Robert Loyal v. Benjamin Lewis. Petition for Freedom

 

To the Honble the Judges of the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of Columbia & county of Washington

The petition of Robert Loyal a colored man sheweth unto your honors that he is a freeman and that he is illegally held in bondage by one Benjamin Lewis who claims your petitioner as a slave for life. And your petitioner is credably informed & veryly believes that the said Benjamin Lewis is now about to sell him as a slave for life to some distant state. Your petitioner therefore prays your honors to grant him the benefit of writ of subpoena & such other relief as shall apper to your honors to be meet & proper & he will ever pray &c

Robert Beale for petitioner

 

408

Robert Loyal
v
Benjn Lewis

pet for freedom

fd. 3d. May 1828