State of Missouri
County of St. Louis ss.To the Honorable Bryan Mullanphy
Judge of the St Louis Circuit Court
In vacation, Sept. 6th 1841.

Humbly complaining showeth unto Your Honor
your petitioner Mary Robertson of the County of
St Louis & State of Missouri , that she is at the
present time held in slavery in the County aforesaid
by Ringrose D . Watson , that she has fresh grounds
on which she claims her right to freedom viz, that
on or about the seventh day of March AD 1841
she was taken by her (then) master & owner Amos L .
Carson from the County & State aforesaid to the
State of Illinois , that she was there retained
in Slavery by her last mentioned owner, contrary
to her own, but according to his request
that she was in the Town of Alton & State of
Illinois , retained by the last mentioned owner for several
months, to wit from the time aforesaid until on or about the 24th day of July AD, 1841 & kept
at labor in every respect as a slave by the said
Carson during the said time, & Contrary to the Laws
of said State by which she obtained her right
to freedom, that on or about the said 24th day
of July she was sent back to the County of St. Louis
& State of Missouri & held in slavery by the said Watson ,
from whom she was claims her right to freedom
Now therefore your petitioner prays that your
Honor will grant unto your petitioner, leave
to sue as a poor person in order to establish
her right to freedom & your petitioner will ever
pray & c & c.

Henry L. Cobb
Solr for Petr

Sworn and subscribed to
before me this 13th day of Sept. 1841
Alphonse Witmore
Justice of the Peace

Mary Robertson X her mark

St Louis - 10th September 41

The written named Mary Robertson
is by me allowed to
sue as a poor person to establish her right to freedom
& I assign Henry L . Cobb as her counsel
and I further order & declare
that she have reasonable
liberty to attend her counsel
& the Court; that she be not removed out of the jurisdiction
of the court & be
not subjected to any severity on account of her application
for freedom-
As witness my hand at
Chambers this 10th Sep 41

Bryan Mullanphy
Judge of the 8th
Jud.Cir of Missouri

To the Honorable Bryan Mullanphy
Judge of St Louis Circuit Court

Petition for leave to sue

Henry L Cobb
Solr for Petr

In the St. Louis Circuit Court
November Term AD 1841State of Missouri
County of St. Louis ss.

Mary Robertson complains of Ringrose
D. Watson of a plea of trespass, for that the
said defendant on the tenth day of August
A . D . 1841 with force & arms &c. made an assault
upon the said plaintiff, to wit at the County
aforesaid & then & there beat bruised & ill-treated
her the said plaintiff & then & there
imprisoned her the said plaintiff, & kept &
detained her in prison there, without any
reasonable or probable cause whatever, for a
long space of time to wit for the space of
twelve hours then next following, contrary
to the laws of the State & against the will of
the said plaintiff And the said Plaintiff
further avers, that the said plaintiff
before & at the time of the committing of the
grievances was and still is a free person
and that the defendant held & still holds
the said plaintiff in slavery, And other wrongs
to the said plaintiff then & there did, contrary
to the peace & dignity of the State
and to the damage of the said plaintiff
of five hundred dollars & therefore the
said plaintiff brings suit, by.

Henry L. Cobb
Atty. for Pf.

In the St. Louis Circuit Court

Declaration in Trespass
Damages $ 500.00

Henry L. Cobb Atty. for Pf.

County of St. Louis , ss.The State Of Missouri ,To the Sheriff of St. Louis County-Greeting:

We command you to summon Ringrose D. Watson 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 , on the third Monday
of November next, then and there to answer unto Mary
Robertson of a plea of trespass
to the damage of said plaintiff of five hundred
dollars: And have you then there this writ.

Witness, John Ruland , Clerk of our said Court,
with the seal thereof hereto affixed, at office, in the
city of St. Louis , this thirteenth day of
September in the year of our Lord eighteen
hundred and forty one. John Ruland Clerk.

St. Louis 10th Sep '41

The within named Mary Robertson is by me allowed to
sue as a poor person to establish her right to freedom,
& I assign Henry L Cobb as her counsel, and I
further order and direct that she have reasonable liberty to attend her counsel & the Court; that she be not removed out of the jurisdiction of the Court & be not
subjected to any severity on account of her
application for freedom- as witness my hand at chambers this 10th Sep.'41

Bryan Mullanphy Judge
of the 8th Jud.Cir. of Missouri .

