1

Memo Be it remembered that on the 15th day of December
1827 & on the third day of the term of the Court of Hustings for the
City of Richmond, Charlotte Armstrong a free woman of color
by her counsel, moved the s'd court in pursuance of the 71st section
of the Act of Assembly concerning slaves free negroes & mulattoes that
she might be registered as a free negro in the City of Richmond
& that a copy of such register might be delivered to her. And
in pursuance of said motion the said Charlotte Armstrong
introduced & exhibited to the city a copy of her register granted by the Court of Hustings
for the Corporation of Lynchburg (which is in the words and
figures following, here insert the copy of the s'd register}, also
three receipts in the words & figures following (here insert the
paper Nos 1. 2 & 3.) also a note from John R. D. Payne to
John O Steger in the words & figures following (here insert
the s'd note) & further proved by several witnesses that they
had known the s'd Charlotte Armstrong several years & that
she always passed as a free woman in the town of
Lynchburg also that she was
possessed of considerable property. It was further proved
that she was a woman of good character. That she had
rented a house in the City of Richmond and that she
was employed by one of the witnesses to do his washing
and the said Charlotte Armstrong was personally
present in court & was seen & inspected by the court.
and in age,name, colour, stature & scar corresponded with the
description in the s'd register. On consideration of which the court being
of opinion that the evidence of her freedom was not sufficient
the court overruled the said motion & refused to register
the sd Charlotte Armstrong to which opinion of the
court the s'd Charlotte Armstrong by her counsel
[encented?] & prayed that this her bill of exceptions may
be signed sealed & allowed her which is accordingly
done.
[illegible] Bass [illegible] {seal}
Wm Allison {seal}
Jas. C. [??ingfield] {seal}
Thomas Cowles {seal}