O Say Can You See

To the honourable the Judges of the General Court

The petition of Jarrard Butler humbly shews that he is held as a slave by Robert Lawson of Charles County, although he is intitled to his freedom being descended from a free woman. Your petitioner is the son of Agnes Eleanor 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. He therefore prayeth that your honours would take his case into consideration and discharge him from the custody of Robert Lawson and that summonses may Issue for his Witesses and so forth.

G. Duvall for petitioner