Thomas Butler v. Gabriel Duvall. Petition for Freedom
To the Honble The Judges of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia for the County of Washington
The several petitions of Thomas Butler & Sarah his wife, Matilda; Airey, Reason, & Sally children of said Thomas & Sarah and Liddy & Eliza grand children of said Thomas & Sarah the two last by said Thomas their grand father and next friend respectfully and humbly sets forth to your honors that they are persons of colour who are entitled to their freedom and who are now held in a state of slavery by one Gabriel Duval contrary to law & to your petitioners just & legal rights and that they are about to be sold into slavery out of this district to some foreign purchasers wherefor they severally pray your Honors to grant them such to relief as they may be lawfully entitled to and such process of your honorable court against the said Gabriel Duvall as is usual in such cases to compel the attendance of the said Gabriel in your honorable court to answer this petition and to enter the usual security and recognizance not to remove your petitioners or any of them out of the jurisdiction of your Honorable Court & they as in duty bound will ever pray &c
Robert Beale
District of Columbia
Washington County ss
Appears before me a Justice of the Peace in & for this County. The Person above named & [illegible] in this Petition and made oath in due form of Law to the facts therein stated.
Given under my hand & Seal this 10 June 1828
Jno Chalmers (seal)
18
App to Decr. 1828
Thomas Butler & others
vs
Gabriel Duvall
Mr Brent will please file this petition & issue the necessary process
Filed 2nd June 1828
