Nancy’s Trial in Fredericton

Born a slave in Maryland, in this document Caleb Jones tried to justify Nancy’s enslavement to him for life.

Transcription:

Nancy was at the time of her birth and ever since hath been a female Negro Slave or servant for life born of an African Negro Slave and before the removal of the said Caleb Jones from Maryland to New Brunswick was & became by purchase the Lawful and proper Negro Slave or Servant for life of him the said Caleb Jones and so being by the Laws of Maryland
and consistently with the laws of all his Majestys [sic] Colonies and plantations in America the proper Negro Slave or servant for life of him the said Caleb Jones. That the said Caleb Jones in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty five brought and imported the said Ann or Nancy his Negro Slave or servant for life into this province of New Brunswick as it was lawful for him to do and has always hither
held the said Ann or Nancy as his proper Negro Slave or servant for life in the said Province of New Brunswick as by Law he has good right and authority to do And the said Caleb Jones now renders her the said Ann or
Nancy to the orders of the Court as by the said Writ he is commanded.

Signed Caleb Jones