Rachel Steele, a coloured woman v. Thomas Taylor This electronic document is published as part of the St Louis Circuit Court historical records project.

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 March 15, 1845 November Term 1844

The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.

 Rachel Steele, a coloured woman v. Thomas Taylor March 15, 1845 November Term 1844 Steele, Rachel Taylor, Thomas Trespass False Imprisonment 187 St. Louis Circuit Court Krum, John M. Ruland, John Milburn, William Osburn, A. C. Grimes, Charlotte P. Field, R. M. MK deciphered vendor's unclear tags through entire document. MK proofread and corrected transcription errors through entire document. KT added legal encoding KT removed comment tags, etc. CM performed final review of legal encoding APJ checked vertical and horizontal rends Plaintiff's Petition for Leave to Sue as a Poor Person

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.

 Plaintiff's Petition for Leave to Sue as a Poor Person Krum, John M. St. Louis Circuit Court To the Circuit Court of Saint Louis County:-

The petition of Rachel Steel a coloured woman humbly represents that in the year 1831 your petitioner was holden in slavery by the late Samuel Gilbert who then lived in the State of Missouri : that the late Russel, Farnham was then residing at Kokuck, in the Territory, north of the State of Missouri and north of of the line of 36 30 north latitude : that said Samuel Gilbert while he was thus the owner of your petitioner hired out your petitioner to said Farnham in or just before the month of December 1831 to be taken to Kokuck and then holden & employed by said Farnham as a slave that said Farnham in the month of December 1831 took & removed your petitioner to said Kokuck and then held and employed your petitioner as a slave for a period of nine Months or therabouts and until his decease : that by such hiring and employment your petitioner became free as she is advised: that Thomas Taylor married a grand daughter of said Gilbert and upon the decease of said Gilbert claimed to hold in right of his said wife your petitioner as a slave under said Gilbert : That said Taylor does now in fact hold your petitioner as a slave: and your petitioner prays that she may be allowed to sue as a poor person for the recovery of her freedom & as is duty bound will ever pray &c

Rachel Steel X her mark

Personally appeared Rachel Steel & made oath to the truth of the of the foregoing petition this 15th day of March A D 1845 before me at chambers

John M. Krum Judge 8th Jud. Cir. Mo.

We the undersigned have been acquainted with Rachel Steele coloured woman for several years and during all that time she has borne a good character for truth & we believe that her statements on oath may safely be relied on March 22 1845

On reading the foregoing petition and hearing the accompanying proof it is ordered that Rachel Steele the petitioner have permission to sue as a poor person that she have reasonable liberty to advise with her Counsel & that she be not removed from the jurisdiction of the St. Louis Circuit Court , R. M. Field is appointed Counsel prosecute this petition

St. Louis Mar 25. 1845 John M. Krum Judge 8th Jud. Cir. no St. Louis Circuit Court November Term 1844 The petition of Rachel Steele (coloured) Affidavit of Charlotte P. Grimes

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.

 Affidavit of Charlotte P. Grimes Grimes, Charlotte P. St. Louis Circuit Court March the 23 1845

This is to certify that I have known the Bearer Rachel Steel for thirteen years and known her to be an honest upright woman one that can be trusted I am also well acquainted with her master & mistress Mr & Mrs Taylor who haveing moeved up in the Country last year and left her here with, the privelige of hireing herself either on a boat or in the City if any further recommandation is needed you can apply to my Husband Mr Wm Le Grimes of the Steam Boat Uncle Toby Charlotte P Grimes.

 Plaintiff's Complaint

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.

 Plaintiff's Complaint Field, R. M. St. Louis Circuit Court In Saint Louis Circuit Court , April Term , 1845

Saint Louis ,ss Rachel Steele coloured woman, who sues in this behalf as a poor person, by R.M. Field counsel assigned her by the court, complains of Thomas Taylor in a plea of trespass for that before and at time of the committing of the grievances herein after mentioned by the defendant the complainant was and still is a free person a that the defendant on the first day of January past at Saint Louis did make an assault in upon the plaintiff then & there imprisoned & kept in prison & restrained of her freedom the plaintiff for a long space of time to wit from there hitherto & then & there held & still holds the plaintiff as a & other wrongs to the plaintiff then & there did against the peace to the great damage of the plaintiff for the recovery of her freedom the plaintiff brings this suit &c .

R.W. Field In Circuit Court April Term , 1845 Rachel Steele , coloured women, in forma pauperis , vs Thomas Taylor

Suit for freedom

Let summons issue R. M. Field Summons of Thomas Taylor

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.

 Summons of Thomas Taylor Ruland, John Milburn, William Osburn, A. C. St. Louis Circuit Court County of St.Louis , ss. The State Of Missouri , To the Sheriff of St. Louis County Greeting:

We command you to summon Thomas Taylor , if he be found in your county , that he be and appear. before the Judge of our Circuit Court , on the first day of the next term thereof, to be held at the City of St.Louis , within and for the county of St.Louis , on the third Mon-day of April instant then and there to answer unto Rachel Steele , Coloured woman of a plea of trespass . to the great damage of said plaintiff dollars And have you then there this writ

Witness, John Ruland , Clerk of our said Court, with the seal therof hereto affixed, at office, in the city of St. Louis , this third day of April in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty five . John Ruland Clerk.

I acknowlege myself bound for all costs that may accrue in the above cause.

Witness my hand and seal, at St. Louis , this day of 184

dismissed March 11 1846 17 p 156

No187 St Louis Cicuit Court April Term 1845 Rachel Steele , vs Thomas Taylor

summons Suit for freedom R. M. Field

Filed 31st March 1845 John Ruland clk

On reading the foregoing petition & hearing the accompanying proofs, it is ordered that Rachal Steele the petitioner have permision to sue as a poor person , & that she has reasonable, liberty to advise with her counsel & that she be not removed from the jurisdiciton of the St Louis Circuit court R M Field is appointed Counsel to prosecute this petition

St. Louis Mar 25 1845 John M Krum M 8 A true copy of the order attest John Ruland Clk

Thomas Taylor the within named defendant not found in my County Non Est 50 cts

William Milburn Shff By A. C. Osburn Depy