Sally, "a woman of color & unjustly claimed as a slave for life," seeks to establish her claim to freedom. When "very small and younger," Sally's father, a slave, wished to purchase her freedom. He was assisted by William Johnson, who used Sally's father's money to purchase her from Mrs. Sally Thompson. Thompson issued Johnson a bill of sale stipulating that Sally remain a slave until she reached age of eighteen. Some years later, Thomas Alexander claimed that Sally belonged to him, and Johnson surrendered her and the covenant to Alexander. Alexander has just sold her to Elijah Haden, who claims her as a slave for life. Haden was transporting her to Missouri, but in Scott County a "gentleman" who knew her claim to freedom saw her; rather than have court proceedings instituted against him in Scott County, Haden agreed to return her to Bourbon County. But he continues to claim her as a slave for life and "persists in saying he will run off your oratrix to another state." Having no property, Sally asks to sue in forma pauperis, requesting that Alexander turn over the covenant and that she be declared free according to its provisions.
Result: Dismissed.
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Repository: Bourbon County Courthouse, Paris, Kentucky
