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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

[Petition of a free black to become a slave of W.C. Lewis]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06375 Author/Creator: Place Written: Gillespie, Texas Type: Manuscript document Date: 1858/10/04 Pagination: 1 p. 30.5 x 18.9 cm Order a Copy

Ann Jackson's petition to become the property of W. C. Lewis, signed by her with an "X". The document was based on an Act of the Texas Legislature "Free persons of African descent [may] select their own master and become slaves...." With stamp of Company seal. For related documents see GLC08955, GLC03840, and GLC09123.

Notice

The State of Texas }
}
County of Gillespie }
In Conformity with an Act of the Legislature of the State of Texas, passed & approved January 27th 1858, entitled " An Act to permit Free persons of African Descent, to select their own Master and become Slaves, - I, A. Erlenmezer, Clerk of the District Court of the County of Gillespie, State aforesaid, do herewith give Notice, that Ann Jackson, a free female of Color has filed her petition in our said Court on the 4th Day of October A. D. 1858; which said Petition reads as follows: to [wit]:
Fort Mason, Texas
Sept. 27th 1858.
I Ann Jackson, being a free female of Color respectfully Petition the Honorable District Court, to choose W. C. Lewis of Mason County, State of Texas, to be my lawful master, In Testimony of which I hereunto attach my Cross in presence of two reliable witnesses.
Ann X Jackson
Witness
J. M. [Sween]
J. Cavenass.

Witness my hand & the Seal of said Court
at Fredericksburg, Octob. 4th
A D : 1858.
A. Erlenmezer, C. D. C. G. C.

[2]
97.) Notice
Ann Jackson
a free person
of Color

choosing W. C.
Lewis, to be her
Master

filed Nov. 22nd. 1858
A. Erlenmezer
C. D. C. G. C.

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