Reuben, a man of color v. William Morrisson
Item
Reuben, a Man of Color V. William Morrisson. 1834, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 8, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60799
- Case Title
- Reuben, a man of color v. William Morrisson
- Series
- Freedom Suits
- Plaintiff
- Reuben
- Defendant
- Morrison, William
- Swon, John G.
- Date Filed
- 1834-04-30
- Filing Date
- 1834-04-30
- Court Name
- St. Louis Circuit Court
- Court Term
- 1834-07
- Judge
- Carr, William C.
- Clerk
- Gamble, Archibald
- Justice of the Peace
- Walsh, Patrick K.
- Sheriff
- Walker, John K.
- Brotherton, Joseph
- Cause of Action
- Assault
- Battery
- False Imprisonment
- Case Notes
- Plaintiff born in South Carolina & aged 35, claimed by William Morrison & taken to Michigan Territory; brought back to Illinois & claimed by John Swan of New Orleans; sold to Willis & returned to Swan; sought $500 damages.
- Case Number
- 20
- Identifier
- ccr1834.06719.007
- Source
- Missouri State Archives - St. Louis
- Rights
- Public Domain
- PDF Download
- Download PDF of all images
- Transcription
-
**Reuben, a man of color v. William Morrisson**
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**Page 1** (6719_001.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Petition to Sue in Forma Pauperis*
[illegible] permitting [illegible] Book 7 page 202
> *Legal Function: Cover Page*
Reuben
vs
Wm Morrison
Petition to sue in
form a [illegible]
*filed April 20 1834
A Gamble clk*
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**Page 2** (6719_002.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Order Granting Petition to Sue in Forma Pauperis*
The petitioner is permitted
to sue as [illegible]
*[illegible]
[illegible]*
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**Page 3** (6719_003.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Complaint of Plaintiff Reuben*
[illegible] lawful [illegible]
circuit court of St Louis County
[illegible] Missouri a man of color aged about thirty five [illegible] and was free in
South Carolina and was taken into Illinois [illegible]
[illegible] by [illegible]
and and [illegible] as a slave that [illegible]
[illegible] William Morison of Illinois had possession of and [illegible] further [illegible]
[illegible] Illinois he [illegible] in the said county
and state until he was [illegible]
[illegible] state of Missouri where he was [illegible]
[illegible] that he was then [illegible] Illinois
and [illegible] the said william Morison to
the [illegible] County [illegible] he [illegible] and [illegible]
[illegible] and then was brought back to the state of Illinois , that in [illegible]
[illegible] and by the said William Morison or in the possession of a John [illegible] who commanded then [illegible] bed [illegible]
said [illegible] and [illegible]
as a slave, that the said John [illegible]
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**Page 4** (6719_004.jpg)
possession of his [illegible] and that [illegible]
[illegible] is [illegible] in the possession of the said John [illegible] who claims [illegible] as a slave and [illegible]
[illegible]
[illegible] that he is [illegible]
& pardon prays for Missouri [illegible]
[illegible] his right to the [illegible] and further prays that this [illegible]
[illegible] the said William Morison and John [illegible] when he further [illegible] is your petition [illegible]
the [illegible] of this [illegible]
*Sworn to and subscribed before me this 1st day of
April A D 1834
Patrick Walsh Justice of the Peace X Reuben his mark Morrisson*
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**Page 5** (6719_005.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Filing*
No 20
Saint Louis Cireuit Court July Term 1834
Reuben a man of
color vs Morisson & Swan[?]
This is an action of
assault & battery & [illegible]
[illegible] for free
from the clerk write upon process
*[illegible]
Filed 8th . may 1834
Archibald Gamble Clerk*
Executed this writ on John C Swan by reading it
& the declaration to him in the city of St. Louis
on the 3rd day of may 1834 William Morrison not
found in my county
*John K Walker Shff by J Brotherton D Shff[?]*
| | |
|---|---|
| Service | $ 1 00 |
| non est | 50 |
| | $ 1.50 |
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**Page 6** (6719_006.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Plaintiff's Complaint*
[illegible] July 1834
St Louis county to wit Reuben Morisson a man[?] of color [illegible] of [illegible] of William Morisson and John C Swan[?] of a [illegible]
for that the said William Morisson[?] and
John C. Swan on the first day of April
in the year 1834 with [illegible] and [illegible]
made an oath for the said Reuben Morisson[?] to wit at the county of st Louis
and then and there [illegible] the said Reuben a great many [illegible] and [illegible]
and then and there inprisoned the said Reuben[?] and left and [illegible]
[illegible] there without any reasonable [illegible]
whatsoever for a [illegible] space of [illegible] to wit
[illegible] space of two days [illegible]
following [illegible] to [illegible] and against [illegible]
will of the said Reuben Morisson[?] [illegible]
the said Reuben [illegible] that before and at [illegible]
[illegible] of [illegible] of the said [illegible]
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**Page 7** (6719_007.jpg)
[illegible] was and still is a free person
and the defendants sold and detained and
still sold and detained him in slavery
whereby [illegible] the said Reuben Morisson[?]
has been breatly bruised wounded[?] and [illegible]
to to wit at the county of St Louis and other wrongs and there did against [illegible]
[illegible] of the state and to the damage of the plaintiff five hundred dollars and there
[illegible]
*[illegible]*
County of Saint Louis . ss The State of Missouri To the Sheriff of the County of Saint Louis Greeting
We command you to summon William Morrison and John C Swan that
they be and appear before the Judge of our Circuit Court at the next July term
thereof to be held at the City of St Louis within and for the County of Saint Louis on the
fourth monday of July next then and there to answer unto Reuben Morisson[?]
a man of color of a plea of tresspass[?] to the damage of the plaintiff of five hundred
dollars and have you then there this writ
*Witness Archibald Gamble Clerk of our said Circuit
Court at office this first day of May in the year
of our Lord one thousand eight Hundred and
thirty four
Archibald Gamble Clerk*
Reuben, a Man of Color V. William Morrisson. 1834, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 8, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60799