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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.
ally appeared
Justice of
that he has arrested as a Runaway slave
one
and he has good reason to believe he
to one
of
Whereas one
being a
into said Charge and believing the facts to be
true
These are therefore to Command you
further to receive the body of the said Foun
tain into your common
County, and detain him in Custody until
his said master takes him
all reasonable charges, or until he shall
be discharged in due course of Law
given under
The
vs
Affidavit &
Commitment
Thornton
alias Williamson
a Runaway Slave
Paid by
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The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
alias Williamson, aged about thirty six years about
five feet ten inches high, black, and slender built,
says he was born free, in
at
that he had been absent from VA- sixteen or
seventeen years, that he has resided in
and on for the last ten 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.
Plaintiff states that he has even been a free man, that
he was born free and that his mother, one
a free woman of Colour born in
that her mother was an Indian,
born in
young he removed thence to
to one J. J.
he obtained his certificate of Freedom from his guardian one
the
Steam Boats, he left for
five years absence to the
Boats, as
of July 1833
of one of the Defendants -
in the Jail of St Louis County at the
the agent of said
said plaintiff always having been & now being a free person and
he states that the defendants held and still holds him in slavery
wherefore he prays that he may have his freedom
him by
others whose names he is unable to state but who are
instrumental in holding him in
answer for the wrongful holding in slavery of him the said
that the matters contained in the above and
foregoing petition as stated are
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The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
We command you to summon
C
to appear
before the Judge of our
thereof, to be held in the
next, then and there to answer the complaint of
(of color)
as set forth in the annexed petition
I acknowledge myself bound for all costs that may accure in the above cause.
Witness, my hand and seal, at
of 185
Nov Term
appearance &
T. 1854
ordered to give
Oct.
of
vs
day of July 1853
of the within writ and petition as
the Clerk. The within
found in my County
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The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
Your petitioner
represent unto your Honor, that he is about
age - that he was born in
daughter of an Indian woman or one of Indian
who was also
belonged to
Your petitioner also states, that
in the town of
The
said town of
petitioner when he
Your petitioner states, that his papers were
prepared by
knew all about it. The papers were all fixed for him, and
only
he
he would continue
to
Your Petitioner States, that after he
years, when according to the laws of
in that State at and about
four then worked, at
which he left
when he left
remained for about five years
While living in
Colony of
his own
with other free persons of color
and thought he should always remain there. It was during the
time he was there, which was about five years, that he
lated that no
longer
five years, he fell disposed to return to the
return
The said ship landed him at
about
was paid off & he
In the year
Steam Boats
City of Louisville in the
Clerk of the
had a paper that was
of
but which your petitioner thought it would be important for
him to keep, and which he
time to
went before a Notary Public in the latter city, and had the
same registered and deposited in his
to him a Certified Copy thereof, which is dated
and herewith produced to your Honor. After this, your petitioner
Boats up and down the
Steward, Cabin boy
and
go on the upper and lower
boats. He has been upon the
others. He was on the
New
as will appear by a permission granted to him to hop from
the
presented to
Petitioner States to yout Honor that within the last five years,
when he was
Steam Boat that
for being here without
officer here, and he was discharged by paying
which he can prove, if permitted to get witnesses. Your Petitioner
also states, that within the last five years, while he
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The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
was engaged upon the Steamer Cadddo (as he
Captain
a slave, and after talking awhile, he declared that he intended
to hold him as a slave from that time; and he did do so
After that conversation, however, your petitioner left the Caddo, and
went upon several
New
taken to the
negro trader, where they placed him for sale. Petitioner
to them that he was free, had been born free, and had always
been so, when they
appear, and you are
some
him in this way tried several times to sell him, and could not
where he was
negro trade about 3 months, the
lested by them. He
he found employment again upon a boat, where he
his
engaged in that way
when he became
slave of
he soon
ever since -
a
Since he
her youngest child, who was a slave, and is laboring to help
her buy others - You Petitioner is well known here to a great
also a free man, John Kinney, who is a Cooper - he has another
brother at
for their mother was free, as your
lottesville, where he was
to be a
orderly and well
Your Petitioner states to your Honor, that about the
this
your petitioner
So your petitioner understands, for he had no
allowed him of making any
Your petitioner understands that now there is
the agent of said
made to Hutcher by some negro trade down
who is about to obtain or make the attempt to obtain from the
Sheriff under the
your petitioner, that be may
jurisdiction of your Honor, and
in bondage. Your petitioner's counsel, first employed by him,
o clock -
and his lawyers now
his
trial upon the
make this application
Your Petitioner authorized
was sent, but there being
which is seventy
of the proof
may be some time before it
petitioner is advised that it will he
himself identified, which he cannot do here, but which he
can do in
that
him under the
Honor as a petitioner for the right to sue for his fredom -
which he
ible evidence, if
Your Petitioner states that he is about to be
trader
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The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
the opportunity of
bring him before
a
may make in the
is truly
and who as such, has always conducted himself with
and been guilty of no
to the penalties imposed upon him under the
which he makes this application - but all this you petitioner is
in
Your
the
than himself, and by them
his oath states that for near
as a
true
a citizen of
of the
last past he has known the said
free man going
& faithful man -
or acting
report as well as by
here and New
said
Charles H. Haven being duly sworn upon his oath
the foregoing petitioner and he
off by the aforesaid
him
him into slavery. The
done before making this affidavit.
