O Say Can You See

Be it remembered that heretofore to wit, on the twentieth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety two; Jenny Shorter by Gabriel Duvall his attorney preferred and filed in the General Court here her petition for Freedom against Eleanor Bradford which is in form following to wit.

To the honourable the Judges of the General Court. The Petition of Jenny Shorter Humbly sheweth that she is held in slavery by Eleanor Bradford of Prince Georges County, and she is advised that she is entitled to her freedom, being descended in the female Line from a free white woman named Elizabeth Shorter she therefore prays your honours the premises being considered, that she may be liberated from the Custody of the said Eleanor Bradford and she as in duty bound will pray & soforth.

G. Duvall for Peto

Whereupon in pursuance of the rule of the Court here in such cases made   made and provided the said Jenny Shorter by her attorney aforesaid on the day and year aforesaid prosecuted and sued forth out of the General Court here the writ of the State of Maryland of Subpoena ad respondendum against the said Eleanor Bradford directed to the sheriff of Prince Georges County in form following to wit.

The State of Maryland Sc. To the sheriff of Prince Georges County Greeting. You are hereby commanded, that you summon Eleanor Bradford late of Prince Georges County that all excuses and delays set aside she be and appear before the General Court to be held at the City of Annapolis on the second tuesday of May next to answer the Petition of Jenny Shorter prefered against her for Freedom. Hereof she is not to fail and fail not at your peril and have you then and there this writ. Witness the honorable Samuel Chase Esquire Chief Judge of the said Court the 14th day of February Anno Domini 1792.

Issued the 20th day of March 1792. GD. Jno Gwinn Clk.

At which said second Tuesday of May being the Eighth day of the said month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety two and the day of the return of the aforegoing Summons comes into the General Court here the said Jenny Shorter by her attorney aforesaid; and the sheriff of Prince Georges County aforesaid, to whom the said summons was in form aforesaid directed makes return thereof to the Court here thus Endorsed to wit. Summoned Wm. D. Beall Shff Nevertheless comes not into the General Court here the said Eleanor Bradford nor does she in any manner appear or make answer to the Petition aforesaid of the said Jenny Shorter preferred against her the said Eleanor Bradford, for Freedom, pursuant to the Command of the summons aforesaid Whereupon on motion of the said Jenny Shorter by her attorney aforesaid, it is ordered by the Court here that the said writ of the State of Maryland of Attachment issue forth out of the General Court here against the said Eleanor Bradford to answer unto the State of Maryland for the contempt aforesaid, which is issued accordingly, directed to the sheriff of Prince Georges County in form following to wit. The State of Maryland sc. To the sheriff of Prince Georges County Greeting. You are hereby commanded, that you attach the body of Eleanor   Eleanor Bradford late of Prince Georges County and her have before the General Court to be held at the City of Annapolis on the second tuesday of October next to answer unto the State of Maryland touching a certain Contempt by her committed in not appearing to answer the Petition of Jenny Shorter in the said Court preferred against her for freedom after being thereto legally summoned hereof fail not at your peril and have then & there this writ. Witness the honourable Samuel Chase Esquire Chief Judge of the said Court the 31st day of May Anno Domini 1792.

Issued the 19th day of June 1792. L Martin Jno Gwinn Clk.

Thereupon the same day is given to the said Jenny Shorter then and there and soforth.

At which said second Tuesday of October being the ninth day of the said month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety two, and the day of the return of the aforegoing attachment comes again into the General Court here the said Jenny Shorter by her attorney aforesaid; and the sheriff of Prince George County aforesaid to whom the said Attachment was in form aforesaid directed makes return thereof to the Court here thus endorsed to wit. Not Attached. Wm. D. Beall Shff.

And the said Eleanor Bradford comes not into the General Court here Whereupon on motion of the said Jenny Shorter by her attorney aforesaid it is ordered by the Court here that the writ of the State of Maryland of Attachment again issued forth out of the General Court here against the said Eleanor Bradford to answer unto the State of Maryland for the Contempt of aforesaid which is issued accordingly directed to the sheriff of Prince Georges County aforesaid in the manner and form aforesaid; returnable to the Court here on the second Tuesday of May next. Thereupon the same day is given to the said Jenny Shorter then and there and so forth.

At which said second Tuesday of May being the fourteenth day of the same month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety three and the day of the return of the aforegoing Attachment comes again into the General Court here the said Jenny Shorter by her attorney aforesaid; and the sheriff of Prince Georges County aforesaid, to whom the said Attachment was in form aforesaid directed makes return thereof to the Court here thus Endorsed to wit. Not Attached Wm. D. Beall Shff.

