Ann, a woman of color v. William Wilson
Item
Ann, a Woman of Color V. William Wilson. 1844, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 9, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60938
- Case Title
- Ann, a woman of color v. William Wilson
- Series
- Freedom Suits
- Plaintiff
- Ann
- Defendant
- Wilson, William
- Jamison, John M.
- Date Filed
- 1844-06-20
- Filing Date
- 1844-06-20
- Plaintiff’s Attorney
- Murdoch, Francis Butter
- Court Name
- St. Louis Circuit Court
- Court Term
- 1844-11
- Judge
- Krum, John M.
- Clerk
- Ruland, John
- Clements, Charles B.
- Sheriff
- Milburn, William
- Belt, Henry B.
- Cause of Action
- Trespass
- False Imprisonment
- Assault
- Battery
- Case Notes
- Plaintiff born a slave in Hagerstown, Maryland; owner Julia Ballance brought her to Peoria, Illinois; plaintiff brought to St. Louis by defendant Wilson.
- Disposition
- Case Dismissed
- Case Number
- 39
- 40
- Identifier
- ccr1844.06869.010
- Source
- Missouri State Archives - St. Louis
- Rights
- Public Domain
- PDF Download
- Download PDF of all images
- Transcription
-
**Ann, a woman of color v. William Wilson**
---
**Page 1** (6869_001.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Plaintiff's Petition*
To the Hon. the Circuit Court of St. Louis
County. April Term 1844.
The Petition of Ann, a woman of color
respectfully represents, that she was born in
Hagerstown, Maryland a Slave, the property of Julia
now the wife of Charles Ballanea Esqr of Peoria
Illinois that about six years ago your petition-
er was brought from the State of Maryland aforesaid
by the said Ballanea and taken to the towen
of Peoria in the State of Illinois , and there continu-
ed to reside in the family of said Ballanae
doing labor and service for him, until between
two and three months ago, when she was brought
from Peoria to St. Louis in Missouri by one William
Wilson , in whose family she resided rendering
labor and service, until the seventeenth of June
eighteen hundred and forty four, when she was seized
by John W . Paulding a constable of St. Louis and
placed in the custody of John M . Jameison
jailor of St. Louis County, for safe keeping. Under
this state of facts, petitioner believes that she
is entitled to freedom, and prays the Court
for leave to laws as a poor person in order to
establish her right to freedom. Petitioner
further states that it is the intention as she
believes of said Wilson to carry her out of the
state of Missouri and jurisdiction of this Court
and further prays that a warrant be issued
and that she may be brought up before this
honorable Court, and that the said Court may
make such orders therein, as to it may seem right
and she will pray &c.
*Ann her mark of Color*
---
**Page 2** (6869_002.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Order*
The Court having heard, allows the petition of
Ann, and orders
First- That said Ann be allowed to [illegible]
as a poor person to establish her right to
freedom and assigns F. B. Murdoch as her Counsel
second. That the said Ann 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 8th Jud Cir Mo*
> *Legal Function: Affidavit of Ann*
State of Missouri
St. Louis County [illegible]
Ann of color being duly
sworn says the forgoing statements made
in the forgoing petition are true
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court June 18
1844 John Ruland
Clerk, St. Louis Circuit Court
By Charles B. Clements D. C
*Ann her
Mark*
---
**Page 3** (6869_003.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Plaintiff's Complaint*
State of Missouri
St Louis County ss In the St St. Louis Circuit Court
November Term 1844
Ann, of color, complains of William Wilson
and John M. Jamison of a plea of Trespass, for that
the said defendants on the seventeeth day of June in
the year eighteen hundred and forty four, with force
and arms &c made an assault upon the said plaintiff
to wit at St Louis , in 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
one day then next following, contrary to the
laws of the said state and against the will of the
said plaintiff. And the said plaintiff, avers
that before and at the time of the committing
of the said grievances, she was and still is a
free person, and that the defendants held and
still hold, her in slavery. To the plaintiff
damage ten dollars and therefore she brings suit
&c.
