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Thomas Butler & Sarah his wife and others
vs.
Gabriel Duvall
Petition for Freedom in the Circuit Court, district of Columbia
The interrogatories hereto annexed touching the above case, were severally propounded to me by David Steiner Esq. a justice of the peace in & for Frederick County & State of Maryland, and the following answers are true to the best of my recollection, knowledge and belief.
To 1st Interrogatory on the part of the defendant.
My answer is, that I first became acquainted with the petitioners Thomas Butler and Sarah his wife in the year 1803. they were hired by John Dells or Dales to my husband Christian Getzendanner for about one year. I do not know Gabriel Duvall the above named defendant. I have not known the said petitioners since they left my husband. which was in the year 1804.
To 2d Interrogatory on the part of the defendant.
My answer is, that I first became acquainted with John Dales in the year 1803, when he lived with my husband in the capacity of Bar-keeper, for about one year. I did not know John Dales when he resided in Montgomery County: John Dales lived about one year in the year 1803, with my husband in George Town in the capacity of Bar-keeper. The said John Dales during the time he lived with my husband in George Town, during the year 1803, had and owned the said Thomas Butler and Sarah his wife as his slaves and hired them to my husband as his slaves. I understood that John Dales had lived in George Town for a considerable time before I am my husband went there to live. This I understood when we first went there to live.
To 3d Interrogatory on the part of the defendant.
My answer is, that I do not know. I believe Mr. Dales came to George Town to reside before I did. I found him there.
To 4th Interrogatory on the part of the defendant. My answer is, that John Dales lived in George Town in the year 1803 and for some time before but I cannot recollect how long. His occupation was that of Bar-keeper for my husband for one year the year 1803 and after that my husband sold him his grocery store, which he attended to her his occupation
To 5th Interrogatory on the part of the Defendant.
My answer is, that I did not know John Dales, when he was tenant to Mrs. Thompson nor when he was tenant to Matthew Kennedy, nor when he lived with Flaut. I knew him when he lived with Christian Getzendanner in the year 1803, and I believe he lived with William Duvall in the year 1804, after I left George Town. John Dales was not engaged in partnership with my husband Christian Getzendanner in a grocery store, but had the entire ownership of the said grocery store, my husband having sold the store to him.
To 6th Interrogatory on the part of the defendant.
My answer is, that John Dales owned Thomas Butler and Sarah his wife as slaves during all the time that I knew him as before stated. I do not know whether he ever hired said slaves in Montgomery County or in George Town. Except to my husband Christian Getzendanner as before stated.
To 7th Interrogatory on the part of the Defendant.
My answer is that I know nothing more than I have already stated.
To 1st Interrogatory on the part of the petitioners
My answer is, I do not know.
To 2d Interrogatory on the part of the petitioners
My answer is, I do not know whether the said John Dales ever sold the said petitioners to Gabriel Duvall.
To 3d Interrogatory on the part of the petitioners
My answer is I do not know.
Novr 23d 1830
her
Mary + Getzendanner
mark
Signed in presence of David Steiner
State of Maryland
Frederick County Sct
On this 23d day of Novr 1830, before the subscriber a justice of the peace in and for said county, personally appears Mary Getzendanner above named and makes oath on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God that the several matters and things stated in her several answers to the preceding interrogatories are true to the best of her recollection, knowledge and belief.
Sworn before
David Steiner
Maryland Frederick County Sct
In Testimony that David Steiner Gentleman before whom the foregoing affidavit is was made and whose name is thereto subscribed was at the time thereof a Justice of the Peace for the State of Maryland in and for Frederick County aforesaid duly Commissioned and Sworn.
In Testimony whereof I hereunto Subscribe my name and affix the Seal of Frederick County Court this 24 November 1830.
John