No. VII
Subtitle: the case of James Sommersett, a Negro on a habeus corpus : King's Bench, 1771 and 1772
Contributors: Sommersett, James, plaintiff; Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826, former owner; Great Britain. Court of King's Bench; Thomas Jefferson Library Collection (Library of Congress)
Publisher: [Printed by T. Wright ...]
Published: 1781
Place of publication: London]
Language: eng
Number of pages: 348
Subjects: Early works to 1800; Trials, litigation; Slaves; Habeas corpus; Law and legislation; Slavery; Legal status, laws
Other titles: Negro case; Case of James Sommersett, a Negro on a habeus corpus
Notes: Removed from a copy of A complete collection of state-trials ... The fourth edition. London. 1776-1781, vol. 11 (1781). ESTC T112654.

"... Sommersett was the Negro slave of Charles Steuart, esq. who had delivered Sommersett into Mr. Knowles custody, in order to carry him to Jamaica, and there sell him as a slave. ... Mr. Steuart had purchased Sommersett as a slave in Virginia, and had afterwards brought him into England, where he left his master's service; and that his refusing to return was the occasion of his being carried on board Mr. Knowles ship. ...": p. 339.

In large part consists of Francis Hargrave's argument on behalf of James Sommersett.

Signatures: 4R-4T² (includes leaf 4R1, p. 337-338 on a different case).

LC copy forms part of the Jefferson Exhibit Collection.

With: Varnum, James M. The case Trevett against Weeden ... Providence : Printed by John Carter, 1787. Issued separately.

Sowerby, E.M.  Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson, entry 2019

LC copy is Thomas Jefferson's.