O Say Can You See

To the honourable the Judges of the General Court

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

G. Duvall for petitioner