State of Missouri
St. Louis TerritoryTo the Hon the Circuit
Court Nov Term 1844G:
The petition of Jenny Brown
Respectfully . that the your petitioner is
at the present time held in slavery in the county
aforesaid by that the your
Petitioner has good and fair grounds on
which she claims her right to freedom
that the your petitioners was brought into the
state of Virginia in the Year 1813 for the purpose
of labor and that afterwards your
petitioner was sent to Missouri and there
here a out as a slave contrary to the laws
in can made and provided
Shall your petitioner has
been held in slavery in the State of Missouri
about twenty two years when infact
and in truth from the violation of the
laws of the State of Virginia Your
petitioner all the twenty years aforesaid
was a free woman
Now therefore yours
Petitioner prays your Honor to allow
her to sue as a poor person to establish her
freedom so wrongfully taken from her and
as in duty bound she will and pray
Will B Smith
for Petitioner
State of Missouri
St. Louis County
Personally appeared
Before the undersigned
Jenny Brown and maketh oath and saith
that the Matters and things set fourth in
the above petition are true to the best
of her knowledge and belief
St. Louis 26th September 1844her Jenny Brown
Mark
Taken and Sworn to before
the undersigned Justice of the
Peace the date above written Batten Justice
State of Missouri
St. Louis CountyIn the St. Louis Circuit Court
November Term 1844
Jenny Brown Complains of F
Stugons of a plea of Trespass, for that whereas
the said defendant on the tenth day of
September in the year Eighteen hundred
and forty four with force and arms at the
County aforesaid, Be at Bruised injured and
ill treated her the said plaintiff and then
and there imprisoned her the said plaintiff
and kept and detained her in prison there
without any probable cause whatsoever
for a long space of time, to wit, twelve hours
then and there following, contrary to the laws
of the said State and against the will
of the said Plaintiff and the said plaintiff
further that she the said plaintiff
before and at the time of the said grievances
was and still is a free person and that the
said defendant, held and still Holds the
said Plaintiff in slavery and other wrongs
to the said Plaintiff did the said defendant
then and there do contrary to the peace and
dignity of the State and to the damages
of the said Plaintiff of five hundred
dollars and therefore the said Plaintiff
brings suit &c
K. Smith
Petition filed leave to sue as a poor person B 15 p 25 .
No.
In the St. Louis Circuit
Court Nov Term 1844
Jenny Brown
vs
F. Steyers
Trespass
Application to Judge
to our as a Juror
Filed September 30th 1844 Robert Clerk Smith
for plff
State of Missouri
St. Louis County
County of St. Louis , ss.
The State Of Missouri ,To the Sheriff of St. Louis CountyGreeting:
We command you to Summon F. Steegers, if
he be found in you 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 November next, then and there to answer unto Jenny
Brown of a Plea of Trespass & false
imprisonment,
to the damage of said plaintiff 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 Seventh day of
October in the year of our Lord eighteen
hundred and forty- four John Ruland Clerk.
I acknowledge myself bound for all costs that may accrue in the above cause.
Witness my hand and seal, at St. Louis , this day of 184
Plea filed 15 p 297 Dismissed v. 1141, 17/72
No. 173
St Louis Circuit Court
November Term 1844
Jenny Brown
vs
Steigers
Summons
8th Oct.
Trespass in false imprisonment
Damages $ 500 E B. Smith P. Q.
It is ordered that said petition-
er have leave to sue as a poor
person & the court assigns E B .
Smith esquire as Counsel for said
petitioner it is further ordered
that said petitioner have reason
ble liberty to attend her counsel
& the Court as occasion may require
that she be not removed without
the juridiction of this court and
that she be not subjected to any
severity on account of her ap-
plication for freedom.
filed October 7th 1844Ino Ruland Clerk free (131)
Executed this wit in the County
of St Louis on the 8th day of October 1844
by reading it and the declaration to Francis
Steigers , the defendant Also by reading to the
said Francis Steigers , the orders of the
Judge endorsed upon this wit
William Milburn SheriffBy N. C. Osburn Deputy Fees $ 2.00
vs
Francis I. Sturges
In the St. Louis Circuit Court
November Term 1844
And the said defendant by
R. S . Blennerhafsett his attorney comes & defends
the force & injury when &c says that he is not
guilty of the said supposed trespasses above laid
to his charge or any or either of them or any
part thereof in manner & form as the said
plaintff hath above thereof complained against
him, & of this he the said defendant puts himself
upon the Country . &c
R. S . Blennerhafsett
Defts atty.
In the St Louis Circuit Court
November Term 1844
Jane ; a woman of color
vs
Francis I. Sturges
Plea.
R. S . Blennerhafseth
Dfts. Atty
Filed Nov 19th 1844for Ruland Clerk
County Of St. Louis , Ss.
The State Of Missouri ,To
John Bobby, William K . Rure, William A .
Head, Alias Counsel
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 18th day of June instant at 9 o' clock
in the foreman of this day at the City of St. Louis , then and there to
testify and the truth to say in an certain matter of controversy now pending in our said Court,
wherein John is
plaintiff and Steiger 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 6th day of June
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
forty- five John Ruland Clerk, C.C.
In Circuit Court
Jenny Brown
vs
Francis J . Steigers
sub for deft
John Bobbs William K. Rule Oliver Brownwell William A . Head
L. L .
Executed Wn Milburn Shrff
fee $ 2.00
County Of St. Louis , Ss.
The State Of Missouri ,To
John Bobbs , William K. Rule Oliver
Brownwell William Head Isaac Letcher
Charles Bobbs 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 Jenny Brown is
plaintiff and F. J. Steigers is
defendant on the part of 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 21st day of January
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight haundred and
forty- six John Ruland Clerk, C.C.
Brown
vs
Steigers
sub
O John Bobbs O William H. Rule O Oliver Brournell William Head Isaac Letcher Charles Bobbs
Executed Wm Milburn Sheff
fee $ 2.60