O Say Can You See

Fanny Smith, humbly petitioning, sheweth to your honors that she is illegally detained in slavery by a certain Joseph Thornton in the town of Alexandria, for this - that she was born in the State of Maryland on the estate of a certain Robert Fenwicke, whose slave she was and continued to be until the said Robert Fenwicke passed her by sale or gift to his son Joseph Fenwicke, who carried her into the state of Kentucky, where she remained some time, and afterwards brought her back again into the state of Maryland. Your petitioner sheweth further to your honors, that after she had remained some time in Maryland, the said Joseph Fenwicke brought her into the town of Alexandria in the Commonwealth of Virginia, without any intention of residing permanently in that place; & without being taken, within the time limited and in manner required, the oath prescribed by the laws of Virginia in cases of this kind. And your petitioner further sheweth to your honors that the said Joseph Fenwicke, after residing for a short time in the said town of Alexandria, sold your petitioner to a certain Joseph Thornton, who now claims your petitioner as his slave; and who contrary to the act of assembly   against the importation of slaves, now claims her in slavery: all which is extremely grievous to your petitioner, who believes herself to be entitled to her freedom, both by the laws of Maryland and Virginia. Wherefore your petitioner humbly prays that your honors will permit her to sue in your honorable court for her freedom in forma pauperis; and that she may for that purpose be [illegible] with the process and protection of the court against the said Joseph Thornton. Your petitioner also prays that your honors will be pleased to assign her counsel and to grant her every favor and priviledge to which the rules of law and the philanthropy of the court may in any wise entitle her. And further your petitioner prays not.

Fanny Smith.

Novr. 19. 1807.