Mary Pleasants his wife, late Mary Logan, 
administratrix of Charles Logan, and divisee of John Pleasants 
and Jonathan Pleasants, Dec'd and others.			Deft.
			And between
Ned, a pauper, <div align="right">Pltf.</div>	
<div align="center">And</div>
Elizabeth Pleasants, <div align="right">Deft.</div> 
IN these causes, which came on last term to be heard the bills, demurrers and answers, and on the testaments of John Pleasants
</blockquote>

===Page 2===

<blockquote>
and Jonathan Pleasants, and the Journal of the House of Delegates, exhibited and read, and were argued by counsel, the court on this twelfth day of September, in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight, overruled the demurrers, because the right to freedom proposed to be asserted by the plaintiff on behalf of certain men, women and children detained in slavery, which freedom the former owner of some of them and of the progenitors of others could not bestow, although solicitous to bestow it, during his life time, was, preserved, if it could be preserved, until enjoyment of the bless would be permitted by temporary and conditional bequests of the slaves, with a confidence that in an event which might remove the legal obstacle to deliverance from the thraldom. the legataries would fulfil the testator's desire, so that the intermediate possession of the legataries, if that desire were not inane was fiduciary, & in such a case, the elements, from which juridical arrangements commence, prove the question which hath occurred to be peculiarly proper for praetorian animadversion for decision before a tribunal erected especially to foster and effectuate conscientious fideicommissa: and upon that question which is the capital subject of disceptation and some others in consequence thereof the court declared its opinion in these terms, the condition which the testator, John Pleasants, enjoined the legataries, and which, if it were lawful, excepting the bequest they were obliged implicitly to perform, was not contrary to law. Such a provision for emancipation was not prohibited literally by the statute in 1748, the only instituted law then extant, which can be quoted for that purpose, enacting "that no slave shall be set free, "upon an pretence, except for services to be adjudged by the governor "and council to be meritorious," the statute operated only upon emancipations efficatious immediately, not those of which the efficacy was fortuitous; and ampliation of the statute giving it energy in cases of which similar predicaments might seem to require similar policy, is reprobated in this instance, where the defendants, in a court of equity, are invoking its aid to hinder the restitution of a right, of which they, on whose behalf it is claimed, and their progenitors, could not have been deprived without violation of equitable constitutional principles. An objection urged by one of the counsel for the defendants, if it were not misunderstood, namely, that John Pleasants, who dying before the statute permitted manumission of slaves, enacted in the year 1782, was never authorised to manumit his slaves, could not enjoy manumission of them in any circumstances, is founded upon a position conceived not to be true, unless the act required by the condition to be performed were a malum in se; that a condition requiring performance of an act, not whilst the performance would be unlawful,
</blockquote>

===Page 3===

<blockquote>
but when it would, if ever it should be lawful, that such a condition  to be performed, not after an intolerable length of time, is unlawful seems an absurd position upon the doctrine of perpetuities, if applicable to any cases, in which human liberty is challenged, can not be found an objection against the slaves existing at the death of the testator, John Pleasants, or against the slaves born after, of mothers existing before his death; for their cases are examples of the legitimate periods, during which emergence or lapse of contingent dispositions may be suspended, namely,  where events before the termination of a life or lives existent, or of a life or lives immediately succeeding the existent, must fix the destiny. Here the slaves for whose benefit the testator intended the bequests are first, those of whom he was POSSESSED at the time of his death, and secondly, those of whose MOTHERS he was so possessed. The period of time during ability of the slaves to enjoy when the legislature should permit them to enjoy this benefit was suspended, did not excede the tolerated period. I was during the lives of them, who survived the testator, and of them who were born after his death, of mothers surviving him, so that, in equity,  of the slaves, on whose behalf this prosecution was instituted, they who were thirty years old or older, in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty two, when the statute authorising manumission was enacted, were, at that time entitled, they, who born before his death are not yet thirty years old, will be when they shall  attain that age, intitled to freedom, they who were born between the times of the said testator's death and of enacting the said statute will be when they shall attain the same age intitled to freedom, and they who have been born since the said statute was enacted, were at their birth entitled to freedom; and the plaintiff not only the heir but the surviving executor of the said John Pleasants, is the proper party to vindicate the that freedom, and require fulfilment of his desire repeatedly declared in his testament, and the court doth direct one of the commissioners thereof to report a catalogue of the slaves aforesaid, distinguishing the times when, according to the foregoing opinion, any of them ought therefore to have been and hereafter to be liberated from servitude, and stating accounts of profits, to which they who have been wrongfully detained are intitled. 

<div align="right">
''September'' 26th, 1798.
</div>

The Defendants Cary Pleasants and Mary his wife, late Mary Logan, administratix of Charles Logan, and devisee of John Pleasants and Jonathan Pleasants, deceased, Elizabeth Pleasants, administratix of Joseph Pleasants, deceased, Isaac Pleasants and Jane his wife, Samuel Pleasants, jun. and Thomas Pleasants, junior, and Margaret his wife, in the first suit, and the defendant 
</blockquote>

===Page 4===

<blockquote>
in the other suit prayed an appeal from the decree pronounced in these causes on the twelfth day of the present month, which is allowed them on their giving bond and security in each suit in the penalty of twenty pounds, with such condition as the law requires.

<div align="right">
''June'' 5th, 1799
</div>

In these causes, in order that the decree of the Court of Appeals, which certified by the clerk thereof in the following words - "At a Court of Appeals, held at the Capitol in the City of Richmond, the sixth day of May, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine, Cary Pleasants & Mary Pleasants his wife, late Mary Logan, administratix of Charles Logan, and devisee of John Pleasants and Jonathan Pleasants, deceased, Elizabeth Pleasants, adminstratrix of Joseph Pleasants, Isaac Pleasants and Jane his wife, Samuel Pleasants, jun. and Margaret his wife, appellants against [[wikipedia:Robert Pleasants|Robert Pleasants]], son and heir of John Pleasants, appellee, and Elizabeth Pleasants appellant against Ned, a pauper, appellee, upon appeals from a decree of the High Court of Chancery, pronounced the twelfth day of September, one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight. "This day came the parties by their counsel, and the court having maturely considered the transcript of the record, and the argument of the counsel, is of opinion that there is no error in so much the decree of the said High Court of Chancery, as overruleth the demurrers of the appellants Mary Pleasants, Isaac Pleasants and Samuel Pleasants, jun. for want of jurisdiction in the said court; but that there is error in some of the principles, on which the decree upon the merits is founded,and part of the reasoning thereupon is note approved by this court, therefore it is decreed and ordered, that so much of the said decree as overruleth the said demurrers be affirmed, and that the residue of the said decree be reversed, and this court proceeding to make such decree as the said High court of Chancery should have pronounced, is of opinion, that although the testators at the time of making their respective wills had not power to manumit, and if they had devised them upon conditions that the devisees should emancipate them immediately, the condition being unlawful would have been void, and the property vested, yet the condition that they should become free when the law would permit it, was not of that sort. That to apply the rule respecting the limitation of the remainder of a chatted upon too remote a contingency, with all its consequences, to the present case, would be too rigid, but that a reasonable principle ought to be adopted to suit its peculiar circumstances, which is this,that if the event happens whilst the slaves remain in the possession of the family without change by the intervention of creditors 
</blockquote>

