By the assistance, industry, economy and prudence of his wife.
by Lisa Y. Henderson
State of North Carolina, Pasquotank County } June Term 1797
To the Worshipful the County Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for Pasquotank County The Petition of Thomas Sylvester a Freeman of Colour Humbly Sheweth That he some years agoe took to wife a Negroe Woman Slave by the Name of Joan the property of a certain Jeremiah Symons who hath borne him four Children, to wit Abba, Nancy, Jerry and Annaretta. That by the Assistance, Industry economy & prudence of his said Wife Joan he hath been enabled to raise a sufficient Sum to purchase her and her Children from their said Master.
May it therefore please your worships taking your Petitioners Case under your consideration to prepare Order for the liberation & emancipation of the said Joan, Abba, Nancey, Jerry and Annaretta by the names of Joan Sylvester, Abba Sylvester, Nancey Sylvester, Jerry Sylvester and Annaretta Sylvester agreeable to the Power of Authority in your Worships Vested by the Act of the General Assembly in such Cases made and provided and Your Petitioner as in Duty bound shall ever pray & Will Blair for the Petitioner
In the 1790 census of Pasquotank County, Thomas Sylvester is listed as the head of a household of four “other free” people.
Records of Slaves and Free Persons of Color, Pasquotank County Records, North Carolina State Archives. US Federal Population Schedule.
Fourth Generation Inclusive 
This transcription is inaccurate. Please note that it was Jeremiah Symons married to Amarito, a black slave, who was the mother of his children Abba, Joan, and David. Thomas Sylvester married Joan Symons.
The transcription itself is inaccurate, or the facts the document contains are inaccurate?
I’ve been ‘out of pocket’ since my last post but now I see the error in my comment. I humbly apologize! Here’s my explanation: Petition 11279208, dated 1792-December-1: “Jeremiah Symons represents that he is “in possession of three that are mixed blood David Joan & Abby and to me Slaves”. He therefore prays, “from Contentious principles,” that “an Act may be passed as may secure them the Free enjoyment of their Liberty”.
Result : No recorded result
Jeremiah and his black slave “housewoman” Amarita spent their entire life together. She I presumed to be the mother of Joan, David and Abby.
Petition 21279706, dated 1797-June states Free black Thomas Sylvester earned enough money to purchase his
wife Joan, and his four children, Abba, Nancy, Jerry, and Annaretta. He seeks “an Order for the liberation & emancipation” of his family.
FREEDOM: Presented for freedom in 1797. Origins of freedom: 1797 manumitted by owner, a free man of color named Thomas Sylvester.