The Petition of the Subscribers in Behalf of a Certain Negro man Named James formerly the Property of Thomas Newby of the County aforesaid Humbly Sheweth

That some time in the year 1776 the said Thomas Newby Manumited the said negro man James, That since that the Greater part of his time he has been Employed as a Seaman, and has made Several Voyages from this State, & Virginia in the time of the Last War, and that he has Twice, or more been made Prisoner by the British, That he Embraced the Earliest oppertunity in making his Escape to Return to this Country being the place of his Nativity, where he has a Wife & Children That Once dureing the War between America & Great Britain, he Entered himself on board of one of the American Armed Vessels, That During the Time of his Servitude with his said master, he behaved himself as a faithfull Servant, and Rendered his master great Services as a Seaman, and that since his freedom we have reasons to Believe he has Continued to behave Orderly and Honest. We are therefore willing to hope that on your Worships maturely considering and Weighing every particular, you will bee of opinion that the Poor fellow is Intitled to some small share of Merrit, If that should be your worships Opinion. We earnestly Solicit (in the poor fellows behalf) that you Will permit an Entry to be made on the Minutes of your Court allowing the Fellow to have done something Meritorious, and for that Reason you will give a Sanction to his freedom, that he may with safety Visit his Wife and Children, when it will be in his Power to Render further Services to this State, as an able Seaman, & your petitioners Shall ever pray &c