O Say Can You See

Know all men by these presents that we Arthur P. West, of Prince Georges County in the state of Maryland and James D. Kerr and Norman R. Fitzhugh of the Town of Alexandria in the District of Columbia are held and firmly bound unto the United States of America in the sum of Sixteen hundred dollars to which payment well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, our heirs, Executors and Administrators jointly and severally firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals and dated this 16th day of November 1827.

Whereas Negroes Hannah, and her child Rebecca and Milly, Arnold, Sophia, Hannah a child, Peggy and William now in the actual possession of Arthur P. West who her claims as his property and slaves have obtained permission from the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia for the County of Alexandria to bring suit in said Court in forma pauperum for the recovery of their freedom. Now in the said Arthur P. West shall suffer the said Petitioners herein before named to appear before the said Court and prosecute their suit and shall also have the said petitioners forthcoming before the Court to answer the Judgment of the said Court in said suit, then the above obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in force

A. P. West (seal)
Jas D. Kerr (seal)
N. R. Fitzhugh (seal)

Signed, Sealed and delivered in presence of
Edm: J Lee