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Petition of Free People of Colour and Blacks RG January 21, 1834

The Royal Gazette January 21, 1834The subjoined Petition was laid before His Majesty's Council on yesterday week, by the Honourable The Archdeacon, and was ordered to be laid on the table. A similar Address was, we have been informed, presented to His Excellency the Governor on the same day; and another forwarded to be laid before the House of AssemblyTHE PETITION OF THE UNDERSIGNED, IN BEHALF OF THEMSELVES AND THE OTHER FREE-PEOPLE-OF-COLOURAND BLACKS, OF THE ISLANDS OF BERMUDA -Humbly Sheweth-

The Royal Gazette January 21, 1834

The subjoined Petition was laid before His Majesty's Council on yesterday week, by the Honourable The Archdeacon, and was ordered to be laid on the table. A similar Address was, we have been informed, presented to His Excellency the Governor on the same day; and another forwarded to be laid before the House of Assembly

THE PETITION OF THE UNDERSIGNED, IN BEHALF OF THEMSELVES AND THE OTHER FREE-PEOPLE-OF-COLOURAND BLACKS, OF THE ISLANDS OF BERMUDA -Humbly Sheweth-

THAT as the Colonial Legislature is now convened chiefly for the purpose, as your Petitioners are informed, of framing new Laws and Regulations, with reference to the Slave-Population of these Islands, Your Petitioners earnestly entreat that, at this important period, the condition of the Free-Blacks and People-of-Colour may also be taken into consideration, and that the disabilities under which they labour may be removed.

That although the Free-People-of-Colour form a large (and as your Petitioners trust) an useful portion of the community, and might, as they humbly submit, safely be permitted to enjoy the rights and privileges of British Subjects, they have long been subjected to many grievous privations and restrictions which they have patiently endured.

That without adverting to the harsh Enactments contain[ed] in the earlier Laws of the Colony (some of which though considered obsolete, have not, as Your Petitioners believe, been expressly repealed) Your Petitioners would observe, that even the more recent acts of the Colonial Legislature bear extremely hard upon them.

That upon the passing of the Act of 30th July, 1827 intitled "an Act to ameliorate the condition of Slaves and Free-Persons-of-Colour," Your Petitioners were led to hope that their condition would have been much alleviated - but, to their sorrow and disappointment, they have experienced no improvement from this source, excepting the qualified privilege of giving evidence upon Oath in Courts of Justice - but, to entitle them to do so, they are obliged to obtain from the vestry of their Parish, a Certificate of Character, which at the caprice of a majority of such Vestry may be withheld from them - Whereas Your Petitioners humbly submit that they ought to be admitted, without this restriction, as competent witnesses in all cases, subject to the same objections as to their relative credibility, that now apply to all other witnesses.

That the said Act contains many Provisions with reference to Free-Persons of Colour, wholly incompatible with a state of Freedom, and does not discriminate between persons in the situation of Your Petitioners and those who are in the condition of Slaves, but they are exposed to the same severe and summary punishments and penalties.

That without wishing to derogate from any benefits to be conferred upon persons now in a State of Slavery, Your Petitioners would submit, that the same strictness of treatment and severity of discipline which may be deemed necessary to maintain order among Slaves (or those who may be placed in a state of apprenticeship) cannot be necessary and ought not to be in force against Your Petitioners, most of which are possessed of Freehold Estates and of other property and have important interests in the Community.

That although Your Petitioners presume that the Act to which they have adverted will shortly be repealed, yet they are under great apprehension, lest, under some other form, or by some other means, they may hereafter be exposed to similar restrictions.

That Your Petitioners have reason to believe that this is now almost the only British Colony in which Free-men continue to be subject by Law to such numerous disabilities from a difference of Complexion alone.

That it is with heartfelt satisfaction and gratitude that Your Petitioners have remarked, the increasing liberality of their most gracious Sovereign, his enlightened Ministers, the Imperial Parliament and the generous British People in their behalf, to whom, however, they apprehend, the extent of their grievances has not yet been sufficiently made known.

That Your Petitioners indulge the hope, that in the enactment of any new Laws by which they may be affected, their reasonable claims will be favourably considered, and that Your Honours being actuated by the same benevolent disposition towards them which has been evinced by the Parent Country, will not concur in any Act imposing such injurious restrictions upon Free-Persons-of-Colour in future.

Your Petitioners therefore most humbly pray, that they may soon be relieved from the various disabilities and invidious distinctions to which they have hitherto been subjected, and may be admitted to the enjoyment of the rights and privileges which ought to be possessed in a state of Freedom.

And Your Petitioners as in duty will ever pray, 9th January, 1834

Thomas Fox, freeholder and senior branch pilot. James E. Forbes, freeholder and warden of king's pilots. Benjamin Gilbert, freeholder and planter. Thos. Darrell, freeholder and king's pilot. James Stowe, freeholder and butcher. James Athill, freeholder and ship-builder. Bristor Bruce, freeholder and sexton of St. Peter's Church. J. H. Gifford, freeholder and cooper. Thos. Bascome, freeholder and joiner. Richard Williams, freeholder and storekeeper. Richd. Burgess, freeholder and joiner. Richd. Trott, freeholder and house-painter. David James, freeholder and government boatman. David Pearson, freeholder and gardener. Syke Tucker, planter. James Stowe, Junr., cooper. Anthony Burgess, blacksmith. George Matthews, planter. John Matthews, shopman. Edward Burgess, joiner. W. Barrell, planter. John Rodrigo, storekeeper. Thos. Frith, cabinet maker. A. Smith, storekeeper. G. Darell, branch pilot. Jacob Minors, planter. Richd. Trott, stone mason. Saml. Burchel, branch pilot. Richard Outerbridge, storekeeper. Saml. Paynter, cabinet maker. A. Pitcher, fisherman. Rob. Packwood, house joiner. Rob. Packwood, Junr., stone mason. S. Zuill, branch pilot. B. Trott, pilot of a government boat. John Davis, cabinet maker. Geo. Galbraith, joiner. Jas. Outerbridge, pilot of a government boat. Stephen Richardson, stone mason.