William Gordon v. Milton Sublette, et al.

Item

William Gordon V. Milton Sublette, Et Al. 1832, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 8, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60784

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Case Title: William Gordon v. Milton Sublette, et al.
Series: Fur Trade
Plaintiff: Gordon, William
Defendant: Sublette, Milton; Fitzpatrick, Thomas; Jervail, John; Bridgers, James
Date Filed: 1832-10-08
Filing Date: 1832-10-08
Plaintiff’s Attorney: Magenis, Arthur L.
Court Name: Saint Louis Circuit Court
Court Term: 1832-11
Clerk: Gamble, Archibald
Sheriff: Walker, John K.; Blood, Sullivan
Cause of Action: Assumpsit
Case Notes: Defendants doing business as the Rocky Mountain Fur Company; attached 1,500 pounds of beaver furs; James Bridgers also known as James Bridges (Jim Bridger); damages $3,000; debt $2,000.
Disposition: Settlement
Case Number: 77
Identifier: ccr1832.07907.012
Source: Missouri State Archives - St. Louis
Rights: Public Domain
PDF Download: Download PDF of all images
Transcription: **William Gordon v. Milton Sublette, et al.**

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**Page 1** (7907_001.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Plaintiff's Complaint*

State of Missouri
County of St. Louis
ss. In the Circuit Court
November Term 1832
William Gordon by his attorney
complains of Milton Sublette , Henry [illegible] Tho-
mas Fitzpatrick, John Jervail, and James Brid-
ger alias James Bridgers partners in had, ha-
ding and doing business under the name and
style of the Rockey Mountain Fur Company
for that whereas the said defendants heretofore
to wit on the twenty second day of October in
the year One thousand Eight Hundred and thir-
ty one at St Louis to wit at the County aforesaid
made their certain promissory note in writing how
here to the Court shown the date whereof is
the day and year last aforesaid and thereby,
then and there promised one day after date
(meaning one day after the date of said Promis-
sory note.) to pay said William Gordon on
order Two Thousand Six hundred and Fifty
Dollars and nine cents without defalcation
for value recd (meaning for value received)
By means whereof the said defendants then and
there became liable to pay to the said William
Gordon the said sum of money in said pro-
missory note specified according to the tenor
and effect of said note. And being so liable
they the said defendants afterwards to wit on
the day and year last aforesaid at St Louis
to wit at the County aforesaid undertook
and then and there promised the said Plain-
tiff to pay him the said sum of Money in
said Promissory note specified according to the
tenor and effect thereof
And whereas also
as partners in trade as aforesaid, [illegible] by the name and style aforesaid
the said defendants afterwards to wit on the day

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**Page 2** (7907_002.jpg)
and year last aforesaid at St Louis to wit at the County
aforesaid by one Thomas Fitzpatrick their then agent in
that behalf made their certain other Promissory
note in writing now here to the Court shown the
date whereof is the day and year last aforesaid
and thereby then and there promised to pay one day
after the date thereof [illegible] to the said Plaintiff
or order the sum of Two Thousand Six hundred
and Fifty dollars and nine cents without de-
falcation for value recd (meaning for value received) By means whereof the said defendants then and
there became liable to pay to the said Plaintiff
the said sum of Money in the said last menti-
oned Promissory note specified according to the
tenor and effect of said Promissory note. And
being so liable they the said defendants after-
wards to wit on the day and year last aforesaid
at St Louis to wit at the County aforesaid un-
dertook and then and there faithfully Promised
the said Plaintiff to pay him the said sum
of money in said last mentioned Promisso-
ry Note Specified according to the Tenor and
effect thereof.
And whereas also the said
defendants as partners in trade as aforesaid by the name and style aforesaid afterwards to wit on the ninth day
of July in the year One thousand Eight hundred
and thirty one at Green [illegible] to wit at the County
aforesaid by the name and style of the Rocky Moun-
tain Fur Company made their certain [illegible] due
[illegible] bill in writing now here to the Court
shown the date whereof is the day and year last
aforesaid by which said due bill, they, the said
defendants acknowledged themselves to owe un-
to said Plaintiff or order the sum of thirty
dollars. By means whereof they the said defend-
ants then and there became liable to pay to
the said Plaintiff the said sum of money in

