"Susan E. Richmond" <[email protected]> wrote: Has anyone read this historical fiction book or know about the court case? Hi Susan~ Although I haven't read "Free in Chains" , I have heard the story (and there are several different versions). In his book, A History of The Middle New River Settlements and Contiguous Territories, David E. Johnson states "Mitchell Clay married in Franklin County, Virginia, in the year of 1760, Phoebe Belcher. In April, 1774, there was granted by Dunmore, the Royal Governor of Virginia, to Mitchell Clay, assignee of Lieutenant John Draper, 800 acres of land on Bluestone Creek, Clover Bottoms, then Fincastle County, Virginia, and Mercer County. By the terms of this grant Clay was required to take possession of this land within three years, clear so much per year, and render so much ground rent to the King of Great Britain. A copy of this grant is on file in the Clerk's office of Mercer County Court. In payment for this tract of land, Clay gave Draper a Negro woman and her children, executing to him therefor a bill of sale. Many years afterward, and after the death of! Mitchell Clay, which occurred in 1812, this trade gave rise to two interesting law suits; one, by the Negro for their freedom, which they succeeded in establishing ; and thereupon the representatives of Draper sued the executors of Clay and their sureties, recovering a large decree against them, resulting in the bankrupting of Captain William Smith and the estate of Colonel George N. Pearis, sureties of the executors of Clay." I've also heard that it was not a Negro...but an Indian woman that was traded for the tract of land. Linda [email protected] --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Hotjobs: Enter the "Signing Bonus" Sweepstakes

Linda Gunnoe <[email protected]> wrote: In his book, "A History of The Middle New River Settlements and Contiguous Territories", David E. Johnson states... I noticed the link for Mr. Johnson's book did not come through as a link. The book can be viewed online at http://www.kinyon.com/westvirginia/midnewriver/contents.htm. You can also order the book on CD from this site --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Hotjobs: Enter the "Signing Bonus" Sweepstakes