Already in 1769 the members of Cedar Creek Monthly Meeting had been "unanimously agreed that something be done." The laws of Virginia threw many obstacles in their way, and it was not until the law passed in 1782 that the right of emancipation was given to the owners of slaves. For this tardy permission they could not wait, and Robert Pleasants[11] in a letter dated "Curles,[12] 3d month 28th, 1777," wrote to the Governor, Patrick Henry, Jr., " ... It is in respect to slavery, of which thou art not altogether a stranger to mine, as well as some others of our Friends' sentiments; and perhaps, too, thou may have been informed that some of us, from a full conviction of the injustice, and apprehension of duty, have been induced to embrace the present favorable juncture when the Representatives of the people have nobly declared _all men free_, without any desire to offend, or thereby injure any person, to invest more of them with the same inestimable privilege. This I conceive was necessary to inform the governor...." The Friends were tolerably sure of Patrick Henry's support, as in a letter to Edward Stabler in 1773 he said: "It would rejoice my very soul that every one of my fellow-beings was emancipated. We ought to lament and deplore the necessity of holding our fellow-men in bondage. Believe me, I shall honor the Quakers for their notable efforts to abolish slavery." [Illustration: Signature of P. Henry] In 1778 "The Meeting directs that the sum of 30/ be raised for the payment of a book purchased for the purpose of _Recording manumissions_. John Payne is appointed to record them, and when accomplished to deliver the originals into the care of Micajah Crew according to the direction of the Meeting." The following manumission paper is one of twenty-one issued about this time by Thomas Pleasants, the intimate friend of John and Mary Payne, and is signed by them as witnesses. MANUMISSION PAPER.[13] I Thomas Pleasants of Goochland County in Virginia from mature deliberate consideration and the convictions of my own mind being fully persuaded that freedom is the natural birthright of all mankind and that no Law moral or divine has given me a right to or property in the persons of any of my fellow creatures, and being desirous to fulfil the injunction of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by doing to others as I would be done by. Do therefore declare that having under my care one negro woman named Betty aged about forty, I do for myself my Heirs Executors and administrators hereby release unto her the said Betty all my right Interest and claim or pretensions of claim whatsoever as to her person or to any Estate she may hereafter acquire without any interruption from me or any person claiming for by from or under me In WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 25^th day of the 1^st Month, one thousand and seven hundred and Eighty