New York Oct 5th 1849

This is to certify, that negroewoman Hester & Children formerly
my slaves in St Louis , are free, and have all the rights to go where
they please, that other coloured people have - They
were set free by me in January last.

F.

In the Circuit Court of
St. Louis Counhty. St Louis
County Set. November Term
1853

Plaintiff states that on
the day of January eighteen hundred and
forty nine the defendant Frederick
executed to the plaintiff a deed of manumis-
sion for herself and her two children Pris-
cilla “ who was the illigitimate
child of the said defendant November, and
may Ella. William the child by her late husband
by which said died she became free as well
as both of her children the other plaintiff that on the seventh
day of October 1853. she carried the said
died of to the said for
at his request and plaintiff charge that
he distroyed the same; and had plain-
tiff, arrested and caused them be
delivered to A. B. McAfee and Gramble C Blakers the other
defendant that be had sold
them to the said McAfee , and Blakey Moore
Plaintiff further state that the defen-
dant. norcum in the month of October 1849
when plaintiff on charge of being manager of slaves seized were imprisoned and to
the plaintiff the following certificate in
word and figures as follows to wit.

New York . Oct. 5th 1849

This is to certify that negroe woman Hester
& children formerly my slaves in St. Louis
are free and have all the rights to to go where
they please that other coloured peoplehave
they were set free by me in January
last.

H.

Thereby recognizing and satifying the pri-
vileges due of manumission. all of which
will man freely appear, by reference to the
said certificate. marked (a) and made
a part of this petition

Plaintiff further charge that the defen-
dants McAfee & Blaker & Moore was before they purchased
plaintiff (if they have purchased them) aware
of all the facts set forth in this petition
and of the freedom of the plaintiff.
but not regarding their rights - both the
said defendants with force and arms
arrested the said plaintiff. at
the circuit aforesaid an the 9th day of
November October 1853. and then and there seized
and laid of the said plaintiffs
and with force and violence pulled and
dragged about the said plaintiffs and
then and there forced and compelled the
said plaintiffs to go from and out of
a certain public house situated and being
in the county of St. Louis into the public
street there, and then and there forced and
compelled them to go in and along
several streets, to a certain jail
situated in the county aforesaid and
owned and kept by the defendat
McAfee , & Blaker Moore and then and there impris
-oned the said plaintiff without any
reasonable or probable cause whatsoever for
a long space of time and against the
will of plaintiff.

Plaintiff further over that before and
at the time of committing the grievances
complained of they were and
still are free persons, and that
the defendants held and still hold
them in slavery

They therefore ask that the defendants
be compelled to answer the allegations
of this petition as specificallyor if they
were here again repeated by way of
interogating, and that upon a formal
hearing of this case judgment of freedom may be
awarded to your petitioner (the
plaintiff) and damages to the amount
of five Hundred Dollar for which
they ask judgment.

&

army for Priscilla
and
for &
says matters
statute in the trespassingpetition as statute
an

I Sworn to
this
Jn S clk

St Louis Circuit Court

Hester Williams
Priscilla
by
and Ella
Williams by

vs

G. B .

Petition in trespass
for B
attys

To the clerk of the Circuit Court

The petition of Priscilla
and Mary Ella Williams of
ask the appointments of gordan early as
to enable to bring a
for their freedom against
W. B . .

Priscilla Williams Mary Ellen Williams

I to act as next for
Priscilla Williams and Mary Ella
Williams in suit about
her manumission by them for freedom
against &

St. Louis Oct 11th 1853 W Early

I approve thewithin and appoint Indan N Early ,
as next friend to sue for the plaintiff in
said cause

Clk

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

We command you to summon A B McAfee and Frederick
Nacum Glenville Blakey and William E Moore
to appear
before the Judge of our Circuit Court , on the first day of the next term
thereof, to be held in the City of St. Louis , within and for the
County of St. Louis , on the third Monday of November
next: then and there to answer the complaint of Hester Williams
Priscilla Williams and Ella Williams by their next friend
Jordan W Early
as set forth in the annexed petition
and have you then and there this writ.

