Elizabeth, a free girl of color v. Francois Menard, Andre Landreville

Item

Elizabeth, a Free Girl of Color V. Francois Menard, Andre Landreville. 1827, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 8, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60694

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Case Title: Elizabeth, a free girl of color v. Francois Menard, Andre Landreville
Series: Freedom Suits
Plaintiff: Elizabeth
Defendant: Menard, Francois; Landreville, Andre
Date Filed: 1827-08-04
Filing Date: 1827-08-04
Plaintiff’s Attorney: Bass, John M.; McGirk, Isaac C.
Court Name: St. Louis Circuit Court
Court Term: 1827-11
Clerk: Gamble, Archibald
Sheriff: Simonds, John Jr.
Cause of Action: Treaspass with Force and Arms
Case Notes: Plaintiff permitted by court to sue by Alexis Amelin, her next friend; damages $500.
Case Number: 13
Identifier: ccr1827.05539.008
Source: Missouri State Archives - St. Louis
Rights: Public Domain
PDF Download: Download PDF of all images
Transcription: **Elizabeth, a free girl of color vs. Francois Menard, Andre Landreville**

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**Page 1** (5539_001.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Complaint*

State of Missouri
County of St. Louis
Ss In the Circuit Court
November term 1827.
Elizabeth a free girl of color held in slavery who i
permitted by the court to sue by Alexis Amelin
the next friend as a poor person, by her attorneys John
M Bass & Isaac
C McGirk assignedby said court as
counsel, complains of Francois Menard & Andre Landreville
of a plea of trespass with force & arms for that the said defendants
heretofore to wit on the first day of January, one thousand
eight hundred and twenty seven with force and arms
at the county of St. Louis aforesaw[?] unlawfully an assault did
make in and upon the said Elizabeth and then & there
beat bruised and ill- treated the said
Elizabeth and
then & there imprisoned her and kept and detained her
in prison without any probable or reasonable cause what
so ever and have ever since kept &[?] detained her in
prison and do still keep & detain her the said Elizabeth
and the said plaintiffs [illegible] that before & at the time of committing this grievance
in prison against her will, contrary to the laws
aforesaid she was [illegible] &[?] still is a free person and that the defendants held detained & still hold & detain
her the said Elizabeth in slavery of the state and other wrongs then & there did to
the said Elizabeth against the peace of this state;
wherefore the said Elizabeth says she is injured
and has sustained damage to the amount of
five hundred dollars and therefore she sues c

*Bass & McGirk
Atty P Q.*
> *Legal Function: Summons*

The State of Missouri
County of St. Louis [illegible] To the Sheriff of St. Louis County Greeting
We command you to summon Francois Menard and Andre Landreville that
they be and appear before the Juddge of an 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
of November next then and there to answer into Elizabeth who sues by Alexis Amelin
her next friend of a plea of Trespass 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 of office
this fourth day of August 1827 Archibald Gamble Clerk*

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**Page 2** (5539_002.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Execution*

Executed this writ on Andre Landreville August 8th 1827 in the City
of St Louis by informing him of the contents thereof and his acknowledging
the service of the same Francis Menard not found in my
County Nov 10th 1827

*R. Simpson Sheriff Service $ 1.00
non Est 50
1.50 July 12 1828. Francois Menard not found
& [illegible] R Simpson Shff*
> *Legal Function: Caption*

No 13 In the St. Louis Circuit Court
November term 1827.
Elisabth a free girl of Color
vs
Francois Menard & Andre Landreville
Declaration
This is an action of assault
& Battery and false impris
onment
Let a summon issue

*Bass & McGirk
P L. Filed 4th August 1827, Archibald Gamble Clerk Amended declaration filed 18th
December 1827 Arch Gamble Clerk*
> *Legal Function: Order*

