Thomas Wood v. John B. Tenony and Cyrus Curtis
Item
Thomas Wood V. John B. Tenony and Cyrus Curtis. 1819, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 7, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60586
- Case Title
- Thomas Wood v. John B. Tenony and Cyrus Curtis
- Series
- Native Americans
- Fur Trade
- Plaintiff
- Wood, Thomas
- Defendant
- Tenony, John B.
- Curtis, Cyrus
- Date Filed
- 1819-06-30
- Filing Date
- 1819-06-30
- Plaintiff’s Attorney
- Hempstead, Edward
- Defendant’s Attorney
- Burton
- Court Name
- St. Louis Circuit Court
- Clerk
- Leduc, Marie Philip
- Justice of the Peace
- Garnier, J.V.
- Sheriff
- Thompson, John W.
- Carr, A.V.
- Cause of Action
- Trespass on the Case
- Breach of Contract
- Case Notes
- Account for unpaid wages for work as an Indian interpreter; defendants doing business as John B. Zenory & Cyrus Curtis.
- Case Number
- 34
- Identifier
- ccr1817.01272.008
- Source
- Missouri State Archives - St. Louis
- Rights
- Public Domain
- PDF Download
- Download PDF of all images
- Transcription
-
**Thomas Wood vs. John B. Tenony and Cyrus Curtis**
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**Page 1** (1272_001.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Complaint of Thomas Wood*
Territory of Missouri ,
County of Saint Louis
Thomas Wood complains, of John B . Tenony,
and Cyrus Curtis traders doing business together, by the name, of John B Tenony,
and Cyrus Curtis , of a plea, of trespass on the case for, that
the said Defendants at the, County of Saint Charles , in, the territory aforsaid to wit the,[?] County of Saint Louis aforesaid on the
twenty fifth day of June, in the Year. one, thousand eight hundred,
and seventeen, in consideration that, the said plaintiff had,
at the special instance & request, of the said Defendants worked,
and laboured,[?] for them the said Defendants, the said Defendants
promising to, pay him [illegible] the sum of twenty, five Dollars
[illegible] and the plaintiff [illegible] then he worked for the,
said Defendants for the space of five months of all which
the said Defendants then & there, had notice, and by reason they,
the said Defendants then other became [illegible] and [illegible] to [illegible] assumed upon themselves and to the, said plaintiff promising to, pay him the sum term of money on request,
And also for that the said Defendants then & there in,
consideration [illegible] the said plaintiff before that time, had at the like instance, and request of the said Defendants done & performed,
certain work, labours, services, and duties,[?] as [illegible]
for and during, the space of six months [illegible]
the said Defendants then & there promised, the plaintiff to pay,
him him then for what he, reasonably deserved, to have or demand, and the plaintiff [illegible] that he reasonably deserved
to have therefor, the sum, of one Hundred & fifty dollars. of
which the said Defendants then & there, had notice what, by
reason, thereof the said Defendants then & there, became
liable, to pay to the said plaintiff the said sum of money
on request, and being so liable, the said Defendant then
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**Page 2** (1272_002.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Complaint of Thomas Wood part 2*
& there, assumed upon themselves and, to the said plaintiff
promised, to pay the said sum, of money on request,
And, also for the said Defendants, there, on
the first day, of January, in the term last, aforesaid [illegible]
the said plaintiff that, if he would render, to them his service,
as [illegible] with [illegible] they would, pay him then, for
the two first months at the rate, of eighteen dollars per
month, and the remaining part at, twenty five dollars per
month and the plaintiff avows that he did work labour,[?]
