Indictment of slave Amy, 1751

Indictment of slave Amy, 1751

Amy

Holt, James, -1779

Willoughby, John -1776

African American women -- Virginia -- Norfolk County

Theft -- Virginia -- Norfolk County

Women slaves -- Virginia -- Norfolk County

Indictments (legal documents) -- Virginia -- Norfolk County -- 18th century

Indictment in the hand of James Nimmo, King's Attorney for Norfolk County addressed to the justices of the Court of Oyer and Terminer. In the document Nimmo relates how "Amy a negro woman Slave belonging to Mr. Jas. Holt of the County of Norfolk the fear of God not having before her Eyes but being seduced and instigated by the Devil ..." entered the home of John Willoughby and stole his goods and chattels. Docketed on the verso: "King vs. Negro."

Nimmo, James, -1753

Virginia. Court of Oyer and Terminer (Norfolk County)

Special Collections, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

1751

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jpeg

eng

Text

MS 2010.2

Ink on paper

Page 1

Norfolk
County

James Nimmo attorney of our Sovereign Lord the King
who for our said Sovereign Lord the King comes into Court in
his proper person before his Majesties Justices of Oyer and –
Terminer & prays the Court afors^d to Understand and be Infor
med that Amy a negro woman Slave belonging to M^r. Ja^s. Holt
of the County of Norfolk the fear of God not having before her Eyes
but being Seduced and Instigated by the Devil on the 6^th. Day of
Dec^ber: 1751 at the parish of Elz^bth River and County of Norfolk
at Twelve of the Clock in the Night of the Same day w^th:
force and arms [?] the mansion house of a Certain Cap^t. John
Willoughby of the parish and County afors^d: did Break and enter
w^th: Intent fulloniously to Steal the goods & Chattles of the
Said John then and there being (to wit) one hand Basket, Two
pair of thread Stockins 2 Muslin Handerchiffs, Two pair of
Womens Stockins, one Black hood Two Ocher Handerchiffs
one Towole[?], one pillow Case, one Sheet, Two yards New Linnen
three Linnen Handerchiffs, one Ocher Sheet, Two Ribbons Two
yards Cours Linnen, and three Balls of thread
a small Japan Box a piece of Courtain
in all of the Value of Ten pounds Curr^t money of Virg^a: the
proper goods and Chattles of the said Cap^t: John Willoughby
did fulloniously steal take and Carry away against the
Peace of our said Sovereign Lord the King now his Crown and dignitie &c.

James Nimmo

Verso

The King
vs
Negro