O Say Can You See

To the honourable the Judges of the General Court.

The petition of Henrietta Butler humbly sheweth that she is held as a Slave by Edward Hamilton of Charles County altho' she is intitled to her freedom, being defended from a free woman, whose name was Eleanor Butler. Your petitioner is the daughter of Anne Butler, who is the daughter of Henrietta Butler, who was the daughter of Anne Butler, who was the daughter of Eleanor Butler aforesaid a free woman. She therefore prays, your honours to take her Case into Consideration and discharge her from the Custody of the said Edward Hamilton, and that summons may issue for her witnesses and so forth

G Duvall for Petitioner