===Page 5===

<blockquote>
or purchasers since the contending parties would be those whose interest had been contemplated by the testators, the bequest ought to take place, but that the case of such intervening claims not being in the view of the testators it ought to be considered how far they should in equity prevent the devise of the manumission from taking effect. So far therefore as concerns the the family, the court would have had no difficulty in decreeing in favor of the paupers, if the wills had directed a general emancipation, when permitted by law, and the legislature had permitted it without any condition annexed; but a difficulty arises from the testators' not having directed a general manumission, when allowed by law, but a limited one, directing that all future generations of these people born whilst their mothers were under thirty should serve to that age, founded by no doubt, upon considerations of the interest of his family, and that of the slaves on which middle state the legislature have not declared their will, and on the other hand the legislature have permitted an unlimited emancipation, but annexed a condition imposing upon the the person liberating certain terms for the sake of the community, of which the persons making voluntary manumissions might judge, whether they would do the act upon these terms and use their pleasure: and on these terms the testaters have not declared their minds whether they would or would not have compelled the devisees against their inclination to emancipate subject to them. Under this difficulty, the court endeavored to model a decree to effect the purpose of the paupers without essentially violating the wills, and is of opinion that the limited manumission, according to the modifications, in the wills of the testators, can alone take place and be decreed, and that the terms for securing the public against the maintenance of the aged or infirmed, cannot be equitably imposed upon the devisees. It is therefor further decreed and ordered, that all the slaves of which the testators were possessed as their property, at the time of their respective deaths, not subject to the claims of the creditors or purchasers, before stated, and who are now above the age of forty five years, and their increase, born after their respective mothers had attained the age of thirty years (so soon as [[wikipedia:Robert Pleasants|Robert Pleasants]] the executor, the several trustees, or any other person, shall in the courts of the several counties in which the said slave respectively reside, enter into bonds, with approved security, payable to the justices then sitting in each court, and their successors, with the condition that the said slaves shall not become chargeable to the "public, or enter into one such bond for the whole General Court,) and sit such as are now above thirty and under the age "of forty-five years immediately shall be emancipated and set 
</blockquote>

===Page 6===

<blockquote>
free to all intents and purposes, in like manner as if they had been born free; and that all who are now under the age of thirty, and whose mothers had not attained that age at the time of their birth, and all their future descendants, born whilst their mothers are in such service, do serve their several owners, until they shall respectively attain the age of thirty years and they be in like manner free, and when their freedom shall severally take effect according to this decree, there shall be delivered to each of them, by their respective masters or mistresses, a certificate, written or printed, attesting their freedom in such form as shall be directed by the said High Court of Chancery. That no account ought to be taken of profits, it being unused in such cases and less reasonable in this very difficult one. And the cause is remanded to the said High Court of Chancery for a state to be taken of the present condition of the several persons, and their rights ascertained, according to the principles of this decree, also for further proceedings to be had respecting the claims of Elizabeth Pleasants and Daniel Teasdale to part of the slaves, under paramount to the will of John Pleasants, and the claims of the creditors of Charles Logan, upon proper statements of the facts and exhibits relative thereto, which they are to be at liberty to introduce in the said court, which is ordered to be certified to the said High Court of Chancery. A copy, J. Brown, C.C," if it be not misunderstood by him, whom the law requireth to enter it as his own, may be excepted; this court doth direct that a  commissioners thereof do report, first the names and sexes of the slaves of which the testators intended by the said decree, were possessed, as their property at the time of their respective deaths, not subject to the claims of the creditors or purchasers in the  decree stated and who were, when the decree was pronounced, above the age of forty five years, and their increase, born after their respective mothers had attained the age of thirty years (so soon as [[wikipedia:Robert Pleasants|Robert Pleasants]], the executor, the several trustees or any  other person shall in the courts of the several counties, in which the said slaves respectively reside, enter into bonds, with approved securities payable to the justices then sitting in each court, and  their successors with condition that the said slaves shall not be become chargeable to the public, or enter into one such bond for the whole in the General Court) and all such as were, when the decree was pronounced above thirty and under the age of forty-five years, and secondly, the names and sexes of the slaves of which the testors were possessed as their property at the time of their respective deaths, and who were, when the decree was pronounced, under the age of thirty, and whose mothers had not attained that age at their birth: and this court doth order, that when the freedom 
</blockquote>

===Page 7===

<blockquote>
of the slaves shall severally take effect, according to the decree of the Court of Appeals, there shall be delivered to each of them, by their respective masters of mistresses, a certificate, written or printed, attesting their freedom in this form: --- is emancipated and set free according to the decree of the Court of Appeals, in May, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine.

<div align="right">
''June'' 7th, 1799
</div>


Thomas Pleasants of Beaverdam, James Pleasants of Goochland,  William Mosely, Frederick Woodson and William Bentley, or any three of them, are appointed commissioners for performing the order made in these causes on Wednesday last, in place of a commissioner of the court.

<div align="right">
''September'' 10th, 1799
</div>

On the motion of the plaintiff in the first suit by his counsel, Benjamin Goode, George Williamson, Abell Janney, James Denson Ladd, Robert Evans, John Nicholas and John Ponsonby are added to the commissioners heretofore appointed to perform the order made in these causes on the fifth day of June last, who, or any two of whom are empowered to execute the same.

Virginia,---''In the High Court of Chancery, May 22nd'', 1797.
<center>
Between
</center>
<center>
Ned,&nbsp;&nbsp;.&nbsp;&nbsp;	.&nbsp;&nbsp;	.&nbsp;&nbsp;	.&nbsp;&nbsp;	.&nbsp;&nbsp;	''Plaintiff''.
</center>
<center>			
and
</center>
<center>
Elizabeth Pleasants,	.	.		''Defendant''.
</center>
On the motion of Ned, who is detained in slavery by the defendant, he is allowed to sue his said mistress in this court, in forma  pauperis, and John Warden is assigned his counsel to prosecute the said suit; and it is ordered, that his said mistress do not presume to beat or misuse him upon this account, and that she suffer him to come to the clerk's office for commissions to take the depositions of his witnesses and to attend their examinations and the trial, and commissions are awarded the parties to examine and take the depositions of their witnesses.
</blockquote>

===Page 8===

<blockquote>
''LIST OF NEGROES in the possession of Samuel Pleasants, held under the wills of John & Jonathan Pleasant; whose ages were ascertained by Thomas Pleasant, James Pleasants. William Moseley and Frederick Woodson, on the 19th day of''
August, 1797.

