Benjamin O'Hara reports that "a certain free negro boy named Robert Watson" was bound to James Hooper as an apprentice. After serving Hooper for about three years, Watson left Hooper's service and was lodged in the county jail. Hooper, "declining and refusing to pay the charges accrued by reason thereof," told O'Hara that if he bailed Watson out from jail, he could have the balance of the time of Watson's indenture. O'Hara accepted the offer and took Watson home. Three years into Watson's service with O'Hara, Hooper "by a pretended transfer of his right in said boy" assigned Watson's indenture to Mordecai Hooper who in turn hired out Watson to Joseph Atwell. After serving Atwell a year, Watson left him and was hired again by O'Hara. At this point, Atwell had a warrant issued for Watson's arrest and Watson was "consigned to jail," where he now remains. O'Hara asks the court to "annul and vacate" Watson's indenture to Mordecai Hooper and order Watson to be bound to him.
Result: Granted.
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Repository: Maryland State Archives, Annapolis, Maryland
