Polly Wilson v. Jacob Baum

Item

Polly Wilson V. Jacob Baum. 1827, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 8, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60690

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Case Title: Polly Wilson v. Jacob Baum
Series: Freedom Suits
Plaintiff: Wilson, Polly
Defendant: Baum, Jacob
Date Filed: 1827-02-28
Filing Date: 1827-02-28
Plaintiff’s Attorney: Strother, George French
Defendant’s Attorney: M.
Court Name: St. Louis circuit court
Court Term: 1827-03
Clerk: Gamble, Archibald
Sheriff: Simpson, R.; Simonds, Jr.
Cause of Action: Trespass; Assualt; Battery
Case Notes: Plaintiff alleged defendant beat her on head, face, back, and other body parts with a whip; asked for $500 in damages and costs.
Case Number: 19
Identifier: ccr1827.05531.009
Source: Missouri State Archives - St. Louis
Rights: Public Domain
PDF Download: Download PDF of all images
Transcription: **Polly Wilson vs. Jacob Baum**

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**Page 1** (5531_001.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Complaint*

State of Missouri
St Louis county In the circuit court March
term 1827
Polly Wilson (a free woman of colour)
Complains of Jacob Baum is
of a plea of trespass. For that the said Jacob
Baum on the day of in the year
of our Lord 1826 in the force and [illegible] assault
the said Polly Wilson to wit at the county
of St. Louis aforsaid and then and there with
great force and [illegible] [illegible] and laid label
of the said Polly Wilson and with a [illegible]
[illegible] and whip and with his forts [illegible] and
[illegible] the said Polly Wilson a great many
blows and [illegible] on and about the head
[illegible] [illegible] back; sholder; arms legs and
above other parts of the body by [illegible] of
which said [illegible] [illegible] she the said Polly Wilson
has then and there gravely [illegible] [illegible]
and wounded and other [illegible] to the said
Polly Wilson then and there did against the

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**Page 2** (5531_002.jpg)
Laws & dignity of the state and to the great damage of this
the said Polly Wilson which the said Polly
Willson saith sh [illegible] is [illegible] and has [illegible] and
damage to the amount of \$500 and therefore
she [illegible] for [illegible] [illegible]

*Stother attorney for Plantiff[?]*
> *Legal Function: Summons*

County of St Louis sc.
The State of Missouri To the Sheriff of St Louis County
We Command you to summon Jacob Baum that he be and appear
at the next term of our Circuit Court befors the Judge of our circuit
Court at the next term thereof to be held at the City of St Louis within
and the County of St Louis on the fourth monday of March next then
and there to answer unto Polly Willson (a free woman of color) of a
plea of Trespass to the damage of the said Plaintiff of five hundred
Dollars and have you then there this writ

*Witness Archibald Gamble Clerk of our said Court
at Office this 28th day of February Eighteen
hundred and Twenty Seven Archibald Gamble Clerk*

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**Page 3** (5531_003.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*

No 19
St St. Louis Circuit Court
March Term 1827
Polly Wilson
vs.
Jacob Baum
Nar
This is an [illegible] of
Assault and Battery the
club will per [illegible]
mens
Shother JP[?] [illegible]

*Filed 28th February 1827 Archibald Gamble Clerk [illegible]
[illegible]*
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Execution*

Executed this writ on Jacob Baum March 2nd 1827 in the
City of St Louis by reading the same to him

*R. Simpson Sheriff
By Jnv. Simonds Jr Df Sheriff Service \$1.00*

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**Page 4** (5531_004.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Plea*

Jacob Baum
ads
Polly Wilson March Term 1827
And the said Jacob by
his attonary comes and defends the [illegible] then
injury when [illegible] and says that he is not guilty
in the answer and farm as the said Polly hath
above whereof complained against him
and of this he puts himself upon the
county.

*M.
Atty for Dfs[?]*

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**Page 5** (5531_005.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*

Jacob Baum
ad.
Polly Wilson
Plea
N. G.

*filed March 30th
1827 A Gamble Clk*

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**Page 6** (5531_006.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Summons for Thomas M. Langhlin*

County Of St. Louis , Sct.
State Of Missouri , To The Sheriff Of St. Louis County....Greeting:
You are hereby commanded to Summon Thomas M. Langhlin
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 sixth day of August at the City 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 Polly Wilson
plaintiff, and Jacob Baum
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 City of St. Louis , this 24th day of
July in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred
and twenty seven A Gamble Clerk C. C.*

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**Page 7** (5531_007.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Execution*

Executed this writ on Jhn[?] M Laughlin[?]
Augt 1. 1827 by [illegible] to him the same

*Service $-50 R Simpson [illegible]*
> *Legal Function: Caption*

July 1827
Polly Wilson
vs
Jacob Baum
for
[illegible] Langhlin

*6th August for
Plaintiff*

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**Page 8** (5531_008.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Summons for John Bosseron*

County Of St. Louis , Sct.
The State of Missouri , To The Sheriff Of St. Louis County--Greeting:
You are hereby commanded to summon John [illegible] Bosseron
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 6th day of August, at the city 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 Polly Wilson is plaintiff,
and Jacob Baum 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 city of St. Louis , this third day of
August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and twenty seven A Gamble Clerk C. C.*

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**Page 9** (5531_009.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*

July 1827
Polly Wilson
vs
Jacob Baum
for
John Bosseron

*6th August for
Plaintiff*
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Execution*

John Bosseron not found in my county Aug 6th 1827

*Bon Est $ 0,12 1/2 Jh Simonds Jr. [illegible] Sheriff*

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

Polly Wilson V. Jacob Baum. 1827, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 8, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60690