Maria Whiten, a woman of color, explains "that she was born a slave in the state of Virginia and was the property of Jesse Whiten." She reports that Whiten moved to Kentucky in 1828 and then to Illinois, taking her and her infant son, Patrick Henry, with him. She further cites that Whiten hired himself and her to Abraham Granger and "established himself with your petitioner in December 1828 in the state of Illinois." The petitioner reveals that Jesse Whiten, "on his death bed called upon witnesses and declared that it was his desire and his last will and testament that your petitioner and her infant child should be free." She asserts that "from the death of the said Jesse Whiten until within a few days your petitioner has resided in the state of Illinois considered to be and acting as a free woman." Whiten informs the court that Garland Rucker recently kidnapped her and her son and now holds them as slaves in Missouri, "endeavoring to sell them as slaves." The petitioner asks the court's permission to press suit as a poor person for her freedom.
Result: Petition granted; plea of trespass filed.
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Repository: Civil Courts Building, St. Louis, Missouri
