Negro Samuel v. Childs et al.

Negro Samuel v. Childs et al. Two witnesses are necessary to a deed of manumission under the Maryland Act of 1796, c. 67, § 29. If a female slave, manumitted by last will of the owner, to be free at the age of twenty-five years, has a child born after the death of the testator and before she arrives at the age of twenty-five, such child is a slave. The petitioner was included in a deed of manumission made in Maryland, February 17th, 1797, which was witnessed by only one witness. The Maryland Act of December 31, 1796, c. 67, § 29, required two witnesses. The master afterwards carried them to Virginia, where he died, having by his will left them free at the age of twenty-five. The petitioner’s mother, one of those slaves, was living in Virginia at the death of the testator; after whose death, and. before the petitioner’s mother had attained the age of, twenty-five, that is, before she was actually free, the petitioner was born, in Virginia. . Mr. Key, for the defendant, contended that the petitioner, under those circumstances, was born a slave, and cited the case of Maria and others v. Surbaugh, 2 Rand. Rep. 228 ; in which the Court of Appeals of Virginia unanimously decided, that where a testator bequeathes a female slave on condition that she shall be free at a certain age, and before that period arrives she has issue, such issue are slaves; and [MAJORITY] This Court (Thruston, J., contrd,) decided accordingly. Judgment for the defendants.