Jack Hatcher aka Indian Jack Suing for his Freedom
Hope this helps someone:
Goochland County Virginia chancery records Index 1754-002
Parrish of St. James Northern, November, 1751
(This is a long case and I'm putting in only smattering of case.Available from the Library of Virginia online records under Chancery)
In the Petition from Indian Jack...
"That your petitioner is descended from a Nation of free Indians on this continent, now and at all times in amity with his Majesty and his predessors (?spelling?).That he is the son of Sarah, the daughter of an Indian free woman, who by circumvention and indirect (?) was kidnapped into servitude in this Colony.That he is detained in bondage by John Parrish of this County, contrary as he humbly apprehends (?) to all natural right, equity and justice.He therefore humbly entreats this worshipful court to take his unhappy case under their consideration, and to free him from that servitude wherein he (?) himself to be unjustly detained."
On March 21, 1753, the Court of Goochland commanded Samuel Jordan and John Cobbs Gents. to examine "Robert Napier Senior an antient and infirm witness on behalf of Indian Jack alias Jack Hatcher.."
As follows:
"The deposition of Robert Napier aged eighty five being examined and sworn saith that between fifty and sixty years ago Captain John Lydall (?) went to Henrico and he bought of one Edward Hatcher an Indian woman named (?) who he called Betty Hatcher and she had a reported daughter called Sarah Hatcher which was the reported mother of Indian Jack Hatcher which said Indian Bettey was brought into this Colony by the said Edward Hatcher an Indian Trader and sold by him to serve according to law.This deponent further saith that he bought of Edward Hatcher an Indian Trader (?) the (?) (?) an Indian boy between (?) and (?)teen years of age and that he expected he was to serve only to the age of thirty one of thirty three to the best of my rembrance further this deponent saith not."
Taken before us June 5, 1753
Signed Samuel Jordan and John Cobbs