Belinda Sutton

"[3]In February 1783, Sutton presented a petition to the Massachusetts General Court requesting a pension from the proceeds of her enslaver's estate.

The vivid petition text was crafted to describe Belinda's kidnapping in Africa and subsequent hardships and to condemn the practice of slavery.

Some scholars suggest that she was assisted by Prince Hall, a local free African-American anti-slavery activist of the Revolutionary War era.

The first petition request suggests that Sutton was the major supporter of her daughter:"she prays, that such allowance may be made her out of the Estate of Colonel Royall, as will prevent her, and her more infirm daughter, from misery in the greatest extreme, and scatter comfort over the short and downward path of their lives"As a result of this petition, an annual pension of fifteen pounds and twelve shillings was awarded to her, and approved by John Hancock.

[8] In her 1980 poem "Belinda's Petition," Rita Dove gives voice to a woman first enslaved at age 12: "Lately your Countrymen have severed / the Binds of Tyranny," she says, adding simply, "I would hope you / would consider the Same for me.

"[13] Harvard Law School has also agreed to provide support for the Isaac Royall House and Slave Quarters and collaborate on research and education programs.