"Onus probandi" means the "burden of proving."
Brent Tarter
The Library of Virginia
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-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Henry Wiencek
Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2007 10:22 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Legal term -- "onus pro bandi"
Friends --
Can someone explain the meaning of "onus pro bandi" in the following
context --
When "white persons are claimed as slaves, the onus pro bandi lies upon
the claimant" (Virginia. Records of the Courts 1809, 133).
Many thanks,
Henry Wiencek