Nathan, a child of color, petitions by his mother and next friend Lydia Titus. He asserts that his mother once was the slave of Elisha Mitchell [Mitchel]. He states that Mitchell brought his mother into Illinois in 1807, where he died in 1808. Nathan informs the court that Mitchell's widow, Jenny, administered his estate in St. Clair County, Illinois, and that she attempted to claim Lydia as a slave of the estate, despite their residence in Illinois. The petitioner points out that Lydia filed a "Suit of tresspass assault & Battery & false imprisonment" against Jenny Mitchell in 1809 and won, thereby gaining her freedom. Nathan argues that he was born in Illinois after Lydia won her case and "has always been a free person & so regarded" until yesterday when Alexander Fields and others took Nathan "in the night" and transported him to St. Louis. Fearing that Fields will remove him from the court's jurisdiction, the petitioner prays "that he may be permitted to sue as a poor person to Establish his freedom" and that other proceedings may be ordered "as will Secure the personal Safety of your Petitioner."
Result: Petition granted; plea of trespass filed; death of plaintiff suggested; suit abated.
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Repository: Civil Courts Building, St. Louis, Missouri
