Marie, a mulatto girl v. Auguste Chouteau

Item

Marie, a Mulatto Girl V. Auguste Chouteau. 1818, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 8, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60614

Full Text: See images and transcription side by side
Case Title: Marie, a mulatto girl v. Auguste Chouteau
Series: Freedom Suits
Plaintiff: Marie
Defendant: Chouteau, Auguste
Date Filed: 1818-03-05
Next Friend: Margueritte
Filing Date: 1818-03-05
Plaintiff’s Attorney: Geyer, Henry S.
Defendant’s Attorney: Barton, Joshua; Bates, Edward G.
Court Name: Missouri Superior Court Northern Circuit; St. Louis County Court
Court Term: 1818-08
Justice of the Peace: Danue, J.G.
Sheriff: Walker, John K.; McGill, J.G.; McGirk; Brown, E. F.
Sworn Declarant: Tibeau, Alexis
Cause of Action: Trespass; Assault; Battery; False Imprisonment
Case Notes: Plaintiff was under the age of 21 years; petition entered by Marguerite, a free black woman who is plaintiff's mother and next friend.
Case Number: 205
Identifier: ccr1818.02992.034
Source: Missouri State Archives - St. Louis
Rights: Public Domain
PDF Download: Download PDF of all images
Transcription: **Marie, a mulatto girl v. Auguste Chouteau**

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**Page 1** (2992_001.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Affidavit*

Territory of Missouri County & Town of St. Louis
Personally appeared before me the Justice of the Peace in and for the township and county aforesaid Marie who being duly sworn on the holy of Almighty god, doth before and say, that she is well acquainted with
Marie a Mulatto girl about the age of ten years, that she, the daughter of Marguerite a full Negro woman - that the said Marie was held
by a a certain Nicholas Beaugenoux[?] whose slave she was and was by him removed to the Territory of Illinois the county of St. Clair where she resided
for the space of a year or upwards with the said Nicholas Beaugenoux as his slave when[?] the said Marie the Mulatto girl aforesaid was by her said master Nicholas Beaugenoux Junior brought over to the Town of St Louis and by him[?] sold to a certain Auguste Chouteau in whose possession she now is and
by him detained as [illegible] a slave and further saith not

*Marie her X mark Sworn to and subscribed this
5th day of March A D 1818 Danue*
> *Legal Function: Affidavit, part 2*

Alexis Tibeau also duly sworn on his oath saith that he is well acquainted with the above named Mulatto girl Marie , that he
has seen her the said Mulatto girl at the house of said Nicholas Beaugenoux in[?] the county of St Clair aforesaid living there as his
Slave and believing that she remained with him the said Nicholas Beaugenoux[?] in the said county of St Louis , for a year & upwards
and further saith not -

*Alexis his X mark Tibeau
Sworn to and subscribed
the 5th day of March 1818
before me [illegible] Danue*

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**Page 2** (2992_002.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*

County
> *Legal Function: Caption, part 2*

Marie a free woman

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**Page 3** (2992_003.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Order*

Marie free Mulatto girl detained in Slavery, who sues by
Marguerite her next friend
vs
Auguste P Chouteau
In the Superior Court Northern circuit of the Term of August 1818
The court directs that the said Petitioner shall be permitted to have a reasonable liberty of attending her counsel and that she shall not be
taken nor removed out of the Jurisdiction [illegible] of the court, nor be subjected
to any severity on account of her application for freedom

*A copy from the Record
Danue*

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**Page 4** (2992_004.jpg)

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**Page 5** (2992_005.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Summons for August Chouteau to Appear*

Territory of Missouri Northern Circuit
Ss The United States of America to the Sheriff of the county of St Louis Greeting
We command you as we before commanded you that you Summon Auguste Chouteau that he
be and appear before our Judges of our Superior Court of our Territory of Missouri at our said Superior Court to
be held in and for the northern circuit of the said Territory [illegible] at the Town of St Louis , on the third Monday
of September next, then and there in our said court before our Judges aforesaid, to answer unto Maine a free Mulatto girl held in Slavery, who sues by Marguerite a free black woman, her mother & next friend in a plea of Trespass, assault & battery & false imprisonment, to her damage five
hundred dollars and have You there and [illegible] this writ and certify to our said court how You execute
this writ

