Caroline Bascom, "a mulatto woman of the age of twenty one years," claims that she is entitled to her freedom and is illegally detained in slavery by John H. Ferguson, the administrator of the estate of Hiram Bascom. Caroline is the daughter of a woman named Charity, "who was a slave for life in the State of Delaware and subsequently sold to a person, who took her ... to the State of Maryland sometime in the year 1820 - 21 or 22 contrary to the Statutes of that State." Caroline "is informed and believes" that Maryland "liberates all slaves imported therein for sale or to reside." In addition, Caroline was born during Charity's residence in Maryland while Charity "was serving out her term of service after which to be free." Caroline, petitioning while "in actual confinement in the County jail," asks permission to sue for her freedom as a poor person.
Result: Granted.
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Repository: Civil Courts Building, St. Louis, Missouri
