O Say Can You See

Interrogatories contained in a piece of paper signed Philip B. Key for defts, and proposed to Leonard Boarman

1st In: Did you know Betty commonly called (Mingo) who died in the possession of Mrs. Pile?

Answer I did know Betty commonly called (Mingo) who died in the possession of Mrs. Pile.

2d In: Did she formerly belong to Mr. Wharton who removed from Charles to St Mary's County and how long since, did she formerly belong to John Stone Father of David Stone of Charles County and sold or exchanged for another negro to said Wharton?

Answer She formerly belonged to Mr. Wharton who lived in St. Mary's County but do not know how long since neither do I know that she was belonged to John Stone Father of David Stone of Charles County or that she was sold or exchanged for another Negro to said Wharton.

3d In: In what year did Betty Mingo die and how old was she reputed to be when she died?

Answer I do not know what year she died in. She was upwards of Eighty years old.

4th In: did she have a number of Children, Grandchildren and great grand Children and among them a great number of men and women grown?

Answer I have heard that she left a number of Children Grand Children and Great Grand Children and I knew several of them myself that were grown up.

5th In: Do you know or have you heard that Betty Mingo had any Children while she belonged to John Stone and what were their Names?

Answer. I do not know neither have I heard that Betty Mingo had any Children while she belonged to John Stone.

6th In. Did you know Margaret commonly called Peg who died in the possession of John Sample?

Answer. I did not know her.

 

7th In: When Peg belonged to Semple was she his Cook and House Keeper, intrusted with the care of his House. A Woman who was acquainted with and conversed freely and boldly and was noted by most people of All Ranks who frequented Port Tobacco Town?

Answer I have heard that Semple had a Negro Woman named Peg and that she was the Daughter of Betty Mingo, and that the sd. Peg was Semples Cook. and intrusted with the Care of his House.

8th In: are you acquainted with the Characters of the Family of the petitioner and of those to whome she respectively belonged, if so, have you not heard that these Negroes were remarkable [illegible] for their Intrepidity[?], Independence and understanding, and that their owners were Industrious fed and Cloathed them well and made them work and gave them as much Liberty as usual?

Answer. I was Overlooker for Mrs. Pile's for 13 years who had several of the family of the petitioner and that during that Time the behaved and conducted themselves very well. they were made to work they were fed and Cloathed well and had as much Liberty as usual.

9th In: Have you ever Heard that the Petitioner or any of his family claimed freedom or that they were intitled to it, at what Time did you first hear [strikethrough] such Conversation

Answer I have heard that some of the Family of the Petitioner Claimed their Freedom upwards of forty years ago and while I lived with Mrs. Pile Betty Mingo sold a Horse belonging to her, and gave a Hhd of Tobacco to a Lawer who visited at Mrs. Piles to plead for her Freedom.

10th In: Did you ever hear that this Family Claimed their freedom in any other Way than that set up?

Answer: I have never heard that this Family Claimed their Freedom in any other Way than that set up.

11th In: Has the Petitioner been held in slavery and reputed a Slave were his ancestors by the female side held in slavery and reputed to be slaves and for what length of time.

Answer. The Petitioner and his Ancestors by the female side has been Held in Slavery and   reputed to be Slaves ever since I knew them.

Charles County Sct: May 22d 1792 I hereby Certify that the foregoing Interrogatories and answers thereto given on Oath have been attentively considered by the Deponant and he declares the said Answers to be just and true and these Answers to the questions Interrogatories to which the severally relate according to the best of his recollection and Belief which he further confirms by subscribing his Name thereto.
Leonard Boarman

Sworn & Subscribed Before
Wm. D. Briscoe

Admitted to be read in Evidence
G Duvall for petr.
Philip B Key for Defdt.