It made the Ashworth Family as well as all free persons of color and emancipated slaves in the Republic of Texas exempt from a new law stipulating that all Black Texans either leave or risk being enslaved.
They also owned slaves, raised cattle, and grew crops, and one of the brothers also became one of the largest stock raisers in the entire county.
Soon after, in June 1837, the 1st legislative session after the constitution was adopted, Congress reversed this ordinance and allowed people of color "who were residing within the Republic of Texas at the date of the declaration of Independence" to stay in the country.
There also was an addition to the 1836 provision that ordered all free slaves and people of color "who are now in this Republic" to leave by January 1, 1842, unless they have obtained express permission to stay from the legislature.
Many people of color began to rise up, and get the support they needed from their white neighbors through petitioning for their right to stay in Texas.
In the 2nd petition that was submitted on the behalf of William and his brother Abner Ashworth, seventy two citizens from Jefferson County noted how the two, despite being "free persons of color," they had "contributed generously to the advancement of the revolution."
signers or the petition were adamant that the passing of the recent act was both unfair and unjust to "force them from their County, whose battles they have fought and whose independence they assisted in achieving."
Representative Joseph Grigsby, was one of the wealthiest slaveholders in Jefferson County and held great influence within the Republic of Texas.
The next day the committee reported back reaffirming that, "as a general rule, it is not the true policy of this Country to encourage the introduction of this description of persons among us, nor even to allow them to remain."