Billy (slave)
Enslaved man from Virginia
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Key Takeaways
- 1785) was an enslaved man from Virginia who was charged with treason during the American Revolution.
- Pre-trial life Very little is known about Billy's life aside from his trial.
- In the advertisement, Tayloe's employee stated that Billy was a runaway slave and an extremely skilled worker.
- Windley believes that during this time Billy purchased a forged pass with the intent to liberate himself by travelling to another state.
- Billy had been charged with joining the British forces aboard an armed vessel with the intent to fight against the colonies during the American Revolutionary War.
Billy (c. 1754 – c. 1785) was an enslaved man from Virginia who was charged with treason during the American Revolution. He was pardoned in 1781 after a letter was written arguing that, as a slave, he was not a citizen and thus could not commit treason against a government to which he owed no allegiance.
Pre-trial life
Very little is known about Billy's life aside from his trial. He was likely born around 1754 and historians believe that he is possibly the same Billy that was enslaved by the wealthy planter John Tayloe II who had one of his employees place an advertisement about a runaway "mulatto" in 1774. In the advertisement, Tayloe's employee stated that Billy was a runaway slave and an extremely skilled worker. Historian Lathan A. Windley believes that during this time Billy purchased a forged pass with the intent to liberate himself by travelling to another state.
Trial
On April 2, 1781, Billy was indicted by the Prince William County Court for committing treasonous acts against the state of Virginia. Billy had been charged with joining the British forces aboard an armed vessel with the intent to fight against the colonies during the American Revolutionary War. This was not an uncommon accusation during this period, as many enslaved people had been promised their freedom in return for fighting for the British (see Black Loyalists); however, Billy argued that he had been forced onto the ship and that he had never taken up arms. Despite this, Billy was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging.
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