Our Collection

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.

Woodson, Cuffy, fl. 1824 [Petition for the emancipation for Fanny and Patsy Woodson]

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06592 Author/Creator: Woodson, Cuffy, fl. 1824 Place Written: Maury County, Tennessee Type: Document signed Date: circa 1824 Pagination: 1 p. : docket Height: 31.4 cm, Width: 19.1 cm Order a Copy

Official document reporting that since Cuffy Woodson was emancipated, he purchased his wife Fanny Woodson, "a mulatto woman," and her child Patsy from his former master Micajob Moorman. Cuffy "further represents to your worship that the sd. Fanny & Patsy have done good & meritorious services to him by their extraordinary obedience fidelity & affection & that it is naturally against his feeling to hold his sd wife Fanny and his child Patsy as his slaves, & he hopes this this feeling will not be deem'd unworthy of being sanctioned by your worship. He therefore prays that the sd Fanny & Patsy may be emancipated & made to all intents & purposes free persons..." Cuffy signs with his mark, an "x." Appears to be authorized by attorneys [Cobb & Dill?]. Docket notes that the petition was granted by the court, signed by J. B. Porter.

Woodson, Cuffy, fl. 1824
Woodson, Patsy, fl. 1824

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources