To the Honorable the Judge of the Circuit Court
within and for the County of St Louis
Your Petitioner Michel a Man of Color respectfully
Sheweth that he is by birth entitled to his freedom by
being born of a negress Named Rose who was born
in Montreal Canada . That in the year seventeen
and ninety one or there abouts, the said Rose was
removedfrom Canada by a certain John Storke an Indian
trader to his trading post at Prairie du Chien , in the
Northwestern Territory of the United States , west of the
river Ohio and was there detained by the said John
Storke, as his slave until the death of said Storke which
took place abut the Year 1793 or 4. That he is informed
that after the death of said Storke as aforesaid She was
brought down to St Louis by a Certain Andrew Todd
a trader who sold her as a slave to a Certain
Didier the Curate of the Parish Contrary to the provision
of an Ordinance of the Congress of the United States
entitled an Ordinance for the government of the
Territory Northwest of the River Ohio passed July 13th
1787. That she remained in the possession of said Didier
as his slave and was afterwards sold by said Didier
as his slave aforesaid to one Auguste Chouteau
since decreased. Your Petitioner of states that after
the death of said Chouteau at a sale of the
personal Estate of said Chouteau , he was did for
and adjudicated to one Gabriel Paul by whom he has
been and now is held as a slave. Wherefore he
prays that he may be permitted to sue as a poor person
for the obtaining of his freedom, and that Your honor
will make an order that he have reasonable liberty
to attend his Counsel and the Court and that he shall not
be subjected to any severity on account of his application for
freedom, nor be removed out of the jurisdiction of the Court

Michel X his
MarkSworn to and subscribed before me,
this twenty fourth day of May, A.D. Eighteen
hundred and forty three Kretschmar Justice of the Peace St. Louis County, Mo

In the Circuit Court
County of St Louis
SsBy the Honorable Bryandt Mullanphy Judge of the Circuit Court aforesaid

The Petitioner has leave to establish his right to freedom
he is permitted to sue as a poor person. J McKim Duncan
is assigned to him as Counsel

It is ordered by the Court that he have reasonable liberty to
attend his Counsel and the Court, as occasion may require, and that
he shall not be removed out
of the jurisdiction of the court, nor
be subjected to any severity on account of his application for
freedom

Bryan Mullanphy Judge of the 8th Cir. of Missouri Given at my Chamber St Louis this
27th day of March AD 1843

Michel
vs
Gabriel Paul
Petition for freedom

In the St Louis Circuit Court
November Term A.D. 1843State of Missouri
County of St Louis
ss

Michel Paul comp plaintiff complains
of Gabriel Paul defendant of a plea of trespass,
For that the said defendant on the first day
of May A.D. 1843 to wit at the county aforesaid,
with force & arms & made an assault upon
the said plaintiff & then & there beat bruised
ill treated him, & then & there imprisoned
him & detained him in prison there with
out any reasonable or probable cause what
soever for a long time to wit for the space of
ten hours then next following contrary
to the laws of the State and against the
will of the said plaintiff, avers that he the
And the said
plaintiff avers that he the said plaintiff, before
and at the time of the committing of the
grievances, was and still is a free person &
that the defendant held & still holds him in slavery
to wit at the county aforesaid

And other wrongs to the said plaintiff then &
there did against the peace and dignity of
the State and to the damage of the said
plaintiff of six hundred dollars and therefore
he brings his suit, & C

Duncan & Cobb
Atty for Plaintiff

In the Circuit Court
Nov. Term 1843

Michel Paul
vs
Gabriel Paul

Declaration in a Trespass
Damages $ 600 00/100

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

We command you to Summon, Gabriel Paul
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 Monday of April next, then and there to answer unto
Michel Paul of a plea of trespass in the case

to the damage of said plaintiff six 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 twenty fifth day of
March in the year of our Lord eighteen
hundred and forty four John Ruland Clerk.

I acknowledge myself bound for all costs that may accure in the above cause.

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

Suit abated at costs of plff March 3d 184516 p 67 same set aside & cause
reinstate for trial & Costs 16 p 85

No 151 St Louis Circuit Court
April Term 1844.

Michel Paul
vs
Gabriel Paul
Summons

Trespass
Damages $ 600

Duncan & Cobb P.q.

Filed March 25th 1844 John Ruland Clerk. free
97

Gabriel Paul not found in my
County

William Milburn Shff
by AC Osburn Depy Non suit 50cts