Page 001

To the Honorable Luke . Edward Lawless , Judge of the third
Judicial Circuit in the State of Missouri ,

The petition of Mary Farnham , aged about 21 or
22 years of age respectfully represents: That she was
born in Ste Genevive , in this state in the family of one John
B . Bossier, and that she was held as a slave by him
until some time in 1830 — when she was brought
to St. Louis by said Bossier, and sold as a slave
to one Russel Farnham, who held her as slave
in his own family in St. Louis , & that said Farnham shortly
after buying her moved with his family to the Lower
Rapids on the Mississippi River , where he resided
& where your petitioner was held as a slave,
in his family and at fort Edwards for more
than from the fall of 1831 until about the
fall of 1832 Your Petitioner is informed and believes
that having been held as a slave at those places
in beyond the northern boundary of the state of
Missouri & the other, in the state of Illinois with said
Farnham , who had his permanent residence there
then, she is now entitled to her freedom.
Your petitioner states that said Farnham came to St Louis
and did here in october 1832. That since said Farnham's
death she has been sold as a slave by P. Chouteau Jr ,
as administrator of said Farnham to one Randolph
in St. Louis ; who sold your petitioner, as a slave to
one Samuel D. Walker, who now holds your petitioner as
a slave in St. Louis , said Walker , being a resident of
Louisiana , & having recently Come to St. Louis ; Your petition
-er therefore, prays your honor to be permitted to institute a
suit as provided for by law, & that your petitioner be permitted
to sue as a poor person; &c & as in duty bound your
petitioner will ever pray ‖c.

St. Louis

May 25th 1835

> Mary Farnham by

her atto: I F. Darby

Attribute Name	Values
Identifier	ccr1835.06878.004
Collection	Circuit Court Records
Visibility	Open Access
Rights	All rights reserved

Filename	Date Uploaded	Visibility	Actions
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6878_001.tif	04/30/2016	Open Access	Download
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6878_003.tif	04/30/2016	Open Access	Download
6878_004.tif	04/30/2016	Open Access	Download

Mary Farnham vs. Samuel D. Walker (Text)

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