June, 1773
The recent Petition sent in by [ . . . ]
To his Excellency Thomas
Hutc [hinson Gov ]ernor of said
Provnce,
to the Honorable his Majesty s
[Council, and to the] Honourable House of
Representatives in General court assembled June 1773 --
The Petition of us the subscribers in behalf of all thous who by divine
Permission are held in a state of slavery, within the bowels of a free
Country, Humbly sheweth --
That your Petitioners apprehend thay have in
comon with
other men a naturel right to be free and without
molestation to
injoy such Property, as thay may acquire by their
industry,
or by any other means not detrimetal to their
fellow men, and that
no Person can have any just claim to their services unless