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Lucy Shorter and her Five Children Charles, Will, Gerrard, Abby, and Henny
against
Henry Neale
Be it remembered that heretofore to wit, on the Eleventh day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety two; Lucy Shorter for herself and her five
To the honourable the Judges of the General Court. The Petition of Lucy Shorter humbly sheweth; that she with her five Children, Charles, Will Gerrard, Abby, and Henny are held in slavery by Henry Neale of St Marys County; and she is advised that they are entitled to their Freedom being descended in the female line from a free white woman named Elizabeth Shorter. She therefore prays you honours the premises being considered to discharge them from the Custody of the said Henry Neale; if she should prove their descent as aforesaid and that summons may issue for the said Henry Neale to answer this petition, and she will pray and so forth. G. Duvall for the Petr.
Whereupon in pursuance of the rule and order of the Court here in such case made on the Eleventh Day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety two the said Lucy Shorter for herself and her six children, Charles, Will, Gerrard, Abby and Henny by her attorney aforesaid, prosecuted and sued forth out of the General Court here, the writ of the State of Maryland of Subpoena ad respondendum against the said Henry Neale directed to the sheriff of Charles County in form following to wit.
The State of Maryland Sct To the sheriff of Saint Mary's County Greeting. We command you that you summons Henry Neale late of Saint Marys County that all excuses and delays set a side he be and appear before the Judges of our General to be held at the City of Annapolis on the second Tuesday of May next, to answer unto the petition of Lucy Shorter and her five Children Charles Will Gerrard, Abby and Henny, preferred against him for freedom. Hereof he is not to fail and fail not at your peril and have you then and there this writ. Witness the honourable Samuel Chase Esquire Chief Judge of our said Court the 14th day of February Anno Domini 1792. Issued the 11th day of April 1792. GD. Jno Gwinn Clk.
At which said second Tuesday of May being the Eighth day of the said month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety two, come and the day of the return of the aforegoing Summons, comes into the General Court here the said Lucy Shorter for herself and her five Children Charles, Will, Gerrard,
Summoned. F. Hammersley Shff.
Whereupon comes into the General Court here the said Henry Neale by Philip Barton Key his attorney; And thereupon further process of and upon the premises aforesaid between the parties aforesaid, between the parties aforesaid, by order of the Court here is continued until the second Tuesday of October next, the same day is given to the parties aforesaid, then and so forth.
At which said second Tuesday of October being the ninth day of the said month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninth two, come again into the General Court here the as well the said Lucy Shorter for herself and her five Children, Charles, Will, Gerrard, Abby and Henny by her attorney aforesaid as the said Henry Neale by his attorney aforesaid; And the parties aforesaid by their attornies aforesaid agree that all depositions taken in this case on ten days notice to the petitioner or defendants Council before a justice of the peace shall be received and read in evidence
At which said second Tuesday of May being the fourteenth day of the said month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety three, come again into the General Court here as well the said Lucy Shorter for herself and her five children, Charles, Will, Gerrard, Abby and Henny by her attorney aforesaid, as the said Henry Neale by his attorney
At which said second Tuesday of October being the Eighth day of the said month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety three come again into the General Court here the said Lucy Shorter for herself and her five children, Charles, Will Gerrard and Abby, and Henny by her attorney aforesaid, as the said Henry Neale by his attorney aforesaid; Thereupon further process of and upon the premises aforesaid between the parties aforesaid by order of the Court here is further continued until the second Tuesday of May next; the same day is given to the said parties then and so forth.
At which said second Tuesday of May being the thirteenth day of the said month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety four come again into the General Court here the said as well the said Lucy Shorter for herself and her five children Charles, Will, Gerrard, Abby and Henny, by her attorney aforesaid as the said Henry Neale by his attorney aforesaid; Thereupon further process of and upon the premises aforesaid, between the parties aforesaid by order the Court here is further continued until the second Tuesday of October next, the same day is given to the said parties then and so forth.
At which said second tuesday of October being the fourteenth day of the same month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety four come again into the General Court here as well the said Lucy Shorter for herself and her five children, Charles, Will, Gerrard, Abby, and Henny, by her attorney aforesaid as the said Henry Neale by his attorney aforesaid; Thereupon further process of and upon the premises aforesaid between the parties aforesaid, by order of the Court here is further continued until the second Tuesday of May next, the same day is given to the said parties then and so forth.
