Peter Sweeper, a man of color, returns to court March Term 1839 to enter a plea of trespass against William Woodfolk. Sweeper charges that Woodfolk did "imprison the plaintiff and deprive him of his liberty and did then and there reduce him to the condition of the most abject Slave." The petitioner avers that the defendant compelled him "to work for and serve him" for 7 years and that Woodfolk appropriated "the whole of the proceeds of the labour and services of the plaintiff." Sweeper represents that "he has sustained damage to the amount of two thousand dollars and therefore he brings suit." The related documents give valuable insight into the history of the case. Depositions reveal that Sweeper "was charged with conveying away runaway slaves" and that "he was convicted of the charge alledged against him and sold out of the State of Maryland for six years" in 1826. Sweeper's attorney cites that "the suit for freedom between these parties was twice tried in the circuit court of Jackson County and resulted in favour of the plaintiff both times." He further states that Woodfolk appealed each verdict to the Supreme Court. He notes that the first time it reversed the lower court's decision but that "the last time Judgment of the circuit Court was affirmed by the Supreme Court establishing the plaintiffs right to freedom."
Result: Granted; appealed; affirmed.
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Repository: Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee
