Jonathan, a thirty-four-year-old man of color, states that his owner, Edward Gleason, moved from Virginia to Tennessee, taking Jonathan with him. After Edward Gleason's death, his son James D. Gleason inherited Jonathan. James Gleason moved to Illinois in 1831 and lived there until his death four years later. During that time, Gleason hired out Jonathan in St. Louis, but he also brought Jonathan to Illinois to work. In 1832, Jonathan worked for eight months on Gleason's farm in Madison County, Illinois. In 1838, Gleason's widow Eleanor married Aza Willoughby, but the couple separated soon after "on account of the bad conduct and habitual intemperance of the husband." Eleanor Willoughby started divorce proceedings, but in the meantime, Joel Darrah won a suit against Aza Willoughby, and the St. Louis sheriff levied execution on Jonathan as Willoughby's property. Jonathan is now in jail. With Eleanor Willoughby's full consent, Jonathan asks to sue as a poor person to establish his right to freedom.
Result: Petition granted; plea of trespass filed, granted, motion for new trial, overruled.
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Repository: Civil Courts Building, St. Louis, Missouri