*Witness the Honorable [illegible] Presiding Judge of our said court at St Louis the [illegible] twenty sixth day of June in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen and of our independence the forty third. H. Danue Dc. n.c,*

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**Page 6** (2992_006.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Execution*

Executed this writ by reading
to the defendant in the town
of St Louis 9th July 1819

*John K Walker DShiff[?]
service & travel 90 cts*
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Filing*

No. 205
March Term 1819 April Jen 1821 Superior Court Northern circuit
September Term 1819
Marie a free Girl
who sues for her freedom
vs
Auguste P Chouteau
[illegible]
Summon
Trespass
Assault
Battery
False imprisonment Damages
\$500
This is an action brought by
plaintiff for the recovery of
her freedom & damages for
being deprived of the same

*filed September 20th 1819
Same day plea filed
[illegible]
Danue*
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Execution, part 2*

fee writ
\$8.95

*[illegible]
Deyer for pltff*

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**Page 7** (2992_007.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Petition*

To the Honorable the Superior Court
of the Territory of Missouri for the
Northern Circuit now sitting
The Petition of Marie a free mulatto girl
under the age of twenty one years by Margueritte[?]
a free black woman, her mother
and next friend, humbly [illegible]
That your petitioner was held by a certain
Nicholas Beaugenoux[?] in this territory as
a slave, and that she was removed by
the said Beaugenoux[?] to the county of St Clair in the Territory of Illinois some time
in the year eighteen hundred and fifteen, and
that she was detained by and resided with the
said Beaugenoux, as his slave in the said Territory[?] of Illinois for the space of one year
and upwards when she was again removed
by the said Beaugenoux[?] and brought to the
County of St Louis in this territory and by him
the said Beaugenoux[?] sold to a certain Auguste P Chouteau in whose possession she now is and
by him detained as a slave - by reason
whereof, your petitioner is advised she is free and entitled to liberation from the said Auguste
P Chouteau , and all other persons under him-
Your petitioner therefore prays that she
may be permitted to sue as a poor person in
your honorable court by her said mother and
next friend Margueritte[?] a free black woman

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**Page 8** (2992_008.jpg)
against the said Auguste P Chouteau and that counsel may be assigned to your petitioner in the said cause and that your honors will make such other and further order in her behalf as
by law in such cases is provided
And your petitioner as is duty bound will ever pray

*Marie a free Mulatto girl
by Margueritte a free woman[?]
her mother & next friend*
> *Legal Function: Caption*

Sup Court Northern Circuit

*March Term 1819
Petition of Marie
a free Girl*

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**Page 9** (2992_009.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Summons*

Territory of Missouri
Nothern Circuit The United States of America to the Sheriff of the county of St Louis Greeting
We command You that You summon Auguste P. Chouteau that he be and appear before the Judges of
our Superior Court of our Territory of Missouri , at our said Superior court to be held in and for the Northern Circuit
of the said Territory at the Town of St Louis , on the fourth Monday in March next, then and there in our
said court before our Judges aforesaid, to answer unto Marie a free Mulatto girl, held in slavery who sues by
Marguerite a free Black woman, her next friend, in a plea of Trespass, assault & battery and false imprisonment, to her damage five hundred dollars- and have You then and there this writ and certify
[illegible] to our said court how You executed the same

*Witness the honorable John B C Lucas Esquire Presiding Judge of our said court at
St Louis this eighth day of October in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred &
eighteen and of our independence the forty third H. Danue*

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**Page 10** (2992_010.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Filing*

[illegible]
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Filing, part 2*

[illegible]
Superior court Northern Circuit
March Term 1819
Marie a free Mulatto girl
held in slavery, who sues
vs
Auguste Chouteau
Summons
Damages
\$500
This is an action of Trespass assault & Battery & false imprisonment
recover the freedom of the
Petitioner together with her
damages for her detention

*filed April 26th 1819 Danue*
> *Legal Function: Unexecuted Summons*

The deponent not
found in this county
April 15th 1819

*J C McGill D Shff[?]
[illegible] Est 50 cts*

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**Page 11** (2992_011.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Answer to Petition*

Auguste Chouteau
vs
Marie (a mulatto girl
In the Superior Court NC[?]
September Term 1819.
And the said Auguste P Chouteau by his
attorney comes and defends the force and injury when [illegible]
and as to the trespass, assault & battery & imprisonment
in the declaration of the said Marie
mentioned, says that the said Marie ought
to be barred and precluded from having and
maintaining her action thereof against
him, because he says, that the said Marie , on
the said First day of January in the year One
thousand eight hundred and eighteen
and from thence hitherto was the lawful
slave of him the said Auguste , without [illegible]
that the said Marie was at the time aforesaid
a free person, as in her said declaration
is above supposed, and this he the said Auguste
is ready to certify - Wherefore [illegible].

