Charlotte, a colored girl v. Green Crowder
Item
Charlotte, a Colored Girl V. Green Crowder. 1831, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 8, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60765
- Case Title
- Charlotte, a colored girl v. Green Crowder
- Series
- Freedom Suits
- Plaintiff
- Charlotte
- Defendant
- Crowder, Green
- Date Filed
- 1831-11-25
- Next Friend
- Bates, Edward
- Filing Date
- 1831-11-25
- Plaintiff’s Attorney
- Bates, Edward G.
- Allen, William O.
- Defendant’s Attorney
- Gamble, Hamilton Rowan
- Court Name
- St. Louis Circuit Court
- Court Term
- 1832-03
- Judge
- Carr, William C.
- Clerk
- Gamble, Archibald
- Sheriff
- Walker, John K.
- Cause of Action
- Trespass for Freedom
- Case Notes
- Plaintiff, aged about 3, sued by next friend Edward Bates; copy of order included allowing plaintiff & her mother (Thenia, aka Sarah) to sue for freedom; sought $100 in damages.
- Case Number
- 10
- Identifier
- ccr1832.06749.004
- Source
- Missouri State Archives - St. Louis
- Rights
- Public Domain
- PDF Download
- Download PDF of all images
- Transcription
-
**Charlotte, a colored girl vs. Green Crowder**
---
**Page 1** (6749_001.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Complaint*
In the Circuit Court
3d. Judicial Circuit March Term AD 1832.
St Louis to wit Charlotte a girl of colour & infant
under twenty one years of age by Edward Bates
her next friend complains of Green Crowder
of a plea of trespass. For that the said defendant
on the twenty third day of November in the year
1831 with force & arms assaulted the said plaintiff
to wit at the county aforesaid then there beat
& ill-treated her the said plaintiff & then & there imprisoned her & detained her in prison there without any reasonable a pro-
bable cause whatsoever for a long time to writ for
the space of twenty four hours the next follow-
ing contains to the law of the land against the
will of the said plaintiff and other wrongs to
the said plaintiff then & there did against the peace
& dignity of the state of Missouri & to the damage of
the said plaintiff of one hundred dollars & therefore she
brings her suit &c.
And the said plaintiff avers that before & at
the time of the committing [illegible] the prisoner afore-
said she was & still is a free person that the
defendant held & detained her & still holds & de-
tains her in slavery.
*Bates [illegible]*
> *Legal Function: Complaint Part 2*
I acknowledge myself willing to prosecute as next
friend of Charlotte the action commenced by her
against Green Crowder for her freedom, in
the circuit court of the county of St Louis -
*25th Nov: 1831. Edw. Bates*
---
**Page 2** (6749_002.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Summons*
County of Saint Louis Ss
The State of Missouri To the Sheriff of the County of Saint Louis Greeting
We Command you to summon Green Crowder that he be and
appear before the judge of our Circuit Court at the next March terms thereof
to be held at the City of St Louis within and for the county of Saint
Louis on the fourth Monday of March next then and there to answer
unto Charlotte a girl of Color & infant under twenty one years of age
by Edward Bates her next friend of a plea of trespass to the damage
of the said plaintiff of one Hundred dollars and have you then
there this writ.
*Witness Archibald Gamble Clerk of our said
Circuit Court at office this Twenty fifth day of
November Eighteen Hundred and thirty one Archibald Gamble Clerk*
> *Legal Function: Order*
Copy of the order of the judge permitting plaintiff to sue
State of Missouri third Judicial Circuit to wit on the foregoing petition
therein otherwise called Sarah is hereby permitted to sue as a poor person
as well in her own behalf as also in that of her child Charlotte to establish their
right to freedom and Edward Bates Esq. is hereby assigned her as counsel It is
moreover ordered that for the purposes aforesaid the said Thenia or Sarah have
reasonable liberty to attend the court & her counsel whenever occasion may
require that neither she nor said child be subjected to any severity on account
of her application for freedom & that they be not removed out of the jurisdiction of this
court - Given under my hand this 24th of Nov 1831
*Will C. Carr a copy of the order of the judge A Gamble Clerk*
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Service*
served this writ on Green Crowder by
reading it & the declaration to him on
the 26th day of November 1831, in the
city of St Louis . I also at the same time
read to him the copy of the above order of the [illegible] Honl Will
C. Carr Judge of the 3rd. Circuit [illegible]
*Jno K Walker , Shff [illegible] sum $ 100*
---
**Page 3** (6749_003.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Defendant's Plea*
Green [illegible]
ads Charlotte
And the said Green Crowder by [illegible]
his attorney comes and defends the force and injury when
[illegible] and says he is not guilty in manner and form
as the said plaintiff hath in her said declaration
complained against him and of this he puts
himself upon the county
*Gamble
atty for deft*
---
**Page 4** (6749_004.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Cover*
[illegible]
> *Legal Function: Caption*
No. 10 Saint Louis Circuit Court
March Term 1832
Charlotte
a colored girl
Green Crowder
action of trespass for
freedom Dams. \$100,
Issue a Summons
Bates & Allen
*Filed 25th, November 1831 Archibald Gamble Clerk Plea filed april
20th 1832
[illegible]
[illegible] A Gamble Clk [illegible]*
Charlotte, a Colored Girl V. Green Crowder. 1831, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 8, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60765