Case Name: NANCY, a Mulatto Woman, and DAVID, her Son, v. JAMES HART
Court: Delaware Court of Common Pleas
Jurisdiction: Delaware
Decision Date: 1796-05
Citations: 2 Del. Cas. 51
Docket Number: 
Parties: NANCY, a Mulatto Woman, and DAVID, her Son, v. JAMES HART.
Judges: 
Reporter: Delaware Cases
Volume: 2
Pages: 51–52

Head Matter:
NANCY, a Mulatto Woman, and DAVID, her Son, v. JAMES HART.
Court of Common Pleas. New Castle.
May, 1796.
Rodney’s Notes.
George Read [for plaintiffs], Rodney, Vandyke [for defendant].
Isaac Almond. Nancy belonged originally to my wife. In March 10, 1789,1 rented a farm of Mr. Thompson in Cecil County. Took her with us. Stayed two weeks. I told her if she was willing to stay five years she should be free. She chose to come into the state. I let her come in. She stayed five months. My wife came in to prevail on her to come home again. I then agreed to sell her in Delaware. Did sell her and her son David to James Hart for £40. She would not return but went to Mr. Redden and then sold her to Almond. I married in 1788 to Miss Redden, my third wife. Hart had her two years before sheriff’s sale, when she was sold to Mr. Loyd, who lives in Maryland. James Hart also lives in Maryland. I lived five years in Maryland.
G. Read.
1783, Chapter 23, Maryland Laws, prohibits any slaves being brought into the state except by persons coming in to reside.

Opinion:
The Court consider that the petitioner be set free and entitled etc.