Dunky, a woman of color, represents "that she was born in Africa from which place she was shiped by persons unknown to her, and landed at Charleston in the State of South Carolina about twenty years ago." She further recounts that Alcorn Beard and James Bryon brought her to Kaskaskia, Illinois, where "she was delivered to William Morrison at the place last aforesaid whom she served as an indented servant;" in September 1830, "she was delivered to Andrew Hay," who kept her in Kaskaskia until 3 April 1831, "at which time he removed her to the city of St. Louis ... where he the said Andrew Hay holds your Petitioner in servitude." Believing "that she is justly entitled to her freedom," the petitioner "prays that she may be permited to prossecute for the same in the circuit court of the county of Saint Louis and State aforesaid in forma pauperis and that Stephen W Foreman & Geo D Shaw be assigned as counsel."
Result: Petition granted; plea of trespass filed, granted; motion for new trial denied, appealed, affirmed.
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Repository: Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City, Missouri
