Jenny (Jane) Brown v. Francis Steigers

Item

Jenny (Jane) Brown V. Francis Steigers. 1844, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 9, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60940

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Case Title: Jenny (Jane) Brown v. Francis Steigers
Series: Freedom Suits
Plaintiff: Brown, Jenny (also Jane)
Defendant: Steigers, Francis
Date Filed: 1844-09-25
Filing Date: 1844-09-25
Plaintiff’s Attorney: Smith, Elias B.
Defendant’s Attorney: Blannenhassett, Richard S. (Blennerhasset)
Court Name: St. Louis Circuit Court
Court Term: 1844-11
Clerk: Ruland, John
Justice of the Peace: Batten, M.
Sheriff: Milburn, William; Osburn, A. C.
Sworn Declarant: Bobbs, Charles; Bobbs, John; Cromwell, Oliver; Head, William A.; Letcher, Issac A.; Rule, William K.
Cause of Action: Trespass; False Imprisonment; Assault; Battery
Case Notes: Plaintiff Brown alleged she was taken to Virginia in 1813 to be sold & thereafter sent to Missouri to be hired out & had been held in slavery in Missouri about 22 years.
Case Number: 173
Identifier: ccr1844.06871.012
Source: Missouri State Archives - St. Louis
Rights: Public Domain
PDF Download: Download PDF of all images
Transcription: **Jenny (Jane) Brown v. Francis Steigers**

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**Page 1** (6871_001.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Plaintiff's Petition for Leave to Sue as a Person*

State of Missouri
St. Louis Territory To the Hon the Circuit
Court Nov Term 1844G:
The petition of Jenny Brown
Respectfully sheweth[?]. that the your petitioner is
at the present time held in slavery in the county
aforesaid by F . Steigers that she your
Petitioner has good and fair grounds on
which she claims her right to freedom viz
that she your petitioners was brought into the
state of Virginia in the Year 1813 for the purpose
of labor and that afterwards she your
petitioner was sent to Missouri and there
hired out as a slave contrary to the laws
in case made and provided
Shall your petitioner has
been held in slavery in the State of Missouri
about twenty two years when infact
and in truth from the violation of the
laws of [illegible] the State of Virginia Your
petitioner all the twenty two years aforesaid
was a free woman
Now therefore your
Petitioner prays your Honor to allow
her to sue as a poor person to establish her
freedom so wrongfully taken from her and
as is duty bound she will ever pray

*Elias B Smith
for Petitioner*

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**Page 2** (6871_002.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Jurat*

State of Missouri
St. Louis County
Personally appeared
Before the undersigned
Jenny Brown and maketh oath and saith
that the Matters and things set fourth in
the above petition are true to the best
of her knowledge and belief

*St. Louis 26th September 1844 her Jenny Brown
Mark Taken and Sworn to before
the undersigned Justice of the
Peace the date above written M Batten Justice*

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**Page 3** (6871_003.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Plaintiff's Complaint*

State of Missouri
St. Louis County In the St. Louis Circuit Court
November Term 1844
Jenny Brown Complains of F
Steigers of a plea of Trespass, for that whereas
the said defendant on the tenth day of
September in the year Eighteen hundred
and forty four with force and arms at the
County aforesaid, Beat Bruised injured 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 probable cause whatsoever
for a long space of time, to wit, twelve hours
then and there following, contrary to the laws
of the said State and against the will
of the said Plaintiff and the said plaintiff
further avers that she the said plaintiff
before and at the time of the said grievances
was and still is a free person and that the
said defendant, held and still Holds the
said Plaintiff in slavery and other wrongs
to the said Plaintiff did the said defendant
then and there do contrary to the peace and
dignity of the State and to the damages
of the said Plaintiff of five hundred
dollars and therefore the said Plaintiff
brings suit &c

*Elias B. Smith
Per Quen[?]*

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**Page 4** (6871_004.jpg)
Petition filed leave to sue as a poor person B 15 p 257[?] .
> *Legal Function: Caption*

No. [illegible]
In the St. Louis Circuit
Court Nov Term 1844
Jenny Brown
vs
F. Steigers
Trespass
Application to Judge
to sue as a poor

*Filed September 30th 1844 John Ruland Clerk Smith
for plff*
> *Legal Function: Caption, part 2*

State of Missouri
St. Louis County

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**Page 5** (6871_005.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Summons of F. Steigers*

County of St. Louis, ss.
The State Of Missouri , To the Sheriff of St. Louis County—Greeting:
We command you to Summon F. Steigers, 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 Mon-
day of November next, then and there to answer unto Jenny
Brown of a Plea of Trespass & false
imprisonment,
to the damage of said plaintiff five hundred
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
October in the year of our Lord eighteen
hundred and forty- four John 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 6** (6871_006.jpg)
Plea filed 15 p 297 Dismissed July 2, 1846 17p72
> *Legal Function: Caption*

No. 173 St St. Louis Circuit Court
November Term 1844
Jenny Brown
vs
F . Steigers
Summons
8th Oct.