St. Louis Cicuit Court July Term 1827
John M Bass presents to the Court the petition of Elizabeth , Virginia and
Victoire children
of Mary a colored woman praying that they may be permitted to institutea suit
against Francois Menard and Andre Landreville for Establishing their right to
freedom and that they may be permitted to sue as poor persons - thereupon the Court
permit the said Elizabeth Victoire , and Virginia to sue as aforesaid and direct that
an action of assault and battery and false imprisonment be commenced against
the said defendants by their next friend in the names of the said Elizabeth Victoire
and Virginia and assign John M Bass and Isaac C McGirk as their counsel and it
is ordered by the Court that the said defendants permit the said plaintiffs to have a
reasonable liberty of attending their counsel and the Court when occasion may
require it and that the said plaintiff shall not be taken or removed out of the Jurisdiction
of this Court and that the said plaintiff shall not be subject to any seventy
of treatment on account of then said application for freedom

*Archibald Gamble Clerk*
> *Legal Function: Summons*

\> County of St. Louis [illegible] The State of Misouri To the Sheriff of St. Louis County Greeting
We command you to summon Francois Menard that he be and appear before the Judge
of our Circuit Court at the next term thereof to he held at the City of St. Louis within and for
the County of St. Louis on the fourth monday of July next then and their to answer unto
Elizabeth who sues by Alexis Amelin her next friend of a plea of trespass to the damage of
said plaintiff of Five Hundred dollars and have you then there this writ

*Witness archibald Gamble Clerk of our aid Court at office this
Ninth day of may One thousand Eight hundred and twenty Eight Archibald Gamble Clerk*

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**Page 3** (5539_003.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Deposition Notice*

Elizabeth
vs
Francois Menard
&
Andre Laundreville
St. Louis Circuit Court Mr Andre Laundreville
Will take notice that
on the 13th day of the present month between the
hours of 9 O clock in the forenoon and 5[?] O clock in the
afternoon of that day at the office of [illegible] V [illegible]
in thi city we shall proceed to take the depositions of
witneses to be read in the above suit in behalf
of the plaintiff.

*St. Louis Nov 6th 1827. Bass & McGirk Attys for Pltff*

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**Page 4** (5539_004.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Service*

Elizabeth
vs
Menard & Landreville
notice

*Served a Copy of the within notice on Andre
Landreville Nov. 8th 1827 in St. Louis [illegible] Ln Simonds Dp. Sheriff Service $ 0.50*
> *Legal Function: Deposition Notice Part 2*

[illegible]

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**Page 5** (5539_005.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Answer to Complaint*

November term 1827 Andre Landreville
[illegible]
Elizabeth
And the said Andre
Landreville by his attorney
[illegible] and defends the force
and injury wherefore and says he is not guilty
of the said supposed trespass assaults and
battery; imprisonment and detentions [illegible]
above said to his charge or anypart thereof
in manner & form as the said Elizabeth by
her next friend Alexis Amelin hath above
thereof [illegible] against [illegible] him and of this
he the said Andre Landreville puts
himself upon the county
and the said plaintiff doth the like Bass & McGirk for pltff
And for further plea in this behalf
the said Andre Landreville says the said
Elizabeth ought not to have or maintain her
aforesaid action thereof against [illegible] him because
he says that the said Andre Landreville
at the times mentioned in the said
declaration had not nor claimed to have nor
hath he nor doth he now claim to have but
disavoweth[?] [illegible] and disclaimeth[?] to have any title
claim or interest in and to then said
Elizabeth and thus then said Andre Landreville
is ready to testify wherefore he prays
judgement if the said plaintiff ought to
have or maintain aforesaid action against him
[illegible]

*attorney for dnt[?]*

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**Page 6** (5539_006.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*

No 13 November Term 1827
Elizabeth
vs
Landreville
[illegible]

*filed for Nov 29th 1827 A. Gamble Clk*

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**Page 7** (5539_007.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Reply to Defendant's Answer*

Elizabeth vs A Landreville
and the said, Elizabeth for replication to the
plea of the said Landreville secondly above plea did says that
She ought not to be barred & precluded from having & maintaining
her action aforesaid against the said Landreville because she
says that the said Landreville at the said times in her said declaration
mentioned & before the said several times did
claim to have & hold the said Elizabeth as a slave & doth still
claim the said Elizabeth as a slave and of this she the said
Elizabeth puts hereof upon the county & C.

*Bass & McGirk
Attys for Pltff.*

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**Page 8** (5539_008.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*

Elizabeth
vs
Landreville

*Rep filed Decr 2nd
1828 A Gamble Clk*

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