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The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
This electronic document is published as part of the St Louis Circuit Court historical records project.
The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
The petition of
represents that she was born in the state of
about the year
when about ten or eleven years old was brought to Louis
-ville
who kept her for a short time as a slave and then
sold her to a certain
the town of
That the said
of
year
place she was owned and continued to he held as a
slave by the said
or upwards. That after your petitioner had been
held and treated as a slave in the town of
and Territory aforesaid for the length of
time set forth above she was sent to
afterwards sold to a certain
of the town of
since. Your petitioner further represents that she is
of saint Louis contrary to the provisions of an ordiance
of July 1787.
may be permitted to sue as a poor person in or-
der to establish her right to freedom, that counsel
be assigned her for that purpose and finally
that your Honor may grant the usual orders in
such cases and as in duty bound will ever pray
& C
This day
fore the and
aforesaid and made oath that the matters and things in the
foregoing petition are true as form as they depend upon
of others she
1st It is hereby ordered that
a woman of color be permitted to sue as a poor person for
the recovery of her freedom and that
her as counsel for that purpose.
This electronic document is published as part of the St Louis Circuit Court historical records project.
The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
2d. That the said
her counsel and the court as occasion may require
that she be not removed out of the juridiction
of the court, and that she be not subject to
any
freedom.
vs
Petition to sue in
forman
This electronic document is published as part of the St Louis Circuit Court historical records project.
The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
her attorney complains of
of a plea of trespass for false imprison-
ment: For that whereas the said
heretofore to wit on the
1837
arms made an assault upon the said
beat
dy and then and there imprisoned her and
any probable or resonable cause what-
soever for a long space of time to wit
for the space of then next following
contrary to the act of the
in such case made and provided and against
the consent of the said
And the said
at the time of the committing of the said
a free person and that the said
damage of the said plaintiff $ 300, and
therefore she brings suit &
vs
Declaration
This is an action for
false imprisonment
in form a
for the recovery
freedom. Damage
$ 300. The clerk will
This electronic document is published as part of the St Louis Circuit Court historical records project.
The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
This day
appeared before the undersigned a justice of
the peace for the county aforesaid and made
oath that he was born in the town of
in the north - western Territory and was well
acquainted with a
in the same place and who owned two female
slaves both named
called little
and as the slave of the said
one or two years, probably until the year
when the owners of slaves becoming alarmed at
the prospect of loosing their slaves where
should be made a free state, a
great number were
little
to the
and recognised little
And further this affiant saith not
Judy
vs
Affidavit of
This electronic document is published as part of the St Louis Circuit Court historical records project.
The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
We command you to ummon
found in your county, that he be and appear before the Judge
to be held at the
and there to answer unto
for false imprisonment, to the damage of said plain-
tiff of three hundred Dollars. - and have you then there
this writ.
1st. It is hereby ordered that
be assigned her as counel for that purpose.
2nd - That the said
and the Court as occasion May require that
out of the jurisdiction of this Court and that she be not subject to any
Executed this writ by Reading it and
the declaration & petition and also the
order made by the honorable Judge
to the within named
on the
the county of
We of the
and
vs
This is an action of trespass
for false imprisonment
Dam. $300.
Judgment by default and damages
for the that
This electronic document is published as part of the St Louis Circuit Court historical records project.
The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
We, reposing special trust and confidence in your integrity and circumspection, do au-
thorize and require you, that you cause to come before you, such person or persons as shall
be named to you by
Attorney or Agent, and him or them examine upon his, her or their corporal oath, (to be by
you administered,) touching their knowledge of any thing that may relate to a certain mat-
ter of controversy, now pending in our
plaintiff and
defendant on the part of the
the said depositions so taken by you as aforesaid in writing, you are required to send the
same, together with this commission, enclosed under your seal, to our said
with all convenient speed.
vs
This electronic document is published as part of the St Louis Circuit Court historical records project.
