{"petition":[{"petition_analysis_number":"20881522","petition_url":"https:\/\/dlas.uncg.edu\/petitions\/petition\/20881522","state":"Louisiana","county":"Orleans","location_type":"Parish","file_day":6,"file_month":12,"file_year":1815,"filing_court":"District","end_day":28,"end_month":1,"end_year":1816,"ending_court":"District","result":"granted","enslaved_count":1,"fpoc_count":0,"total_people_count":2,"repository":"New Orleans Public Library, New Orleans, Louisiana","abstract":"John Lewis, a man of color, petitions the court to recover his freedom.  Lewis claims that Harvey Norton illegally detains him as a slave.  Now about the age of thirty-one, Lewis was born of free parents in Jamaica.  A sailor on board the \"Morning Star,\" Lewis traveled from Dundee, Scotland to Charleston, South Carolina in 1811.  While in Charleston, \"he was seduced into the state of Kentucky & there seized & transported\" as a slave by Mr. Reed and sold to Norton in Louisiana.  Lewis prays for his freedom and \"damages for his labour.\"  A decree of the court declares John Lewis free.","subjects":[{"subject":"Sues for freedom (enslaved)"},{"subject":"Ships"},{"subject":"Occupation (FPOC)"},{"subject":"Caribbean Islands, migration from\/to"},{"subject":"Kidnapping (FPOC)"},{"subject":"Veterans"}]}]}