own race and
color. But when the court records are opened and the strange story of the
free Negro Anthony Johnson and his slave John Casor is read and understood
we are forced to a realization of the impartial attitude of the law toward
black masters not only in its outward expression but also in its actual
application. The story of the relation of these two black settlers in the
young colony is worth relating in the quaint language of the times word for
word as it appears in the manuscript records.

The deposition of Capt. Samll. Goldsmyth taken in open court 8th of
March [16]54 sayeth that being att ye house of Anth. Johnson Negro
about ye beginning of November last to receive a Hogsd of tobac, a
negro called Jno. Casor came to this depo[nen]t & told him yt hee came
into Virginia for seaven or eight years of Indenture; yt hee had
demanded his freedome of Antho. Johnson his mayster & further sd yt
hee had kept him his serv[ant] seaven years longer than hee should or
ought; and desired that this Depont would see yt hee might have noe
wronge; whereupon your depont demanded of Anth. Johnson his Indenture.
the sd Johnson answered hee never saw any. The negro Jno. Casor
replyed when hee came in he had an Indenture. Anth. Johnson sd hee had
ye Negro for his life, but Mr. Robert & George Parker sd they knewe
that ye sd Negro had an Indenture in one Mr. S[andys?] hand on ye
other side of ye Baye. Further sd Mr. Robert Parker & his Brother
George sd (if the sd. Anth. Johnson did not let ye negro go free) the
said negro Jno Casor would recover most of his Cows from him ye sd
Johnson. Then Anth. Johnson (as this dep't. did suppose) was in a
great feare.... Anth. Johnsons sonne in Law, his wife & his own two
sonnes persuaded the old negro Anth. Johnson to sett the sd. Jno.
Casor free ... more sth not.

Samll Goldsmyth.

Eight March Anno 1654.[4]

John Casor was not, however, permitted to enjoy long his freedom. Johnson
decided to petition the county court to determine whether John Casor was a
slave for life or a servant "for seven years of indenture." The court
record of the suit is as follows:

Whereas complaint was this daye made to ye court by ye humble peticion
of Anth. Johnson Negro ag[ains]t Mr. Robert Parker that hee detayneth
one John Casor a Negro the plaintiffs Serv[an]t under pretense yt