China v. Benjamin D. Patterson. 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 2016 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
oscys.case.0378.001 oscys.caseid.0403 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Derivatives must be credited to O Say Can You See, made available non-commercially, and distributed under the same terms. Requests for permission for commercial publication or other use should be emailed to the project team.

 Petition for Freedom Our transcription is based on a digital image of the original. Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia Local Government Records Collection, Arlington County Court Records Arlington County (Va.) Judgments (Freedom Suits), 1795-1858, Box 1 Case Papers Petition Civil Petition for Freedom November 1811 Carson, Nehemiah Patterson, William Maryland Alexandria County (Va.) Charles County (Md.) Alexandria (Va.) Washington (D.C.) Verdict for Defendant China Patterson, Benjamin D. Taylor, Robert I. United States. Circuit Court (District of Columbia) Alexandria (Washington, D.C.) added xml:ids reviewed transcribed, encoded

To the Honorable Judges of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia sitting at Alexandria

Your Petitioner China a woman of Colour begs leave to represent. that she was born and brought up in the State of Maryland where she resided until about four years ago. that at that time she was brought into the County of Alexandria by one Benjamin D Patterson claiming her as his property. that the said Patterson antecedently to his removal into the said County of Alexandria was a citizen and resident of the said State of Maryland. that your Petitioner since her importation into the said County of Alexandria has continued there for four years in the service of the said Patterson. and that the said Patterson never has taken the oath required by Law on such importation. your Petitioner is advised that under the circumstances aforesaid she is entitled to her freedom. But is still detained in slavery by the said Patterson. Your Petitioner therefore prays that she may be permitted to sue in forma pauperis for the purpose of establishing her right to her freedom. and that Counsel may be assigned & yr Petitioner &c

China

Negroe China "a Pauper" vs Alexander Benjamin D. Patterson

Peto.

1809. November Term 25th. Peto. filed & Rob. I. Taylor assigned as Counsel to report a Statemt. of Facts. 27th day Statemt. of Facts reported & leave Granted to commence a suit in forma pauperis for her freedom & Rob. I. Taylor esqr assigned her as Counsel & ord: that she be Committed to the Custody of the Marhsal, until the deft gives bond in $400. to have her for the J to ansr. Jud: Ct.

1810 Jany Narro filed & Not Guilty Jd.

November Term 3d day Affidavit filed & on Defts: motion as Deds. is awarded to take the Depo. of Wm Patterson to be directed to any two Justices of the Peace of Charles County Maryland

November Term 23d day Continued

1811. November Term 16th day Jury sworn & Verdict for Defendant & Judgment accordingly.

Tay: Sw:

We of the Jury find for the Defendant Nehemh Carson Fman