Prince Hall and others petition the General Court for emancipation.

The petition signed by seven other free African-American residents, cites concepts contained in the recently drafted Declaration of Independence. It declares, “A Great Number of Blackes detained in a State of Slavery” maintain “that Thay have in Common with all other men a Natural and Unalianable Right to that freedom which the Great ____ Parent of the Unaverse hath Bestowed equalley on all menkind.”