*Trespass in false imprisonment
Damages $ 500 [illegible] E B. Smith P. Q.*
> *Legal Function: Order*

It is ordered that said petition-
er have leave to sue as a poor
person & the court assigns E B .
Smith esquire as Counsel for said
petitioner it is further ordered
that said petitioner have reason
ble liberty to attend her counsel
& the Court as occasion may require
that she be not removed without
the juridiction of this court and
that she be not subjected to any
severity on account of her ap-
plication for freedom.

*filed October 7th 1844 Jn Ruland Clerk free [illegible] (131)*
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Execution*

Executed this wit in the County
of St Louis on the 8th day of October 1844
by reading it and the declaration to Francis
Steigers, the defendant Also by reading to the
said Francis Steigers, the orders of the
Judge endorsed upon this wit

*William Milburn Sheriff By A. C. Osburn Deputy Fees $ 2.00*

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**Page 7** (6871_007.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Defendant's Plea of Not Guilty*

Jane ; a woman of color
vs
Francis I. Sturges
In the St. Louis Circuit Court
November Term 1844
And the said defendant by
R. S. Blennerhassett his attorney comes & defends
the force & injury when &c &[?] says that he is not
guilty of the said supposed trespasses above laid
to his charge or any or either of them or any
part thereof in manner & form as the said
plaintff hath above thereof complained against
him, & of this he the said defendant puts himself
upon the Country. &c

*R. S. Blennerhassett
Defts atty.*

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**Page 8** (6871_008.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*

In the St St. Louis Circuit Court
November Term 1844
Jane a woman of color
vs
Francis I. Sturges
Plea.
R. S. Blennerhafseth
Dfts. Atty

*Filed Nov 19th 1844 Jn Ruland Clerk*

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**Page 9** (6871_009.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Subpoena of John Bobbs, William K. Rule, William A. Head, and Oliver Cromwell*

County Of St. Louis , Ss.
The State Of Missouri , To
John Bobby, William K. Rule , William A.
Head, Oliver Cromwell
Greeting:
You are hereby commanded, that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, you appear
before the Judge of our Circuit Court , on the 18th day of June instant at 9 o' clock
in the forenoon of this day at the City of St. Louis , then and there to
testify and the truth to say in an certain matter of controversy now pending in our said Court,
wherein Jane Brown is
plaintiff and Steiger is
defendant on the part of the defendant
and herein you are in no wise to fail

*Witness, John Ruland , Clerk of our said Court, with
the seal thereof hereto affixed, at office, in the City of St .
Louis , this 6th day of June
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
forty- five John Ruland Clerk, C. C.*

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**Page 10** (6871_010.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*

In Circuit Court
Jenny Brown
vs
Francis J. Steigers
sub for deft

*John Bobbs William K. Rule Oliver Cromwell William A. Head*
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Execution*

L. L.
Executed Wn Milburn Shrff

*fee $ 2.00*

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**Page 11** (6871_011.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Subpoena of John Bobbs, William K. Rule, Oliver Cromwell, William A. Head, Issac Letcher, and Charles Bobbs*

County Of St. Louis , Ss.
The State Of Missouri , To
John Bobbs, William K. Rule Oliver
Cromwell William Head Isaac Letcher
Charles Bobbs Greeting:
You are hereby commanded, that setting aside all manner of excuse and delay, you appear
before the Judge of our Circuit Court , on the forthwith
at the City of St. Louis , then and there to
testify, and the truth to say in a certain matter of controversy now pending in our said Court,
wherein Jane Brown is
plaintiff and F. J. Steigers is
defendant on the part of defendant
and herein you are in no wise to fail

*Witness, John Ruland , Clerk of our said Court, with
the seal thereof hereto affixed, at office, in the City of St .
Louis , this 21st day of January
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight haundred and
forty- six John Ruland Clerk, C. C.*

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**Page 12** (6871_012.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*

Brown
vs
Steigers
sub

*O John Bobbs O William K. Rule O Oliver Cromwell William Head Isaac Letcher Charles Bobbs*
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Execution*

Executed Wm Milburn Sheff

*fee $ 2.60*

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

Jenny (Jane) Brown V. Francis Steigers. 1844, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 9, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60940