Billy (slave) facts for kids
Billy was an enslaved man born around 1754 in Virginia. During the American Revolution, he was accused of a very serious act against the government. However, he was later forgiven, or "pardoned," in 1781. This happened because some people argued that as an enslaved person, he wasn't a citizen. Therefore, they believed he couldn't commit treason against a government he wasn't truly a part of.
Billy's Early Life: What We Know
Very little is known about Billy's life before his trial. He was probably born around 1754. Historians think he might be the same Billy who was enslaved by a rich landowner named John Tayloe II.
In 1774, an advertisement was placed about a runaway enslaved person named Billy. The ad said Billy was a very skilled worker. It also mentioned he was good at making friends with almost everyone he met. One historian believes Billy bought a fake pass to try and escape to another state.
The Trial: Accused of Treason
On April 2, 1781, Billy was accused of acting against the state of Virginia. He was charged with joining British forces on a ship. The accusation was that he intended to fight against the American colonies during the American Revolutionary War.
Many enslaved people were promised freedom if they fought for the British. These people were known as Black Loyalists. Billy, however, said he was forced onto the ship. He also said he never actually fought. Even so, Billy was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging.
A Plea for Pardon: Why Billy Was Forgiven
Two jury members, Henry Lee II and William Carr, along with Mann Page, disagreed with Billy's death sentence. They wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson, who was then the Governor of Virginia. They asked for Billy to be pardoned, which means officially forgiven.
Lee and Carr argued that an enslaved person was not a citizen. They believed that because Billy wasn't a citizen, he didn't owe loyalty to the state. They felt that the law about treason wasn't meant for enslaved people. This is because enslaved people didn't own land or property that could be taken away as punishment.
Their efforts worked! Jefferson gave Billy a temporary delay. Then, on June 14, Billy was officially pardoned by the state government. Nothing is known about what happened to Billy after he was pardoned.
