Warrant ordering a slave patrol in Loudon County, Virginia

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A warrant handwritten in brown ink on a single sheet of folded off-white paper calling for the creation of a slave patrol in Loudon County, Virginia. The warrant is addressed to a group of men and the main text reads "Whereas information has been given to me as Justice of the Peace for the County assd that unlawful assembly of slaves & other parties are frequently held in this neighborhood contrary to the act of assembly in such case made & provided these are therefore to require you to Patrol the said Neighborhood & to search for & apprehend all disorderly persons & bring them before us or some other Justice of the Peace to be dealt with as the Law directs & further to report your proceedings to the next Court to be held for this County." Warrant ends "Given under my hand this 2d day of Sept 1826" but is unsigned.

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