Margarett Jackson, a woman of color, v. James O. Fraser

Item

Margarett Jackson, a Woman of Color, V. James O. Fraser. 1842, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 9, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60906

Full Text: See images and transcription side by side
Case Title: Margarett Jackson, a woman of color, v. James O. Fraser
Series: Freedom Suits
Plaintiff: Jackson, Margarett
Defendant: Fraser, James O.
Date Filed: 1842-07-29
Filing Date: 1842-07-29
Plaintiff’s Attorney: Gamble, Hamilton Rowan; Walker, John B.
Defendant’s Attorney: Polk, Trusten
Court Name: St. Louis Circuit Court
Court Term: 1842-07
Clerk: Ruland, John
Cause of Action: Trespass; False Imprisonment
Case Notes: Damages $500.
Disposition: Judgment of Freedom, December 21, 1846
Case Number: 106
Related Court Case Number: 103; 104; 105; 106; 107; 108
Related Project ID: ccr1842.07146.010; ccr1842.07145.002; ccr1842.07144.002; ccr1842.07142.002; ccr1842.07141.002
Identifier: ccr1842.07143.002
Source: Missouri State Archives - St. Louis
Rights: Public Domain
PDF Download: Download PDF of all images
Transcription: **Margarett Jackson, a woman of color, vs. James O. Fraser**

---

**Page 1** (7143_001.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Plaintiff's Complaint*

State of Missouri
County of Missouri
ss
In the St St. Louis Circuit Court
July Term 1842
Margarett Juelison, a woman of color, by her attorneys
and by leave of the court according & the Statute in such cases
made, complains of James C. Fraser of a plea of
trespass on the eve. For false imprisonment; For that
whereas the said defendant, heretofore to wit, on the
first day of March in the year eighteen hundred
and forty two, with force and as the County
aforesaid made an assault on her the said plain
tiff and then and there beat and ill-treated her
and then and there imprisoned and detained and
kept the said plaintiff for a long space of time,
to wit, ten days, and against the will of the said
plaintiff and against the peace and other
wrongs to the said plaintiff then and there did
contrary to low and against the peace of the
state. and the said plaintiff avers that before
and at the time of the communitting the grievances
aforesaid, theshe was and still is a free person, and
that the defendant held and still holds her the
said [illegible] plaintiff in slavery. Wherefore the
said plaintiff says that she has here injured and sustained damage in the sum of five
hundred dollors, and therefore she brings
hersuit

*Gamble & Walker
Attys for Plff*
> *Legal Function: Defendant's Plea*

Margaret Jackson & James O Fraser [illegible]
at this day comes said defedant by his Attorney
& defends the force & injury [illegible] to and says
that he is not guilty of the said supposed grievances
or other of them in manner & form [illegible] plaintiff hath above[illegible] thereof complained against

---

**Page 2** (7143_002.jpg)
[illegible] above thereof complaint against him
of this for [illegible] himself upon the country &

*T . Polk. D.*
> *Legal Function: Complaint (cover)*

No 106 St Louis circuit court
July Term 1842
Margarett Jackson
(a woman of Color) vs James O. Fraser
Declaration in trespass for false imprisonment
& suit for freedom
Dams & 500 [illegible]
filed by consent
Gamble & Walker
Attys for Pltff
Plea not guilty. T . Polk. D.

*Filed July 29th 1842 J Ruland Clerk*
> *Legal Function: Note on Judgment*

Judgment of freedom December 21, 1846
17 p 441

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