Nova Scotia Archives
Looking Back, Moving Forward: Documenting the Heritage of African Nova Scotians
James DeLancey v. William Woodin (plaintiff's statement of claim against the defendant for harbouring 'Jack', an enslaved man)
Loyalist James DeLancey of Round Hill, Annapolis County, sues William Woodin, a Halifax merchant, for knowingly taking into his employment an escaped enslaved man, 'Jack', and refusing to return him. It is not known if the suit proceeded to trial. We do know that Jack kept his freedom. James DeLancey died nine months later, and Jack is not in the inventory of "Negroes" included with his estate.
Date: 20 August 1803
Reference: Nova Scotia Archives RG 39 "C" volume 1 number 2A