Witness, Michael S. Cerre , Clerk of said Court,
with the Seal thereof hereto affixed, at office in the
City of St. Louis , this eleventh day
of October in the year of our Lord
eighteen hundred and fifty threeM S Cerre Clerk.

I acknowledge myself bound for all costs that may accrue in the above cause.
Witness, my hand and seal, at St. Louis , this 11th day
of October 1853

J W Early L.S .

On readingconsidering the within petition it is ordered
that said petitioners be allowed to sue on and giving Se-
curity satisfactory to the Clerk for all costs that may be
adjudged against petitioners, and it is further ordered
that said petitioners have reasonable liberty, to attend Counsel
and the Court as occasion may require that they be not removed out
of the jurisdiction of the Court and they be not subject to any severity
on account of their application for freedom

A True Copy attest A. Hamilton Judge 8th Jud. Cir MOM. S. Cerre Clk.

No. 119 St. Louis Circuit Court
November Term 1853

Hester Williams , Ella
Williams Percilla Williams
by their next friend Jordan W Early
vs
A B McFee and
G. C. Blakey
Fred .
William Moore
Pet for freedom
M

Issued Oct 11th 1853Md Cerre fee B. his leg of st Early
Copy $ 50

Executed this writ in the County of
St. Louis on the 12th day of Oct. 1853 by
leaving a certified copy of the writ & petition
at the usual place of abode of A. B. McAfee
with a white person a member of his family
over the age of fifteen years - also by leaving
a copy of the within writ, at the usual place
of abode of Granville Blakey , with a white
person a member of the family, over the age
of fifteen years - Frederick Norcum not
found in any county.

Jno M . by Jm C Blakey Service 2.00 Nonest 50 $ 2.50

Executed this writ further in the county of St. Louis on the
12th day of Oct. 1853. by delivering a certified copy of the within
writ to Wm E. Moore & by offering to read the within petition to him
which he refuses to hearfee$1.00 Shff

State of Mo
County of St Louis In the St Louis
Circuit Court - Nov Term 1834

Declaration under statute
for freedom

Defendant for plea to the amended declaration
filed in the above case on 20th November 1834, says,
that he is not guilty of the trespass and imprisonment
as charged in the said declaration; and defendant
denies that plaintiffs were ever or are now free
persons, and of these things he puts himself
upon the Country

L Williams
Atty for Deft

No 119 In the St Louis Circuit Court

Hester Williams & others
vs
Fredrick Norcom

Answer of defendant to amended
declaration filed 20th nov 1834.
Plea not guilty & that
plaintiff not free

Filed November 24, 1854 Wm J Hammond Williams p.d

In the St Louis Circuit Court .
November Term 1854

1st. Defendant moves to strike from the record,,
the paper marked "filed nov. 20th 1854.," for
the reason

1. That said paper is not filed in accordance
with, but in delegation of the rule of
this court.

2. The said paper is not an amendment of
the original petition, nor is it a petition itself,
for freedom, as the suit purports to be.

3. The said paper is not an frivolous
and of no sort of application to the matter
in issue.

2. Defendant asks the court to make an order that
the Sheriff deliver the plaintiff to the defendant
Norcom or his agent, to be dealt with as his

, p.d.

Hester Williams & others
vs
Fedrick Norcom

Motion to strike paper
marked "filed nov. 20 1854"
from - and
for final order in the
case.

Filed November 24, 1854 Wm J.Hammond Clk William p.d.

