O Say Can You See

The petition of negro Nathan Jackson respectfully sheweth:

That yr. petitioner is entitled to his freedom, & is held as a slave for life by one James Esling, who as yr. petitioner verily believes is about to convey or cause yr. petitioner, to be conveyed out of the District of Columbia to some distant place to yr. petitioner unknown. Yr. petitioner therefore prays yr. Honors to grant him the writ of subpoena directed to the Marshal of the District of Columbia, to be served on the said James Esling, requiring him that he be and appear before this Honorable Court about the next to answer the complaint of yr. petitioner in the premises & he will pray.

Gilbert L. Giberson
for petitioner