To the Honorable the St Louis Circuit Court
within and for the County of St Louis

The petition of Mary Ann speaks a free person
of colour, who is now unjustly, and illegally restrained,
of her liberty by one James Quisenbusly, and one
John M . Jameson the keeper of the Common prison
within, and for the County of St Louis , respectfully
represents, that she is now about thirty, three years
of age, born in the County of Alexandria in the
District of Columbia , that some eight years since
she was found apprentice, to learn, the art, & of a housewife in, the said County of Alexandria
aforesaid by her mother, to one Susan ,
Blant , for the period of ten years now, and after
the first day of may eighteen hundred and thirty
five or six; that in pursuance with said apprentice,
ship, your petitioner remained, with the said
Blant , for the period of two years in the County of
Alexandria aforesaid, at which time the said
Susan Blant , being about, to to the County
of St Louis in the state of Missouri , prepared to
your petitioner that if she would accompany her
to said county and State, she the said Blant ,
would give, or release, your petitioner of two years
of the time she was so bound, for as aforesaid;
that your petitioner having
for said said Blant , and her family, agreed so to
cause and did so come to the state and County
aforesaid about the first day of May eighteen
hundred and thirty seven before the said express,
promise as aforesaid; that your petitioner has
abundance of proof, to the effect as above stated,
which said proof, is good and sufficient, to establish
the foregoing facts; that some months since
the said Susan Blant , departed this life interstate,
and that the said James is
administrator of all the estate, effects and credits
of the said deceased,; has said

does not pretend to claim your petitioner as a slave
belonging to his said deceased,, but on the contrary,
admits that she was born, of free parents, and is
of right face after she shall render to him as
such administrator compensation, for said
of apprenticeship,; that the said
has no evidence whatever in his
possession that your petitioner
to his what has
stated petitioner and what the said
in her life time so stated to where
to testify to the same; that she said Blant ,
in her life time knowing, full well of the express,
agreement as aforesaid, and that the full
of your petitioners time of servitude,
destroyed the indentures, of apprenticeship, as
aforesaid so that at this time the said
has no evidence whatever known
to the by which he can, legally claim
the earnings of your petitioner; that your petitioner
has demanded, of the said John M Jameson ,
keeper, of the prison aforesaid the papers or
of conviction, by virtue, of which be detains
the said petitioner , and that he said Jameson ,
stated, that he has no or paper,
by which he detains the said petitioner;
and that said Jameson , informed your petitioners
counsel, that said brought
said petitioner and required safely to
her until, he learned, his pleasure,, at the
same time stating that your petitioner was
born free, and entitled to her earnings
in a short time.

Now your petitioner in according to the statute,
in such case made and provided,, here out
the illegallity of said imprisonment,, and alleges,
that the said imprisonment, is illegal in

this to wit, that under and by virtue, of the laws,
of Virginia , which at the time were in full
force and effect in the said County of Alexandria ,
and under which your, petitioner was,
bound, as aforesaid, does not allow
or permit the master or Mistress, to carry out
of the state of Virginia , or the county of Alex ,
and ria, out of the District of Columbia ,
an apprentice, nor did the said law allow, or
permit, the said Susan , Blant to into this
state petitioner-?

That the matter of apprenticeship, as aforesaid
is a personal contract and dies, with the person,
and in as much as the said Susan , Blant has
departed this life, your petitioner is liberted
from, her servitude,?

That she is entitled to her an earnings,
because & the terms of her coming, to this state
with said Blant , under the premise and agreement,
as aforesaid and having served, out
full, the term of eight years she has performed
her part of said contract.

That a master cannot at his more which his
apprentice in the common prison without

That she is detained and defined of her
liberty the said and Jameson ,
without authority of law,.

In view, of the foregoing your petitioner
now prays for the mit of to the
said James and the said John
Jameson , directed, Commanding them
and each of them to bring the body of forthwith
before your Honorable Court to do, submit to,
and secure, judgment in the and
petitioner as in duty even will

mary
& her

State of Missouri
County of St Louis Ss

Personally appeared before the
undesignedMary Ann speaks thewithin and
foregoing petitioner, and being duly sworn, as
her oath says, the matters and things in the
same set forth are true to the best of her knowledge, way

her x mark G. Sworn to and subscribed
before me this 27th of Sept 1844
John Ruland Clerk St Louis Circuit Court
By Chat B. Clements

Petition of Mary A . speaks
for Habeas,
Corpus,

County of St Louis Sct
The State of Missouri To John M , Jameson Jailor, of
the County of St Louis Greeting

We command you that the body of Mary
Ann Speaks under your custody as it is said
detained under safe and secure conduct together
with the day and the cause of her being detained
by whatsoever name the said Meary Ann Speaks
may be charged in the same you have before the
Judge of our Circuit Court at Chambers in the
City of St Louis in the County aforesaid on the
twenty eighth instant at 9 O clock A.M. then and
there to do submit and receive whatsoever shall
be considered, concerning,, the said Mary Ann Speaks

Witness John Ruland Clerk of
our said Court with the seal
thereof hereto affixed at office in
the City of St Louis this twenty
seventh day of September eighteen
hundred and forty four. John Ruland Clerk By B. Clements,

In obediance to, the with in command
I have here, the body of Mary Ann
Speaks before the honorable John
Judge of the Missouri
Circuit Court on this 28th of Sept
1844 and having no papers by which
I hold the said Mary Ann : she
being placed, in my custody, by
James as administrator
of Susan Blant on the 26th the said at the same
time, stating that she belongs,
to the estate, of Susan , Blant and
the he wished her, to remain, in jail
untill he could get an order, of Court
to hire or sell her for, the remainder
of the time she had to serve, this 28th
of Sept 1844

J M Jameson ,

No 386
St Louis Circuit Court
April Term 1844

Speaks vs.
Jailor of County

“By the Corpus”

On reading the Petition & hearing the return of, this writ
in this behalf there being
shown that Mary Ann Speaks is held in
slavery, to no sufficient, or legal authority
to me by which the said, Mary Ann is held in
Custody. It is ordered that the said Mary
Ann & she is
the custody of the said Jailor.

Given under my hand, 28th day of Sept. 1844

John M Judge &C