[Bubba_Leroy]

I believe that the relevance of this story is not that he was a free black who owned slaves but that he was reportedly the first person in America to establish a legal right to own another person as a chattel slave.

Previously, indentured servitude was a contractual relationship. You agree to pay for me to come to America and I will agree to work for you for an extended period of years, but you would not own me even during the period of servitude and certainly not after.

Courts recognizing a right of ownership of slaves was necessary for the existence of slavery.

[FairWitness]

"Previously, indentured servitude was a contractual relationship. You agree to pay for me to come to America and I will agree to work for you for an extended period of years, but you would not own me even during the period of servitude and certainly not after."
Just so. My first ancestor in the new world was an indentured servant (wheelwright/carpenter)in New Amsterdam. He had to work for his patron until he had made a specified number of "wagons". Then he was free.

[minnesota_bound]

#11 Was it John Roberts ancestor that made the ruling? : )
The equivalent House leader at the time said it was the “law of the land and they could do nothing to change it.....