The Petition of Mary Lewellen, humbly Beseeching, that your Excellency will be pleased to extend your abundant humanity toward your Petitioners unfortunate Husband, who stands condemned to die at Edenton, on Tuesday the thirtieth of this present Instant, for the Crime of High Treason; your Petitioner does not presume at an endeavour to lessen his guilt, but appealing to your Excellency's Clemency, and tenderly merciful Disposition, most humbly begs to be indulged while she fondly refers to the honesty and integrity, of the life and Character, of her Husband, before his entering into this detested conspiracy, as well as to remind your Excellency that should he fall under his present sentence (which heaven avert) the Confiscation of his estate being, a positive Consequence, your disconsolate Petitioner and her Children will not only have to combat shame, and Disgrace but also the keenest poverty

Oh Sir to Heart [illegible] and burst asunder and overwhelmed sorrow how much harder to be born mus[t] be the Burthen of woe when aided and agravated by Extremity of poverty

Yet could the Confiscation take place, and the life of the unhappy misguided Criminal be spared; could he be permitted to return once more to the Arms of his afflicted wife and Children, the Forfeiture of his small fortune would be an offering too inconsiderable to cost one Tear one Sigh

With a Heart too full for further utterance your Petitioner bowed down with sorrow prostrates herself before your Excellency and in silence pleads for mercy