In 1833, John Lyons made an agreement with Joseph McKinstry for the purchase of the freedom of a thirty-three-year-old slave named Jeffrey, who is "a good mechanic, & capable of gaining a livelihood by his own personal labour." Lyons charges that, although the purchase amount has been paid in full, McKinstry has not only failed to manumit Jeffrey, but "has recently claimed the services of the said negro Jeffrey & threatened to reduce him again to slavery." Lyons asks the court to order McKinstry to manumit Jeffrey. He seeks an injunction preventing McKinstry from removing Jeffrey beyond the jurisdiction of the court and asks for a writ of subpoena for McKinstry.
Result: Granted.
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Repository: National Archives, Washington, D. C.
