Martha Ann, "a free woman of colour," informs the court that "she was born a slave the property of the late Dr John Young," formerly of St. Louis, Missouri. She recounts that the said Young took her with him when he moved to Galena, Illinois, where he stayed for six months. She further explains that Young then moved back to Missouri and later to Alabama, where he died. Martha Ann represents that she then became the property of Sarah Young, Dr. Young's widow, who moved back to Missouri, where she died. Citing that the administrator of the Sarah Young's estate now illegally holds her in slavery, the petitioner prays "that she may be permitted to sue the said Hiram Cordell for the recovery of her freedom by judgement of law, and may prosecute such suit as a poor person and have counsel assigned her by the Court."
Result: Petition granted; plea of trespass filed, granted.
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Repository: Civil Courts Building, St. Louis, Missouri
