{"petition":[{"petition_analysis_number":"20881917","petition_url":"https:\/\/dlas.uncg.edu\/petitions\/petition\/20881917","state":"Louisiana","county":"East Baton Rouge","location_type":"Parish","file_day":30,"file_month":10,"file_year":1819,"filing_court":"District","end_day":0,"end_month":0,"end_year":0,"result":"","enslaved_count":2,"fpoc_count":0,"total_people_count":4,"repository":"East Baton Rouge Parish, Clerk of Court Archives, Baton Rouge, Louisiana","abstract":"Robert, a mulatto slave commonly called Robert Steer, sues for his freedom.  Robert claims that he was freed by the will and testament of the late Samuel Steer, but that Steer’s son, also called Samuel Steer, continues to hold him in bondage and collects the proceeds of his labor and services.  Robert asks the court to declare him a free man and to condemn the younger Samuel Steer to pay him $5,000 in lost wages and damages.","subjects":[{"subject":"owner(s)\/citizens manumit\/free slave"},{"subject":"Sues for freedom (enslaved)"},{"subject":"Virtually free (enslaved)"},{"subject":"Education and literacy (enslaved)"},{"subject":"Skills (enslaved)"},{"subject":"Apprenticeship\/Indenture (FPOC)"},{"subject":"Overseers"},{"subject":"Interracial relationships"},{"subject":"Illegitimacy "}]}]}