Maria Hughes, Daniel Hughes, Frank Hughes, and Lydia Hughes v. Henry Dickinson. Judgment Record.
Maria, Daniel, Frank
and Lydia Hughes
against
Henry Dickinson
Be it remembered that at September Term
Anno Domini Seventeen hundred and eighty
seven, on the thirteenth day of the same Month,
the following Petition for freedom was by Robert
Wright attorney for the said Maria, Daniel, Frank
and Lydia Hughes preferred to the Court here to wit. "To the Honourable the Judges
of the General Court. The Petition of Bridget alias Maria Hughes Daniel Hughes
Frank Hughes and Lydia Hughes most most humbly sheweth that they are unlawfully
detained as Slaves by a certain Henry Dickinson of Caroline County
Your Petitioners therefore pray that a Subpoena may issue against the said Henry
Dickinson to appear at this Court to shew cause if any he hath why he detains
your said Petitioners in Slavery, and do therein what to your honours may
seem just & right and as &c.
Robert Wright pro peters
Daniel Hughes Frank Hughes Lydia Hughes"
Which Petition being read and granted it was ordered by the Court here that
of April then next whereupon command was given to the Sheriff of Caroline
County to summon Henry Dickinson, that all excuses and delays set aside he be
a Subpoena be issued for the said Henry Dickinson to appear on the second Tuesday
of April then next, whereupon command was given to the Sheriff of Caroline
County to summon Henry Dickinson, that all excuses and delays set aside he be
and appear before the Judges of our Genl. Court on the secondary Tuesday of April then
next, to answer the Petition of Maria, Daniel Frank and Lydia Hughes preferred agt.
him for freedom and that he should have then and there that writ summons.
At which said second Tuesday of April in the year Seventeen hundred and eighty
eight here came the said Petitioners by their Attorney aforesaid and the Sheriff of
Caroline County aforesaid to whom the said summons was directed came and
made return that he could not summon the said Henry Dickinson as by the
said Subpoena he was commanded; and thereupon it was again ordered by the
Court here, that the another Subpoena should be issued for the said Henry to be and
appear before the Judges of our said Court on the second Tuesday of September, then next
to answer and soforth as above: Whereupon command was given to the Sheriff
of Caroline County to summon Henry Dickinson, that all excuses and delays be
set aside, he be and appear before the Judges of our said General Court on the second
Tuesday of September then next; to answer to the Petition of Maria, Daniel, Frank
and Lydia Hughes, preferred against him for freedom. and that the said sheriff
should have then and there that subpoena. At which said second Tuesday of
September in the year seventeen hundred and eighty eight, here come again the said
Petitioners by their Attorney aforesaid; and the Sheriff of Caroline County aforesaid
to whom the same Subpoena was directed came and made return to the Court here
that he had summoned the said Henry as by the same Subpoena he was commanded;
and thereupon came into court the said Henry Dickinson by Gustavus Scott and
Luther Martin his Attorneys: Whereupon day was given by the Court here to the said
Parties, to hear the alegations and evidence as well on the part and behalf of the said
Petitioners; as the said Henry until the second Tuesday of April then next following.
And now here at this day to wit, the said second Tuesday of April, in the year One thousand seven hundred and eighty nine come again the Parties afd by their Attorneys af'd, and upon hearing the Petition, the allegations of each Party, and the Testimony by each adduced it is considered by the Court that the Petitioners are not entitled to their Freedom and therefore they are remanded again to the service of their master Henry Dickinson.
James Earle Clk:
Judgment was rendered in this action on the 6th day of May Anno Domini 1789.
