To the Honorable William C. Caer Judgee
of the circuit court of county of St Louis

Your petitioner Peter humbly rep
resents, that he was born in the state
of North Carolina a slave the property of William Walton who came to
county of St Louis and state of Missouri
about twenty three years since and
brought your petitioner with him, that
your petitioner resided with his master
Willam Walton in the county of St Louis
about two years where the said Willi
am Walton gave your petitioner to his
daughter Elizabeth Lansford who then
in the state of Indiana to wait
for the said Elizabeth and her
that the said Elizabeth took your petitioner
up her on back at the house
of William Walton in of there
by and conveyed him to her house in the
state of Indiana where he resided with
her about two years there he was
taken to and from there broughtto the county of St Louis and state of Missouri
where he now resides and is held in slave
ry by James Walton most of which
he by the awarded affidavit
A which your petitioner asks to
in part of this his petition

Your petitioner being advised and
believing that the above events and gives him claim to and entitles him
freedom, prays to be permitted to sue
in forma pauperis to establish his right
to his freedom and that such other and fur
ther orders may be made in the
as the law and to your honor may
and

Peter his XmarkSworn to subscribed this10th day of March 1831 Before

State of Missouri Third Judicial Circuit Court
. It is hereby ordered that Peter the before named
petitioner is permitted to sue as a poor person to
establish his right to freedom on the foregoing pe
=tition and George F Strother Esquire is assigned
as his counsel for that purpose. It is also ordered
that the petitioner Peter have reasonable liberty

to attend his said Councel and the Court when
occasion may require and that the said petitioner
shall not be removed out of the jurisdiction of
the court nor be subject to any severity because
of his application for freedom. Given under
my hand at my chambers this 10th day of
March 1831.

: C Carr Judge 3. Circuit

No60 March Term 1831

Petition to sue in forma pauperis

State of Missouri County of St Louis ss.

John F. Walton personally appeared
before the a Justice of the peace in and for the county
aforesaid, duly sworn on his oath saith that he is
acquainted with Peter a Black boy that he has known him
ever since he can recollect knew him in North Carolina
has known him in Missouri , saw him when he started
they and company with Elizabeth Lansford to go to Indiana as it was said, does not know of his own knowledge that he
went there. The deponent saith that Elizabeth Lansford the was the daughter of said William Walton , she started
from her father's in St Louis County, taking with her Peter
the Black man aforesaid with the consent of her father and
on her intended trip to Indiana , they took place about
twenty one years ago-that Elizabeth Lansford never
returned to the county-That said Elizabeth Lansford never
returned to the county. That peter remained away for two
years or upwards. The deponent further saith that the said
Peter was beaten as , in the a -with an understanding guaranteed by Henry Walton the
son of the said William Walton , that the residence of the boy
should be changed every thirty days has often heard the said
William Walton in his lifetime remark that the boy (alledging
to said Peter ) was free by the laws of Indiana , if he but

John T Walton Sworn to Subscribed this17th january1891before

St Louis Circuit Court March
term 1831

St Louis County to wit. Peter a man of color
who by permission of the court sues in
forma pauperiscomplains of James Walton of a plea of trespass . For that the
said James Walton on the first day
of May in the year 1830 with force
and or was in the county of St Louis made an assault on the
said Peter to wit at St Louis county
aforesaid and then and there one
said hold of the said Peter and with
great force and then and there did
the said Peter and gave him the
said Peter many blows and,
and then and there imprisoned the said
Peter and kept and detained him in pris
on there without any reaonsable or probable
cause whatsoever for a long space of
time to wit for the space of Eleven months.
When the said Peter avers that before
and at the time above mentioned when when the aforesaidgrievances were committed
in the said Peter was and still is a free person
told the not James Walton there kept
and detained him and still holds and detains him in slavery. Contrary to law and against
the will of the said Peter the said
Peter was not only then and there greatly bruised and hurt
but was also then and there greatly
in and in circumstances to wit at St
Louis county aforesaid. and . the
then and there did to the damage of the
said Peter $500 and therefore he brings
suit.

Strother pq

County of Louis The State of Missouri

To the sheriff of St Louis County Greeting
We command you to summon James Walton that he
be and appear before the Judge of our Circuit Court
at the next term thereof to be held at the city of SLouis
within and for the County of S Louis on the fourth
monday of March instant then and there to answer
unto Peter a man of color of a plea of trespass to the
damage of said plamliff of #500-and have you
then there this writ.

