O Say Can You See

To the honourable the Judges of the General Court,

The petition of Rebecca Butler humbly sheweth that she is held as a slave by Mary Shervin of Charles County, although she is intitled to her freedom being descended from a free woman. Your petitioner is the daughter of Jane Butler who was the daughter of Eleanor Butler a free woman. She therefore prayeth that your honours would take her call into consideration and discharge her from the custody of the aforesaid Mary Shervin, and that summonses may Issue for her witnesses, and so forth

G. Duvall for petitioner