Executed this writ in the County
of St. Louis on the 15th Day of September
1841 by reading it and the declaration
and petition and also the order
made by the Honorable Judge
to Ringrose D Watson the in the
County of St Louis on the
defendant

Marshall Brotherton
Sheriff By Jos. C. Brown
Dpty
fees $1.00

No 30
St. Louis Circuit Court
November Term 1841

Trespass dams $500:

Colt. P.2.

to 81

73

Filed 5th September 1841

Jn. Ruland Clk of
of 18th June
Free

Contd Bk 13 p 358 Petition transfc to present shff & order to hire her out p 376 Denied
Plffs cost. 14 p 330.Jan 15/44
. Mo. to reinstate filed Jany 25/44.
aff in support of same
Bk 14 p 366. Mo to set aside & reinstate sustd Bk 14 p 370.ContdB 15 p 245. Verdict
for Deft Nov 27th 184415 p 338

Warrant to the
Sheriff
against Mary Robertson
and the person in whose
possession she may
be found.

Filed October 7 1841

Jn Ruland Clerk

Executed this writ in the County of St Louis
by summoning Louis Du Breuil as within commanded
& had the body of Mary the within
named plaintiff in open Court the7th Oct 1841.

M Brotherton Sheriff By A B Belt Service $2.50

To the Hon. Bryan Mullanphy
Judge of the St. Louis Circuit Court

Your petitioner Mary Robertson
to whom your Honor granted leave
to sue as a poor person at the next
term of the Circuit Court in order
to obtain her freedom humbly complains
that she is now confined in the jail
of St. Louis County & is about to be sold
by the constable of said County to satisfy
executions against her pretended owner
Amos L . Carson , & that she has reason
to believe & does believe that after
said sale she is about to be removed out
of the jurisdiction of the St. Louis Circuit
Court , & her removal will result from said sale
For which reason she prays that
Your Honor will cause your petitioner
to be brought up before
your Honor by a warrant under
the hand of your Honor according
to the statutes in such case
& provided.

Henry L Cobb
Solr for Petr
Sworn to & subscribed
before me this
6th Oct. 1841
by Henry L Cobb

The State of Missouri to the Sheriff the County of St. Louis - Greeting

You are hereby commanded to seize Mary Robertson a person
of color, wheresoever she may be
found in the State of Missouri
and bring her before the Judge of our Circuit Court of the County of St .
Louis in our eighth Judicial Circuit at the Court house in the
City of St Louis in said County at
ten o'clock A.M. on Thursday
the seventh day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and
forty one, and do you moreover
summon the person in whose
possession she may be found to
appear before our said Judge
at the said time and place
& house you then there this writ-
We being moved hereunto by the affidavit
hereto annexed- In testimony
whereof witness the hand
of our said Judge at Chambers
in the County aforesaid.

Bryan Mullanphy
Judge of the 8th Judicial
Circuit Court of Missouri

Louis Du Breuil summoned to appear before the
Honorable St Louis Circuit Court on the eighth
day of October in the year A.D. 1841 in the matter
pending before said Court on the petition and affidavit
of one Henry L Cobb .
stating that Mary negress is a petitioner for
freedom and is detained in custody &c Humbly
showeth that that he is constable of St Louis Township on second day of August in
the year AD 1841 a unit of attachment was found by
Alphonso Witmore Justice of the Peace in and for
the county of St Louis at the suit of Benjamin Woods
and against one Amos L Carson
directed to your respondent and ordering him
to attach the said Carson by all and his
goods and chattels to the amount therein specified &
named, and that on the second day of August
your respondent did levy the said writ upon a Mary this good the said negro goodwoman as
the property of the said Carson and that afterwards by
due course of law, a judgment was obtained in
said suit against the said Carson and a writ
of fieri facias delivered on the 25th day of September 1841 by the said Justice
into the hands of your respondent directing
him to the amount therein specified
and out of the good of the said
Carson and on the and your respondent
these said in such cases provided
who sold in the Township of St. Louis on
the 7th day October, and was proceeding to sell
the same when He was summoned to appear
before your Circuit and he delivered up
the said negress up to the sheriff of St Louis County
He therefore prays the court that he may go
day that such order relative to the property
may taken as may hold him harmless. &c
Louis De Breuil

Sworn to & subscribed in open courtFeb 7th 1841 Jn Ruland Clerk

De Breuil's case
on Warrants &c.

