Isham Reavis moved with a female slave named Patience from Kentucky to the Illinois Territory around 1810. After two years, Reavis moved back to Kentucky with Patience, who gave birth to a son named Sanford shortly thereafter. Around 1821, Reavis moved with his slaves to Missouri. He sold Sanford to Edward Reavis, who later sold Sanford to Mark Reavis. Sanford asserts that he is entitled to his freedom because of his mother's residence in Illinois. He asks for permission to sue as a poor person for his freedom with counsel assigned. In order to pursue his freedom suit, Sanford asks the court to ensure that Mark Reavis gives him "reasonable liberty to attend the said Circuit Court and his Counsel" and does not remove him from the court's jurisdiction before the case is decided. Having been informed that Reavis has sold or is planning to sell him to Edward Camplin "who intends to take your Petitioner without this state to parts unknown," Sanford requests the court to issue a writ of habeas corpus for himself and to require Reavis or whoever possesses Sanford to give bond "so that your Petitioner may have the full benefit and advantage of his suit."
Result: Petition granted; plea of trespass filed, granted, appealed, affirmed.
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Repository: Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City, Missouri
