20482210https://dlas.uncg.edu/petitions/petition/20482210District of ColumbiaWashingtonCounty241822Circuit241822Circuitpartially granted125National Archives, Washington, D. C.Hercules Dowery seeks to settle a dispute with Benjamin Johnson regarding Maria, a female slave. Dowery contends that Johnson made an agreement with Cemas Dowery, Dowery's wife, to allow her to raise and nuture the then three-year-old Maria during Cemas's lifetime. Now, sixteen years later, Maria has an infant and Dowery charges that Johnson is attempting to violate the contract "by withdrawing Maria & her infant from your orator & selling them to the South or parts unknown." He seeks a subpoena and an injunction to prevent Johnson from removing Maria and her child "from the possession and care of your Orator, during the life time of your Orator's wife."Purchased own family (FPOC)Purchase/Sale (enslaved children)Enslaver (FPOC)FPOC sues whiteConcealing (enslaved)Title dispute (enslaved)Purchase/Sale prices (enslaved)Slave trade (domestic)