1759 Petition of Samuel Lavington, SC

 Friday the 6th Day of July 1759.

 "... A Petition of Samuel Lavington, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth,

That the Petitioner, about two Months ago, imported into this Province from the Island of Antigua, Twenty six Negroe Slaves which were given and bequeathed to him by the last Will and Testament of Mr. Stephen Lavington, Brother to the Petitioner, who is since dead. That since the Petitioner's Arrival here with said Negroes, he has, by Jacob Motte Esqr., Public Treasurer, been required to pay a Duty of Ten pounds Currency per Head for each Slave imported, agreable to the General Duty Act, passed the 14th Day of June in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty one.

And begging leave to observe that he conceives the Legislature on passing the above Act never intended it should extend to subject Negroes left as a Legacy to the payment of the aforesaid Duty, but only such as should be brought here for Sale. And as the Slaves brought into this Province by the Petitioner (Five of which since his Arrival are dead) are to be employed and kept to work on the Petitioner's Plantation in this Province and not be disposed of.

And humbly praying the House will take the Premises into their Consideration, and give Directions that the above Duty be remitted, for the reasons above mentioned.

Ordered That the said Petition do lie upon the Table...."

Source:
The Colonial Records of South Carolina 
The Journal of the Commons House of Assembly
October 6, 1757ñJanuary 24, 1761
Terry W. Lipscomb, Editor
Published by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 51-62239
ISBN: 1-880067-28-5

Contributed by: URQ5
By way of: GFS LBall