Petition of Richard Emory in the Fugitive Slave Petition Book
ca. 1850
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Mr. Emory requests permission of the court to seek out and recover his fugitive slaves, Ann Smith and her child.
Transcript
3
Record 2, The United States of America
District of Maryland, to wit,
At a District Court of the United States in and for the Maryland District begun and held at the City of Baltimore on the first Tuesday in December in the year of our Lord 1850
Present The Honorable
U S. Heath Judge of the Maryland District
Z. Collins Lee Esquire Attorney
Thomas H. Kent (of ?) Esquire Marshal
Thomas Spicer Clerk
Among other were the following proceedings, to wit,In the matter of the Be it remembered that heretofore to
Petition of Richard Emory wit, on the 19th day of November in
of Baltimore County __ the year of our Lord 1850. The
said Richard Emory filed his
Petition in the words and of the tenor following, towit,
To The Honorable
Upton S Heath Judge of the District Court of the United States for the District of Maryland_
The petition of Richard Emory of Baltimore County and State of Maryland respectfully represents unto your Honor that he is the owner of a Slave for
Life named Ann Smith, and infant child of said Ann, that said Ann is now about the age of Thirty years, and said child is now nearly or about three years old. That said Ann was the property of your Petitioner by gift from Elijah Bosely, the absolute owner of said Ann for life upwards of Twenty years ago, to the wife of your Petitioner Ann Emory who was the grand daughter of said Elijah: and which said slave with her child have not, nor has either of them ever been directly or indirectly manumitted or released from servitude by your Petitioner or his said wife, but are still slaves for life as aforesaid. That said Ann about Two years since escaped from the residence of your Petitioner taking with her the Child aforesaid. The Exact date of which said Escape your Petitioner is unable to at this time to specify, and your Petitioner is credibly informed and verily believes that said slaves now reside in the State of Pennsylvania__ To the end therefore that your Petitioner may recover his said slaves and regain their services and to which he is entitled by the laws of Maryland. He prays your Honor to enquire into the matters and facts hereinbefore and hereinafter alleged in this Petition so as to enable him to obtain the full benefit of the Act of Congress passed at the first session[torn] of the Thirty first Congress,_Chapter Sixty. Entitled an Act to amend and supplementary to the Act entitled An Act respecting fugitives from justice, and persons escaping from the service of their Masters appro[torn]d February Twelfth, One thousand seven hundred and nine[torn] three, and your Petitioner is in duty bound will ever pray [possibly the abbreviation “etc.”]
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And for description of said Ann your Petitioner hereto appends the following__ In heighth she was rather short, and about Five feet three inches, and rather chunky of a copper complexion with straight black hair somewhat resembling in genera appearance an Indian__ The child having been an Infant of very tender age when so taken, has be the due course of nature so changes its appearance that your Petitioner is unable to make any other further or better description of it
R. Emory __
[underscore]
United States of AmericaDistrict of Maryland, to wit,
Be it remembered and it is hereby certified that on this Nineteenth day of November in the year Eighteen hundred and fifty before me Upton S Heath a Judge of the United States in and for the District aforesaid, came Richard Emory of Baltimore County Maryland, and who being duly Sworn on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God deposes and says that the matters and facts stated in the foregoing Petition are just and true as therein set forth
U S. Heath
District Judge
Be it remembered that on this twenty first day of November in the year Eighteen hundred and fifty personally appears before me Upton S Heath Judge of the United States for the District of Maryland Samuel Parker a witness of lawful age who being duly sworn did depose and say that this is now a near neighbour to Richard Emory of Baltimore County State of Maryland, and was the next neighbou[faded] up to the time of his death of Elijah Bosley of said County now deceased. That he knows of his own knowledge that Twenty years ago, or upwards said Elijah, by absolute gift gave to his grand daughter Ann Emory the wife of said Richard as and for a slave for life a negro Girl named Ann Smith, that said negro from the time of said Gift up to the time of her Escape hereinafter mentioned lived in the family of said Richard, and served him as his slave until so so escaped. That about two years since said Negro ran away from said Richard, taking with here as he was then informed an Infant Child about nine months of age, that he has never seen said negro since also that he never measured said negro, but would thus describe, towit, as being rather short say about five feet two inches or thereabouts with dark straight hair, black, and a complexion of a copper colour. That deponent knew said negro from her early infancy, and for some years prior to her escape, as such neighbour to said Richard, he was in the habit of seeing her frequently, and that deponent does not know of any marks or scars on said negro by which he could further describe her__ he should suppose her age now to be about Thirty years and further the Deponent saith not. U S. Heath
District Judge
This primary source comes from the Records of District Courts of the United States.
National Archives Identifier: 278911
Full Citation: Petition of Richard Emory in the Fugitive Slave Petition Book; ca. 1850; Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/petition-of-richard-emory-in-the-fugitive-slave-petition-book, April 20, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.