Thomas Jefferson Papers

Enclosure: Petition of Charles Brown, 10 August 1804

Enclosure: Petition of Charles Brown

To The Honble. the Judges of the Circuit Court
of the District of Colombia

The humble Petition of Charles Brown an unfortunate Black-Man most respectfully Sheweth—That He has been in confinement in Washington County Goal ever since last November & that He has sufferd the Law but is totally unable to extricate Him self from prison not having it his Power to pay the fine & Fees—

He is upwards of fifty five Years of Age & has a Wife living in George who has been Bed-Ridden a number of Years & rests entirely upon Your Petitioner’s Labor for her Support—

He most humble solicits the Humanity of the Honorable Court to take his unfortunate Situation into consideration & in Duty bound He will ever pray—

Charles Brown

Washington Goal 10h. Aug. 1804

MS (DNA: RG 59, GPR); endorsed by William Cranch; with Cranch and Nicholas Fitzhugh to TJ, 10 Aug., and TJ’s order added on verso.

TJ signed a pardon that remitted Brown’s fine and costs of prosecution on 24 Aug. (FC in Lb in same).

living in George: a Charles Brown appeared in the 1800 federal census for Georgetown as the head of a household composed of three free blacks and one enslaved person (United States Census Schedules, DNA: RG 29).

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