General

Negro Robert Simmons v. John Gird

2 D.C. 1002 Cranch 100·United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia·1814

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Opinion

Negro Robert Simmons v. John Gird. The time of a slave’s sailing on a voyage from Alexandria, is not to he considered as a part of his year’s residence so as to entitle him to freedom, under the Virginia law of 17th December, 1792, § 2. [MAJORITY] The plaintiff was a slave, brought into Alexandria, whence he sailed on a voyage, and returned to Alexandria, but was not “ kept therein one whole year together, or so long,, at different times, as amounted to one year,” unless the time of his sailing on the voyage should be included. This being stated in a special verdict, the Court rendered judgment for the defendant.