Letitia Davis v. Rebecca Forrest. Petition for Freedom Jennifer Guiliano Trevor Muñoz William G. Thomas III transcription and encoding Kaci L. Nash University of Nebraska-Lincoln University of Maryland National Endowment for the Humanities 2014 O Say Can You See University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Digital Research in the Humanities
319 Love Library University of Nebraska–Lincoln Lincoln, NE 68588-4100 cdrh@unl.edu
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 Petition for Freedom August 16, 1809 Our transcription is based on a digital image of the original. National Archives and Records Administration Record Group 21, Entry 6 Box 34, Folder 194 Case Papers Petition Civil Petition for Freedom June 1811 Davis, Letitia Davis, Rachel Davis, Henry Forrest, Rebecca Hiort, Henry United States. Circuit Court (District of Columbia) Washington (D.C.) transcribed and encoded

To the Honble the Judges of The Circuit Court of The District of Columbia for the County of Washington

The Petition of Læticia or Letty Davis commonly so called

Humbly shewth

That Your Petitioner is entitled to her freedom by birth right. That your Petitioner has a daughter named Rachael, who has a Son named Henry, all of whom together with your Petitioner, are held in Slavery by Rebecca Forrest, who resides within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court; she therefore prays that process may issue against the said Rebecca Forrest, so that Your Petitioner, on behalf of herself, her Child, and Grand Child, may assert their right to be relieved from bondage. And Your Petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray

Læticia commonly called Letty Davis 14 Augt 1809

I undertake to appear as Attorney to prosecute the above claim to freedom. Henry Hiort

113 214. 343. 194

Letty Davis vs Rebecca Forrest

Petition for freedom

Please issue a Summons under the Act of Maryland. H: Hiort

Filed 16th Augt 1809.

Hiort