| Name | Age | Color or Race | Sex | Role in document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Shorter | 44 | Female | grantee | |
| Joseph Brown | 11 | grantee | ||
| Thomas Brown | 14 | grantee | ||
| Eliza Brown | 16 | grantee |
Release for Mary Shorter and children from Ann Chunn and certificates of freedom were recorded on 13 September 1819. [First document] General Ct., May Term 1795, Petition for Freedom: "The Court heard and fully understood [and] deliberated on the evidence ... and it seemed to the court here that. .. Mary Shorter and six children is hereby descended in the female line from a free white woman named Elizabeth Shorter in manner and form as ... Mary Shorter. .. [has] alleged." Therefore, the Court decides that Mary and her six children be free and discharged from the service of Ann Chunn and that Mary and her seven [seven is written instead of six] children go forth and it was also decided by the court that Mary is to recover from Ann Chunn the quantity of tobacco that Mary spend on costs and charges to get the decision. [The last line states] "Mary Shorter, the petitioner is a short [j]unky woman and appears to be about 43 or 44 years old." [A statement following says] "In testimony that the above short copy of the judgment is truly taken from the records of the Western Shore General Court. I have here unto set my name and affixed my seal the I st day of June Anno Domini 1795 and in the nineteenth year of the Independence of the state [Maryland]." John Gwinn, Ck. G. Ct. W. S. of MD [Clerk, General Court of the Western Shore of Maryland] [Second document] District of Columbia, City and County of Washington: Joseph Brown, Thomas Brown and Eliza Brown, children of Mary Shorter were born in the State of Maryland as follows: Thomas Brown on or about 15 October 1808, Joseph age about 14, and Eliza age about 16. "l know [them] to be free born and entitled to all of the privileges of a free person of color. In testimony whereof l here unto subscribe my name this 20 November 1811." Signed by Robert Brent, Mayor of Washington and Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Washington.