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**Page 3** (7907_003.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Plaintiff's Complaint part 2*

said due bill specified according to the tenor
and effect of said due bill. And being so liable
they the said defendants in consideration thereof
afterwards to wit on the day and year last afore-
said at St Louis to wit at the County aforesaid
undertook and then and there faithfully Pro-
mised the said Plaintiff to pay him the said
sum of Money in said due bill specified ac-
cording to the tenor and effect thereof.
And whereas the said defendants
also afterwards to wit on the day and year last
aforesaid at Green Liva to wit at the County a-
foresaid as Partners in trade, trading and doing
business under the name and style as aforesaid
by one Henry Fracb their then agent in that be-
half made their certain other due bill in
writing now here to the Court shown the date
whereof is the day and year last aforesaid
by which said due bill, they the said defendants
then and there acknowledged themselves to owe unto
the said Plaintiff or order the sum of thirty
One dollars. By means whereof they the said
defendants then, and there, became liable to pay
to the said Plaintiff the said sum of money
in said last mentioned due bill specified
according to the tenor and effect of said last
mentioned due bill. And being so liable they
the said defendants afterwards to wit on the
day and year last aforesaid at Green [illegible]
to wit at the County aforesaid undertook
and then and there faithfully Promised the
said Plaintiff to pay him the said sum of
money in said last mentioned due bill Spe-
cified according to the tenor and effect thereof.
And whereas also the said de-
fendants as Partners in trade as aforesaid, trading and doing

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**Page 4** (7907_004.jpg)
business under the name and style aforesaid afterwards to wit
on the first day of January in the year One thousand
eight hundred and thirty two at St Louis to wit at the
County aforesaid were indebted to the said Plaintiff
in the further sum of three thousand dollars for
so such money by them the said defendants before
that time had and received to the use of the said
Plaintiff and also in the further sum of three
thousand dollars for so much Money by the said Plain-
tiff before that time lent and advanced to, and paid,
laid out and expended for, the use of them the
said defendants and at their Special instance and
request and being so indebted they the said defend-
ants afterwards to wit on the day and year last afore-
said at St Louis to wit at the County aforesaid un-
dertook and then, and there, faithfully promised the
said Plaintiff to pay him the said several sums of money in this Court mentioned when they the said
defendants should be thereunto afterwards requested
Nevertheless the said defendants
not regarding their said several Promises and
undertaking have not as yet paid to the said
Plaintiff the said several sums of money
above mentioned or any, or either of them or
any part thereof although after requeted so to
do but they the said defendants so to do have
hitherto wholly neglected and refused and still
do neglect and refuse to the damage of said
Plaintiff of Three Thousand dollars and there
-fore he brings his Suit [illegible]

*[illegible]
atty for Plff*
> *Legal Function: bond*

I know all men by these presents that I Robert Payne of the City
of St Louis acknowledge myself indebted unto. Milton
Sublette . Thomas Fitzpatrick, Henry Frack, James [illegible] Brid-
gers and John Jervait in the sum of one hundred dol
lars upon Condition that if William Gordon shall pay

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**Page 5** (7907_005.jpg)
> *Legal Function: bond part 2*

all costs in the suit now brought wherein he is plain
tiff and the said Sublette Fitzpatrick Frack, Bridgers, [illegible]
and Jervais are defendants then this obligation to be void
as witness my hand & seal this 8th Oct. 1832
[illegible] Arthur L. [illegible]

*R Payne*
> *Legal Function: affidavit*

State of Missouri
County of St Louis
ss.
Before me Archibald Gamble
Clerk of the Circuit Court for the County aforesaid
personally appeared William Gordon the plaintiff
in the within declaration and made oath that
Milton Sublette . Thomas Fitzpatrick Henry [illegible]
James Bridgers alias James Bridges and John Jervais
the defendants named in said declaration are
justly indebeted unto him in the sum of Two thou
sand [illegible] dollars of a real subsisting
and unsatisfied debt being due him on foot of
the said note and due bill in said declaration
set forth and being a part of the several sums
in said declaration mentioned and that he
verily believes that the said Sublette , Fitzpatrick [illegible] Bridgers
[illegible] alias Bridges and Jervait are not residents
of or residing within this state.

