Mary asserts that she and her two young sons, Samuel and Edward, are free people of color, who are unlawfully held as slaves by Louncelot Calvert. She explains that James Bond brought her from Kentucky to the free state of Ohio when she was still a child and where she lived for more than a year as a slave in his family. She returned to Kentucky with Bond, who then allowed Bryson Stilwell to bring her to Missouri. Once in Missouri, she was transferred to and from five different men, "all negro and slave traders and dealers." She reveals that during her time in Missouri, where her sons were born, these men have subjected her to cruel treatment such as "confinement in their negro yards or Jails and while in said yards or jails refusing to let her see her husband." Mary asks for permission to prosecute her suit for freedom as a poor person. Depositions from Bond's neighbors in Ohio include references to another slave living with the family in Ohio between 1840-1842, as well as testimony from men who either identify themselves as abolitionists or admit to voting for "abolitionist candidates."
Result: Petition granted; supplemental petition filed, dismissed.
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Repository: Civil Courts Building, St. Louis, Missouri