Court House Papers
St. Louis To the judge of the St. Louis Circuit Court
of the County of St. Louis and State of
Missouri

The petition of Hester Williams
humbly represents, that in January D
1849 she known by the name of H Esther was the slave for wife of F
and also has the one
a five years named Mary
Ella and the others afore named Priscilla
nine years. And that at times
then Master F Aonom, set her free
by exemting to her and has the
a of Emancipation, and your
petitioner represents that said
as she was informed and
was and fees from ser-
vice of herself and her the children
your petitioners further their
she returned said of Emancipation
in her from the day of
Execution some time in January 1849
up and untill on or about the
of October D 1833 when she at the
of the said him the deed
to have the sum recorded as
informed that some further had
to be by the said , before the
said paper could he recorded, and
your petitioner states that said
on the next morn
ing she would give her the said papers
property and certificate, And
petitioner states that cause
the for said paper that she
was informed that she was her
sold by the said to
A, B , has a
by whom she was possession of
and is non confined in his your
the city of St. Louis , and is informed
and that the said
forthwith to her
without of this state, and
jurisdiction of this court

Our petitioner further states that in
October 1849 and after the execution
of the Emancipation she was admitted
as a , and F man who
was in the city of New York sent to her
to procure her the certificate
apart of this
petition

And your petitioner prays that
an order may her promted her your Honor
as a poor person
she having
that your will also an
order that she may have reasonable
to her counsel and the
as may require
and this may upon for
your petitioner the and
that she may have since
as the and the
of the case .

Hester Williams his & attys.

N.W Sean having duly sworn seventh
that Ms Williams Mr Mathers things art
forth in the foregoing petition and then
and there makes an order is granted by the
Circuit Court that Hester and her
five children Ellen & Priscilla Martha
command one of the presentence of the
Court

before me 11th
Oct 1853

M. S. Cerre Clk M. N . Msean

On reading and considering
the within petition it is ordered that the said
petitioners be allowed to sue on giving seventy
to the clerk for all costs that may
be payment petitioners

And it is further ordered
that said petitioner has reasonable liberty
to attend counsel and the Court as
may . That they be not removed
out of the jurisdiction of the court, and
that they be not subjectto anyseverity
on account of their application for
freedom

St Louis Oct 11th

A. Hamilton 8th juris

75

Petiton of Hester
Williams as
Hester and Ella
Priscilla

Filed October 11th 1853M. S. Cerre Clk

Nov. Term 1853. Demuner to petition filed. 24/82. Demuner
sum to accrued on or before the first day of next term 24/114. April 2 1854
Declaration under the statute filed. 24 p 128. Court by Consent 24/142
Motion to strike out paper filed & sustained & motion for final order filed &overruled to
to amend on or before the first day of next term24 p 298.November Term 1854
Amended Declaration fild 24 p 319. Motion to strike out files
and ordered with leave to plead. plea filed 24 p 342 as on
affadavit of pltf to procure testimony of November 24 p 484. to New York . by plaintiff 24 p 497. Oct. 56. April
17. & Judge of freedom plaintiff to pay costs 372.

Court House Papers
St. Louis State of Missouri
County of St. Louis The State of Missouri

M. N. McLean having sworn that
Hester Williams and her two children Priscilla
& Ella an in the custody of our
say was the &
is the against of A. B . Mc Affen and
Gramville & Blakey partners trading in
maps in the city of St. Louis and who has
said in change at the instance
of
sworn to
this 12 Oct
1853.

M. N. McLean

To the circuit court of St. Louis
County

M. N. McLean moves to
amend the petition for to
on behalfof Hester Williams
against Ferguson
and A B McAfee
the names of C
Blakey & Edmond say the
said being the of
& Blakey

St. Louis Oct 12 1853 & McSean
Attys

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

You are hereby commanded
to seize Hester . Ella & Priscilla Hester Williams hertwochildren
where ever they may
be found and bring them before me at the Court
House in the room of the Circuit Court at the Court House on the 12th
day of Oct 1853 at 9 O'clock and to summon
A B McAfee in whose possession they now and to
appear at the same time and place

Given under my hand this 11th
day of October 1853

A Hamilton Judge 8th Judi-
cial Cir. Mo.

Executed the within order from the
Honr. Alex Hamilton , by having the within
named parties in court on the 12th day of
October 1853.