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On reading the foregoing potition, it is ordered,
that the petitioner be allowed to sue, on giving
to the Clerk, for all costs that may be
and that the Petitioner have reasonable liberty to attend his Counsel
and the Court, as occasion may require; and that he be not
removed out of the
not subjected to any
freedom.
vs
J. F. Hatcher
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We command you to summon
to appear
before the Judge of our
thereof, to be held in the
next, then and there to answer the complaint of
(of color)
as set forth in the annexed petition
and have you then and there this writ.
I acknowledge myself bound for all costs that may accrue in the above cause.
Witness, my hand and seal, at
of 185
vs
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Know all men by these presents, that we
as Security, are held and firmly bound
into the
just Sum of Twelve Hundred dollars, for
the payment of which, we find ourselves
our heirs executors and administrators,
firmly by these presents.
Given under our hands and
selves this
of July A.D. 1853
The condition of the above obligation is such
that whereas,
County,
made by the
of the
directed has this day hired to the said
man, at the Sum of fifteen dollars per
month. Now, if the said George W. Goode,
shall permit the said
the pendency of a suit which he has this day
commenced for his freedom, to have reasonable
liberty of attending his
and shall not remove the said
of the jurisdiction of said
and shall not subject the said
any severty on account of his afflication for
freedom and shall return the said
to the said Sheriff as soon as said action
is determined and shall pay to the said
Sheriff the sum of fifteen dollars per month
for the hire of said
the said action is determined, then this
in full force.
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You are hereby commanded to seize
and bring him before me at Chamber on the
25th instant, at ten o clock A.M. at the
of the Court of Common Pleas of St Louis County,
and to summon
session the said
at the same time and place.
On this
C.
statute, it is hereby ordered that the Sheriff of St Louis County
aforesaid, take
time to time, during the
this day
from the
and provided in the
dollars.
Order to the Sheriff
of St Louis County
Executed the within order in the
body of the
before the Hon.
the Eighth Judicial Circuit of the
to
and place
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The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
he filed his Petition in this Court asking for the
to sue for his freedom - which was
by your
this Court against
1853
for his freedom, your
the Sheriff provided for
excuted by those who pretended to claim your Petitioner
as a slave the sheriff
he is now in the
to whom the Sheriff
your Honor that he is greatly in need of
only to make
such
protection from the
without clothing - and the law
any
petitioner states that the defendants in his said suit, who
them with any notice of this application - nor does
before he will be actually suffering for ordinary
prays you Honor to make are order that he
with clothing by the Sheriff by the gentleman who
suit - and as in duty bound he will ever pray.
Petition for clothing
filed with his petition
the
vs
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The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
In the matter of the application in be
half of the said
to appear to the satisfication of the Court,
that the said
non-residents and not within this state,
It is ordered that the
do
clothing for the said
not
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
This defendant
or four years ago, and he
man or
allegations in the petition of the
place of plaintiffs
or that he
went to
he has no
a belief, Defendant
plaintiff escaped from the defendant
in
slave and was
of St Louis
the defendant was not in the
and had no
plaintiff
or
any time ever held the plaintiff in Slavery
Charles C
matters therein as
35
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The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
You are hereby notified, that depositions of witnesses, to be read in evidence in the above entitled
cause, on the part of the
in the City of
in the
the
o'clock in the forenoon, and
if not completed on that day, will be
same hours, till completed.
