United States v. Francois Hortes
Item
United States V. Francois Hortes. 1806, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 2, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60521
- Case Title
- United States v. Francois Hortes
- Series
- Native American
- Plaintiff
- United States of America
- Defendant
- Hortes, Francois
- Date Filed
- 1807
- Filing Date
- 1807
- Court Name
- Territory of Louisiana, District of St. Louis, Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace
- Court Term
- 1807-06
- Sheriff
- Connor, Jeremiah
- Sworn Declarant
- Heard, James
- McClellan, Robert
- Cause of Action
- Unlicensed Trading with Indians
- Case Notes
- Unlicensed Trading with Indians
- Case Number
- 39
- Identifier
- ccr1807.23624.010
- Source
- Missouri State Archives - St. Louis
- Rights
- Public Domain
- PDF Download
- Download PDF of all images
- Transcription
-
**United States v. Francois Hortes**
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**Page 1** (23624_001.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Grand Jury Findings*
Territory of Louisiana
District of Saint Louis
Court of General Quarter
Sessions of the peace
June Term mdcccvii
To Writ
The jurors of the United
States for the body of the District of Saint Louis
upon their oaths present that one Francis Houten[?]
of the said District, on the Eleventh day of May
in the year One thousand eight hundred and seven with
force and arms, at the Mahas[?] village, upon the
River Missouri , and within the Territory of Louisiana
without a license first had and obtained from the
superintendant[?] of Indian affairs in the said Territory
for that purpose did reside in the town or hunting
camp of the said Mahas[?] tribe of Indians, upon
the said River Missouri , as a trader and being
so then and there residing & unauthorized to trade with the
said tribe of Indians, did then and there offer
for sale, and actually sell to the same Indians
Sundry goods wares and merchandizes. To writ
two pieces, and seventeen yards shrouding twenty three
two print blankets, four two and a half print blankets
Seventeen One and a half print Blankets; fifteen Calico
shirts, twenty two, and one sixth of a dozen scalping
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**Page 2** (23624_002.jpg)
knives, eleven pounds of beads Blue and White , five
pounds [illegible]: four pounds, [illegible] fourteen
pewter basins weighing seventeen pounds, three toma-[?]
hawks. One yard scarlet five pieces India Calico
each containing eighteen yards, fourteen yards of the
[illegible] five pieces Scotch guarding Ten Blue Cotton
Handkerchiefs, twenty nine Black Silk Handkerchiefs
Eight [illegible] yarn, Thirteen Looking Glasses, One
[illegible] Hawk Bells [illegible] [illegible] Dozen brass rings, four
Dozen an five common Buttons, Eleven Box Combs
four and one half mockasin [illegible] nine horse
Bells Three Hundred gun flints ten pair silver
wrist Bands, four and a half pair ear wheels
Three and a half pair arm Bands Eight half
moons Three Hundred & Twenty five pair of
Ear Bobs, forty two Hair pipes, One Hundred and
[illegible] containing five thousand
three Hundred four pieces Ribbon, Six pounds
powder four Brass Kettles weighing fifty two
pounds & ten small Kettles tin; of the value of
[illegible] Hundred Dollars; to the [illegible] examples of
all others in like cases offending, contrary to
the statute of this United States entitled "an
“act to regulate Trade and Intercourse with
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**Page 3** (23624_003.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Grand Jury Findings part 2*
The Indian tribes, and to preserve peace on
the frontiers, “ and against the peace and
dignity of the United States ,
*John Scott , [illegible]*
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**Page 4** (23624_004.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Grand Jury Findings part 3*
Robert McClellan
Informant and prosecutor
> *Legal Function: caption*
United States
vs
Francois [illegible]
[illegible] true Bill
[illegible]
[illegible] not a true bill
*L'Labeauiue Atty[?] foreman
June 1807 St. L . C. H. P.
39
Folder # II
39*
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**Page 5** (23624_005.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Subpoena of James Heard*
Territory of Louisiana
District of Saint Louis ss
The United States of America to the Sheriff of the
District of Saint Louis Greeting
You are hereby commanded to summon
James Heard if he may befound in your District, that he be and
appear forthwith, before the Judges of our Court of General Quarter
sessions, to give testimony to the grand Jury, and have
you then there this writ.
*Witness Silas Bent esq pred Justice of
our said Court at the town of Saint Louis
aforesaid the 16th day of June in the
year of our Lord Mdcccvii and of the
Independence of the U States the XXXi[?] Will [illegible]*
---
**Page 6** (23624_006.jpg)
> *Legal Function: caption*
39
General Quarter Sessions
June Term 1809
U. States
[illegible]
Francois Hortes
for [illegible]
*James Heard*
> *Legal Function: certificate of execution*
Executed
Connor , shff.
| | |
|---|---|
| 21 | [illegible]cts |
| Summons | 37 1/2 |
| mileage | 6 |
| Return | 9 |
| | Shff. $ 0.52 1/2 |
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**Page 7** (23624_007.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Subpoena of Robert McClellan*
Territory of Louisiana
District of Saint Louis ss.
The United States of America to the Sheriff of the
District of Saint Louis Greeting
You are hereby commanded to summon Robert
Mc [illegible] if may be found in your District that he
setting aside all and every manner of excuse be and appear forthwith
before the Court of General Quarter Session now [illegible] to give testimony
before the Grand Jury for the Body of the District of Saint Louis on
behalf of the United States [illegible] and in this he shall fail not under
the penalty of he Law have you then there this writ.
*Witness Silas Bent Esqr [illegible] Justice of our Court
of [illegible] Quarter Sessions at the Town of Saint Louis in and
for the District of Saint Louis the 16th of June in
in the Year of our Lord One thousand Eight hund-
red and seven and of our Independence the thirty
first [illegible]*
---
**Page 8** (23624_008.jpg)
> *Legal Function: caption*
39
District of St Louis
June Term '7
United States
vs
F. Hortes
subpoena
[illegible]
Executed
*[illegible] Connor Shff.*
> *Legal Function: bill of costs*
| | |
|---|---|
| [illegible] | Cts. |
| Summons | 37 1/2 |
| Mileage | 6 |
| Return | 12 1/2 |
| | $ 0.56 |
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**Page 9** (23624_009.jpg)
[illegible]
---
**Page 10** (23624_010.jpg)
Joseph Hortes and
Francois Hortes
Recognised
United States V. Francois Hortes. 1806, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 2, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60521