{"petition":[{"petition_analysis_number":"20986309","petition_url":"https:\/\/dlas.uncg.edu\/petitions\/petition\/20986309","state":"Maryland","county":"Howard","location_type":"County","file_day":5,"file_month":5,"file_year":1863,"filing_court":"Orphans","enslaved_count":1,"fpoc_count":0,"total_people_count":4,"repository":"Maryland State Archives, Annapolis, Maryland","abstract":"Henry Thomas seeks a legal bill of sale for his term slave named Anne.  On 7 February 1859, Thomas purchased Anne \"from the Revd Richard Brown late of Howard County.\"  At the time of the transaction, a justice of the peace informed him that it was not necessary\" to sign the document.  Thomas took the document to Annapolis to have it recorded by the clerk where he was informed otherwise.  A few days later, and before he could meet with him to complete the transaction, Richard Brown died.  Thomas asks the court to pass an order authorizing Brown's executor to \"execute and deliver to him a good and Sufficient Bill of Sale ... for the term yet to come and unexpired under the original sale.\"","subjects":[{"subject":"Freedom seekers"},{"subject":"Term slavery"}]}]}