Hannah, a mulatto woman v. John Pitcher
Item
Hannah, a Mulatto Woman V. John Pitcher. 1844, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 9, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60933
- Case Title
- Hannah, a mulatto woman v. John Pitcher
- Series
- Freedom Suits
- Plaintiff
- Hannah
- Defendant
- Pitcher, John
- Date Filed
- 1844-11-29
- Next Friend
- Edmon, Charles
- Filing Date
- 1844-11-29
- Plaintiff’s Attorney
- Murdoch, Francis Butter
- Court Name
- St. Louis County Court
- Court Term
- 1844-11
- Clerk
- Ruland, John
- Justice of the Peace
- Whitmore, Alphonso
- Sheriff
- Milburn, William
- Cause of Action
- Trespass
- False Imprisonment
- Assault
- Battery
- Case Notes
- Sued by her next friend, Charles Edmon; plaintiff Hannah alleges she resided in Boston, Massachusetts, during period when convent burned at Charlestown.
- Case Number
- 16
- Related Court Case Number
- 28
- Related Project ID
- ccr1844.06866.026
- Identifier
- ccr1844.06864.014
- Source
- Missouri State Archives - St. Louis
- Rights
- Public Domain
- PDF Download
- Download PDF of all images
- Transcription
-
**Hannah, a mulatto woman v. John Pitcher**
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**Page 1** (6864_001.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Complaint*
To the Hon. the Circuit Court of St Louis
County. April Term 1844.
The petition of Hannah a mulatto woman
aged about nineteen years respectfully represents
that she is now held in slavery in the County
aforesaid by John Pitcher that the verily believes
that she is entitled to freedom, and she prays
the said Court for leave to sue, the said Pitcher, as
a poor person, in order to establish her right to freedom.
Your petitioner states, as the ground on which her
claim to freedom is founded, that about eight years
ago, then being the slave of Daniel D. Page, of St Louis
in the state of Missouri , she was taken by said Page
from St Louis aforesaid to the City of Boston in the state of
Massachusetts, in the spring of the year in the month of
May as petitioner believes, and there left by said
Page as a waiter and servant in attendance upon the
wife of said Page, who accompanied her said
husband to Boston aforesaid, - that petitioner remained
in the said state of Massachusetts during service and labor
there in attendance upon the wife of said Page until
sometime in the fall of the same year, ~~when~~ the month
of October petitioner thinks, where your petitioner was
bought back again to St Louis by her said mistress
who then returned home - The petitioner cannot remember
with distinctness, the year whom she was so taken
to Massachusetts & then kept as aforesaid, but for greater
certainty, she states, that it was in the year, that the
Catholic convent was burnt down at Charliston
in said Past named state, by a mob, and that petitioner
being there in Boston saw the Conflagration - After
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**Page 2** (6864_002.jpg)
petitioner was brought back to St Louis , the said
Page sold her to Mr. John Pitcher, who now holds
her in slavery - Petitioner states that slavery is not
allowed to exist in the state of Massachusetts , and
was not permitted when she was so taken there &
kept as aforesaid and that such a holding her
in slavery there by the laws of said state entitled
petitioner to freedom.
*Hannah her mark of Color*
> *Legal Function: Affidavit*
State of Missouri
St. Louis County Ss
Hannah , a woman of color
being duly sworn before the undersigned justice of
the Peace for said County, says that the facts set
forth in the forgoing petitions are true.
*Hannah her mark of color*
Sworn to & subscribed
the 6th May 1844
Before one
Alphonso Witmore
Justice of the peace
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**Page 3** (6864_003.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Order*
The Court being satisfied that the petition of
Hannah (of Color) contains sufficient matter
to authorize the Commencement of a suit, makes
the following orders:
First, That Hannah (of color) be allowed to sue
as a poor person to establish her right to freedom
and the Court assigns as her counsel F. B. Murdoch Esq.
Second. That the said Hannah have reasonable
liberty to attend her counsel and the court, as
occasion may require that she be not removed
out of the jurisdiction of the Court, and that
she be not subject to any severity on account
of her application for freedom
*John M Krum*
Judge of the 8th Judicial
Circuit Court of Mo.
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**Page 4** (6864_004.jpg)
[blank]
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**Page 5** (6864_005.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Amended Complaint*
State of Missouri
St Louis County ss.
St. Louis Circuit Court
November Term 1844.
Hannah , a woman of Color by her next
friend Charles Edmon complains of John
Pitcher of a plea of trespass, for that the
said defendant on the third day of May
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and forty four with force and arms &
made an assault upon the said plaintiff
to wit at the County aforesaid and then and
there beat bruised and ill treated her, the
said plaintiff, and then and there imprisoned her
the said plaintiff, and kept and detained her
in prison there, without any reasonable
or probable cause whatsoever for a long
time, to wit, for the space of twelve hours
then next following: And the said plaintiff
avers, that before and at the time of the
committing of the grievances aforesaid, she
was and still is a free person and that the
defendant held, and still holds, her in slavery
contrary to the laws of said state and againt
the will of the said plaintiff - to the damage
of the said plaintiff one dollar and therefore she
brings suit &c -
*Fr. B. Murdoch*
Atty for Plff.