*F B . Murdoch
atty for Plff*
---
**Page 4** (6869_004.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*
No 39 In St Louis Cir. Court
Nov Term 1844
Ann, of color-
vs
William Wilson & John M. Jamison
trespass.
suit for freedom
Damage $ 10
*Filed June 20 1844. Jn Ruland Clerk*
---
**Page 5** (6869_005.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Summons of William Wilson and John M. Jamison*
County Of St. Louis , ss.
The State Of Missouri , To the Sheriff of St. Louis County—Greeting
We command you to Summon William Wilson & John M . Jamison if they
be found in your County that he be & 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
Ann (a person of color, of a plea of tres
pass to the damage of said plaintiff of ten 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 twentieth day of June in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty four. Jn: Ruland Clerk.*
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
---
**Page 6** (6869_006.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Order*
It is ordered by the Court suit dismissed Nov 22d 1844 BK 15p 318
1st. That said Ann be allowed to sue as a poor person to establish her right
to freedom and the Court assigns F. B. Murdock as her Counsel.
That the said Ann have reasonalble liberty to attend her counsel, of
the Court as occassion may require that she be not removed out of the jur[?]
isdiction of the court, that she be not subjected to any severity on
account of her application for freedom.
*J. M. Krum
Judge 8th Judicial*
> *Legal Function: Caption*
No 40. St. Louis Circuit Court
November Term 1844.
Ann (of Color)
vs
William Wilson of
John M . Jamison
Trespass — Dam. \$10.
Murdock, p. q.
*Filed June 20th 1844. Jn Ruland Clerk.*
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Execution*
Executed this writ in the county
of St Louis on the 20th day of June
1844, by offering to read it and the
declaration & petition to John M Jamison
which he refused to hear. William
Wilson not found in any County
*William Milburn shff By Henry B. Bell Depty Service \$1.50 Serving order to seize Ann 2.00 3.50*
---
**Page 7** (6869_007.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Warrant to Sheriff and Summons of John M. Jamison*
State of Missouri
St Louis County ss.
The State of Missouri to the
Sheriff of St. Louis County Greeting: You
are commanded to seige the body of Ann
a petitioner for leave to sue for freedom in our said
Court, wherever she may be found, and bring
her before the Hon. the Circuit Court of
St Louis County on friday the twenty first
day of June eighteen hundred and forty four
at the hour of ten o'Clock A.M. of said
day, and you are also commanded to summon
[illegible] John M Jamison to appear
before our said Court on the day and hour
aforesaid, then and there to abide such orders
and [illegible] as our said Court may make
in the premises.
*Witness John Ruland
Clerk of our Said Circuit Court
with the seal thereof here to af-
fixed at Office in the [illegible] of St .
Louis this twentieth day of
June Eighteen hundred
Forty four. Jn. Ruland Clerk*
---
**Page 8** (6869_008.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*
No. 39. Aprl. T. 1844.
Warrant to seize
Ann a petitioner
for freedom &
to Summon
Jn. M. Jamison
*Filed June 20. 1844. Jn. Ruland Clerk*
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Execution*
Executed this writ on commanded
therein by seizing the body of Ann & had
the same before the Circuit Court also summoned
John - W Jamison as commanded
*William Milburn Shff By Henry B Bell Depty fee $ 2.00*
---
**Page 9** (6869_009.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Order of Dismissal*
Ann, of color
vs
William Wilson & John M . Jamison
Suit for freedom
trespass
St Louis Cir. Court
Nov T. 1844
This case is dismissed
*F. B .Murdoch Plff Atty
Nov 22. 1844*
---
**Page 10** (6869_010.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*
Ann of color
vs
William Wilson and
John M Jamison
Order of Dismissal
Ann, a Woman of Color V. William Wilson. 1844, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 9, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60938