John Singleton, a man of color, submits that his mother, Phillis Singleton, was emancipated in Illinois prior to his birth. He recounts that he has lived as a free man in Illinois, "having been reared there from his birth to manhood," until about six years ago when Jeptha Lamkins kidnapped him, took him to Alabama, and sold him to Zachariah Neal. Singleton cites that he sued Neal for his freedom; however, Henry Bryon took him to New Orleans and sold him before the suit was decided. The petitioner states that Robert Lewis shortly thereafter took possession of him and claimed him as his slave. Singleton reveals that he ran away, boarded the steamboat America, commanded by Alexander Scott, and sailed to St. Louis, where he was arrested and jailed as a runaway slave. Singleton charges that Scott, acting as Lewis's agent, had him arrested and plans to return him to Lewis in New Orleans. The petitioner seeks a writ of habeas corpus and permission to sue as a poor person for his freedom against Alexander Scott and Robert Lewis.
Result: Petition granted; plea of trespass filed.
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Repository: Civil Courts Building, St. Louis, Missouri