&nbsp;
<center>
<hr width="50px" />
</center>
&nbsp;
<center>
''Persons above the age of 45 years.''
</center>

David, Saunders, Ceasar, York, London, Nanny, Charlotte, Sall, Arthur, Will, Maria, Judy, Phillis, Poader -- In all 13.
&nbsp;
<center>
<hr width="50px" />
</center>
&nbsp;
<center>
''Persons between the age of 30 & 45 years old.''
</center>

Sterling 1, Frederick 2, Joe, Phil 4, Tom 5, Harry 6, Jacob Powder 7, George 8, Jacob 9, Dull 10, Ben 11, Pender 12, John Powder 13, Silvia 14, Frank Cozens 15, Chloe Cozens 16, Peter 17, Aggy 18, Bob 19, Fanny 20, Nelly 21, Betts 22, James 23, Patty 24, Lucy Gloster 25, Cuffy 26, Sukey 27, Sukey 28, Amy 29.

&nbsp;
<center>
<hr width="50px" />
</center>

&nbsp;
<center>
''Persons born of mothers after they were 30 years old.''
</center>
&nbsp;

Jack 1, George 2, Pender 3, York 4, Amy 5, Eve 6, Joe 7, Neily, 8, David, 9, Molly 10, Rose 11, Kate 12, Jacobs 13, Phebe 14, Lucy 15, Delphia 16, Lilly 17, Mourning 18, Tabb 19, Caesar 20, Sally 21, Mourning 22, Hampton 23, Jerry 24, Aggy 25, May Anne 26, Alice 27, Amy 28, Rachel 29.

&nbsp;
<center>
<hr width="50px" />
</center>
&nbsp;

<center>
''Persons judged to be infirm and unable to earn a support, entitled to freedom when 30 years old.''
</center>

Nancy 25 years old, Isabel, born 1782; John, born July 1788 - In all 3. 
</blockquote>

===Page 9===

<blockquote>
<center>
''Persons born of mothers under 30 years old, and entitled to fredom [''sic''] at that age.
''</center>
 
{|
| colspan="2" |
''Names.''
| colspan="2" |
''When born.''
| colspan="3" |
''When to be discharged.''
|-
|Solomon||&nbsp;||May||1772||&nbsp;||May||1802
|-
|Dorcass||&nbsp;||February||1782||&nbsp;||February||1812
|-
|Hannah||&nbsp;||October||1784||&nbsp;||October||1814
|-
|Lucy||&nbsp;||April||1787||&nbsp;||April||1817
|-
|Sterling||&nbsp;||April||1789||&nbsp;||April||1819
|-
|Peter||&nbsp;||January||1792||&nbsp;||January||1822
|-
|Joe||&nbsp;||September||1794||&nbsp;||September||1824
|-
|Charlotte||&nbsp;||April||1784||&nbsp;||April||1814
|-
|Biddy||&nbsp;||April||1786||&nbsp;||April 17th||1816
|-
|Mourning||&nbsp;||1787||1787||&nbsp;||Decemb. 25||1817
|-
|Winter||&nbsp;||1789||1789||&nbsp;||October||1819
|-
|Gabriel||&nbsp;||1792||1792||&nbsp;||March||1822
|-
|Lewis||&nbsp;||May||1794||&nbsp;||May||1824
|-
|Rainey||&nbsp;||September||1796||&nbsp;||September||1826
|-
|Ben||&nbsp;||February||1799||&nbsp;||February||1829
|-
|Frank||&nbsp;||May||1777||&nbsp;||May||1807
|-
|Hannah||&nbsp;||May||1779||&nbsp;||May||1809
|-
|Thornton||&nbsp;||July||1781||&nbsp;||July||1811
|-
|Henry||&nbsp;||December||1786||&nbsp;||December||1816
|-
|Milly||&nbsp;||February||1789||&nbsp;||February||1819
|-
|Ridley||&nbsp;||September||1791||&nbsp;||September||1821
|-
|Frederick||&nbsp;||October||1793||&nbsp;||October||1823
|-
|Frank||&nbsp;||April||1795||&nbsp;||April||1825
|-
|Ben||&nbsp;||May 15th||1782||&nbsp;||May 15th||1812
|-
|Luke||&nbsp;||July||1784||&nbsp;||July||1814
|-
|Nat||&nbsp;||March||1789||&nbsp;||March||1819
|-
|Isaac||&nbsp;||March||1788||&nbsp;||March||1818
|-
|Alace||&nbsp;||April||1790||&nbsp;||April||1820
|-
|Betty||&nbsp;||August||1775||&nbsp;||August||1805
|-
|Beck||&nbsp;||June||1795||&nbsp;||June||1825
|-
|Phil||&nbsp;||May||1797||&nbsp;||May||1827
|-
|Ned Abrey||&nbsp;||August 9th||1799||&nbsp;||August 9th||1829
|-
|Critty||&nbsp;||March||1777||&nbsp;||March||1807
|-
|Sall||&nbsp;||October||1778||&nbsp;||October||1808
|-
|Janey||&nbsp;||February||1784||&nbsp;||April||1814
|-
|Hester||&nbsp;||November||1786||&nbsp;||November||1816
|-
|Patience||&nbsp;||March||1783||&nbsp;||March||1813
|-
|Milton||&nbsp;||April||1785||&nbsp;||April||1815
|-
|Anderson||&nbsp;||May||1787||&nbsp;||May||1817
|-
|Clarissa||&nbsp;||June||1789||&nbsp;||June||1819
|-
|Caroline||&nbsp;||July||1792||&nbsp;||July||1822
|}