AB. Mc . Afee not found.

Fee $3.00

0.50

$3.50

Tho. Mc William
Shff

State of Missouri
County of St. Louis
Sheriff of St. Louis CountyTo the State of Missouri to the
Greeting

You are hereby Commanded to seize
Hester Ella & Priscilla known as Hester Williams & her
two children where ever they may be found, and bring
them before me at the Court House in the Room of the Criminal Court at the Court house. on the 13th
day of Oct 1853 at 9 O. Clock A. M. and to sieze
mon A. B. McAfee Granville C. Blakey and Edmond Sowden
in whose possession they now are to appear at the same
time and place

given under my hand this 12th
day of October 1853.

Papers
St. Louis
8th Ju-
dicial .

Executed the within order on the 13th of October
1853, by having, Hester , Ella and Priscilla before
the Hon Alex Hamilton , & by summoning Wm
E. Moore to appear in court at 9. 0clock a.m on this
day- A. B. McAfee . Granville C Blakey &
Edward Loyden not found.

Fee # 4.00

1.50

# 5.50

. M
Shrff

In this circuit court
Novr. Term 1853

Hester Williams
Priscilla Williams &
Ella Williams
against

Defendant Norcom and
other Plaintiffs filed with
that the
facts alleged as stated in said
not sufficient to authorize
the judgement asked for by the petitioners

Court House Papers
St. Louis

Hester Williams
vs

to
Plffs petition

Filed, February 24, 1854 Wm J. Hammond Clk

Court House Papers
St. Louis State of Missouri
County of St. Louis St. Louis Circuit
Court
November Term
1854

Ella Williams and
Priscilla Williams by them
next for Early
and Hester Williams Plaintiffs
vs
Fredrick Norum
Granville Blakey
A B McAfee and
&
Declaration
under the
statute for
Freedom

Ella Williams and Priscilla Williams
by their next
Early and Hester Williams complains
of the above named defendants of a
plea wherefore the said defendants
and made an assault
upon the said plaintiffs his on this
seventhofOctober D 1853 at St. Louis
on the county and State aforesaid
and then & there hurt, bruised
& ill treated them of and
then & there imprisoned them & kept &
detained them in prison without any
reasonable or probable cause, whatsoever
for a longtime for the space of
ten hours then next following contrary
to the laws & customs of this state the
said plaintiffs then & there being free
and being free for a long space of time
thanks for the of
and your, and still being free persons
the said defendants held and still hold
plaintiffs in slavery.

And to the said plaintiffs then
& there did to the damage of the
said plaintiffs and the
the said plaintiffs say this
damages in the sum
of one thousand dollars therefore
May sue

by & McLean

75
Current Courts

Hester Williams
& others
vs
Franklin
& others

Declaration

statute

B.
Filed April 17, 1854 Wm. J. Hammond

Court House Papers
St. Louis In the St. Louis Circuit Court April Term A D 1854

Hester Williams
vs
A. B. McAfee
Frederick others

1 The defendants move to strike from the record
the paper marked as “filed April 17th 1854” for
the reasons

1. That said paper is not filed in accordance with,
but in of the rule of this
Court.

2. The said paper is and of no sort
of application to the matters in issue.

3. The said paper is not an amendment of the
original petition, nor is it a petition itself
for freedom, as the suit to be.

Defendants ask the Court to make
that the Sheriff deliver the plaintiffs to the
defendant Norcom or his agent, to be
dealt with as his &c.

Atty for Defendants

No. 149

Hester Williams

A. B . McAfee .

Motion to strike paper
fourth record & for
said order.

