Nan v. Daniel Moxley, Elizabeth Crow, Edward Edelin, & Harriet Beans. 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 Negro Charles and Nan his wife and Eliza Juda & Stephen her children by the said Charles their next friend all of Washington County aforesaid humbly sheweth that your said Petitioners Nan & her said Children are unjustly & illegally held in bondage by a certain Daniel Moxley Elizabeth Crow Edward Edelin & Harriet Beans of said county who claim your said Petitioners as Slaves; that your Petitioners are free & by law are entitled to their freedom & to be discharged from the said defendants, which they are ready to make appear to your Honors. Wherefore they pray a subpoena to the said Defts. directed that they may appear & answer here unto & that such proceeding may take place as your Honors may direct in the premises agreeably to the laws in such cases provied &c.

F S Key for Petrs.

16 Jany 1809

Appeared before me in open Court the above named Petr. Charles & made oath that he had just ground to apprehend & does truly believe that the Petrs. his wife & children above named are about to be removed by the persons claiming them without the District of Columbia

Sworn to in open Court.

Wm Brent Clk

 

72 205 Trials 40.

Nan & others
vs
Moxley, Crow & others

Petn.

Mr Brent
File it & issue sbpna (with leave of the Court) retble. immediately.
Yrs
F S Key

filed 16th Jany 1809.