Harry, a boy of color, by and through his next friend, Alexander Clark v. Rufus Pettibone, et al.

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Harry, a Boy of Color, by and through His Next Friend, Alexander Clark V. Rufus Pettibone, Et Al. 1825, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 8, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60671

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Case Title: Harry, a boy of color, by and through his next friend, Alexander Clark v. Rufus Pettibone, et al.
Series: Freedom Suits
Plaintiff: Harry
Defendant: Pettibone, Rufus; Hatton, Charles B.; Hatton, Sally; Wingfield, Owen; Wingfield, Sally; Voteau, Isaac; Butler, John; Butler, Betsy; Whitesides, John (alias Whiteside; Whitsit); Whitesides, Lucinda (alias Whiteside; Whitsit)
Date Filed: 1825-06-02
Next Friend: Clark, Alexander
Filing Date: 1825-06-02
Plaintiff’s Attorney: Bates, Edward G.; McGirk, Isaac C.
Defendant’s Attorney: Spalding, Josiah; W. Levy
Court Name: St. Louis Circuit Court
Court Term: 1825-07
Judge: Stuart, Alexander
Clerk: Gamble, Archibald
Sheriff: Walker, John K.
Cause of Action: Trespass; Assault; Battery; False Imprisonment
Case Notes: Court assigned Edward Bates and Isaac McGirk as counsel; plaintiff sued by next friend Alexander Clark.
Case Number: 14
Identifier: ccr1825.24072.006
Source: Missouri State Archives - St. Louis
Rights: Public Domain
PDF Download: Download PDF of all images
Transcription: **Harry, a boy of color, by and through his next friend, Alexander Clark v. Rufus Pettibonne, et al.**

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**Page 1** (24072_001.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Complaint of Plaintiff Harry by His Next Friend Alexander Clark*

State of Missouri
County of St Louis
Ss In the Circuit Court
July Term 1825
Harry a free boy of color held in slavery, who is
permitted by the court to sue by Alexander Clark
his next friend, as a poor person; who by his attor
nies Edward Bates and Jsaac C. Mc Girk assigned as
counsel by said Court, Complains of Rufus Patte
bone, Charles B. Hattan, and Sally his wife, Owensupplied>[?]
Wingfield and Sally his wife, Isaac Voteau , John
Butter and Betsy his wife, John Whitset alias Whitesides
[illegible] [illegible] Hatton and Anne his wife. Michael
sanford and [illegible] his wife, John Whitset alias
Whitesides jr. and Lucinda whetset alias whitesides
of a plea of [illegible] for that the said defend
ants heretofore, to wit, an the first day of Janu
ary in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred &
twenty five, with force and arms at the county
of St Louis , unlawfully an assault did make in
and upon the body of the said Harry , and
then and there beat [illegible] and ill treated him
the said Harry , and then and there imprisoned
him the said Harry and Kept & detained him in prison
without any resonable or probable cause what
soever, and have ever since kept and detained him
the said Harry , and do still keep and detain him
in prison against his will, contrary to the
laws of this state, and other wrongs to the said
Harry then and there did, against the peace of
this state [illegible] wherefore
the said Harry says he is greatly injured &
has sustained damage to the amount of five
hundred dollars, and therefore he sues &c

*Bates & Mc Girk
Attys for Plff*

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**Page 2** (24072_002.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Summons for Defendants*

The State of Missouri
County of St Louis Sct To the Sheriff of St Louis County.. Greeting :
We command you to summon Rufus Pettibone , Charles B. Hatton and Sally his wife
Owen Wingfield and Sally his wife Isaac Voteau , John Butter and Betsy his wife, John
Whitset alias Whitesides, Mitchell Hatton and Anne his wife Michael sanford and Theresa
his wife John Whitset alias Whitesides Jr. and Lucinda Whitset alias Whitesides that they
be and appear before the Judge of our Circuit Court at the next term thereof to be held at the
city of St Louis within and for the County of St Louis on the fourth Monday in July next then
and there to answer unto Harry a free boy of color who is permitted by the court to sue [illegible]
Alexander Clark his not friend as a poor person of a plea of [illegible] to the damage
of said plaintiff of five hundred Dollars and have you then these this writ.

*Witness Archibald Gamble Clerk of our said
court at office this second day of June 1825 Archibald Gamble Clerk*
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Filing*

No 14 In the Circuit Court
July Term 1825
Harry
vs
Rufus Pittibone [illegible]
To the clerk
This is an action of [illegible]
Assault & and Battery and
false imprisonment
Issue a Summons
for Defendants

*Bates & Mc Girk
Attys P.J. filed 2nd June 1825 Archibald Gamble clerk 27*
Served this writ on Isaac
Voteau on the ninth day,
of July 1825 by reading it
to him- on Michael Sanford
& Whereas his wife in the city of
st Louis by reading the same to them
on the 6th of the same month
The writ are not found in my county- neither have they a place
of abode in my county, known to me
at which I could have a copy hereof
July 9th 1825

*John K Walker Sheriff Service .. $ 3.00 12 non ests .. 6.00 $ 9.00*

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**Page 3** (24072_003.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Cover Page*

In the Circuit Court
July Term 1825 No 14
Harry
vs.
Rufus Petterbone Stal
The within is a counterpart of the
writ issued to the sheriff of the county
of St Louis 2nd June 1825

*Arch. Gamble Clerk 27
To Franklin*
The State of Missouri
County of Saint Louis Ss To the Sheriff of the county of Franklin
Greeting:
We command you to summon John Butter and Betsey his wife impleaded
with Rufus Pettibone , Charles B Hatton and Sally his wife, Owen Wingfield and Sally
his wife Issac Voteau John Whitset alias Whitesides Mitchell Hatton and Anne
his wife, Michael Sanford and thereon his wife John Whitest alias Whitesides [illegible]
and Lucinda Whitset alias Whitesides that they be and appear before the Judge of our
Circuit Court at the next term thereof to be held at the city of St Louis within and for
the county of St Louis on the fourth Monday in July next then and there to answer
into Harry a free boy of color who is permitted by the court to sue by Alexander
Clark his next friend as a poor person of a plea of [illegible] to the damage of said
plaintiff of five hundred dollars and have you then there this writ.

*Witness Archibald Gamble Clerk of our said
Court at office this second day of June 1825 Archibald Gamble Clerk*

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**Page 4** (24072_004.jpg)

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**Page 5** (24072_005.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Reply of Defendants*

Harry
vs
Pettibone [illegible] &
others
And said Levi administrator
of said Rufus & a said Landford's & wife
came and defined the force and injury when
& [illegible], & say that they are not, nor is either
of them guitly of the [illegible]
imprisonment
and wrongs in manner & from as in said
declaration alleged & of this they put them
selves upon the country & C.

*[illegible] & [illegible]
for deft*

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**Page 6** (24072_006.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Filing*

Harry
vs
Pettibone & others
Plea

*filed April 12th
1826 A Gamble Clk 27*

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