Witness Arcibald Gamble Clerk of our said court at Office theeleventh day of March 1831 Archibald Gamble Clk

Executed this writ on James Walton the defendant
by offering to read it and the declaration to him
which he refused to hear read and acknowledged of the same in the county of St Louis on the
12th day of March

John K Walker Sheriffby Brotherton Depty

No.31 march term 1831- S Louis Circuit Court

This is an action of assault and beating and false imprison
ment.

G Strother filed 11. march 1831.

State of Missouri - Third Judicial Circuit Court .

It is hereby ordered that Peter the before named petitioner be permitted
to sue as a poor person to establish his right to freedom on
the foregoing petition and George F Strother Esquire is assigned
as his counsel for that purpose. It is also ordered that the petitioner
Peter have reasonable liberty to attend his said counsel and
the court when occasion may require and that he said petitioner
shall not be removed out of the jurisdiction of the Court nor
be subject to any severity because of his application for
freedom. Given under my hand at my chamber this 10 day of March 1831.

(Signed) C. Carr Judge 3. Circuit A true copy of the Order of the judge. Archibald Gamble Clk

and the said James by his
attorneycomes and defends the force and injury
when and says that he is not guilty of
the in manner and form as the plaintiff
hath above thereof in his declaration alleged
and of this he puts himself the county

- for deft

and the said James for further plea in
this behalf says that the the said plaintiff at
the time of the commencement of this suit was
not and is not a free person in manner
and form as the plaintiff alledges and of this he puts himself upon the county

filed april 1st 1831A G Clk

Non suit Book 6 page 284

Archibald Gamble Clerk

defendants page

No.67 March T 1831 St Louis Circuit Court

pleaNot guilty - 2 plff
not free

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

You are here by commanded to summon John T Walton and Archibald Gamble
McDonald that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, they be and appear in proper person before the Judge
of our Circuit Court , on the tenth day of Augustnext 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 Peter a man of Color is plaintiff, and
James Walton is defendant, on the part of the
plaintiff-; and have you then there this writ.

Witness, Archibald Gamble , clerk of our said Circuit Court ,
at the city of St. Louis , this Fifteenth day of July in
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty one
Archibald Gamble Clerk, C.C.

John T Walton & Archibald McDonald
not found in my county

John K Walker Shff 2-25

July Term 1831

for Plaintiff

John T Walton Archibald McDonald on 10 August

County of St. Louis , sct. State of Missouri , To the Sheriff of Saint Louis County---greeting.

You are hereby commanded to summon George Walton and Henry Walton
that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, they be and appear in proper person before the Judge
of our Circuit Court , on the tenth day of Augustnext 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 Peter - a man of color is plaintiff, and
James Walton is defendant, on the part of the
defendant and have you then there this writ.

Witness, Archibald Gamble , Clerk of our said Circuit Court ,
at the City of St. Louis , this Fifteenth day of July in
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty. one Archibald Gamble Clerk, C.C.

July term 1831

for defendant

x George Walton x Henry Walton on 10th August

Excuted this writ on Henry Walton by leaveing
a copy of it at his house and it to George Walton
both in St Louis County on the 20th day
of July 1831

John K Walker Shff by Geo Stoner Dp Shff Service $ 1.00

County Of St. Louis , Sct.State of Missouri ,To the sheriff of Saint Louis County---Greeting.

You are hereby commanded to summon John T Walton and Archibald McDonald
that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, they be and appear in proper person before the Judge
of our Circuit Court , on the 7th day of Decemberinstant 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 Peter is plaintiff, and
James Walton is defendant, on the part of the
plaintiff ;and have you then there this writ.

Witness. Archibald Gamble , Clerk of our said Circuit Court ,
at the City of St. Louis , this 11th day of November in
the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-one Archibald Gamble Clerk, C.C.

Jno T. Walton & Arch McDonald
not found in my county

Jno Walker Shffnovember 25th

November Term 1831

for plff

John T Walton Archibald McDonald on 7th Dec.

County Of St. Louis , Sct.State of Missouri ,To the sheriff of Saint Louis County---Greeting.

