Jack Butler and Mary Coti, the latter representing herself as well as her six minor children, present to the court that they are free persons of color who, earlier in the year 1823, were "unjustly, illegally & forcibly kidnapped" from the state of Illinois and removed to Louisiana," where they are now "unjustly, wrongfully & illegally" held as slaves by Alexander Chapdue. They pray that Chapdue be cited to appear before the court to answer the charges and that they be decreed free and "exempt from all obligations of service." They also pray that Chapdue be condemned to pay $1,000 for "work & labor." Fearful that they may be exposed to "personal harm & ill-treatment" or removed from the court's jurisdiction, they further ask to be kept under sequestration by "a third person as the law may direct."
Result: Granted.
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Repository: St. James Parish Courthouse, Convent, Louisiana
