waggon to take your petitioner and his family to the residence of said purchaser. That when your petitioner arrived at the house of said purchaser, he was informed by the wife of said purchaser that he had gone away to purchase goods, and that she knew nothing about the aforesaid purchase of your petitioner and wife Polly, your petitioner then returned to the house of said Respondent, and informed him of what had transpired at the house of said purchaser. That said respondent replied to your petitioner that he, respondent had made an arrangement to keep him and his wife Polly, and to remain with him. That your petitioner and his wife Polly serving in the service of said Respondent in Howard County aforesaid until the spring of 1844, but does not know positively whether he and his said wife were the property of and slaves of said Respondent or not, but believing at the time that he and his family were the property of Respondent, but now believes from what he has heard respondent say since, that they were not the slaves of said Respondent. That in the spring of 1844, Respondent became very much embarrased in his pecuniary circumstances and determined to emigrate to Oregon, that respondent solicited your petitioner and his wife Polly to go with him to Oregon, and represented to your petitioner that Oregon was a free country, that slavery did not exist there, and he did not think it ever vould. That Respondent would take your petitioner and his wife Polly to Oregon if your petitioner and his said wife would on Respondent's arrival in Oregon assist said Respondent to open a farm and that when your petitioner and wife had assisted said Respondent as aforesaid your petitioner and wife Polly and family should be liberated and discharged absolutely from the service and control] of said Respondent. That your petitioner agreed to proposal of Respondent as aforesaid, and in pursuance of said agreement came with his wife and said Mary Jane to Oregon, with said Respondent in the ye?.r 1844. That your petitioner and family conin the service of Respondent until the spring of $49, a period of five years, when your petitioner requested to be discharged from the service of said Respondent, that_ said Respondent refused to let your petitioner and family go free, but desired your petitioner to go to the Gold mines in California and dig gold for Respondent