You are hereby commanded to summon George Walton and Henry Walton
that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, they be and appear in proper person before the Judge
of our Circuit Court , on the seventh day of Decemberinstant 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 Peter is plaintiff, and
James Walton is defendant, on the part of the
defendant ; and have you then there this writ.

Witness, Archibald Gamble , Clerk of our said Circuit Court ,
at the City of St. Louis , this 11th day of November in
the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-one Archibald Gamble Clerk, C.C.

Executed on Henry Walton on the 14th Novr & on George Walton on the 4th
Dec 1831

Jn Walker
Shff $1.00

november term 1831

for defendant

x George Walton x Henry Walton on 7th December

County Of St. Louis , SctState of Missouri ,To the sheriff of Saint Louis County---Greeting.

You are hereby commanded to summon George Walton and Henry Walton
that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, they be and appear in proper person before the
Judge of our Circuit Court , on the thirtieth day of marchnext 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 Peter is
plaintiff, and James Walton is defendant,
on the part of the defendant ; and have you then there this writ.

Witness, Archibald Gamble , Clerk of our said
Circuit Court , at the City of St. Louis , this 20th
day of February in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and thirty two Archibald Gamble Clerk C.C.

2 March Term 1832

for defendant

x George Walton x Henry Walton on 30th march

Executed this writ on Geroge Walton 29th
of February
& on Henry Walton 2nd day of March 1832
in county of St Louis

John K Walker Shff
by J Brotherton Dpty by

County Of St. Louis , Sct.State of Missouri ,To the Sheriff of Saint Louis County---Greeting.

You are hereby commanded to summon John T Watton and Archibald McDonald
that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, they be and appear in proper person before the
Judge of our Circuit Conrt, on the 30th day of marchnext 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 Peter is
plaintiff, and James Watton is defendant,
on the part of the plaintiff ; and have you then there this writ.

Witness, Archibald Gamble , Clerk of our said
Circuit Court , at the Cty of St. Lous , this 20th
day of February in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and thirty two Archibald Gamble Clerk C.C.

Archibald McDonald & John T Walton
not found in my county

John K Walker Shff

March Term 1832

for plff

John T Walton Archibald McDonald on 30th march

Count Of St. Louis
Sct.State of Missouri ,To the Sherff of St. Louis County-
Greeting.

You are hereby commanded to summon John T Walton
that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, he be and appear in proper person
before the Judge of our Circuit Court , on the day of April
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 Peter is
- plaintiff, and James Walton is
defendant, on the part of the plaintiff
and have you then there this writ.

Witness, Archibald Gamble , Clerk of our said Circuit Court ,
at the City of St. Louis , this 9th day of
April in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and thirty two A Gamble Clerk C.C.

not executed there being two
about the same time

John K Walker Shff

Spa for

Jno T Walton 10th April
for for plff

County Of St. Louis -Sct.State of Missouri ,To the Sheriff of St. Louis County-Greeting.

You Are Hereby Commanded To Summon John T Walton
that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, he be and appear in proper person
before the Judge of our Circuit Court ,forth with
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 Peter
is plaintiff, and James Walton
is defendant, on the part of the plaintiff
and have you then there this writ.

Witness: Archibald Gamble , Clerk of our said Circuit Court ,
at the City of St. Louis , this Eleventh day of
april in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and thirty two Archibald Gamble Clerk C.C.

Executed this writ on John T Walton by read-
ing
it to him in St. Louis County on the 11th April
1832

Jno. K Walker Sheriff By Issac Stoner DepyService 50 cts

such

forthwith

x for Jno T. Walton

County Of St. Louis -Sct.State of Missouri ,To the Sheriff of St.Louis County-Greeting.

You Are Hereby Commanded To Summon Jacob Walton
that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, he be and appear in proper person
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 Peter is
plaintiff, and James Walton
is defendant, on the part of the Defendant
and have you then there this writ.

Witness: Archibald Gamble , Clerk of our said Circuit Court ,
at the City of St. Louis , this 19th day of
April in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and thirty two A Gamble Clerk C.C.

for Jacob Walton
forthwith for defendant

Executedthis writ on jacob Walton
by reading it to him in St. Louis
on the 19th april 1832

John K Walker Shff by J Brotherton DptyService 50 cts