The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
Sir, take notice that on friday the
the hours of eight o clock A.M and of seven o,
clock P.M at the
of
positions of witnesses which when take are intended to
be read as evidance upon the trial of an action of
trespass for false imprisonment in forma
for the recovery of freedom, now depending in the
Circuit court of
plaintiff and you are defendant and if the taking
of the said depositions should not be completed on
that day they will be continued from day to day be-
tween the same hours and at the same place, when
and where you may attend if you think proper.
This day woodson
appeared before the undersigned a justice of the peace
in and for the county aforesaid and made oath that
he did on wednesday the
copy of the within notice.
This electronic document is published as part of the St Louis Circuit Court historical records project.
The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
Page 1st.
Depositions of Witnesses produced, sworn and examined
at the Tavern of John C Clark in the Town of
a
in a certain cause now depending in the
on the part of the plff.
sworn and examined on the part of the plaintiff deposeth
and
Question By plffs. atty. Are you
Answer - Yes.
By
Ans. 2
By same. when did he reside when you first knew him
Ans. Here in
By same,
Ans. He has resided in
years. ago, when he
By same; was he or was he not the owner of slaves
at any time during his residence in
answer. He was the owner of Indented
a good
(Mr.
the ordinance of
By same. What were their names and ages?
By same - what was the age of
you first know her?
Page 2nd.
young looking.
By same. What was her size, color &c. at the time
to in the last question?
ans. She was a well grown girl, but
large tall, and heavy before she left here perhaps would
have weighed 150 or 160.
By same. In what year did
to
her?
ans.
brought to
who called herself Mrs.
her. -
she boarded with Mr.
and sold Plff to Mr.
Question by same. How long did she remain in the
ans. Four or five years or thereabout
By same. was she or was she not sent off from
whose custody?
ans. She went from Buntins custody into that of
of her. she disappeared all
without my knowing how - Mr.
man - and I dont know
off I heard that Mr.
This electronic document is published as part of the St Louis Circuit Court historical records project.
The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
Page 3d.
That she was
By same. Have you or have you not seen her
her departure?
Ans. I have not- I have frequently heard though
that she was
and further
This deponent saith not-
I
and for
do hereby certify that Daniel Strother the
deponent where place of residence is in
me sworn to tesify the whole truth to
his knowledge touching the matter in
controversy in the cause aforesaid. That Deponent
ation reduced to writing and
by
Hundred and Thirty seven.
the hours of Eight O'Clock in the forenoon
and of seven O'Clock in the afternoon at the
of
Page 4th
and examined on the part of the plaintiff deposeth
and saith
Question By Plffs atty. Are you acquaninted with
Ans. I am
By same- In what year did you first know him
Ans. I knew him first about
By same- Has he resided here, and have you
him ever since-?
Ans. I have been acquanted with him ever
since- and
neighbourhood ever since- I was a good due in
his family-
By same- was he or was he not the owner of
slaves at any time during his residence in
Ans- He had slaves, all that came on first were
slaves- we had then no
By same- what were their names.
Ans Old
and
By same- What was the age of young
you first knew her
Ans- about thirteen or fourteen I think
By same- What was her size, color
you first saw her
Ans.Black, and midling large
By same-
where did he By
This electronic document is published as part of the St Louis Circuit Court historical records project.
The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
Page 5th
Ans. I dont know where he bought her nor who
from- and I dont know the time she
brought here exactly- She
I think by
Que By same- How long did she remain with
Ans. about three or four years I think it
has been so long that I cant tell the
exactly.
By same- Was she or was she not sent off
from
and in whose custody-?
Ans. I dont know and cant tell who took
her away- She was first taken to
and from there was first taken away as was supposed
Then to
where nor by whom but
believed to be the one that took her-
By same- Were you Bound or indented when
was here-
Ans. I was. and had been bound about three
years before she
further this deponent saith not.