Filed June 27, 1854 Hammond Atty 75

Court House Papers
St. Louis State of Missouri
County of St. Louis Circuit Court of
St. Louis County
April Term 1854
and Declaration

Ella Williams , Priscilla Williams by
Early then next family and
Hester Williams persons of color complains
of Frederick of a plea. For that
the said defendant on the day of
D 1854 with from and & made our
assault upon the said plaintiffs
at St. Louis in the county aforesaid &
then & there beat, bruised ill
& sum of three thousand plaintiffs
& then & there imprisoned them & of
the said plaintiff &
them & each of them in prison then
without any reasonable or probable
cause whatsoever for a long time
for the space of then next
contrary to the terms of the said
State and the will of the said plaintiffs
the said plaintiff that
before and at the time of the committing
of the said grievances then each
one of them and state are free
that the said defendant held & state
then in slavery to the plaintiffs
damages in the sum of ten
dollars & therefore

by
Plff Attys

75 Circuit Court

Ella Williams &
Priscilla Williams
by then notfound
Early
Hester Williams vs
Frederick

Declarations

Attys Filed Nov. 20th 1854 Wm. J. Hammond clk

Court House Papers
St. Louis . County of St. Louis , Ss.
The State of Missouri ,To Sam C Grover
John Greeting.

You are hereby Commanded, that, setting aside all manner of excuse and delay.
you appear before our Circuit Court for the County aforesaid, on the 13th
July 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 Williams is
plaintiff and McAfee is
defendant on the part of Plaintiff
and herein you are in no wise to fail.

Witness, William J. Hammond , Clerk of our said Court,
with the seal thereof hereto affixed, at office, in
the City of St. Louis , this 8th
day of July in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five Wm J. Hammond Clerk C. C.

Circuit Court 75

Williams
vs
McAfee

Grover

Wm Hammond John C. Richardson Phillips C.

Executed by reading to J. C. Richardson &
P . C. Morehead, in St Louis County February
23/53 L. Grover . F Thos Harvey not found.

Fee $120

Gurner Maddox shff By Chas Dpts

Court House Papers
St. Louis County of St. Louis , Ss.
The State of Missouri ,To Thomas Harvey
Greeting:

You are hereby Commanded, that, setting aside all manner of execuse and delay,
you appear before our Circuit Court for the County aforesaid, on the
ever at the City of St. Louis , then and there
to testify, and the truth to in a certain matter of controversy now pending in our
said Court, wherein Williams and
plaintiff and and others
defendant on the part ofPlaintiffs:
and herein you are in no wise to fail

Witness, William J. Hammond , Clerk of our said Court,
with the seal thereof hereto affixed, at office, in
the City of St. Louis , this 12th,
day of July in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five Wm J. Hammond Clerk C. C.

75

Hester Williams
vs McAfee

Thos Henry

Thos Henry the within named not
found. Feb 12th 1833

Fee 10 cts

Gummer Maddox shff By G. B . Dpts

Part House Papers
St. Louis County of St. Louis , Ss.
The State of Missouri ,To Cicero S. Hawks, William William Truth
& B. M . Lyach & Thomas S . Harney Greeting:

You are hereby Commanded, that, setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, you appear
before our Circuit Court for the County aforesaid, on the 17th day of April
1854 at the City of St. Louis , then and there to testify,
and the truth to say in a certain matter of controvery now pending in our said Court, wherein
Hester Williams et al. by next friend &c are
plaintiffs and McAfee others are
defendantss on the part of said plaintiffs
and herein you are in no wise to fail.

Witness, William J. Hammond , Clerk of our said
Court, with the seal thereof hereto affixed, at office,
in the City of St. Louis , this 15th
day of April in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six Wm J Hammond Clerk C. C.

De Smith not found
Executed at to others within
April 17/54

Fee $120

Turner Maddox Shff By Chas Depy

75 (119 17 act. Nov. T. 53)

57 Nov. T/54

In Circuit Court
(for April 17th)

Subp'a for Plffs

Hester Williams
vs McAfee &c

Bishop C. S. Hawks

Wm De Smith (in St. B.T "Tropic")

Wm Smith 2/8th nature order)

B. M. Lynch (Locus 4h & 5h)

Thos S . Harney

Court House Papers
St. Louis

Upon the evidence in this case
plaintiff is not entitled to recover