O Say Can You See

The Petition of Negroe Joe humbly sheweth that your Petitioner is a free man agreeably to the laws & is unjustly held in bondage by a certain George Chapman who claims your Petitioner as a slave. Your Petitioner therefore prays to be discharged from his said servitude, & that a subpoena may issue to the said George Chapman commanding him to appear before your Honours & answer to the premisses; & your Petitioner being prepared to prove his said claim to freedom prays your Honors that the same may be duly enquired into & that he may be granted such relief in the premisses as to your Honors may seem just &c

F S Key for Petr.