</blockquote>

===Page 10===

<blockquote>
{| 
| colspan="2" |
''Names.''
| colspan="2" |
''When born.''
| colspan="3" |
''When to be discharged.''
|-
|Rhubin||&nbsp;||August||1793||&nbsp;||August||1823
|-
|Arthur||&nbsp;||August||1795||&nbsp;||August||1825
|-
|Mary||&nbsp;||Decem. 23||1775||&nbsp;||Decem. 23||1805
|-
|Fanny||&nbsp;||January||1792||&nbsp;||January||1822
|-
|Bob||&nbsp;||May 28th||1795||&nbsp;||May 28||1825
|-
|Celia||&nbsp;||May 28th||1798||&nbsp;||May 28||1828
|-
|Toney||&nbsp;||May||1776||&nbsp;||May||1806
|-
|Janey||&nbsp;||December||1775||&nbsp;||December||1805
|-
|Phebe||&nbsp;||January 15||1797||&nbsp;||January 15||1827
|-
|Judy||&nbsp;||January 31||1799||&nbsp;||January 31||1829
|-
|Doll||&nbsp;||November||1774||&nbsp;||November||1804
|-
|Ursula||&nbsp;||May||1789||&nbsp;||May||1819
|-
|Peyton||&nbsp;||August||1791||&nbsp;||August||1821
|-
|Julia||&nbsp;||August||1793||&nbsp;||August||1823
|-
|Grace||&nbsp;||October||1795||&nbsp;||October||1825
|-
|Jim||&nbsp;||January||1798||&nbsp;||January||1828
|-
|Charles||&nbsp;||August||1774||&nbsp;||August||1804
|-
|Will||&nbsp;||December||1776||&nbsp;||December||1806
|-
|Bridget||&nbsp;||November||1783||&nbsp;||November||1813
|-
|Watt||&nbsp;||August||1770||&nbsp;||August||1800
|-
|Rachel||&nbsp;||May||1778||&nbsp;||December||1808
|-
|Maria||&nbsp;||August||1795||&nbsp;||November||1825
|-
|Aggy||&nbsp;||March||1798||&nbsp;||March||1828
|-
|Lydia||&nbsp;||September||1780||&nbsp;||September||1810
|-
|Moses||&nbsp;||March||1797||&nbsp;||March||1827
|-
|Charles||&nbsp;||Novemb. 3||1798||&nbsp;||Novemb. 3||1828
|-
|James||&nbsp;||October 5||1788||&nbsp;||October 5||1818
|-
|Anthony||&nbsp;||April 23||1791||&nbsp;||April 23||1821
|-
|Myrtilla||&nbsp;||Novemb. 29||1792||&nbsp;||Novem. 29||1822
|-
|Lucy||&nbsp;||August 28||1794||&nbsp;||August 28||1824
|-
|Isaac||&nbsp;||Novemb. 18||1796||&nbsp;||Novem. 18||1826
|-
|Judy||&nbsp;||Novemb. 5||1798||&nbsp;||Novem. 5||1828
|-
|Judith||&nbsp;||August||1793||&nbsp;||August||1803
|-
|Duncan||&nbsp;||August||1793||&nbsp;||August||1823
|-
|Hall||&nbsp;||March||1780||&nbsp;||March||1810
|-
|Caesar||&nbsp;||August||1788||&nbsp;||August||1818
|-
|Gloster||&nbsp;||August||1793||&nbsp;||August||1823
|-
|Nancy||&nbsp;||August||1790||&nbsp;||August||1820
|-
|Caesar||&nbsp;||May||1774||&nbsp;||May||1804
|-
|Aggy||&nbsp;||August||1777||&nbsp;||August||1807
|-
|Celina||&nbsp;||August||1795||&nbsp;||August||1825
|-
|Milly||&nbsp;||August||1790||&nbsp;||August||1800
|-
|Stephen||&nbsp;||November||1777||&nbsp;||November||1807
|-
|Phillis||&nbsp;||August||1772||&nbsp;||August||1802
|}
</blockquote>

===Page 11===

<blockquote>

{|
| colspan="2" |
''Names.''
| colspan="2" |
''When born.''
| colspan="3" |
''When to be discharged.''
|-
|Jacob||&nbsp;||September||1790||&nbsp;||September||1790
|-
|Abby||&nbsp;||February||1782||&nbsp;||February||1812
|-
|Mingo||&nbsp;||October||1797||&nbsp;||October||1827
|-
|Jim||&nbsp;||December||1777||&nbsp;||December||1807
|-
|Eve||&nbsp;||June||1779||&nbsp;||June||1809
|-
|Phillis||&nbsp;||December||1781||&nbsp;||December||1811
|-
|Lavinia||&nbsp;||June||1783||&nbsp;||June||1813
|-
|Gloster||&nbsp;||December||1784||&nbsp;||December||1814
|-
|Tom||&nbsp;||June||1786||&nbsp;||June||1816
|-
|Frank||&nbsp;||December||1787||&nbsp;||December||1817
|-
|Lucy||&nbsp;||December||1789||&nbsp;||December||1819
|-
|Mike||&nbsp;||June||1791||&nbsp;||June||1821
|-
|Abraham||&nbsp;||June||1793||&nbsp;||June||1823
|-
|Jessee||&nbsp;||December||1778||&nbsp;||December||1808
|-
|Tabb||&nbsp;||December||1780||&nbsp;||December||1810
|-
|Cuffy||&nbsp;||December||1782||&nbsp;||December||1812
|-
|London||&nbsp;||December||1786||&nbsp;||December||1816
|-
|Biddy||&nbsp;||December||1788||&nbsp;||December||1818
|-
|Nelly||&nbsp;||December||1785||&nbsp;||December||1815
|-
|Sall||&nbsp;||September||1787||&nbsp;||September||1817
|-
|Nanny||&nbsp;||May||1791||&nbsp;||May||1821
|-
|Poll||&nbsp;||May||1795||&nbsp;||May||1825
|-
|Judy||&nbsp;||January||1781||&nbsp;||January||1811
|-
|Adeline||&nbsp;||May||1799||&nbsp;||May||1829
|-
|Amy||&nbsp;||August||1773||&nbsp;||August||1803
|-
|Joe||&nbsp;||June||1781||&nbsp;||June||1811
|-
|Corey||&nbsp;||December||1782||&nbsp;||December||1812
|-
|Moses||&nbsp;||December||1784||&nbsp;||December||1814
|-
|Molly||&nbsp;||May||1786||&nbsp;||May||1816
|-
|Patty||&nbsp;||October||1789||&nbsp;||October||1819
|}

In all 115.
<center>
<hr width="80px" />
</center>
List of NEGROES in the possession of Isaac W. Pleasants, held  under the wills of John & Jonathan Pleasants; whose ages were ascertained by Thomas Pleasants, James Pleasants, William Mosely and Frederick Woodson, on the 19th Day of Aug. 1799.
<center>
Persons above the age of 45 years.
</center>
<center>
<hr width="80px" />
</center>
<center>
''Persons between 30 and 45 years old.'' 
<br>
Janey 1, Phillis 2, Hannah 3, invalids, Peter 4.
</center>

