Petition from the Free Colored People of Saint Augustine Regarding Their Rights, 1823

African Americans--Florida--Saint Augustine

African Americans--Florida--History--19th century

Petitions

Free blacks

Race discrimination

Blacks -- Legal status, laws, etc.

Curfews

Petition from the free colored people of St. Augustine noting that many of the rights they had enjoyed under Spanish rule had been restricted by the newly incorporated city government of St. Augustine. The petitioners ask the governor to intervene on their behalf. A small portion of the document is missing.

State Archives of Florida, Series S876

1823-05-31

Williams, Antonio

Fish, John

Asolonia, Antonio

Hodgson, William

Sebell, Peter

Balentine, Louis

Duvigneau, Peter

Write, Saul

Write, Adam

Write, Abraham

Write, Stephen

petitions

eng-US

Text

s876_b001_f06_06

Territorial Florida (1821-1845)

s876_b001_f06_06_01

s876_b001_f06_06_02

s876_b001_f06_06_03

Saint Augustine (Fla.)

Saint Johns County (Fla.)

Kingsley, Z. (Zephaniah), 1765-1843

Slavery And Race Relations

/fmp/territorial-legislative/thumbnails/s876_b001_f06_06.jpg

[Top of document missing, but enough remains to suggest it is the petitioners addressing the Legislative Council "of the Territory of East and West Florida."] The petition of the free coloured people of St. Augustine humbly shewith, That your petitioners, confiding in the wisdom and justice of your Excellency, implore that they may be permitted to enjoy the privelages [sic] of citizens of the United States, which they at present are deprived of by certain ordinances issued by the corporation of this City, prohibiting them from the liberty of walking the streets or assembling among themselves for the purpose of amusement after the hour of nine o'clock. Your petitioners have always heretofore been in the habit of enjoying the same privelages [sic] as the white inhabitants and no instance can be produced of their having in any way abused such indulgence. Therefore your petitioners have taken the liberty of soliciting your friendly interference in their behalf, and as in duty bound will ever pray, St. Augustine 31st May 1823 Antonio Williams John Fish Antonio Asolonia William Hodgson Peter Sebell Louis Balentine Peter Duvigneau

[At least one name missing from the top of the page] Paul Write Adam Write Abraham Write Stephen Write

To the committee on slaves, &c. Mr. Kingsley [Document is erroneously dated May 21, 1823 in blue pencil]