Filed October 9 1841

Jn Ruland Clerk

order to Shff Bk 13 p 2- contd BK 13 p 13- Shff ordered to hire out
petitioner Bk 13 p 39

In the St. Louis Circuit
Court Nov Term 1841

And the said defendant
1. by Crockett & Gist his Attorneys comes and
defends the said injury when &c
and says that he is not guilty of the said
supposed trespass above laid to his charge or any or either of them or any part thereof
in manner and form as the said pltff
hath above thereof complained against
him and of this he the said defendant
puts himself upon the County

2. And for a further plea in this behalf
the said defendant says that at the time
of the institution of said suit the said
plaintiff was and still is a slave, and
this the said defendant is ready to verify

3. And for a further plea in this behalf
the said defendant says that at the
time of the institution of said suit the said
plaintiff was and still is a slave, the
property of Amos L Carson and this
the said defendant is ready to verify

Crockett & Gist,p.d.

Crockett & Gist Filed December 2nd 1841

Jn Ruland Clerk

In the St. Louis Circuit Court
November Term 1841 Mary Robertson
vs
Ringrose D. Watson

And the said plaintiff
as to the plea of the said defendant by him
first above pleaded and whereof he hath
put himself upon the County, doth the like. And the said plaintiff, as to the said pleas
of the said defendant, by him secondly and thirdly
above pleaded says that she the said plaintiff
by reason of anything, by the said defendant
in those pleas alleged, ought not to be barred
from having, and maintaining her aforesaid
action thereof, against the said defendant
at the said times, where &c of his own wrong
and without the cause; by him in his said
second, and third plea alleged, committed the
said trespasses in manner and form, as the
said plaintiff, hath above in her said
declaration complained against the said
defendant, and this she the said plaintiff
prays may be inquired of by the County &c.

Henry L. Cobb
Atty. for Plff.

In the Circuit Court
Nov Term 1841

Similiter to 1st &
Replication to 2d & 3 Pleas

Filed January 12 1842 Jn Ruland Clerk Henry L Cobb Atty for Plff

County of St. Louis , ss.
The State of Missouri ,To Elijah Hayden Alonzo Green
John Reesby Mrs Sally Bush Greeting:

You are hereby commanded, that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, you appear
before the Judge of our Circuit Court , on the30th day of August 1842
at the city of St. Louis , then and there to
testify, and the truth to say, in a certain matter of controversy now pending in our said Court,
wherein Mary Robertson
plaintiff and Ringrose Watson defendant on the part of Mary Robertson and herein you are in no wise to fail.

Witness, John Ruland , Clerk of our said Court, with the
seal thereof hereto affixed, at office, in the City of St. Louis ,
this 22nd day of August in
the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty two Jn. Ruland Clerk, C.C.

30 August 1842
Circuit Court

Elijah Hayden copy

Alonzo Green John ReesblyMrs Sally Bush on part of plaintiff

Executed this writ in the County of Saint Louis
on the 27th Aug 1842 by reading it to Alonzo Green
and Mrs Sally Bush and leaving a copy at the
residence of Elijah Hayden with a white female over
15 years of age.

William Milburn Shrff
byErnst Wm DicherDpty

fees $1.50 ctnon est12 1/2$1.62 1/2

County of St. Louis , ss.The State of Missouri ,To John Reesby - Raplee
Greeting:

You are hereby commanded, that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, you appear
before the Judge of our Circuit Court , on the thirtieth day of August
next at the City of St. Louis , then and there to
testify, and the truth to say, in a certain matter of controversy now pending in our said Court,
wherein Mary Robertson (a woman of colour) is plaintiff and Ringrose D. Watson is
defendant on the part of the defendant
and herein you are in no wise to fail.

Witness, John Ruland , Clerk of our said Court, with the
seal thereof hereto affixed, at office, in the City of St. Louis ,
this 24th day of August in
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty two Jn. Ruland Clerk, C.C.

Executed this writ in the County of Saint Louis
on the 26th August 1842 by reading it to Raplee-
John Reesby not found in my county.

