Maria Watts v. Raphael Semmes. Petition for Freedom
To the Honorable the Judges of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia, for the County of Washington
The petition of Maria Watts respectfully sheweth to your Honors that she is now held in unlawful custody as a slave by Raphael Semmes of said County of Washington and that in fact your petitioner is free and your petitioner prays your Honors to take into consideration her case and hear and determine the same, and to grant the U S writ of subpoena directed to the said Semmes. And your petitioner will ever pray &c.
R S Cox & D Ratcliffe
atty for Petr
217
Maria Watts
vs
Raphael Semmes
Pet. for freedom
Filed 2d. Sep. 1845