</blockquote>

===Page 12===

<blockquote>
Persons born of mothers under 30 years old and entitled to freedom at that age.
{|
| colspan="2" |
''Names.''
| colspan="2" |
''When born.''
| colspan="3" |
''When to be discharged.''
|-
|Billy||&nbsp;||November||1778||&nbsp;||November||1808
|-
|John||&nbsp;||January||1781||&nbsp;||January||1811
|-
|Sall||&nbsp;||June||1782||&nbsp;||June||1812
|-
|Gaby||&nbsp;||December||1783||&nbsp;||December||1813
|-
|Charles||&nbsp;||December||1784||&nbsp;||December||1814
|-
|Sall||&nbsp;||June||1773||&nbsp;||June||1803
|}

The above lists was taken agreeable to a decree of the High Court of Chancery. Given underour hands the day and year above written.        
<center>
 ''William Moseley,  Frederick Woodson'',
</center>
<center>                                       
''James Pleasants,  Thomas Pleasants''.
</center>
<center>
<hr width="100px" />
</center>

List of Negroes in possession of Robert Cary Pleasants, and formerly possession of Charles & Mary Logan, held under the wills of John & Jonathan Pleasants, whose ages were ascertained by William Moseley, William Bentley & Frederick Woodson, commissioners by the High Court of Chancery for that purpose, August 23rd, 1799.

<center>
''Persons above 45 years old.''
</center>
Tom 1, Pompey 2, Will 3, Cato 4, Ned 5, Doll 6, Rachel 7, Amy 8, Jacob 9, Ned Gwin 10, Billy 11, Sarah 12, Richard Sharp 13, Nat 14.

<center>
<hr width="50px" />
</center>
<center>
''Persons between 30 and 45 years old.''
</center>
Nelly 1, Fanny 2, John Grey 3, Rachel Grey 4, David 5, Jessee 6, Mirtilla 7, Easter 8, Grace 9, Bob (son of Judy) 10, Sam Binns 11, Mirtilla 12, Mary 13, Mourning 14, Caesar 15.
<center>
<hr width="50px" />
</center>
<center>
''Persons born after their mothers were 30 years old.''
</center>
Anthony 1, Arthur 2, Louisa 3, Emmily 4, Ned 5, Daniel 6, Bob Grey 7, Paul Grey 8, Tarlton 9, Bartley 10, Critty 11, Sukey (a cripple) 12, Charlotte 13, Milly 14, Billy 15, Sally 16, Jack 17, Tom 18, Ursula 19, Moses 20, Jack 21, Mirtilla 22, Jesse 23, Kesiah 24, Frederick 25, Tom 26, Doctor 27, John 28, Rachel 29, Sally 30, Gaby 31, Winny 32, Diey 33, Elijiah 34, Caesar 35, Mourning Woodson 36, Fanny Woodson 37, Sam Woodson 38, Joseph Woodson 39, Lewis Moseley 40, Letty Moseley 41, Sterling 42, Peter 43, Frank 44. 

</blockquote>

===Page 13===

<blockquote>

''Persons born of mothers under 30 years old and entitled to freedom at that age.''
{| 
| colspan="2" |
''Names.''
| colspan="2" |
''When born.''
| colspan="3" |
''When to be discharged.''
|-
|Hampton||&nbsp;||December||1782||&nbsp;||December||1812
|-
|Mourning||&nbsp;||August||1789||&nbsp;||August||1819
|-
|Polly Copland||&nbsp;||March||1783||&nbsp;||March||1813
|-
|Fanny Copland||&nbsp;||December||1785||&nbsp;||December||1815
|-
|Dick Copland||&nbsp;||August||1787||&nbsp;||August||1817
|-
|John Copland||&nbsp;||August||1789||&nbsp;||August||1819
|-
|Sam Randolph||&nbsp;||August||1770||&nbsp;||August||1800
|-
|Edith||&nbsp;||March||1779||&nbsp;||March||1809
|-
|Lucy||&nbsp;||August||1770||&nbsp;||August||1800
|-
|Lydia||&nbsp;||March||1780||&nbsp;||March||1810
|-
|Tabitha||&nbsp;||August||1778||&nbsp;||August||1808
|-
|Effee||&nbsp;||February||1793||&nbsp;||February||1823
|-
|Isham||&nbsp;||February||1791||&nbsp;||February||1821
|-
|Lavinia||&nbsp;||February||1795||&nbsp;||February||1825
|-
|Polly||&nbsp;||December||1797||&nbsp;||December||1827
|-
|Charles||&nbsp;||March||1798||&nbsp;||March||1828
|-
|Henrietta||&nbsp;||August||1794||&nbsp;||August||1824
|-
|Phillis||&nbsp;||August||1781||&nbsp;||August||1811
|-
|Molly||&nbsp;||March||1783||&nbsp;||March||1813
|-
|Stephen||&nbsp;||August||1784||&nbsp;||August||1814
|-
|Ben||&nbsp;||March||1786||&nbsp;||March||1816
|-
|Nancy (a cripple)||&nbsp;||August||1787||&nbsp;||August||1817
|-
|Sam Binns, Jun.||&nbsp;||August||1789||&nbsp;||August||1819
|-
|Dick Baugh||&nbsp;||May||1771||&nbsp;||May||1801
|-
|Beck||&nbsp;||March||1798||&nbsp;||May||1828
|-
|Kate||&nbsp;||November||1772||&nbsp;||November||1802
|-
|Jacob||&nbsp;||May||1774||&nbsp;||May||1804
|-
|Ned||&nbsp;||May||1777||&nbsp;||May||1807
|-
|Judy||&nbsp;||August||1784||&nbsp;||August||1814
|-
|David||&nbsp;||November||1778||&nbsp;||November||1808
|-
|Nancy||&nbsp;||March||1795||&nbsp;||March||1825
|-
|Shasteen||&nbsp;||August||1796||&nbsp;||August||1826
|-
|Betty Ampy||&nbsp;||August||1773||&nbsp;||August||1803
|-
|James||&nbsp;||April||1790||&nbsp;||April||1820
|-
|Thruston||&nbsp;||August||1795||&nbsp;||August||1825
|-
|Bentley||&nbsp;||April||1794||&nbsp;||April||1824
|-
|Addison||&nbsp;||May||1799||&nbsp;||May||1829
|-
|Frank||&nbsp;||February||1794||&nbsp;||February||1824
|-
|Haskins||&nbsp;||May||1795||&nbsp;||May||1825
|-
|Henry||&nbsp;||August||1796||&nbsp;||August||1826
|-
|Peyton||&nbsp;||July||1798||&nbsp;||July||1828
|-
|Lewis||&nbsp;||August||1776||&nbsp;||August||1806
|}
</blockquote>