*[illegible] J Barton for deft*
> *Legal Function: Reply to Defendant's Answer*

And the said Marie says that by reason
of any thing in the said plea of the said defendant
above alleged, she the said Marie ought not to
he barred & precluded from having & maintaining
her action aforesaid thereof against him the
said defendant - because she says that she the

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**Page 12** (2992_012.jpg)
said Marie at the time when to was & still is a free person & not the slave of the said
defendant in manner & form as the said
defendant- hath in his said plea alleged
and this she prays may be enquired of
by the county

*Greyer for plff*
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Filing*

filed September 20th
1819

*Danue*

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**Page 13** (2992_013.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Petition*

In the Superior Court Northern Circuit For March Term 1819
Marie a free mulatto girl, held in slavery, by Margueritte[?]
a free black woman who is admitted by the court
here to prosecute for the said Marie who is an infant
within the age of twenty one years, as the next friend
of the said Marie complains of Auguste Chouteau
of a plea of trespass, assault & battery & false imprisonment-
For that the said Auguste on the first day of January
in the year of our lord eighteen hundred & eighteen
made an assault upon her the said Marie
at the county of St Louis in this Territory of Missouri
and within the jurisdiction of this court and there
& there beat bruised & illtreated her[?] the said Marie
and then & there imprisoned her the said Marie
and kept & detained her in prison there for a long
time to wit, for the space of eight months then
next following, without any reasonable or proba-
ble
cause against the will of the said [illegible] to the laws [illegible] of the said Marie & contrary to the laws & customs of the territory of Missouri ,
and other wrongs to the said Marie then & there
did against the peace of the United States of America
and to the damage of the said Marie of five
hundred dollars & therefore she brings her suit

*Marie , a free mulatto girl
by Margueritte[?] her next friend Geyer[?] of counsel for plff by
assignment of the Court*

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**Page 14** (2992_014.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Summons*

Marie a free
mulatto girl
by her next friend
vs
Augt- P . Chouteau
Trespass asst & batty[?]
false imprisonment
This action is brought for the
purpose of establishing the free-
dom of the plaintiff held
in slavery by deft. &[?] to procure
her liberation from the
deft
The clerk will give a
summons together with a copy
of the order of court to be served
on deft-- D \$500
C Ck[?]
[illegible] p. 2

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**Page 15** (2992_015.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Writ and Summons for Auguste Chouteau and Francois Valois to Appear on the Part of Defendant*

Territory of Missouri , Northern Circuit, ss. The United States of America to Auguste Chouteau & Francois Valois Greeting
You are summoned that all excuses and delays being set aside you
& each of you personally be and appear before the judges of the superior court
of our territory aforesaid at our said superior court
to be held in and for the northern circuit at the town of St. Louis
on the twenty ninth day of April next being the sixth day
of the [illegible] April term of our said court, to testify and the truth to tell in a certain case
then and there to be tried, and wherein Marie a free girl is
plaintiff and Auguste P Chouteau is
defendant on the part of the said defendant
and from day to day until duly discharged by the court, and not depart the
said court without the leave thereof-and of this fail not at your peril and our sheriff of our coun-
ty of St Louis is hereby commanded, then and there to make return of this our writ
and certify to our said court how he executes the same.