*Sworn to and subscribed before me this 8th day
of October 1832 Archibald Gamble Clerk Wm Gordon*

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**Page 6** (7907_006.jpg)
> *Legal Function: cover*

No 77 Saint Louis Circuit Court
November Term 1832
William Gordon
vs
Milton Sublette et als[?]
This is an action of
assumpsit
Damages $ 3000
Sworn to $ 2000
Set an attachment
issue on the within affi-
davit

*Magrins
atty for pltff Filed 8th October 1832 Archibald Gamble Clerk*

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**Page 7** (7907_007.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Writ of Attachment *

County Of St. Louis , Sct.
State of Missouri , To the Sheriff of St. Louis County---Greeting.
We command you to Attach Milton Sublette , Henry Fracb - Thomas Fitzpatrick
John Jervais & James Bridgers alias James Bridges by all and singular then lands and tenements,
goods, chattels, moneys, credits, and effects, or so much thereof as shall be
sufficient to secure the sum of Two Thousand dollars
,with interest and costs of suit, in whose hands
or possession soever the same be found, in your bailiwick, that the said Milton
Sublette - Thomas Fitzpatrick - Henry Fracb - John Jervais & James Bridgers alias James Bridges
partners in trade trading and doing business under the name & style of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company
be and appear at the next term of the Circuit Court , before the Judge there-
of, on the first day of said term, to be holden 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 unto William Gordon
of a plea of Trespass on the case upon promises
to the damage of said plaintiff of three thousand Dollars
dollars: And also that you might summon all and every person, in whose
hands or possession soever, any such lands, tenements, goods chattels, mo-
nies, credits or effects may be found, and particularly
that they be and appear
before the Judge of our said court, on the first day of the term aforesaid, then
and there to answer unto what may be objected against them; and have you
then there this writ.

*Witness, Archibald Gamble , Clerk of our said
Circuit Court , at the City of St. Louis , this Eighth
day of October in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and thirty-two Archibald Gamble Clerk C. C.*
> *Legal Function: certificatation of execution*

To Execute this writ ( attached fifteen hundred [illegible]
of Beaver fur in the hands of William Sublett in
presence of Mr Campbell who is a Creditable
person of the neighborhood that by Virtue of the
Writ I did so attach the Same and Summoned
him as Garnishee by offering to read to him the
Writ and declaration which he refused to hear

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**Page 8** (7907_008.jpg)
and Acknowledged the Service of the Same in the
County of St. Louis on the 8th day of October 1832

*Service $ 2.00 John K. Walker Shff
by S Blood Dept Shff*
> *Legal Function: authorization of release of property attached*

The Sheriff is authorised to release the property attached
in this case

*St Louis 25th Octr 1832 Arthur S. [illegible]
atty for Plff*
> *Legal Function: cover*

No. 77 Saint Louis Circuit Court
November Term 1832
William Gordon
vs
Milton Sublette & others

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**Page 9** (7907_009.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Garnishee Summons*

Gordon
vs
Sublette & Others
Attachment
Mr. Blood in the
above case will summon Mr.
Sublette , (brother of defendant) as Gar
nishee. he will find him at [illegible],
Mr. Gordon states that there also
are the furs & C belonging to the de
fendants the Rocky Mountain Fur
Co Which are to be attached

*Arthur Magrins*

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**Page 10** (7907_010.jpg)
> *Legal Function: cover*

for the sheriff

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**Page 11** (7907_011.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Sheriff's order*

Sir: Mr Sublette has assumed the
payment out of the note on which the
attachment was taken out yesterday
you will therefore stop all
further proceedings in the business
& Mr Sublette will pay the expence[?] already incurred

*Respectfully Wm Gordon S Blood Esq
Acting Sheriff St Louis Oct 9.1832*

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**Page 12** (7907_012.jpg)

Item sets: All Circuit Court Records; Circuit Court Cases; St. Louis Fur Trade Cases, 1800 - 1834

William Gordon V. Milton Sublette, Et Al. 1832, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 8, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60784