of the within notice, I hereby
sufficiency of the time
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The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
Know ye, that we, in confidence of your prudence and fidelity, do, by these presents
authorise you to cause to come before you, to be examined as withness in a cause pending in our
plaintiff, and
defendants, all
and every such person, and at such time and place, as shall be named to you for that pur
pose by the said
Attorney or Agent. And we command you to examine all and every such person upon his oath
or solemn affirmation first made or taken before you, to testify the whole truth touching his know-
ledge of anything relating to the said matter in controversy between the said parties; and that
you do take such his examination, and reduce the same into writing. When you shall have so
taken his examination, you are to cause the witness to sign the same, and to that and each exami-
nation, at the foot thereof, you are to append your certificate, setting forth the facts that the ex-
amination was subscribed and sworn to or affirmed by the witness, and the day, as well as between
what hours of the day, on which it was done, as also the place of residence of the witness, if
known to you. Should any paper or exhibit be produced or proven, or referred to by the witness
you are to describe the same in his examination, or cause it to be so marked by him, as to estab-
lish its identity, and attach the same to his examination. The examination thus taken, you will
cause to be accompanied by a certificate of your official character, attested by the seal of the State;
or, should it be more convenient, such authentication and proof of your official character may be
made by the certificate and seal of the clerk of any court of record of any county of the State,
District or Territory in which you reside, stating also, in addition to the facts of his being clerk,
and that the court is one of record that, at the time when the depositions were taken, you were
an acting judge, (or other such officer to whom this commission is addressed,) and duly commis-
sioned as such. And you will return the same and all exhibits produced to you, annexed herreto,
carefully closed up and under your seal, directed to the Clerk of the
all convenient speed.
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The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
Deposition of Sundry Witnesses taken before
me
missioned and qualified, on the
May AD 1854
New
the trial of a certain cause pending in the
for the county of
aforesaid wherein
James T
to the annexed commission and notice
said Court.
ed and
truth, and nothing but the truth, did depose and says
That, as, one of the members of the
& Co he signed the
the
of the slave "
ed as exhibit A and that he was fully authorized
by all the Said parties to execute the sale, in the
And at the same time and place personally
appeared
witnesses to the said annexed Sale, being also duly
whole truth and nothing but the truth, did depose
and say, that his signature to the said
bill of sale is genuine, that he saw the same
excuted by the said Eaton, and that he saw
Watson the other witness thereto, sign it as such
I
missoned and qualified - Do hereby certify that,
the foregoing Deposition of Eaton and
testify the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the
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The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
truth, were reduced to writing by my clerk A Commandence
, at my request, in my presence, and under - my immediate
superintendance, and were respectively subscribed by the
Said Witnesses and taken between the hours of 8 o'clock
A.M. and 5 o'clock P.M at the time and place
and on the day and date set
Snd that they were not out of my possession after they
were thus signed and scaled up until they were
deposited in the post office in the said City of New
by me
In faith whereof I grant these presents
under my signature and seal of office, on the day and
date aforesaid.
vs
Depositions
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That
for and in consideration of the sum of
to us in Land
do by these Presents, Bargain, Sell, Convey, Transfer and Deliver unto the said
is guaranteed by us in title only, being the
same slave as bought by us, for the steamer
To Have And To Hold The Said
unto the said
administrators and assigns, forever: And
do bind our heirs, executors, administrators
and assigns to protect and defend the said property against all claim or claims whatsoever.
This is the bill of sale
depositions to which it is annexed.
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The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
You are hereby Commanded, that, setting aside all manner of excuse and delay,
you appear before our
day of May 1855
to testify, and the truth to say in a certain matter of controversy now pending in our
said Court, wherein
plaintiff and
defendant on the part of
and herein you are in no wise to fail.
Executed this writ in St Louis
County on the
copy to G W Goode
vs
spa
Harrison is
of
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The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
This is a petition on the
of plff a man of color for his freedom
Petitioner
is
Deft in his
is free, and
and that he
in
vs
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The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
You are hereby Commanded, that, setting aside all manner of excuse and delay,
you appear before our
day of June 1855
to testify, and the truth to say in a certain matter of controversy now pending in our
said Court, wherein
plaintiff and
defendant on the part of
and herein you are in no wise to fail.
vs
spa
Executed
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The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
You are hereby Commanded, that, setting aside all manner of excuse and delay,
you appear before our
day of June 1855
to testify, and the truth to say in a certain matter of controversy now pending in our
said Court, wherein
plaintiff and
defendant on the part of
and herein you are in no wise to fail
Executed
vs
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The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
You are hereby Commanded, that, setting aside all manner of excuse and delay,
you appear before our
February 1855
to testify, and the truth to say in a certain matter of controversy now pending in our
said Court, wherein,
plaintiff, and
defendants on the part of
and herein you are in no wise to fail
282
vs
Executed the
by reading to
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The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
You are hereby Commanded, that, setting aside all manner of excuse and delay,
you appear before our
Decr. 1855
to testify, and the truth to say in a certain matter of controversy now pending in our
said Court, wherein
plaintiff and
defendants on the part of
and herein you are in no wise to fail.
131
vs
Executed
office of
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The original document is part of the Missouri State Archives St Louis Circuit Court collection.
The plaintiff
the Court to set aside the order
for the following reasons
1.The court
to give security for
2.The Court
for the
3.The plaintiff is
any security the court may require
person and unable to give such security
vs
order of
and to
cause