*Witness the Honorable [illegible] Beat
Esquire presiding judge of our said court this seventh day of
March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and twenty and of our independence the forty fourth [illegible] [illegible]*

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**Page 16** (2992_016.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Cerificate of Service*

Served this writ on M. P. Lideer in the
Town of St Louis 11th April 1820 & on Francois Valois in S'Louis 24th April 1820
> *Legal Function: Caption*

Superior court NC April term 1820
Auguste P Chouteau vs Marie a free girl
Subpoena
29th April Auguste Chouteau

*[illegible] Francois Valois*

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**Page 17** (2992_017.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Writ and Summons to Appear on the Part of the Defendant*

Territory of Missouri , Northern Circuit, ss. The United States of America to Beaugenoux Baptiste Tibeau & Joseph[?] Greeting
You are summoned that all excuses and delays being set aside you and each of
you personally be and appear before the judges of the superior court
of our territory aforesaid at our said superior court
to be held in and for the northern circuit at the town of St. Louis
on the twenty ninth day of April next being the sixth day
of the April term of our said court, to testify and the truth to tell in a certain case
then and there to be tried, and wherein Marie a free girl is
plaintiff and Auguste P Chouteau is
defendant on the part of the said defendant
and from day to day until duly discharged by the court, and not depart the
said court without the leave thereof-and of this fail not at your peril and our sheriff of our coun-
ty of St Louis is hereby commanded, then and there to make return of this our writ
and certify to our said court how he executes the same.

*Witness the Honorable Beat
Esquire presiding judge of our said court this seventh day of
March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and twenty and of our independence the forty fourth Danue [illegible]*

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**Page 18** (2992_018.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Service*

Served this writ on vetal Beaugenoux[?] in
the Town of St Louis 14th April 1820 Baptiste Tibeau not found in my county Joseph not found in my
county

*M. McGirk dsff*
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Service, part 2*

|   |   |
|---|---|
| 1 Service | 33 |
| 2 non Est | 500 |
| travel | 10 |
| | [illegible] |
> *Legal Function: Caption*

Superior Court NC March Term 1820
Auguste Chouteau [illegible]
Marie a free girl
[illegible]
29th April

*Beaugenoux[?] Baptiste Tibeau Joseph*

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**Page 19** (2992_019.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Writ and Summons for Alexis Lalaude and Marie Lalaude to Appear on the Part of the Plaintiff*

Territory of Missouri Northern Circuit. ss. The United States of America to Alexis Lalaude and Marie Lalaude - Greeting.
You are summoned that all excuses and delays being set aside you and each of you personally be and appear before the judges of the superior court of our terri-
tory aforesaid at our said superior court
to be held in and for the northern circuit at the town of St. Louis , on the twenty ninth
day of April being the sixth day of the April term of our said court,
to testify and the truth to tell in a certain case then and there to be tried, and wherein Marie
a free girl is - plaintiff and Auguste P Chouteau is - defendant on the part of the said Plaintiff - and from day to day
until duly discharged by the court, and not depart the said court without the leave thereof-and
of this fail not at your peril, and our sheriff of our county of St Louis is hereby commanded then and there to make return of this our writ and certify to our court how he
executes the same.

*Witness the Honorable Beat
Esquire presiding judge of our said court this seventh day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty and of our independence the forty fourth [illegible] Danue*

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**Page 20** (2992_020.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Service*

Served this writ on Marie Lalaude in St.Louis 14
April 1820 Alexis Lalaude not found in my
county whom I am informed is dead

*M McGirk DSff*
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Service, part 2*

|   |   |
|---|---|
| 1 Service | 33 |
| 1 non Est | 50 |
| travel | .6 |
| | 89 |
> *Legal Function: Caption*

Superior court NC
April 1820
Marie a free girl
vs A P Chouteau
Subpoena
29 April

*Alexis Lalaude Marie Lalaude*

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**Page 21** (2992_021.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Transcript*

State of Missouri -
Third Judicial District
Be it remembered that pursuant to the provisions in the twenty third section of an act of the assembly of the State of Missouri entitled "An Act Regulating the proceedings of the Supreme court" Joseph Farmer clerk of the Superior Court of the Territory of Missouri for the Northern Circuit, have made out a complete Transcript of the minutes & proceedings had in a cause now pending with the Superior court aforesaid Between Marie a free girl of color who sues for her freedom and Auguste P Chouteau with words and figures following -
> *Legal Function: Transcript, part 2*

