Belinda's Petition for Compensation

Belinda, an enslaved woman, successfully petitioned for compensation for her years of enslaved labor on the royal property. She worked for 50 years for Isaac Royal until after the war, yet was never paid. Belinda's petition described her capture, her passage across the Atlantic, and her time serving the Royal family. The court awarded her an annual pension of 15 pounds, but payments were inconsistent. Belinda's petition became part of the anti-slavery literature and contributed to ongoing legal efforts for individual enslaved and formerly enslaved people to advocate for themselves through Massachusetts courts.