At which said second Tuesday of May being the twelfth day of the said month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety five, come again into the General Court here as well the said Lucy Shorter for herself and her six children Charles, Will, Gerrard, Abby, and Henny by her attorney aforesaid, as the
And now at this day to wit, the said second Tuesday of October being the thirteenth day of the said month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety five, come again into the General Court here as well the said Lucy Shorter for herself and her five Children, Charles, Will, Gerrard, Abby and Henny by her attorney aforesaid, as the said Henry Neale by his attorney aforesaid; And the said Lucy Shorter for herself and her five Children Charles, Will, Gerrard, Abby and Henny by her attorney aforesaid files in Court here sundry depositions which are in form following, to wit.
Teresa Shorter
against
Joseph Boarman
The deposition of Terry Shorter aged fifty Eight years being sworn on the holy evangely of Almighty God deposeth and saith that she knows Teresa Shorter who petitioned against Joseph Boarman and has known her eighteen or nineteen years that she is sister of Charity Shorter who obtained her freedom against Ignatius Matthews and also a Sister of Basil Shorter who petitioned against Charles Carroll and obtained his freedom. That Robert Shorter who petitioned against Mary Neale now Mary Simms by intermarriage with Robert Simms, is also a brother of Basil who petitioned against Charles Carroll being the son Lucy Shorter who formerly belonged to William Neale near Port Tobacco. That Jim Shorter who petitioned against Mrs Bradford is also son of Lucy aforesaid and brother of Basil who obtained his freedom against Charles Carroll. That Stephen Shorter who petitioned against John Boarman is son of Jenny who petitioned against Mrs Bradford which Jenny is full sister of this deponent and this deponent obtained her freedom against Mrs Chunn. That Anne Shorter who petitioned against Raphael Boarman is also a daughter of this deponents Sister Jenny aforesaid. That Monica Shorter who petitioned against Edward Hazle is the daughter of Jenny Shorter who belonged to
Sworn this 17th day of October 1795. before, Jno Randall Taken before John T. Mason and Gabriel Duvall.
Priscilla Shorter
against
John Smith
Sarah Butler of Anne Arundel County aged fifty three years and upwards being sworn on the holy Evangely of Almighty God deposeth and saith that she knows Priscilla Shorter now present and has known her ever since she was born; that they were both born in the family of Henry Neale deceased who was son of Roswell Neale; the said Priscilla Shorter is daughter of Appy Shorter now deceased; the deponent Appy well she belonged to the said Henry Neale; that Appy has been dead about nineteen years; that she had Eleven Children to wit, Henny, Joshua, Anthony, Jenny, Shadrack, George, Nelly Peter Prissy and Lucy and Gerrard; that Henny Joshua, Jenny Shadrack, George, Nelly and Gerrard are dead; that Lucy belongs to Henry Neale of Saint Marys County son of Henry Neale deceased before mentioned, and has petitioned against him That the deponent knew Jenny Shorter very well, and Appy was always reputed the daughter of Jenny Shorter and they always claimed one another as neither and daughter and she never heard it contradicted.
Sworn 27th Octo 1795 before, J Bullen.
Leonard Shorter
against
Richard Edelen
Priscilla Shorter aged between forty and fifty years being sworn on the holy evangely of Almighty God deposeth and saith that the petitioner Leonard Shorter, now present, is the son of the deponent and her master John Smith sold him to Philip Ford four or five years ago and Philip Ford gave him to the defendant who married his daughter. That Baptist Shorter who petitioned against John Smith is also son of this deponent and is older than Leonard and is now
Sworn to this 30th day of October 1795; before, J. Bullen.
Teresa Shorter
against
Joseph Boarman
Jenny Shorter aged sixty two years and upwards being Sworn on the holy evangelist of Almighty God deposeth and saith that she has known Terry Shorter who petitioned against Joseph Boarman, she was daughter as the deponent always understood of Lucy Shorter who belonged to William Neale near Port Tobacco, and afterwards to the widow of said
Whereupon all and singular the premises between the parties aforesaid by the Court here being seen, heard and fully understood and mature deliberation thereupon had, for that it appears to the Court here, that the said Lucy Shorter for herself and her five Children, Charles, Will, Gerrard, Abby and Henny the petitioners
Test John Gwinn Clk.