William Morrison v. Francois Benoit
Item
William Morrison V. Francois Benoit. 1809, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 2, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60516
- Case Title
- William Morrison v. Francois Benoit
- Series
- Fur Trade
- Plaintiff
- Morrison, William
- Defendant
- Benoit, Francios M.
- Date Filed
- 1809-02-01
- Filing Date
- 1809-02-01
- Plaintiff’s Attorney
- Mears, William
- Court Name
- St. Louis Court of Common Pleas
- Court Term
- 1809-07
- Judge
- Bent, Silas
- Clerk
- Riddick, Thomas F.
- Sheriff
- Connor, Jeremiah
- Cause of Action
- Trespass
- Case Notes
- For merchantable peltries and deer skins in Kaskaskia in the Indiana Territory.
- Case Number
- 24
- Identifier
- ccr1804.00145.008
- Source
- Missouri State Archives - St. Louis
- Rights
- Public Domain
- PDF Download
- Download PDF of all images
- Transcription
-
**William Morrison v. Francois Benoit**
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**Page 1** (0145_001.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Bill of Exchange for Furs*
Mr. Menais
Sir
Sir pleas to pay William Morrison on order
three thundred and twenty eight dollars in merchantable
peltries at the [illegible] of six livres[?] to the dollar, and
Oblige your humble servant
*Kaskaskia 25th May 1804 J Edgar*
328-
150
178-
---
**Page 2** (0145_002.jpg)
Rec'd. on the within order one Hundred
pounds of Beaver fur June 7th 1814
at 1 1/2 dol cash per pound
$ 150:00
> *Legal Function: Caption*
Beaways
Note
---
**Page 3** (0145_003.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Plaintiff's Complaint in Trespass*
District of Saint Louis Ss..
William Morrison complains of Francios
M Benoit for this, that whereas one John Edgar, by the name
of J Edgar on the twenty fifth day of May, in the year one thou-
sand eight hundred and four at Kaskaskias[?], in the Indiana
Territory,for wit at the district of Saint Louis , and within the
Jurisdiction of this Court, according to the use and custom of
merchants, made his certain bill of exchange hearing date
the same day and year aforesaid his own hand being thereto
subscribed by the name of J. Edgar in favor of the plaintiff
[illegible] directed to the defendant by the name of M. Benoit [illegible]
by which said Bill the said Edger requested the said
Defendant by the name of M Benoit as aforesaid to pay to the
plaintiff, or his order, three hundred and seventy eight dollars
in merchantable peltries[?], to wit merchantable shaved
deer skins at the rate of the livres to the dollar, and obey
his humble servant. Signet J Edgar, which said bill was there
afterwards on the seventh day of June, in the year last aforesaid
presented to the said Defendant who accepted the same
and then & there promised the plaintiff to pay him the
said sum of three hundred and twenty eight dollars, on
request, agreeably to the [illegible] and effect of said Bill-yet
the said Defendant though often requested [illegible]
refused and still refuses the same sum or any part thereof
to pay to the plaintiff and also for that the defendant on the seventh
day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and four, at the district Saint
Louis , was indebted to the plaintiff in one further sum
of three hundred and thirty dollars, current money
of the United States for so much money by the plaintiff
before [illegible] out and expended for the defendant
be his request, in consideration whereof, the said
Defendant then and there assumed upon himself and
by the plaintiff faithfully promised to pay him the
said sum of money on request-
Yet the said Defendant though often requested
hath [illegible] refuses and still refused the same sum of money
to the said plaintiff or either of them to pay to his damage
Five Hundred Dollars, wherefore [illegible],
*[illegible] Mears for Plt[?]*
---
**Page 4** (0145_004.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Bill*
Copy of the Bill of Exchange.
Mr. Benoit ,
Sir,
Please to pay William Morrison , an order
three Hundred, and twenty eight dollars, in
merchantable peltries[?], at the rate of six
livres to the dollar, and oblige your Humble
Servant
*Signed. J Edgar*
Kaskaskia 25. May 1804
Endorsed-
Recd on the within order one hundred pounds
of Beaver fur, St Louis June 7. 1804, at
1 1/2[?] dol cash per pounds
\$150.00
---
**Page 5** (0145_005.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*
[illegible] 24
Wm. Morrison
vs
F. M. Benoit
case
\$500-
This action is brought to
recover money due on Bill
of Exchange in Let a
summons issue in trespass
on the case, damage
\$500, accordingly.-
Executed.
*Jer. Connor Shf[?]*
| | |
|---|---|
| service - | \$0.80 |
| mileage - | 10 |
| | \$0.90 |
> *Legal Function: Summons*
Territory of Louisiana
District of S Louis Sct. The United States of America to the Sheriff of St
Louis District Greeting
We command you to Summons Francois M Benoit
if he may be found in your bailiwick to be and appear before the Judges
of our court of common pleas to be holden at the town of S. Louis within and
for the district of S. Louis on the first monday of March next then there to
answer unto William Morrison of a plea of trespass on the case to the
damage of the said William the sum of five hundred dollars and have
you then there this wit.
*Witness the honourable Silas Bent presiding
Judge of our said court at St. Louis aforesaid
the first day of February one thousand eight
hundred and nine and of the Independence
of the United States the thirty third year Thos. F. Riddick clk.[?]*
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**Page 6** (0145_006.jpg)
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**Page 7** (0145_007.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Receipt of Judgment*
[illegible]
William Morrison
vs
Francis M Benoit
S Louis Court of Com Plea
on Ex returnable to
July Term 1809
Received from Francois M Benoit
through the hands of Charles [illegible] the sum of
One hundred and seventy eight dollars in full for
the judgment in the above suit. S. Louis 4 Sept 1809
*for William Morrison
William [illegible]*
---
**Page 8** (0145_008.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*
24
March Term
1809
William Morrison V. Francois Benoit. 1809, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 2, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60516