Sarah Slayden/John Bunch 1705 VA Mar
Volume III, pages 28 and 31 of the Executive Journals of the Council of Colonial Virginia (May 1, 1705--October 23, 1721) Published by The Virginia State Library:
Page 28,
" The Petition of John BUNCH and Sarah SLAYDEN praying that the minister of Blissland Parish may be ordered to publish the Banns between the Petitioners in order to their marriage, whether he hath hitherto refused on PRETENSE OF THE SAID BUNCH's being a Mulatto, was read, and referred to Attorney General to report his opinion whether the Petitioners case be within the intent of the Law to prevent Negros & White persons intermarrying to ye next meeting of the Council.
The proceedings of the Council yesterday and this day was read over and approved."
Page 31,
" Upon persusal of a Petition of John Bunch & Sarah Slayden to his Excellency Edw Nott Esq. and upon persual of an Act of Assembly of this Colony entitled an Act fo suppressing Outlying Slaves; I am of opinion & do conceive that ye said Act being Penal is Coercive or restrictive no further then the very letter thereof, and being wholly unacquainted with the Appellations given to ye issue of such mixtures, cannot resolve whether the issue begotten on a White woman by a Mulatto man can properly be called a Mulatto, that name as I conceive being only appropriated to the Child of a Negro man begotten upon a white woman, or by a white man upon a negro woman, and as I am told the issue of a Mulatto by or upon a white Person has another name viz that of, Mustee; whether is so, I conceive it wholly out of the Letter (tho it may be conjectured to be within ye intent) of the said Act. That which (as above being Penal) is, as I conceive not to be construed beyond ye letter thereof.
Upon consideration of which Report, and that the Petitioners Case is matter of Law, it is therefore ordered that the Petition of the said Bunch and Slayden be referred till next General Court for M Attorney to argue the reasons of his opinion before his Excellency and ye Council."
Sept 5, 1705
More Replies:
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Re: Sarah Slayden/John Bunch 1705 VA Mar
Daniela Fulton 2/21/01
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Re: Sarah Slayden/John Bunch 1705 VA Mar
Kathryn DeMarco 4/20/02
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Re: Sarah Slayden/John Bunch 1705 VA Mar