William Milburn Sheriff by Ernst Wm Decker,Dpty

fees Serv.50ctnon est12 1/21.62 1/2 ct

Witness

=
John Reesby
(Waiter at National Hotel) Raple ( St Louis Exchange)
30 Aug

County of St. Louis , State of Missouri , sct.To the Sheriff of St. Louis County- Greeting:

We command you to attach Elijah Hayden
by his body and safely keep, so that you have his body
before the Judge of our Circuit Court , now in session at the City of St. Louis , within and for
the County of St. Louis , on the 31 day of August 1842 then
and there to testify and the truth to say in a certain matter of controversy, now pending in
our said Circuit Court , between Mary Robertson
plaintiff, and Ringrose D Watson defendant wherein
the said Elijah Hayden has heretofore been summoned
on the part of the said Mary Robertson

Witness, John Ruland , Clerk of our said Circuit
Court , at the City of St. Louis , this day of
in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and forty
Jn Ruland Clerk, C.C.

The within witness not found
in my County Aug. 30th 1842

William Milburn Sheriff
by Rich H. Petty Dpty

Elijah Hayden

County of St. Louis , sct. State of Missouri ,To the Sheriff of St. Louis County- Greeting:

We command you to attach Alonzo Green
by his body and safely keep, so that you have his body
before the Judge of our Circuit Court , now in session at the City of St. Louis , within and for
the County of St. Louis , on the 1 of September1842 then
and there to testify and the truth to say in a certain matter of controversy, now pending in
our said Circuit Court , between Mary Robertson
plaintiff, and Ringrose D Watson defendant wherein
the said Alonzo Green has heretofore been summoned
on the part of the said Mary Robertson

Witness, John Ruland , Clerk of our said Circuit
Court , at the City of St. Louis , this day of
in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and forty
Jn Ruland Clerk, C.C.

Executed this attachment in the
County of Saint Louis on the 1st day
of September 1842 by delivering the
Body of Alonzo Green in Court

Wm Milburn Shff
By Danl Murphy Dpty
fees $ 1.00

Alonzo Green

In the St Louis Circuit Court
NovTerm 1843

Now the plaintiff by her Counsel
comes and moves the Court the reinstate her
case for the following reasons

1st
Because she has a good cause of action.

2nd
Because her former Counsel withdrew
the suit without her knowledge or instructions

3rd
Because if the case is reinstated
she believes she will be able to show
a good cause of action

Colt Atty for Plff

Motion to reinstate

Filed January 25th 1844. John Ruland Clerk

In the St Louis Circuit Court
Nov Tm 1844.

Mary Robertson (negro), and
said plaintiff, being duly sworn upon
her oath says, that she employed Henry
L Cobb . Attorney, sometime in the year
eighteen hundred & forty one to bring suit for
her freedom, before this Honorable Court, wherein
R D Watson is defendant, that for his
services in said such she paid him money
and did work for him as his
washerwoman, that she was ready for trial
of the time the case was to be called on
the fifteenth of this January Eighteen hundred
&forty four, but that to her supprise her
suit had been dismissed. The affiant
further says that she has a good cause of
action as she is advised by her counsel
and that if her suit is reinstated and
she is permitted to go to trial she will
as she verily believes be able to make
out her case.
the affiant further say that she was
not aware that her said attorney
was to be absent or was absent on
or before the day of fixed for trial of said suit and
that she did not learn the fact of his
absence until several days afterwards
and further the affiant saith not

Mary Robertson X her mark

Sworn to and subscribed before me
this seventh day of February, A.D. Eighteen hundred
and forty four.

Justice of the Peace, St. Louis County, Mo

Afdt. by plff in support of
motion to set aside nonsuit.

Filed Feby 7 1844 John Ruland Clerk
p 366.

County of St. Louis ss.The State of Missouri ,To Alonzo Green at Virginia Hotel
Greeting:

You are hereby commanded, that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, you appear
before the Judge of our Circuit Court , on thetwenty seventh
Mayat the City of St. Louis , then and there to
testify, and the truth to say, in a certain matter of controversy now pending in our said Court,
wherein Mary Robertson is
plaintiff and R D Watson
defendant on the part of the plaintiff
and herein you are in no wise to fail.

Witness, John Ruland , Clerk of our said Court, with
the seal thereof hereto affixed, at office, in the City of St .
Louis , this 22nd day of May
in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and
forty 4. John Ruland Clerk, C.C.