I samuel Hill a Justice of the peace in and
for
certify that Peggy Pelkia the deponent whose
place of residence is in
of
truth of her knowledge touching the matter
in controversy in the cause aforesaid- That
deponent was examined, and his examination
reduced to writing and subscribed by said
deponent in my presence on the
day of July in the year eighteen hundred and
thirty seven,
the forenoon and of seven O Clolk in the afternoon
at the
in the
Given and certified this
De la
sworn and examined on the part of the Plaintiff
deposeth and saith
and affixed as an extract
of
marked A
I
Borough of
certify that De La
of residence is in
me affirmed to testify the whole truth of his knowledge
touching the matter in controversy in the cause aforesaid
that deponent was examined and his examination
reduced to writing and subscribed by said deponent
in my presence on the
the year eighteen hundred and thirty seven.
This electronic document is published as part of the St Louis Circuit Court historical records project.
The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
page 7th.
Between the hours of eight o clock in the forenoon
and of seven O'clock of the afternoon at the
of John C Clark in the Town of
Not being able to complete the taking
of said Depositions, by reason of the
age and infirmity of one of the
witnesses.
of the
be continued at the
between the said hours mentioned is
the annexed notice
Pursuant to the
stated on the
July Eighteen Hundred and thirty seven
between the hours of eight o'clock
and seven o'clock P.M at the
of John C Clark
-cennes
I continued the taking of said Depo
sitions as
and examined, on the part of the plaintiff deposeth and
saith
Page 8th.
By same Have you ever been the owner of slaves -
your residence in
ans. I have been the owner of Black people. I bought them
all generally with the intention of liberating them
I bought them all after
The first I boughts was
wife and
afterwards young
in the year
me hereto annexed and made part of this deposition
By same - Did you know one Mrs.
who
ans. I know a Mrs. Chew. who resided in the Garrison
adjoining my residence. she was brought in
by the Indians and represented herself as the
wife of a Mr. Chew who she said was killed
by the Indians
as she represented - I was
as
by order of the Commanding officer -
General
By same. Was Young
about the time that
in by the Indians - or was she not?
ans. Yes Mrs. Chew I think was brought in
before some time - but near about the same
time.
By same. How long did you own young
am. I dont know perhaps two, three, or four years.
This electronic document is published as part of the St Louis Circuit Court historical records project.
The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
page 9th
By same who did you sell her to?
ans - I cant be positive but I believe I transferred
her to
but will not state so positively - I heard
that he, afterwards, I think had sold her
to
By same - Did you or did you not sell her as a
slave - state if so how you sold her
ans - I did not sell her as a slave - I believe I
never sold any black or blacks or slaves.
I think I sold her with her
fifteen years - she was bound to me for
a certain
amount I had expended for her - and I sold
only her services for the tme specified in
her
certainly recollect it has been so long Since
But believe it was fifteen years - from the
time she was bound - I generally took an
ture
By same - Did you or did you not bring young
ans - I bought her in
to this place immediately -
and further this deponent says not
I
of the Peace in and for
the Deponent
sworn to the
whole
touching the controversy in the cause aforesaid
That Deponent was
examined and his examination
reduced to writing and Subscribed by
in my presence on the
eighteen hundred and
thirty seven
hours of eight o' clock in the
seven o'clock in
the afternoon at the
of
County of
Hundred and Thirty
seven
Peace within and for the
State of
and notice came before me at the
of John
County and State aforesaid
were by one sworn and examined and
such examination reduced to writing and
subscribed by them respectively in my
This electronic document is published as part of the St Louis Circuit Court historical records project.
The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
presence and their said Depositions are
now
of
Hundred and Thirty seven
of the
that
the
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and thirty seven
an acting Justice of the Peace within and
for the
duly Commisioned and acting as such
and that full faith an credit are due his acts
as Such
vs
Depositions
This electronic document is published as part of the St Louis Circuit Court historical records project.
The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
A
Extrait des registres
on
he six Mart Mil
du legitime
le
an
This electronic document is published as part of the St Louis Circuit Court historical records project.
The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
Know all men by these presents that I
of the
in Consideration of the Sum of Two Hundred and fifty
Dollars to me in hand paid have this day bargained
sold and delivered unto
some that I purchased of
years old the said Negro Women I will warrant
and defend from the claim of all persons whatever
Witness my hand and seal this
October 1799(nine)
Annexed to Deposition of:
v B Meachum-
to
a Negro girl