O Say Can You See

To the honourable the Judges of the General Court.

The petition of Ignatius Butler humbly sheweth, that he is held as a Slave by Joseph Siems of Montgomery County, although he is intitled to his freedom, being descended from a free woman whose name was Eleanor Butler. Your Petitioner is the son of [strikethrough] Rebecca Butler who was the daughter of Jane Butler who was the daughter of Eleanor Butler aforesaid a free white woman. He therefore prays, your honours to take his case into consideration, and discharge him from the custody of the said Joseph Seems and that summonses may Issue for his Witnesses and so forth.

G. Duvall for Petr.