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**Page 6** (6864_006.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Filing*
St. Louis Circuit Court
November Term 1844
Hannah (of color) by
her next friend Charles
Edmon
vs
John Pitcher
Suit for freedom
Trespass &c
^ Order under [Statiel?] ^
Filed May 7th 1844
John Ruland, Clk
Writ 50¢ paid by F. B . Murdoch
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**Page 7** (6864_007.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Subpoena*
County of St. Louis , ss.
The State Of Missouri , To the Sheriff of St. Louis County—Greeting:
We command you to Summon John Pitcher, if he be
found in your County, that he be and appear
before the Judge of our Circuit Court , on the first day of the next term thereof, to
be held at the City of St. Louis , within and for the county of St. Louis , on the
third Monday of November next, then and there to answer unto
Hannah (a person of color) who sues by her next friend
Charles Edmon , of a plea of Trespass
to the damage of said plaintiff
One Dollar:
~~dollars~~: And have you then there this writ.
Witness, John Ruland , Clerk of our said Court,
with the seal thereof hereto affixed, at office, in the
city of St. Louis , this Seventh day of
May in the year of our Lord eighteen
hundred and forty Four
Jno. Ruland Clerk
> *Legal Function: Acknowledgement*
I acknowledge myself bound for all costs that may accrue in the above cause.
Witness my hand and seal, at St. Louis , this __ day of __ 184_
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**Page 8** (6864_008.jpg)
> *Legal Function: caption*
No. 16
In the St Louis Circuit County
November Term 1844.
Hannah (of Color) by her next
friend Charles Edmon
vs
John Pitcher
Summons
17th May
Trespass Damages \$1.00.
F. B. Murdoch .
> *Legal Function: clerk's note*
Dismissed & another
suit instituted - see “No.28.
April Term 1844.”
Filed May 7th. 1844.
John Ruland , Clerk
Free (111)
writ paid by Atty Murdoch
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Execution*
Executed this writ in the County of
St. Louis or the 17th day of May 1844 by offering
to read it and the declaration to John
Pitcher which he refused to hear - also by
reading to the said John Pitcher the orders
of the Judge
William Milburn Shff
by A. C. Osburn Depy
Fees \$ 2.00
> *Legal Function: case note*
Dismissed May 27th 1844, Bk 15 p 80. at
nobody’s costs plea filed 15p311
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**Page 9** (6864_009.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Warrant and Summons*
State of Missouri
St Louis County Ss
The State of Missouri to the
Sheriff of St Louis County Greeting. You are
hereby commanded that you seize the body
of Hannah , a petitioner for have to sue
John Pitcher in Trespass in false Imprisonment
in a suit for freedom, and bring her before our
St. Louis Circuit Court , at 10 o’clock A.M.
on Tuesday the fourth day of June in the year
eighteen hundred & forty four, at the Court
house in St. Louis , and also to summon the
said John Pitcher, the defendant, then and
there to appear, and abide such orders
as our said Court, may make in the premises
Witness, John Ruland, Clerk of our said
Court, with the seal thereof hereto affixed,
at office, in the City of St Louis , this fourth
day of June, Eighteen hundred and forty-four.
John Ruland , Clerk
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**Page 10** (6864_010.jpg)
> *Legal Function: caption*
No.
St. Louis Circuit Court
April Term 1844
Warrant to Seize
^ 4th June ^
Hannah (a person of Color
and
^ 4th June ^
Summon John Pitcher
Retble at 10 of the 4
June 1844
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Execution*
Executed this writ in the county of
St. Louis on the 4th day of June 1844 by seizing
the body of Hannah, the person within named ^ & having her in open Court ^
and by summoning John Pitcher as I am
herein commanded
William Wilburn Shff
by N. C. Osburn Depy
Fees \$ 2.00*
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**Page 11** (6864_011.jpg)
Hannah (a person of color)
vs.
John Pitcher
Circuit Court .
Nov. Term 1844
And now comes
the defendant by his attorneys, and
defends the force and injury, when, &c
and says, that he is not guilty of
the said suffered grievances, or either
of them, in manner and form as the
paid plaintiff hath thereof above
complained.
And of this he the said defendant
puts himself afore the County &c
Primm L Taylor
p. d.
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**Page 12** (6864_012.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Filing*
No. 28. Circuit Court .
Nov: Term 1844.
Hannah (a person of color)
vs.
John Pitcher.
plea
gen: issue
Primm L Taylor
p. d.
Filed Novr 22nd 1844
John Ruland Clerk*
15p311
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**Page 13** (6864_013.jpg)
Hannah (a person of color)
vs.
John Pitcher.
Circuit Court .
Nov. Term 1844
and Now comes
the said defendant by his attorneys, and
defends she force and injury, when, &c,
and says, that he is not guilty of the
said suffered grievances, or either of
them, in manner and form as the said
plaintiff hath thereof above alleged.
And of this he the said defendant
puts himself afore she county &c.
Primm L Taylor
p. d.
---
**Page 14** (6864_014.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Filing*
No. 16. Circuit Court .
Nov: Term 1844.
Hannah (a person of color)
vs. John Pitcher
plea,
gen: issue.
Primm L Taylor
f. d.
Filed Novr 22nd 1844
John Ruland Clerk
15p34
Hannah, a Mulatto Woman V. John Pitcher. 1844, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 9, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60933