Spouse & Children

Thomas Blakeney (1771-1823) Hugh Blakeney (1775-1845) John Blakeney (1788-1862)

Dated 1813

To the honorable The Legislature of the State of Tennessee

The Petition of Thomas Blackney of the County of Montgomery humbly sheweth - That your petitioner is now and has been many hears in the posession of a woman of colour named Harriette about thirty one or thirty two years of age and was bourn in the State of Virginia near the close of the Revolutionary War and from the best information your Petitioner has been induced to believe and doth believe that the mother of said Harriett was entitled to her freedom and was plundered from the State of Maryland, run to the state of South Carolina and sold to the father of your petitioner as a slave - your petitioner's father in his lifetime on enquiry discovered that the said woman of colour Hariette was entitled to her freedom by birth so soon as she arive to the age of womanhood. Your petitioner further states that it was the earnest request of your Petitioners father in his lifetime that your petitioner should not treat the said Harriette as a Slave but raise her as one of the family and when she arive of full age to give her, her freedom which is now the wish of your Petitioner more especially as it was the last request of your Petitioner's deceased father -

Your petitioner further states that the said woman of colour Harriett has been in your petitioner's posession for upwards of seventeen years since which time she has obeyed all my lawful commands as a faithful servant - Your Petitioner further states that the said woman of color Harriet has bourn three children all boys that is Frederick a boy twelve years of age the day of April last - John a boy seven years of age the 15th of January last and Tobias a boy five years old the 11th day of December last, which said Illegitimate children your petitioner requests and wishes should be legitimated (?) and made for(?) when they arive to the age of manhood and surnamed after the Blakeney family and hereafter to be known by the name of Frederick, John and Tobias Blackney - Your petitioner further states that it is his wish that he shall be appointed guardian for said Harriet's three sons Frederick, John & Tobias and hereby obliges himself to be at the ---(?) of the education of said children also clothing (?) untill they arive at the age of manhood - Your petitioner further states that he will be at all expence of the said harriett and children untill said three boys arive to the age of manhood and be answerable for their good behavior untill they arive to this age of Twenty one years and in case of his death ---(?) to said boys ariving to their age of manhood. Your petitioner hereby obligates himself to provide for the education and Support of all of the said children and woman Harriet as it is the wish and pleasure of your Petitioner that said woman Harreit and children should continue with him during his natural life or untill said children arive at the age of manhood or longer if it is their wish of pleasure - Your petitioner further states that the act of Assembly ratifyed in the year 1801 authorizing the County Courts to emansipate slaves does not cover your petitioners request or wish said woman of colour not being considered as a slave and his (?) their children not claimed by me or any other persons as such prays that this his petition may be acted on and carried into full effect which is the the(?) humble request of your petitioner.

Thomas Blackney

Attest

A.M. Gilbert

Joseph Gray(?)

Dob Enloe(?)