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/60695

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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; Simpson, R.
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: ccr1827.05540.010
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** (5540_001.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Complaint*

State of Missouri
County of St. Louis
[illegible] In the Circuit Court
November term 1827.
Elizabeth a free girl of color held in slavery who is
permitted by the court to sue by Alexis Amelin
her next friend as a poor person, by her attorney John
M Bass & Isaac C McGirk assigned by said court as
Counsel, Complains of Francois Menard & Andre Landeville of a plea of trespass , with force & arms for that the said defendants
heretofore to writ on the first day of January, One thousand
eight hundred and twenty seven with force and arms
at the County of St. Louis aforesaid 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 & reasonable cause what
soever and have ever since kept &[?] detained her in
prison and do still keep & detain her the said Elizabeth
in prison against her will, contrary to the laws
of the State and the said plainfiffs[?] [illegible] that before & at the time of the committing this grievance
aforesaid she was & still is a free person and that the defendants held & detained & still hold & detain
her the said Elizabeth in slavery 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 Judge 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 anwwer 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 said Court at office
thi fourth day of August 1827 Archibald Gamble Clerk*

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**Page 2** (5540_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 Francois Menard not found in my
County Nov 10th 1827

*R. Simpson Sheriff July 12 1828. Francois Menard not found
R. Simpson Sheriff Service \$1.00
non est 50
1.50*
> *Legal Function: Caption*

No 13 In the St. Louis Circuit Court
November Term 1827.
Elizabeth a free Girl of color
vs
Francois Menard
& Andre Landreville .
Declarations
This is an action of assault
& Battery and false imprison
ment[?]:
Let a summons issue
Bass & McGirk
P Q.

*Filed 4th August 1827, Archibald Gamble Clerk Amended declaration filed 18h
December 1827 Arch Gamble Clerk*
> *Legal Function: Order*

St. Louis Circuit Court July Term 1827
John M . Bass present to the Court the petition of Elizabeth , Virginia , Victoire[?] children
of Mary a colored woman praying that they may be permitted to institute suit
against Francois Menard and Andre Landreville for Establishing their right to
freedom and that they may be permitted to sue as poor persons Therefore 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 name 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 plaintiffs shall not be taken or removed out of the Jurisdiction
of this Court and that the said plaintiff shall not be subject to any severity
of treatment on account of then said application for freedom

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

County of St. Louis [illegible] The State of Missouri 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 be held at the city of St. Louis within and for
the county of St. Louis on the fourth monday of July next then and there to answer unto
Elizabeth who unto 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 at office this
Ninth day of may One thousand eight hundred and twenty Eight Archibald Gamble Clerk*

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**Page 3** (5540_003.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Deposition Notice*

Elizabeth
vs
Francois Menard
&
Andre Landreville
St St. Louis Circuit Court
Mr. Andre Landreville
Will take notice that
on the 13th day of the present month between the
hours of 9 Oclock in the forenoon and 5 Oclock in the
afternoon of that day at the office of J V [illegible]
in this city we shall proceed to take the deposition of
witnesses to be read in the above suit in behalf
of the Plaintiff.

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

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**Page 4** (5540_004.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Service*

Elizabeth
vs
Menard & Landreville
notice

*Send a copy of the within notice on Andre
Landreville Nov 8th 1827 in St.Louis L P Timonds Jr Dp.Sheriff Service $ 0.50*
> *Legal Function: Deposition Notice Part 2*

Elizabeth

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**Page 5** (5540_005.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Answer to Complaint*

November term 1827
Andre Landreville
[illegible]
Elizabeth
And the said Andre
Landreville by his attorney
causes and defends the force
and injury wherefore and says the is not guilty
of the said supposed trespass assaults and
battery; imprisonment and detentions
above said to his charge or any part there of
in manner & form as the said Elizabeth by
her next friend Alexis Amelin hath above
thereof [illegible] against 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 on his behalf
the said Andre Landreville says the said
Elizabeth ought not to have or maintian[?] her
aforesaid action thereof if against him because
he says that he the said Andre Landreville
at the times mentioned on the said
declaration had not nor claimed to have nor
hath he nor doth he now claim to have but
disavoweth[?] and disclaimeth[?] to have any
title, claim or interest in and to the said
Plaintiff and this the said Andre Landreville
is ready to verify wherefore he prays
judgement if the said plaintiff ought to
have or maintain her aforesaid action against him
[illegible]

*attorney for dnt[?]*

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**Page 6** (5540_006.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*

No 13 November Term 1827
Elizabeth
vs [illegible]
Landreville

*Filed Nov 19th 1827 A Gamble Clk*

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**Page 7** (5540_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 herself upon the county & C.

*Bass & McGirk
Atty for Pltff.*

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**Page 8** (5540_008.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*

Elizabeth
vs
Landreville

*Rep filed Decr 2nd
1828 A Gamble Clk*

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**Page 9** (5540_009.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Summons*

The State of Missouri
County of St Louis . ss. 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 be held at the city of St .
Louis within and for the County of St Louis on the Fourth Monday of March next
then and there to answer unto Elizabeth who sues by Alexis Amelin her next
Friend of a plea of trespass on the case 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 fifth day of February One Thousand
Eight Hundred and Twenty nine Archibald Gamble Clerk*
> *Legal Function: Summons Part 2*

The state of Missouri
County of St Louis Sct. To the Sheriff of St Louis County Greeting
We command you as we have heretofore commanded you to summon Francois
Menard that he 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 of July next then and there to answer unto Elizabeth
who sues by Alexis Amelin her next friend of a plea of trespass on the case
to the damage of said plaintiff of Five Hundred dollars and have you then there
the writ

*Witness Archibald Gamble Clerk of our said Court at office
this Twenty third day of May One Thousand Eight
Hundred and twenty nine Archibald Gamble Clerk*

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**Page 10** (5540_010.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*

No 22 St St. Louis Circuit Court
March Term 1829
Elizabeth by her next friend
vs
Francois Menard
Action of assault & battery &
false imprisonment-

*(Alexis Amelin)
23 May*
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Execution*

Francois Menard not found

*R Simpson Shff Francois Menard not found:
July 12. 1829 R Simpson Shff*

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