Exd the 25th May 1844
Wm Milburn Shff

By Danl Murphy Dpty
fees 50 Cents

A. Green Witness
for Plff at Virginia Hotel. 27th May

County of St. Louis , ss.The State of Missouri ,To Alonzo Green at Virginia Hotel
John Hart at Planters House
Greeting:

You are hereby commanded, that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, you appear
before the Judge of our Circuit Court , on the 20th of June
at the City of St. Louis , then and there to
testify, and the truth to say, in a certain matter of controversy now pending in our said Court,
wherein Mary Robertson
plaintiff and R D Watson
defendant on the part of the plaintiff
and herein you are in no wise to fail.

Witness, John Ruland , Clerk of our said Court, with
the seal thereof hereto affixed, at office, in the City of St .
Louis , this 6th day ofJune
in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and
forty four John Ruland Clerk, C.C.

Sub for

Alonzo Green John Hart

Executed
William Milburn Shff

Fee $ 1.00

County of St. Louis , ss.The State Of Missouri ,To John Greef Planters House
Greeting:

You are hereby commanded, that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, you appear
before the Judge of our Circuit Court , forthwith
at the City of St. Louis , then and there to
testify, and the truth to say in a certain matter of controversy now pending in our said Court,
wherein Mary Robertson is
plaintiff and R D Watson is
defendant on the part of the plaintiff
and herein you are in no wise to fail.

Witness, John Ruland , Clerk of our said Court, with
the seal thereof hereto affixed, at office, in the City of St .
Louis , this 26th day of November
in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and
forty four John Ruland Clerk, C.C.

Circuit Court
Nov 7
1844

Sub for

Alonzo Green John Greef(Planters House)

Executed Nov 26th 1844
Wm Milburn Shrff
fee $ .62 1/2 ct

for plff Langton & Lauth
for plff

County of St. Louis , ss.The State of Missouri ,To John Risby
Greeting:

You are hereby commanded, that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, you appear
before the Judge of our Circuit Court , on this day the 26th of
November 1844 at the City of St. Louis , then and there to
testify, and the truth to say, in a certain matter of controversy now pending in our said Court,
wherein Mary Robertson is
plaintiff and Ringrose D. Watson
defendant on the part of Deft
and herein you are in no wise to fail.

Witness, John Ruland , Clerk of our said Court, with
the seal thereof hereto affixed, at office, in the City of St .
Louis , this 26nd day of November
in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and
forty four
John Ruland Clerk C.C.

Subpa

x John Risby waiter
at Planters House
St Louis

Executed Nov 26 1844.
Wm Milburn Shrff
fee 50cts

Executed this writ in the County of
St. Louis November the 26th 1844 by leaving a true
copy thereof at the residence of Jn Risby with
a white member of the family over the age of
fifteen years

William Milburn Sheriff
By James L Harris Dpty
fee $0.50

County of St. Louis , ss.The State of Missouri , To Joseph C. Brown
Greeting:

You are hereby commanded, that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, you appear
before the Judge of our Circuit Court , on theforthwith
at the City of St. Louis , then and there to
testify, and the truth to say, in a certain matter of controversy now pending in our said Court,
wherein Mary Robertson is
plaintiff and R. D. Watson is
defendant on the part of the Plaintiff
and herein you are in no wise to fail.

Witness, John Ruland , Clerk of our said Court, with
the seal thereof hereto affixed, at office, in the City of St .
Louis , this 27th day of November
in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and
forty four John Ruland Clerk C.C.

Circuit Court

Sub for

Joseph Brown
for plff
forthwith Within witness not
found Wm Milburn Shrff
fee 12 1/2 cts

County of St. Louis , sct. State of Missouri ,To the Sheriff of St. Louis County- Greeting:

We command you to attach Sally Bush by her body and safely keep, so that you have her body
before the Judge of our Circuit Court , now in session at the City of St. Louis , within and for
the County of St. Louis , on the 31 day of August 1842 then
and there to testify and the truth to say in a certain matter of controversy, now pending in
our said Circuit Court , between Mary Robertson
plaintiff, and Ringrose D Watson defendant wherein
the said Sally Bush has heretofore been summoned
on the part of the said Mary Robertson

Witness, John Ruland , Clerk of our said Circuit
Court , at the City of St. Louis , this day of
in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and forty Jn Ruland Clerk, C.C.

Executed
fee $1.00

William Milburn Sheriff
by Richd. H PettyDpty.

Sally Bush
witness discharged