Mary Butler v. Robert Lawson. Petition for Freedom William G. Thomas III transcription and encoding Kaci L. Nash University of Nebraska-Lincoln University of Maryland National Endowment for the Humanities 2020 O Say Can You See University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Digital Research in the Humanities
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Petition for Freedom November 14, 1790 Our transcription is based on a digital image of the original. Maryland State Archives General Court of the Western Shore (Judgments) MSA S498-14 Supplementary Documents Petition Civil Petition for Freedom October 1791 Butler, Agnes Butler, Rebecca Butler, Eleanor Charles County (Md.) Butler, Mary Lawson, Robert Duvall, Gabriel, 1752-1844 Maryland. General Court of the Western Shore Annapolis (Md.) transcribed; encoded

To the honourable the Judges of the General Court,

The petition of Mary Butler humbly sheweth, that she is held as a slave by Robert Lawson and Charles County altho' she is intitled to her freedom, being descended from a free woman. You petitioner is the daughter of Agnes Butler who was the daughter of Rebecca Butler, who was the daughter Jane Butler who was the daughter of Eleanor Butler a free woman. She therefore prayeth that your honours would take her case into Consideration and discharge her from the Custody of the aforesaid Robert Lawson and that summonses may Issue for her Witnesses, and soforth

G. Duvall for petitioner

Mary Butler agt Robert Lawson

petition

Octo 1791

filed the 14th day of November 1790

sums Issued 7th Decemr 1790

Entd JG No 13. folio 29.

Mary Butler vs Robert Lawson

Petr for Freedom

Entd JG No 13. folio 29.

(Octo 1791)