===Page 14===

<blockquote>

{| 
| colspan="2" |
''Names.''
| colspan="2" |
''When born.''
| colspan="3" |
''When to be discharged.''
|-
|George||&nbsp;||August||1787||&nbsp;||August||1817
|-
|Harrison||&nbsp;||September||1791||&nbsp;||September||1821
|-
|Peter||&nbsp;||August||1780||&nbsp;||August||1810
|-
|Biddy||&nbsp;||March||1782||&nbsp;||March||1812
|-
|Kitty||&nbsp;||August||1790||&nbsp;||August||1820
|-
|Abraham||&nbsp;||January||1780||&nbsp;||January||1810
|-
|Fleming||&nbsp;||August||1781||&nbsp;||August||1811
|-
|Saunders||&nbsp;||March||1782||&nbsp;||March||1812
|-
|Little Billy||&nbsp;||August||1785||&nbsp;||August||1815
|-
|Judy||&nbsp;||August||1787||&nbsp;||August||1817
|-
|James||&nbsp;||August||1787||&nbsp;||August||1817
|-
|Emanuel||&nbsp;||August||1795||&nbsp;||August||1825
|-
|Janey||&nbsp;||August||1797||&nbsp;||August||1827
|-
|Lucy||&nbsp;||August||1772||&nbsp;||August||1802
|-
|Sam||&nbsp;||August||1775||&nbsp;||August||1805
|-
|Lewis||&nbsp;||April||1777||&nbsp;||April||1807
|-
|Ned||&nbsp;||August||1779||&nbsp;||August||1809
|-
|Sarah||&nbsp;||August||1781||&nbsp;||August||1811
|-
|Aby||&nbsp;||April||1783||&nbsp;||April||1813
|-
|Reubin||&nbsp;||December||1784||&nbsp;||December||1814
|-
|Hannah||&nbsp;||March||1792||&nbsp;||March||1822
|-
|Peggy||&nbsp;||March||1794||&nbsp;||March||1824
|-
|William||&nbsp;||August||1796||&nbsp;||August||1826
|-
|Johnson||&nbsp;||July||1798||&nbsp;||July||1828
|-
|Matilda||&nbsp;||January||1796||&nbsp;||January||1826
|-
|Sukey||&nbsp;||November||1797||&nbsp;||November||1827
|-
|Joe||&nbsp;||August||1775||&nbsp;||August||1805
|-
|Milly||&nbsp;||March||1777||&nbsp;||March||1807
|-
|July||&nbsp;||August||1779||&nbsp;||August||1809
|-
|Aaron||&nbsp;||March||1781||&nbsp;||March||1811
|-
|Davy||&nbsp;||August||1783||&nbsp;||August||1813
|-
|Sukey||&nbsp;||August||1785||&nbsp;||August||1815
|-
|Billy||&nbsp;||April||1783||&nbsp;||April||1813
|-
|Phillis||&nbsp;||April||1778||&nbsp;||April||1808
|-
|Simeon||&nbsp;||August||1779||&nbsp;||August||1809
|-
|John||&nbsp;||April||1781||&nbsp;||April||1811
|-
|Sylvia||&nbsp;||August||1782||&nbsp;||August||1812
|-
|Watt||&nbsp;||April||1784||&nbsp;||April||1814
|-
|Mourning||&nbsp;||March||1798||&nbsp;||March||1828
|-
|Robin Cuffy||&nbsp;||March||1777||&nbsp;||March||1807
|-
|Alexander||&nbsp;||August||1778||&nbsp;||August||1808
|-
|Pero||&nbsp;||April||1786||&nbsp;||April||1816
|-
|Billy Woodson||&nbsp;||August||1782||&nbsp;||August||1812
|-
|Davy Woodson||&nbsp;||April||1781||&nbsp;||April||1811
|-
|Joseph Moseley||&nbsp;||August||1779||&nbsp;||August||1809
|}
87 Total.
</blockquote>

===Page 15===

<blockquote>

The foregoing lists were made in pursuance of a decree of the High Court of Chancerry. Given under hands the day and year above written.				
<div align="right">
''Win Moseley'',<br />
''W. Bentley'',<br />
''Frederick Woodson'',
</div>
<center>
<hr width="150px" />
</center>
List of negroes, formerly the estate of John Pleasants, deceased, and by his Will given to his grand daughter Margaret, his wife of Thomas Pleasants, jun. under certain conditions, and now held as part of the estate of the said Thomas Pleasants.

<center>
<hr width="50px" />
</center>

{| 
|-
| No.
| 1 Pender,
| style="text-align: center;" | &nbsp;
| style="text-align: right;" | born in 1742,
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
| 57
| style="text-align: center;" | years of age
| &nbsp;
|-
| &nbsp;
| 2 Tom,
| style="text-align: center;" | her son,
| style="text-align: right;" | 1759,
| &nbsp;
| 40
| style="text-align: center;" | do.
| &nbsp;
|-
| 
| 3 Biddy,
| style="text-align: center;" | of do.
| style="text-align: right;" | 1761,
| &nbsp;
| 38
| style="text-align: center;" | do.
| &nbsp;
|-
| 
| 4 Oliff,
| style="text-align: center;" | of do.
| style="text-align: right;" | 1765,
| &nbsp;
| 34
| style="text-align: center;" | do.
| } all free.
|-
| 
| 5 Obra,
| style="text-align: center;" | of do.
| style="text-align: right;" | 1762,
| &nbsp;
| 31
| style="text-align: center;" | do.
| &nbsp;
|-
| 
| 6 Lewis,
| style="text-align: center;" | of do.
| style="text-align: right;" | 1774,
| &nbsp;
| 25
| style="text-align: center;" | do.
| &nbsp;
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align: right;" | born after his mother was 30 years of age.
| &nbsp;
|}

List of negroes, held under the wills of John & Jonathan Pleasants, as part of the estate of Charles & Mary Logan, dec. in Henrico county.