August Term 1818
August 26 th
"On Reading and filing the petition of the said Marie by Margueritte her mother, and on[?] the motion of for said petitioner, the court directs
that an action of assault & Battery & False imprisonment be instated against
the said Auguste P Chouteau by the said Marie , and that she be permitted
to have a reasonable liberty of attending her counsel and that she shall not
be taken nor removed out of the jurisdiction of the court nor be subjected
to any Severity on account of her application for freedom The court
assigns Mr Deyer as counsel to the said petitioner - which said
complaint together with all the papers belonging to the said same
with [illegible] to the clerk of the circuit court of the county of St Louis

*In whereof
and affixed the [illegible] seal of the superior court aforesaid
at St Louis this thirtieth day of March AD 1821 [illegible]*
> *Legal Function: Unknown*

|   |   |
|---|---|
| [illegible] | 45 |
| [illegible] | 50 |
| [illegible] | 20 |
| certification | [illegible] |
| | [illegible] |

*\$1.65[?]*

---

**Page 22** (2992_022.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*

Marie a free girl of
color vs Auguste P Chouteau
Transcript

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**Page 23** (2992_023.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Motion to Set Aside Verdict and for a New Trial*

Marie (a mulatto girl)
vs
Auguste P. Chouteau
St St. Louis Circuit Court April term 1821.
The defendant by his attorney move the Court
to set aside the verdict rendered in this cause, and
grant a new trial, because the jury found their ver-
dict for the plaintiff without any other proof of
her liberty, but that she was kept in the late
Territory of Illinois for considerable time by
the person under whom the defendant claims title

*Bates for Deft*

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**Page 24** (2992_024.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Filing*

Augte P . Chouteau
vs
Marie (a mulatto girl)
reasons for new trial
[illegible]
filed 23th may 1821

*A Gamble Clk 90
89
143
39
43
89
76
106
655*

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**Page 25** (2992_025.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Writ and Summons for Alexis Tibeau and Margaret Tibeau to Appear on the Part of the Petitioner*

State of Missouri ,
County of St. Louis , sct. To the Sheriff of St. Louis County-Greeting.
You are hereby commanded to summon Alexis Tibeau & Margaret Tibeau
that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay they be and appear in proper person before the Judge of our
circuit court, on the Eleventh day of May at the town of St. Louis , then and
there to testify and the truth to say in a certain matter of controversy now pending in our said court, wherein
Marie a Woman of colour is plaintiff,
and Augt P Chouteau defendant on the part of Petitioner and have you then there this writ.

*Witness, Archibald Gamble , Clerk of our said circuit court, at
the town of St. Louis , this tenth day May in the
year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred twenty one Archibald Gamble Clerk, St. L . C. C.*

---

**Page 26** (2992_026.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Unexecuted Summons*

Alexis & Margaret Tibeau not found
in my county 10th
May 1821

*McGirk Dsff*
> *Legal Function: Unexecuted Summons, part 2*

|   |   |
|---|---|
| 2 non Est | 100 |
| travel | 6 |
| | \$106 |
> *Legal Function: Caption*

Marie
vs
A. P. Chouteau
for

*Alexis Tibeau Margt Tibeau[?] 11th May for
Petitioner*

---

**Page 27** (2992_027.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Writ and Summons for Alexis Tibeau and Marie Constance Lalaude to Appear on the Part of the Plaintiff*

State of Missouri ,
County of St. Louis , sct. To the Sheriff of
County-Greeting.
You are hereby commanded to summon Alexis Tibeau and
Marie Constant Lalaude
that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay they be and appear in proper person before the Judge of our
circuit court, on the seventeenth day of May at the town of St. Louis , then and
there to testify and the truth to say in a certain matter of controversy now pending in our said court, wherein
Marie a free mulatto girl is plaintiff,
and Auguste Chouteau defendant on the part
of the plaintiff and have you then there this writ.