And the said Eleanor Bradford comes not into the General Court here: Whereupon on motion of the said Jenny Shorter by her attorney   attorney aforesaid it is ordered by the Court here that the writ of the State of Maryland of Attachment again issue forth out of the General Court here again the said Eleanor Bradford to answer unto the State of Maryland for the contempt aforesaid which is issued accordingly directed to the sheriff of Prince Georges County aforesaid in the manner and form aforesaid; returnable to the Court here on the second Tuesday of October next, Thereupon the same day is given to the said Jenny Shorter then and there and so forth.

At which said second Tuesday of October being the Eighth day of the said month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety three and the day of the return of the aforegoing attachment comes again into the General Court here the said Jenny Shorter by her attorney aforesaid; and the sheriff of Prince Georges County aforesaid to whom the said Attachment was in form aforesaid directed makes return thereof to the Court here thus endorsed to wit.

Not Attached. Wm. D Beall Shff.

And the said Eleanor Bradford come not into the General Court here; Whereupon on motion of the said Jenny Shorter by her attorney aforesaid it is ordered by the Court here that the writ of the State of Maryland of Attachment again issue forth out of the General Court here against the said Eleanor Bradford to answer unto the State of Maryland for the Contempt aforesaid which is issued accordingly directed to the sheriff of Prince Georges County aforesaid in the manner and form aforesaid returnable to the Court here on the second Tuesday of May next; Thereupon the same day is given to the said Jenny Shorter then and there and so forth.

At which said second Tuesday of May being the thirteenth day of the said month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety four and the day of the return of the aforegoing attachment comes again into the General Court here. Whereupon on motion of the said Jenny Shorter by her attorney aforesaid it is ordered by the Court here that the writ of the State of Maryland of Attachment again issued forth out of the General Court here against the said Eleanor Bradford to answer unto the State of Maryland for the Contempt aforesaid which is issued accordingly   accordingly, directed to the sheriff of Prince Georges County aforesaid in the manner and form aforesaid; returnable to the Court here on the second Tuesday of October next; Thereupon the same day is given the said Jenny Shorter then and there and so forth.

At which said second Tuesday of October being the fourteenth day of the same month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety four and the day of the return of the aforegoing attachment comes again into the General Court here the said Jenny Shorter by her attorney aforesaid; and the sheriff of Prince Georges County aforesaid to whom the said Attachment was in form aforesaid directed makes return thereof to the Court here thus endorsed to wit. Not attached. Wm. D. Beall Shff.

And the said Eleanor Bradford comes not into the General Court here: Whereupon on motion of the said Jenny Shorter by her attorney aforesaid, it is ordered by the Court here that the writ of the State of Maryland of Attachment again issued forth out of the General Court here against the said Eleanor Bradford to answer unto the State of Maryland for the Contempt aforesaid which is issued accordingly directed to the sheriff of Prince Georges County aforesaid in the manner and form aforesaid returnable to the Court here on the second tuesday of May next; Thereupon the same day is given to the said Jenny Shorter then and there and so forth.

At which said second tuesday of May being the twelfth day of the same month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety five and the day of the return of the aforegoing attachment comes again into the General Court here the said Jenny Shorter by her attorney aforesaid; and the sheriff of Prince Georges County aforesaid to whom the said Attachment was in form aforesaid directed makes return thereof to the Court here thus Endorsed to wit. Not Attached. William D. Beall Shff.

And the said Eleanor Bradford comes not into the General Court here: Whereupon on motion of the said Jenny Shorter by her attorney aforesaid it is ordered by the Court here that the writ of the State of Maryland of Attachment again issued forth out of the General Court here against the said Eleanor Bradford to answer unto the State of Maryland for the Contempt aforesaid which is issued accordingly directed to the sheriff of Prince Georges County aforesaid in the manner and form aforesaid; returnable to the Court here on the second Tuesday of October next. Thereupon the same day is given to the   the said Jenny Shorter then and there and so forth.

And now at this day to wit, the said second Tuesday of October being the thirteenth day of the said month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety five, and the day of the return of the last aforementioned Attachment, comes again into the General Court here, the said Jenny Shorter by her attorney aforesaid And the sheriff of Prince Georges County aforesaid to whom the said Attachment was in form aforesaid directed, makes no return thereof to the Court here, Nevertheless comes into the General Court here the said Eleanor Bradford by Philip Barton Key her attorney. And the said Jenny Shorter by her attorney aforesaid, files in Court here the deposition of Terry Shorter which is in form following towit.