and render his services to, them [illegible] Indian interpreter thereafter,
wards for the space &,[?] term of five months [illegible] and of all which the said Defendant then & there on, the twenty fifth day of June, at
the County aforesaid became liable, to pay to, the said, plain-
tiff therefor on demand, the sum of one Hundred Eleven
Dollars lawful, money of United States on demand, and
being so liable then & there, assumed upon, himself and to
the said plaintiff promising to, pay to, him on demand, the
same, sum of money [illegible]
[illegible] the said defendants though
often requested, have ever refused, and still do refuse, the said
sum of, money [illegible] of [illegible] of them to
the said plaintiff to pay [illegible] Damage two, Hundred
Dollars wherefore he sues,
*E . Hempstead[?]*
> *Legal Function: notarization*
territory, of Missouri
County of Saint Louis
Thomas Woods being, duly sworn, on his
oath saith, that Curtis and Tenony, unjustly indebted to, him in the, sum of Twenty two, Dollars [illegible] for his [illegible]
is a [illegible] for that amount [illegible] that said Defendant ought to be held to, to
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**Page 3** (1272_003.jpg)
> *Legal Function: notarization part 2*
bail, is the sum of one hundred Thirty Dollars to serve such debts and costs,-
*Sworn, to & subscribed the 30th day of June A D 1819 before me, Thomas Wood J.V. Garnier[?]*
> *Legal Function: order*
Territory, of Missouri County of Saint Louis ,
I Mary P Leduc ,[?] As clerk of the Circuit Court , for the county, of Saint Louis on the above affidavit & under, the Law do order the said John B Tenony & Cyrus Curtis be held in bail in, the suit, of Thomas Woods in, the
plea aforesaid, in the sum, of one, Hundred thirty dollars given, under my, hand as clerk, of said court, july 3rd 1817
*M. P. Leduc Clk,[?]*
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**Page 4** (1272_004.jpg)
> *Legal Function: certificate of execution*
Executed, this writ in the Town and, County
of S , Louis , July 14th 1817, by arresting the,
Defendants and taking Bail as,
will appear by the [illegible]
| | |
|---|---|
| Service | \$1.50 |
| Bail Bond, | .50 |
| | $ 2.00 |
*[illegible] [illegible]*
> *Legal Function: caption*
No - 34,[?]
Oct Term 1817
Thomas Wood
vs John B . Tenony Cyrus Curtis ,
[illegible]
This is an action, of trespass,
on the case for wages, on the
affidavit & order issue a copius,[?] damage 200 bail required, for the sum of [illegible] 130
*[illegible]
filed July 3rd 1817
According to the witness affidavit,
and order the the sheriff,
will hold, the defendants to bail
in the sum of [illegible] 130.
M. P . Leduc Clk,[?] [illegible] B.*
> *Legal Function: order*
Territory of Missouri
County of St , Louis ss The United States of America to the Sheriff
of said County Greeting
We command you to take John , B Tenony, and Cyrus Curtis , if
they may be found within your bailiwick, and there, safely keep so that, you may have their bodies, before the judge, of our circuit court,, to be held at the town of St , Louis , within and
for the County of St , Louis , and the on the second Monday, of October next, then there, to answer unto Thomas Woods, of a plea of
trespass, on the case, to the damage of the said Thomas , the
sum of two hundred dollars, and have you then there, this
writ.
*Witness Mary P Leduc ,[?] Clerk of our said
Court at the town of St , Louis within
and for the County of St , Louis this third
day of July, in the year eighteen hundred
and seventeen, and of our independence,
the forty first. M. P Leduc ,[?] Clerk [illegible]
[illegible] McGirk[?]*
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**Page 5** (1272_005.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Bail Bond of Cyrus Curtis and John B. Tenony*
Know all men by these presents, That we Cyrus Curtis , - and
John B Tenony, - as principal, and
Jesse G. Lindill,[?] as [illegible] are held and firmly
bound unto John W. Thompson , sheriff of the county of St. Louis his assigns or successors
in office, in the sum of one hundred, and thirty
dollars,
currency of the United States , to which payment well and truely to be made, we bind our-
selves and each of us by himself our and each of our heirs, executors, administratiors and
assigns, firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals and dated this 14th day of
july in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventeen
The condition of above obligation is such, That if the above bound Cyrus Curtis ,
and John B .[illegible] - shall appear at the next circuit, Court to be held at the town of St. Louis , on the second,
monday in october next to answer unto Thomas ,
Woods in a plea, of trespass, on the
Case to the [illegible] of the
said Thomas two hundred dollars,
and if judgment be given against him at that or any subsequent term of said court, that
the said Cyrus Curtis & Jn B Zenory,[?] will pay the Damage
aforesaid and costs, or the amount of the condemnation of the court, or surren-
der himself in execution therof, or that the said Jesse G Lindell ,[?]
will do it for them then the above obligation to be void, else to remain in full force and virtue in law.
*Signed sealed and delivered
in the presence of
Cyrus Curtis ,
B Zenory,[?]
[illegible]
[illegible]
[illegible]*
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**Page 6** (1272_007.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Plea of Cyrus Curtis*
Curtis , ads. Woods,
The [illegible] his atto comes and defends the
wrong, and injury, when and says, that
he did not excuse [illegible] himself in
manner, and form as the plaintiff
in [illegible] hath alleged against
him, and this he prays may be excused
of by the country.
*Burton Atto, And the[illegible]with the like
[illegible]*
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**Page 7** (1272_008.jpg)
> *Legal Function: cover*
Curtis ads Woods,
plea.
Thomas Wood V. John B. Tenony and Cyrus Curtis. 1819, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 7, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60586