Case Name: Negro Bazil v. Kennedy
Court: United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1804-11
Citations: 1 Cranch 199
Docket Number: 
Parties: Negro Bazil v. Kennedy.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 1
Pages: 199–200

Head Matter:
Negro Bazil v. Kennedy.
Upon a devise that a slave should be sold for eight years, after which he should he free, the term of eight years shall begin to run from the time of the death of the testator or within a reasonable time thereafter.
This was an action to try the right of the plaintiff to his freedom under the will of Mrs. Turner, which was in these words: “ I will that my slaves be sold by my executors, for the following terms: Bazil for eight years,” (and others for other terms,) “ and the money arising from the same I desire shall be applied in the following manner, to wit,” (&c., giving sundry specific legacies, and the residue to her husband, Charles Turner, she having, by her marriage settlement, reserved the power to devise her estate.) “ I will that after the above slaves respectively arrive at the completion of the above terms, they shall be free and their posterity after them at the age of thirty years.”
Mr. C. Lee, for the plaintiff,
cited Dade v. Alexander, 1 Wash. 30; Mayo's Lessee v. Carrington, 1 Wash. 45; New Rev. Code, 191, §> 36. The testatrix died in 1796. Her husband suppressed the will. Bazil was sold as the property of the husband, by the marshal, to the defendant Kennedy, on the 27th of January, 1802. The will was found and proved June, 1804. This action was brought on the 22d of August, 1804. The defendant purchased without notice. This was a vested legacy. Roden v. Smith, Arab. 588; 2P. Wms.478.
Mr. Swann, for the defendant,
contended that the term of eight years could not begin to run until the sale; and that the time of sale was left to the discretion of the executor.

Opinion:
But the Court
decided that it was the intention of the testatrix that the plaintiff should be free after eight years' service after her death ; and that the term began to run from the time of her death, unless some cause should be shown for extending it for a further reasonable time ; and that as more than eight years had elapsed between the death of the testratrix and the commencement of this action, the plaintiff is entitled to his freedom.