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A blurry scan of a petition written in cursive and signed by John Hancock and others.
Belinda’s petition for the return of her daughter.

Formerly enslaved woman successfully sues for return of daughter.

1842

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Belinda’s petition for the return of her daughter.

Polly, a freed Black woman, successfully sues a white man for the return of her daughter, Lucy. She uses "slave" law to prove unlawful possession, arguing that because she was not enslaved at the time of her daughter’s birth, she is the rightful "owner" of her daughter.