Samuel Dorsey states that his sister-in-law, Cassandra Powell, died in March 1838, "leaving a family of five helpless orphan children." The children's father was a slave who "had been sent out of the state." The petitioner and his wife, Priscilla Dorsey, took in all five children for several days. Shortly thereafter, the brothers and sisters of Cassandra Powell "got together and agreed to divide the children amongst them." One child, Lucy Powell, was left in the protection of Priscilla Dorsey and the petitioner. About eight months ago, the Dorseys began hiring her out to different people for wages ranging between seventy-five cents to a dollar a month. Two months ago, Priscilla Dorsey hired the girl to Mary Ann Treakle and her husband, William Treakle, for one month at a rate of one dollar a month. At the end of the month, William Treakle paid the dollar, but refused to return Lucy to the Dorseys. Instead, he "procured two Justices of the peace, who without the consent of the petitioner or his wife," indentured the girl to the Treakles for three years under the assumption that the Dorseys were mistreating the girl. Samuel Dorsey asks the court not to confirm the indenture and also to order William Treakle to return Lucy Powell. [Dr. Charles Worthington's certification reveals that his brother once owned Samuel Dorsey.]
Result: Granted.
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Repository: Maryland State Archives, Annapolis, Maryland
