O Say Can You See

To the honourable The Judges of the General Court

The petition of Electius Butler humbly sheweth That he is held in slavery by Bennett Posey of Charles County altho he is entitled to his freedom being descended from a free white woman whose name was Eleanor Butler. Your petitioner is the son of Teresa Butler who was the daughter of a daughter of the said Eleanor Butler. He therefore prays your Honours to take his Case into Consideration & discharge him from the Custody of the said Bennett Posey; & that summons may issue for the Witnesses & soforth.

G. Duvall for Petr