A faithfull & good servant.

by Lisa Y. Henderson

ImageTo the Worshipfull County Court of Wayne

The petition of William Newsom humbly represents to your Worships that he is owner of a Negro man called Charles who has always conducted & demeaned himself as a faithfull & good servant who your petitioner is anxious to emancipate & intitle to the privileges of a free Citizen, he therefore prays your Worships to take the Case into consideration & do what appears to you right & proper & your petitioner will ever pray       William X Newsom

J.B.H. Martin

This undated petition is found among Wayne County Records of Slaves and Free Persons of Color, North Carolina State Archives.