The Deposition of Terry Shorter aged fifty Eight years being sworn on the holy evangely of Almighty God deposeth and saith that she knows Teresa Shorter who petitioned against Joseph Boarman and has known her eighteen or nineteen years; that she is sister of Charity Shorter who obtained her freedom against Ignatius Matthews, and also a Sister of Basil Shorter who petitioned against Charles Carroll and obtained his freedom. That Robert Shorter who petitioned against Mary Neale now Mary Simms by Intermarriage with Robert Simms, is also a brother of Basil who petitioned against Charles Carroll, being the son of Lucy Shorter who formerly belonged to William Neale near Port Tobacco. That Jim Shorter who petitioned against Mrs Bradford is also son of Lucy aforesaid and brother of Basil who obtained his freedom against Charles Carroll. That Stephen Shorter who petitioned against John Boarman is son of Jenny who petitioned against Mrs. Bradford which Jenny is full sister of this deponent and this deponent obtained her freedom against Mrs Chunn. That Anne Shorter who petitioned against Raphael Boarman is also a daughter of this deponents Sister Jenny aforesaid. That Monica Shorter who petitioned against Edward Hazle is the daughter of Jenny Shorter who belonged to Henry Neale of St. Mary County, which Jenny is sister of Basil who obtained his freedom against Charles Carroll. That Priscilla Shorter who petitioned against John Smith is daughter of Appy and sister of George Shorter who petitioned against Henry Neale. That Baptist who petitioned against the said John   John Smith is son of the said Priscilla. That Ignatius Shorter who petitioned against John Fenwick is the son of Nanny Shorter which Nanny is aunt of this deponent and this deponent knew Nanny ever since she the said Nanny was a Child, and she is about five years younger than the deponent that Nanny was the daughter of Patty Shorter who belonged to old John Lancaster and was a grand mother of this deponent; that she had understood that said Nanny is now in Kentucky with Mr. Fenwick who claims Nase. That Phillis Shorter who has petitioned against Mary Boarman is daughter of this deponents Sister Jenny who petitioned against Mrs Bradford, and Letty who has petitioned against the said Mary Boarman is daughter of said Phillis. That Thomas Shorter who belongs to Richard Jordan she has always understood was son of the deponents mother, and Bettys mother was the deponents mother, and Betty was many years younger than the deponent and the deponent knew her ever since she the said Betty was a child, being both born in the same family. That when the deponent went to see her mother and her sister at John Smiths on Patuxent the said Tom was a boy and appeared to be about six or seven years old, that the deponents mother Nelly was then sick at Mr Smiths and died of that Illness; that this deponent had never seen the said Tom but once before that, she then seemed to be about two years old; that her said Sister Beatty was then big with her next Child, and Tom always past for Betty child and she never heard it contradicted or questioned. That Clem Shorter who petitioned against Raphael Neale is about three years older than Tom and she has known Clem ever since she knew Tom having first seen them at the same time, and Clem always past as the son of the deponents Sister Betty aforesaid and she never heard it contradicted, and he was owned by Betty as her child. That Ignatius Shorter who petitioned against Henry Howell is brother of this Deponent and son of her mother Nelly and the deponent has known him ever since he was a Child. That Gerard Shorter who petitioned against Mary Boarman is son of this deponents sister Jenny who petitioned against Mrs Bradford. That Patty Shorter who has petitioned against Thomas Stone this deponent has known ever since she was a Child, she is daughter of Betty who was aunt of this deponent and sister of this deponent's Mother Nelly and was always reputed as such and she never heard it contradicted; the said Betty was daughter of Patty who belonged to old John Lancaster as the deponent always understood   understood and never heard it contradicted.

Sworn this 17th day of October 1795 before Jno Randall

Taken before John T. Mason and Gabriel Duvall.

Whereupon all and singular the premises between the parties aforesaid by the Court here being seen, heard and fully understood and mature deliberation thereupon had, for that it appears to the Court here, that the said Jenny Shorter the petitioner aforesaid is entitled to her freedom, being descended, in the female line from a free White woman named Elizabeth Shorter as she by her petition to the Court here hath alledged, therefore it is considered by the Court here, that the said Jenny Shorter the petitioner aforesaid, be free and discharged of and from the service of the aforesaid Eleanor Bradford and that she the said Jenny Shorter the petitioner aforesaid, go thereof without day &c. It is further considered by the Court here, that the said Jenny Shorter the petitioner aforesaid, recover against the said Eleanor Bradford the quantity of six hundred and ninety seven pounds of Tobacco by the Court here unto her the said Jenny Shorter on her assent adjudged for her costs and charges by her about the prosecution of her petition aforesaid laid out and expended, and that she have thereof her execution, &c.

Test John Gwinn Clk.