*Witness, Archibald Gamble , Clerk of our said circuit court, at
the town of St. Louis , this 15 day of May in the
year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred twenty one A Gamble Clerk, St. L . C. C.*

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**Page 28** (2992_028.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Service*

Served this writ on
Marie Constant LaLaude
in St Louis
Executed by reading
May 15th 1821 Alexis Tibeau not found
in my county
17th may 1821

*M McGirk*
> *Legal Function: Costs*

|   |   |
|---|---|
| Service | 33 |
| non est | 50 |
| travel | 6 |
| | 89 Cts |
> *Legal Function: Caption*

Marie a free girl
vs Augt. P Chouteau
Alexis Tibeau

*Marie Lalaude*

---

**Page 29** (2992_029.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Writ and Summons for Alexis Tibeau and Margaret to Appear on the Part of the Plaintiff*

State Of Missouri ,
County of St. Louis , sct. To the Sheriff of St. Louis County-Greeting.
You are hereby commanded to summon Alexis Tibeau and Margaret that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay they be and appear in proper person before the Judge of our
circuit court, on the forthwith day of at the town of St. Louis , then and
there to testify and the truth to say in a certain matter of controversy now pending in our said court, wherein
Marie a free girl plaintiff,
and A P Chouteau- defendant on the part
of the pltff and have you then there this writ.

*Witness, Archibald Gamble , Clerk of our said circuit court, at
the town of St. Louis , this 17th day May in the
year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred & 21 A Gamble Clerk, St. L . C. C.*

---

**Page 30** (2992_030.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Service*

I acknowledge the service
of the within subpoena

*Margaret rubee*
> *Legal Function: Caption*

Marie a free girl
vs
A P Chouteau
for

*Alexis Tibeau for Pltff forthwith*
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Service, part 2*

Served this writ on
Alexis Tibeau by leaving
a copy hereof at his
residence in St Louis
Township with his wife
informing her of the
contents thereof who is over
the age of sixteen as
appears of record on her
countenance 18th May
1821

*[illegible] b. McGirk*
> *Legal Function: Costs*

|   |   |
|---|---|
| service | 33 |
| Travel | 6 |
| | 39 |

---

**Page 31** (2992_031.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Writ and Summons for Francis Munnet to Appear on the Part of the Plaintiff*

State of Missouri ,
County of St. Louis , sct. To the Sheriff of St. Louis County-Greeting.
You are hereby commanded to summon Francis Munnet that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay he be and appear in proper person before the Judge of our
circuit court, on the twenty second day of May next at the town of St. Louis , then and
there to testify and the truth to say in a certain matter of controversy now pending in our said court, wherein
Mary a woman of colour is- plaintiff,
and Auguste P Chouteau is- defendant on the part
of the plaintiff and have you then there this writ.

*Witness, Archibald Gamble , Clerk of our said circuit court, at
the town of St. Louis , this 19 day May in the
year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred Twenty one A Gamble Clerk, St. L . C. C.*

---

**Page 32** (2992_032.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*

Mary vs Chouteau
Sub
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Service*

Served this writ
on Francis Munnet
on the 23rd May 1821
by reading it to
him in the township
of St Louis

*E. F. Brown*
> *Legal Function: Costs*

|   |   |
|---|---|
| Service | 33 |
| travel | 10 |
| | 43 |

---

**Page 33** (2992_033.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Writ and Summons to Appear on the Part of Plaintiff*

State of Missouri ,
County of St. Louis , sct. To the Sheriff of St. Louis county-Greeting.
You are hereby commanded to summon
Joseph and Margaret
that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay they be and appear in proper person before the Judge of our circuit court forthwith at the town of St. Louis , then and there to testify
and the truth to say in a certain matter of controversy now pending in our said court, wherein Marie a
woman of color is Plaintiff,
and Auguste P Chouteau defendant on the part of
the pltff and have you then and there this writ.

*Witness, Archibald Gamble , Clerk of our said circuit court, at
the town of St. Louis , this 22nd day of May in the
year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred &[?] 21 A Gamble Clerk, St. L . C. C.*

---

**Page 34** (2992_034.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Service*

Served this writ
on Joseph
and Margret
on the 22nd May
1821. by reading it to them both
in the Township
of St Louis

*E. F. Brown*
> *Legal Function: Costs*

|   |   |
|---|---|
| Service | 66 |
| travel | 10 |
| | 76 cts |
> *Legal Function: Caption*

Marie a woman of color vs Auguste P Chouteau
for

*Joseph Margaret*

Item sets: All Circuit Court Records; Freedom Suits Case Files, 1814-1860; Circuit Court Cases

Marie, a Mulatto Girl V. Auguste Chouteau. 1818, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 8, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60614