10/16/2026
These 10,000 signatures requesting religious freedom in Virginia are part of our Legislative Petitions collection. Other important petitions are on display in our exhibition gallery as part of "Envisioning Revolution: Virginians in Action, 1776–1786" on display until Dec. 31.
The "free exercise of religion" was a key component of the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Declaration of Independence adopted in 1776. When the House of Delegates met for the first time in October 1776, many dissenting Virginians who did not belong to the state-authorized Church of England submitted petitions calling for religious freedom. Baptists organized a widespread effort to circulate a petition around Virginia demanding an end to all government interference in the practice of religion. It was signed by nearly 10,000 men, and the 125 pages were sewn together and presented to the General Assembly 250 years ago. Learn more about the campaign for religious freedom in Document Bank of Virginia: https://www.lva.virginia.gov/collections/educator-resources/dbva/items/show/283
Image: handwritten page of a petition submitted to the Virginia General Assembly on October 16, 1776, Virginia Legislative Petitions Digital Collection, Library of Virginia.
