To His Excellency the President, and the Suprime Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The Petition of Dinah Howell, an African, the Widow and Relict of Negroe Peter, commonly called Peter Howell, decd. Humbly Sheweth,

That your Petitioner in the year of our Lord, One Thousand seven Hundred and Eighty one, was legally married to the said Peter Howell, who some time since died Intestate, possessed of a small Estate, the Moiety whereof Escheats to this State, the decedent leaving no Issue. That Letters of Administation upon the said Estate, were, in due form of Law, granted to acertain Jacob Lingee, of Chichester, in the County of Chester, with whom the deceased in his life time Lived, and in whose Hands his Estate now rests. That your Petitioner is far advanced in Years, a small number of which has been those of Freedom, and her daily Labour is her daily subsistence: That she has two Children by a former Husband, who are slaves for Life, more unfortunate than their brother, whose freedom hath been purchased by the benevolent Donations of the Friends. That your Petitioner is extremely desirous to see her Children enjoy that state of Liberty, Which Nature and the Dictates of Humanity so justly Assign them, but, unhappily for her; Want of ability incapacitates her from effectuating so desirable an Object, which is the influential Motive in the present Address. Impressed therefore with all the Reverence which is due to the Honourable Board before whom this comes, and strongly persuaded that the Benevolent Humanity of Council will view with an Eye of Pity and Compassion helpless old-Age kept in Bondage ’till a late period of Life, Your Petitioner Prays that your Honours would be pleased to Award that the said Moiety of her late Husband’s Estate, thus Escheated to the Commonwealth, may Center in and be received by your Petitioner, and your Petitioner shall thankfully Pray, &c.