Near Richmond in Henrico County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Pleasants v. Pleasants
Photographed By Kathy Walker, August 11, 2007
1. Pleasants v. Pleasants Marker
Inscription.
Pleasants v. Pleasants. . John Pleasants, Sr., nearby landowner and Quaker, requested in his will that his slaves be freed when each became 30 years old. Pleasants died in 1771, but it was not until 1782 that some of his slaves gained freedom when the Virginia General Assembly approved private manumissions. His son, Robert Pleasants, and a few other heirs freed close to 100 slaves in multiple counties. Robert Pleasants attempted to get all of the family to honor the will's stipulations, which culminated in 1798 when the Virginia High Court of Chancery heard it as a legal case. Future U. S. Chief Justice John Marshall and John Warden represented Robert Pleasants on behalf of the slaves. In 1799, the court ruled in favor of freeing the slaves. Some of the freed slaves settled nearby on Robert Pleasant's land to form the Gravely Hill community.
John Pleasants, Sr., nearby landowner and Quaker, requested in his will that his slaves be freed when each became 30 years old. Pleasants died in 1771, but it was not until 1782 that some of his slaves gained freedom when the Virginia General Assembly approved private manumissions. His son, Robert Pleasants, and a few other heirs freed close to 100 slaves in multiple counties. Robert Pleasants attempted to get all of the family to honor the will's stipulations, which culminated in 1798 when the Virginia High Court of Chancery heard it as a legal case. Future U. S. Chief Justice John Marshall and John Warden represented Robert Pleasants on behalf of the slaves. In 1799, the court ruled in favor of freeing the slaves. Some of the freed slaves settled nearby on Robert Pleasant's land to form the Gravely Hill community.
Erected 2002 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number V-43.)
N, 77° 18.038′ W. Marker is near Richmond, Virginia, in Henrico County. Marker is at the intersection of New Market Road (Virginia Route 5) and Long Bridge Road, on the right when traveling west on New Market Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Henrico VA 23231, United States of America. Touch for directions.
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Additional keywords. Pleasants v. Pleasants
Credits. This page was last revised on February 18, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 27, 2008, by Kathy Walker of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,007 times since then and 78 times this year. Photo1. submitted on July 27, 2008, by Kathy Walker of Stafford, Virginia. • Christopher Busta-Peck was the editor who published this page.
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