O Say Can You See

The petition of George Hunter, a person of color, humbly sheweth to your Honors that your petitioner was introduced into the State of Maryland from the State of Virginia several years since by a certain William M. Offutt, then being a citizen of the State of Maryland: and that by the noncompliance of the said Offutt with the requisitions of the Act of Assembly of Maryland in which case[?] made and provided, your petitioner has become intitled to his freedom. And your petitioner humbly sheweth that he is credibly informed & verily believes that the said Offutt conspiring with one Zadock Offutt (who likewise claims some interest in your petitioner) to defraud him of his rights, designs to transfer him to some far distant state, where, cut off from all means of establishing his right freedom, he will be doomed to a hopeless slavery for life. To[?] avert which cruel fate, your petitioner humbly prays the judgment of this Honorable Court that he be released from further[?] [illegible].

Clement Cox for the Petitioner