William Fenwick v. Lansing Tooker. Petition for Freedom

 

To the Honble the Judges of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia for the County of Washington

The Petition of William Fenwick humbly sheweth

That he is a free person and is unjustly held in bondage and claimed as a slave by a certain Lansing Tooker of Washington County, who has seized your Petitioner when and illegally confined him, and is endeavouring to sell him as a slave to parts beyond the jurisdiction of this Court. He therefore prays your Honors that the United States writ of subpoena may be issued to the said Tooker directed, that he may be compelled to appear and answer here unto & that your Petitioner may be discharged from his service as free, & receive such other & further relief as to your Honors may seem right & according to law.

F S Key for Petr.

 

648 Trials Novr 1835.

William
vs
Tooker

Petn. for freedom.

Mr Brent
File it.
yrs F S Key

filed 5 Jany 1836