Maria Watts v. Raphael Semmes. Petition for Freedom Jennifer Guiliano Trevor Muñoz William G. Thomas III transcription and encoding Steph N. Camerone Kaci L. Nash Laura K. Weakly 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
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 Petition for Freedom September 2, 1845 Our transcription is based on a digital image of the original. National Archives and Records Administration Record Group 21, Entry 6 Box 705, Folder 132 Case Papers Petition Civil Petition for Freedom March 1847 Washington County (D.C.) Washington (D.C.) Watts, Maria Semmes, Raphael Coxe, Richard S. (Richard Smith), 1792-1865 Ratcliffe, Daniel United States. Circuit Court (District of Columbia) Washington (D.C.) added xml:ids reviewed; edited encoded

To the Honorable the Judges of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia, for the County of Washington

The petition of Maria Watts respectfully sheweth to your Honors that she is now held in unlawful custody as a slave by Raphael Semmes of said County of Washington and that in fact your petitioner is free and your petitioner prays your Honors to take into consideration her case and hear and determine the same, and to grant the U S writ of subpoena directed to the said Semmes. And your petitioner will ever pray &c.

R S Cox & D Ratcliffe atty for Petr

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Maria Watts vs Raphael Semmes

Pet. for freedom

Filed 2d. Sep. 1845