Dempsey v. Lawrence

Decided June 15, 1821

Court of Appeals of Virginia · decided 1821-06-15

Dempsey was born the slave of one David Wallace, and descended to his son William. He hired himself of his master William Wallace, and having accumulated the sum of $¡100, agreed to pay it, and $¡200 more at a future day to his master, provided he would emancipate him. The proposal was accepted.

Decided 1821-06-15

By the COURT.

¶1The court of Chancery had jurisdiction of the case, and might have proceeded to a final decree, after the proper preliminary steps; it might have assigned counsel, to the appellant, and have conformed to the other provisions of the act, prescribing the mode of conducting suits for freedom, (b) The decree is therefore reversed, and the cause is to be sent back to the ^Chancery court of Wil-liamsburg, with directions to the court, to appoint counsel for the appellant, and to proceed to a final decree on the merits.

¶2(b) Oh. l&t, 1 Rev. Code.