{| 
|-
| &nbsp;
| 7 Lucy,
| &nbsp;
| style="text-align: left;" | born in 1746,
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
| 53
| years of age
| &nbsp;
|-
| &nbsp;
| 8 Sylvia Gray,
| her daughter
| style="text-align: left;" | 1769,
| &nbsp;
| 30
| do.
| &nbsp;
|-
| &nbsp;
| 9 Charles Gray,
| son of do.
| style="text-align: left;" | June. 1791,
| &nbsp;
| colspan="2" | to be free in 1821
| &nbsp;
|-
| &nbsp;
| 10 Peter Gray,
|of do.
| style="text-align: left;" | June. 1793,
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| do. 1823
| &nbsp;
|-
| &nbsp;
| 11 Patty Gray,
| of do.
| style="text-align: left;" | Sept. 1798,
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| do. 1828
| &nbsp;
|-
| &nbsp;
| 12 Sylvia, 
| daughter of Phillis
| style="text-align: left;" | 1755,
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| do. 44 years old.
| &nbsp;
|-
| &nbsp;
| 13 Billy,
| son of do.
| style="text-align: left;" | Jan. 1787,
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| born free
| &nbsp;
|-
| &nbsp;
| 14 Tom,
| son of do.
| style="text-align: left;" | Oct. 1788,
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| do.
| &nbsp;
|-
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| colspan="6" | their mother being 30 years old at their birth.
|-
| &nbsp;
| 15 Mary Loudon,
| &nbsp;
| style="text-align: left;" | born in 1753,
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| 46 year old.
| &nbsp;
|-
| &nbsp;
| 16 Beck,
| daughter of Sucky,
| style="text-align: left;" | Sep. 1775,
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| to be free in 1805
| &nbsp;
|-
| &nbsp;
| 17 David,
| son of de.
| style="text-align: left;" | March 1797,
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| do. 1827
| &nbsp;
|-
| &nbsp;
| 18 Anna
| of do.
| style="text-align: left;" | May 1799,
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| do. 1829
| &nbsp;
|-
| &nbsp;
| style="vertical-align: top;" | 19 Sally,
| colspan="5" style="text-align: right;" | daughter of Sukey, Sept. 1784, born after her<br />mother was 30 years of age.
| } born free
|}

''Henrico county, September 21st, 1799.''

  Pursuant to a commission to us directed, from the High Court of Chancery, We have examined into the ages and sexes of several negroes in a decree of the said court mentioned, and agreeable to the above statement, which we hereby certify to be just, to the best
of our knowledge and belief.	
	
<div align="right">
''Benjamin Goode''.<br />
''Geo. Williamson''.<br />
''Abel Janney''.
</div>

</blockquote>

===Page 16===

<blockquote>
<center>
BETWEEN
</center>

Robert Pleasants, son and heir of John Pleasants,   Plaintiff,
<center>				
and
</center>
Cary Pleasants and Mary Pleasants his wife, late Mary Logan, administratrix of Charles Logan and devisee of John Pleasants & Jonathan Pleasants deceased, Elizabeth Pleasants, admininstratrix of Joseph Pleasants, deceased, Isaac Pleasants, and Jane his wife, Samuel Pleasants, junior, Thomas Pleasants, junior, and Margaret his wife, Robert Langley and Elizabeth his wife, Daniel Teasdale and Margaret his wife, late Margaret Langley, Elizabeth Langley the younger, and Anne May, Defendants.

{| align="center" width="50%"
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align: center;" | And between
|-
| Ned, a pauper,
| &nbsp;
| style="text-align: right;" | ''Plaintiff,''
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align: center;" | and
|-
| Elizabeth Pleasants,
| &nbsp;
| style="text-align: right;" | ''Defendant.''
|}

The Court, this twenty-fourth day of September, in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety nine, taking into consideration the report of William Moseley, William Bentley and Frederick Woodsonl and also the report of Benjamin Goode, George Williamson and Abel Janny, persuant to the decretal order made in this cause on the fifth day of June last, to which reports were no exceptions, doth approve and confirm the same: in consequence whereof the slaves in the said reports mentioned to be above thirty and under the age of forty five years, are immediately entitled to certifites attesting their freedom, in the form prescribed by the said decretal order.
<center>
<hr width="150px" />
</center>
A LIST OF NEGROES found in the possession of Daniel Teasdale and others, which appear to be derived from the wills of John Pleasants and Jonathan his son.

In the possession of Daniel Teasdale the following Negroes, the issue of Suky, now dead, who was devised by the said Jonathan Pleasants to Margaret the wife of the said Teasdale.

Suky dec'd at the time of her last child's birth, was aged 41 years.

{|
|-
| 1.
| colspan="6" | Isabel, her daughter, aged 21, free in 9 years.
|-
| 2
| Hampton, her son
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| style="text-align: right;" | 20,
| style="text-align: center;" | do.
| style="text-align: left;" | 10
|-
| 3
| Molly,
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| style="text-align: right;" | 14,
| style="text-align: center;" | do.
| style="text-align: left;" | 16
|-
| 4
| Frank,
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| style="text-align: right;" | 13,
| style="text-align: center;" | do.
| style="text-align: left;" | 17
|-
| nowrap style="vertical-align: top;" | 5. 6. 7.
| colspan="6" | Jack, 11 years; Suky 8 years, and Peter 4 years; all born free, as their mother was then 30 years of age.
|-
| 8.
| colspan="6" | Numa, aged 21, son of Fanny, free in 9 years.
|}
</blockquote>

===Page 17===

<blockquote>

{|
|-
| 9.
| Charles, 
| her son, 
| born in December, 
| 1783,
| &nbsp;
| now 16.
|-
| 10.
| Chloe, 
| &nbsp;
| October,
| 1785,
| style="text-align: center;" | &nbsp;
| style="text-align: left;" | now 14
|-
| 11.
| Tom,
| &nbsp;
| September,
| 1787,
| style="text-align: center;" |
| style="text-align: left;" |now 12
|-
| 12.
| Jack,
| &nbsp;
| April,
| 1789,
| style="text-align: center;" |
| style="text-align: left;" | now 10
|-
| &nbsp;
| colspan="6" style="padding: 0;" | <center>Of course Charles is free in 14 years, Chloe in 16 years, and Tom and Jack born free, their mother then 30 years.
</center>
|-
| 13.
| Jenny,
| colspan="6" | aged 35, in the possession of Robert Pleasants, jun.
|-
| 14.
| Cis, 
| her daughter,
| born Sept.
| 1783,
| 16 years,
| free in 14.
|-
| 15.
| Betty,
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| 
| 14,
| style="text-align: left;" | 16.
|-
| 16.
| Sally,
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| 
| 12
| style="text-align: left;" | 18.
|-
| 17,
| Jenny,
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| 
| 11,
| style="text-align: left;" | 19.
|-
| 18.
| Sharper,
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
| 
| 7,
| style="text-align: left;" | 23.
|-
| 19.
| Fanny,
| &nbsp;
| April
| 1794
| 5,
| rowspan="3" style="text-align: right;" | Born free<br />} their mother<br />then30 years.
|-
| 20.
| Charles,
| &nbsp;
| Decemb.
| 1796,
| 3,
|-
| 21.
| Jack,
| &nbsp;
| March
| 1799,
| 6 Mo.
|-
| 22.
| Will,
| aged 56 years
| rowspan="4" colspan="4" | } In the possession of Robert Langley's estate.
|-
| 23.
| Cesar,
| 61,
|-
| 24.
| Benjamin,
| 76, and
|-
| 25.
| Lucy,
| his wife, 61
|-
| 26.
| Sharper,
| 38,
| of Hannah, now free.
| colspan="3" | 
|}


In consequence of a commission to us directed, from the High Court of Chancery, we have examined into the ages and sexes of several Negroes which appears to us to be comprised in a decree of the said court ordering the said commission, and having placed the same against the name of each Negro, according to the list upon the first page of this paper, and also the list upon page the third, continued to page the fourth, and do hereby certify the same, to the best of our knowledge, in Dinwiddie county, this eighteenth day of September, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine.
<div align="right">					
''Abel Janney'', <br />
''John Ponsonby'', <br />
</div>
<center>
<hr width="100px" />
</center>
A List of Negroes that are part of those, or the descendants of those Negroes, appraised as the estate of John Pleasants, of Curles (deceased, in the month of August 1773, said to have been sold to him the said Pleasants, by Robert Langley, now deceased, and which appears to have been made previously liable by an instrument of writing now on record in the county of Dinwiddie, for the payment of £300 currency, due Roger Atkinson, now dec'd, dated October the 21, 1765, and which are now in the possession of the different persons placed opposite to their names, or at the head of each list.
</blockquote>

===Page 18===

<blockquote>
{|
|-
| colspan="6" |<center>In the possession of Daniel Teasdale, held in right of his wife<br />Margaret, daughter of Robert Langley.</center>
|-
| 1.
| Amy, 
| a Negro woman,
| 49 years old.
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp;
|-
| 2.
| Sampson,
| man,
| 33
| do.
| of Hannah
|-
| 3.
| Chloe,
| woman,
| 30
| do.
| of do.
|-
| 4.
| Jacob, 
| son of Amy
| 20
| do.
| &nbsp;
|-
| 5.
| Dick,
| of Pendar,
| 28
| do.
| &nbsp;
|-
| 6.
| Letty,
| of do.
| 26
| do.
| &nbsp;
|-
| 7.
| Ned,
| of do.
| 24
| do.
| &nbsp;
|-
| 8.
| Billy,
| of Chloe,
| 12
| do.
| &nbsp;
|-
| 9.
| King,
| of do.
| 7
| do.
| &nbsp;
|-
| 10.
| Patty,
| of do.
| 5
| do.
| &nbsp;
|-
| 11.
| Eve,
| of do.
| 4
| do.
| &nbsp;
|-
| 12.
| Chloe,
| of do.
| 2
| do.
| &nbsp;
|-
| 13.
| Joe,
| of Letty,
| 4
| do.
| &nbsp;
|-
| 14.
| Pendar,
| of do.
| 2
| do.
| &nbsp;
|-
| colspan="6" |<center>In the possession of Thos. Lewis, in right of his wife Ann,<br />daughter of Robert Langley</center>
|-
| 15.
| Jack,
| of Hannah,
| &nbsp;
| aged 35.
| &nbsp;
|-
| 16.
| Hannah,
| of Amy,
| &nbsp;
| 16.
| &nbsp;
|-
| 17.
| Fanny,
| of do.
| &nbsp;
| 14.
| &nbsp;
|-
| 18.
| Lucy,
| of do.
| &nbsp;
| 12.
| &nbsp;
|-
| 19.
| Hannah,
| of do.
| &nbsp;
| 12.
| &nbsp;
|-
| 20.
| Davy,
| of do.
| &nbsp;
| 29.
| &nbsp;
|-
| colspan="6" |<center>In the possession of Robt. Pleasants. jun. in right of his<br />wife Elizabeth, daugther of Robt. Langley</center>
|-
| 21.
| Pendar,
| &nbsp;
| &nbsp; 
| aged 46 years.
| &nbsp;
|-
| 22.
| Peter,
| &nbsp; 
| &nbsp; 
| 42.
| &nbsp;
|-
| 23.
| Israel,
| of Amy,
| &nbsp;
| 10.
| &nbsp;
|-
| 24.
| Betty,
| of Pendar,
| &nbsp;
| 18.
| &nbsp;
|-
| 25.
| Jack,
| of do.
| &nbsp;
| 17.
| &nbsp;
|-
| 26.
| Beck,
| of do.
| &nbsp;
| 14.
| &nbsp;
|}

''VIRGINIA'',
<center>
''In the High Court of Chancery, March the 19th'', 1800.
</center>
The Court, this nineteenth day of March, in the eighteen hundredth year of the Christian area, taking into consideration the report of Abel Janney, and John Ponsonby, bearing date the eighteenth day of September in the last year, to which report was no exception, doth approve and confirm so much thereof as relates to the descendants of the Negro slave Suky, said to have been devised by Jonathan Pleasants to Margaret, the wife of Daniel Teasdale; in consequence whereof such of the descendants of the said Suky, mentioned in the said report to be above thirty and under the age of forty five years, are immediately intitled to certificates attesting their freedom on in the form prescribed by the decretal order made in this cause on the fifth day of June last.

The foregoing Orders, Decrees, and Reports, are true copies from the originals,
in the suits of ''Pleasants & c. v. Logan'', et al, and ''Ned'', a pauper, ''v. Pleasants''.
::::::::::::''Teste,''
</blockquote>

==See also==
*[[American Bibliography]]
*[[George Wythe and Slavery]]
*''[[Pleasants v. Pleasants]]''
*[[S. Bassett French Biographical Sketch]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Pleasants Robert Pleasants,] in Wikipedia.
*[https://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/VIRGINIA_In_the_High_Court_of_Chancery_MARCH_16_1798 "VIRGINIA: In the High Court of Chancery, MARCH 16, 1798,"] Encyclopedia of Virginia.
*[https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/evans/N29256.0001.001/1:1?rgn=div1;view=fulltext "Virginia: in the High Court of Chancery, March 16, 1798. Between Robert Pleasants, son and heir of John Pleasants, dee'd. Plif. and Mary Logan, widow and administratix of Charles Logan, and devisee of John Pleasants and Jonathan Pleasants ...,] Evans Early American Imprint Collection, Text Creation Partnership, University of Michigan Library.

[[Category: Cases]]
[[Category: Court Documents]]
[[Category: Pamphlets]]
[[Category: Slavery]]