Commonwealth v. Jennison facts for kids
Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Nathaniel Jennison was a very important court case in Massachusetts in 1783. This case helped to effectively end slavery in that state. It was the third in a series of important cases known as the Quok Walker cases.
Contents
What Was the Quock Walker Case About?
The case was about a man named Quock Walker. He had been enslaved by Nathaniel Jennison. In September 1781, Jennison was arrested because he had attacked and hurt Quock Walker.
The Trial and Key Arguments
The trial took place in April 1783, before the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. Nathaniel Jennison argued that Quock Walker was his runaway slave. However, Quock Walker argued that the Massachusetts Constitution had made slavery illegal in 1780.
How the Constitution Changed Things
The Chief Justice, William Cushing, agreed with Quock Walker. He told the jury that it didn't matter if Walker had been freed before or not. The important point was that slavery was no longer allowed by the Massachusetts Constitution.
The Verdict
Because of this, the jury found Nathaniel Jennison guilty. He had to pay a fine of forty shillings. This case was a big step towards ending slavery in Massachusetts.
