Nancy, a dark mulatto woman v. Enoch Steen and Ann Page
Item
Nancy, a Dark Mulatto Woman V. Enoch Steen and Ann Page. 1847, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 7, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60960
- Case Title
- Nancy, a dark mulatto woman v. Enoch Steen and Ann Page
- Series
- Freedom Suits
- Native Americans
- Plaintiff
- Nancy
- Defendant
- Steen, Enoch
- Page, Ann
- Date Filed
- 1847-11-12
- Filing Date
- 1847-11-12
- Plaintiff’s Attorney
- Dick, Franklin A.
- Farrar, Benjamin G.
- Defendant’s Attorney
- Gantt, Thomas Tasker
- Court Name
- St. Louis Circuit Court
- Court Term
- 1848-04
- Judge
- Hamilton, Alexander
- Clerk
- Ruland, John
- Primm, Wilson
- Justice of the Peace
- DeCamp, James C.
- Kretschmar
- Sheriff
- Conway, Samuel
- McClung, John
- Sworn Declarant
- Moore, S. J.
- Padget, Bridget
- Beckwith, Henry
- Cause of Action
- Trespass
- Case Notes
- Plaintiff born in Florida; claimed grandmother was Indian.
- Case Number
- 4
- Identifier
- ccr1847.06813.024
- Source
- Missouri State Archives - St. Louis
- Rights
- Public Domain
- PDF Download
- Download PDF of all images
- Transcription
-
**Nancy, a dark mulatto woman v. Enoch Steen and Ann Page**
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**Page 1** (6813_001.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Plaintiff's Petition for Leave to Sue as a Poor Person*
The Petition of Nancy a dark mullato woman Humbly sheweth[?]
That said Nancy
who is now held as a slave by Enoch
Steen was born in the
Territory of Florida that her maternal
Grandmother was an Indian Woman;
that this Petitioner was, at or about the
age of ten years taken from her Mother who
was a free woman and living with her
said Grandmother in Florida amongst
the Indians and was about that
time obtained by John Page- that she
remained with said Page as a free
person until a short time previous to his death, which occurred some months ago, and that a short time after the decease of said Page said McS one Aeneus McKay took this Petitioner into his possession _
& from the said possession of said McKay this Petitioner was taken by said Enoch Steen into his own possession and he said Steen now holds & detains her as a slave - Therefore Your Petitioner prays for leave to sue as a poor person in order to establish her right to freedom for such further relief or redress as is by law permitted as to your Honor deeming meet[?]
*Nancy X her mark
witness: Kretschmar.[?]*
> *Legal Function: Jurat*
State of Missouri County of St. Louis
ss
Before the under signed came
Nancy above named and
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**Page 2** (6813_002.jpg)
set her hand to the foregoing Petition and being
by me duly sworn on her oath says, that the statements detained in the same are true
the same having been read to her.
*Nancy X her mark
Sworn to and signed before me, this 12th day of November 1847
Kretschmar[?]
Justice of the peace.*
> *Legal Function: Order*
On the foregoing petition it is ordered that the Petitioner
Nancy be allowed to sue as prayed for in order to establish
her freedom, that F. A . Dick & B. Farrar be appointed as her
Counsel, that she have reasonable liberty to attend her Counsel
and the Court as occasion may require and that she be not removed out of the Jurisdiction of the Circuit
Court of St. Louis County and that she be not
subject to any severity on acount of her application
for freedom.
*Nov 19 1847
A . Hamilton
Judge of St. Louis Circuit Court ,
8th Judicial Circuit ,
Missouri*
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**Page 3** (6813_003.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Plaintiff's Complaint*
State of Missouri
County of St. Louis vs
In the St. Louis Circuit Court April Term 1848
Nancy a Free woman of Color by
F. A .Dick & Ben Farrar her attorneys Com-
plains of Enoch Steen of a plea of trespass. For that whereas heretofore to wit on the first
day of November Eighteen hundred and forty
seven at Saint Louis , at said County said
Steen with force & arms an assault
made on said Plaintiff and then & there beat
and ill-treated her, and did then &
there imprison her said Plaintiff &
still over imprison her said plain-
tiff at said County contrary to law,
and against the mind & will of
said Plaintiff. And she the said
Plaintiff further avers that before &
at the time of the committing the above mentioned grievances she was & still
is a free person, to wit at said County.
and she further avers that the said
Defendant did then & still does hold
her in slavery, to wit at said County
Contrary to law and against the will
of, & to the damage of said Plaintiff
of one hundred Dollars & therefore
she sues &c.
*F. A. Dick B Farrar
Plffs. Attys.*
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**Page 4** (6813_004.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*
In the St. Louis Circuit
Court April Term 1848
Nancy vs Enoch Steen
This is an action of trespass Dam $ 100- The Clerk
will issue summons
*F. A. Dick
B Farrar
Attys for Plff*
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**Page 5** (6813_005.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Summons of Enoch Steen*
County of St. Louis , Ss. The State of Missouri , To the Sheriff of St. Louis County, Greeting:
We command you To Summon Enoch Steen
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 therof, to be
held at the City of St. Louis , within and for the County of St. Louis , on the third Mon
day of April next, then and there to answer unto Nancy
of an action of Trespass.
to the damage of said plaintiff One 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 fifteenth day of
November in the year of our Lord eighteen
hundred and forty-seven
Jn. 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** (6813_006.jpg)
Plea 18 p 225. comes to Georgia & Alabama for deft. 18p 232. Plea filed
for Ann Page co. deft. & special commision[?] ordered on behalf plff 18 p 265.
& contd 18 p 265. Interrog[?]. 18 p 290 Plea of Mrs. Page withdrawn 18 p 462
sub to count. Plea of Steen withdrawn. & by consent of parties verdict for plff. & dam
one cent. Judgt liberating plff.[?] &c Judgt. v defs[?] for Dam & costs Januy[?] 12 1849
19p6.
> *Legal Function: Caption*
No. 4
St. Louis Circuit Court April Term 1848 Nancy
vs
Enoch Steen
Summons
*Sct. for freedom Damz.[?] \$100
Dick & Farrar.
Filed Nov 15th 1847
Jn[?] Ruland Clerk*
| | |
|---|---|
| Jury fund | \$2 |
| [illegible] | 1 |
| by pltff | \$3 |
| | \$158 |
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Execution*
Executed this writ in the County of Saint Louis
on the 17th day of November 1847 by reading the writ
and by offering to read the declaration to Enoch =
Steen the defendent which he refused to hear
*Fee. \$1.00
Samuel Conway Sheriff
By John McClung Depty[?]*
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**Page 7** (6813_007.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Defendant's Plea of General Issue*
Enoch Steen ats Nancy (of Color)
In the St St. Louis Circuit Court
and the said defendant comes
and defends the demand of the plaintiff.
*Ths. T. Gantt Attorney[?] for Deft.*
Said attorney appears to Defend for Mrs. Ann Page
the owner of said Nancy who is a slave for life
*Thos T. Gantt p.d*
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Filing*
Filed May 2, 1848
Jn. Ruland clk
Withdrawn
Jn Ruland clk
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**Page 8** (6813_008.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*
Nancy (of color)
vs
Enoch Steen
plea gen iple
*T. T. Gantt. p.d.*
"Withdrawn" Wilson Primm clk[?]
*filed April 18th 1848
Jn Ruland clk[?]*
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**Page 9** (6813_009.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Notice to Take Depositions*
Nancy
vs
Enoch Steen
In the Circuit Court for the County
of St. Louis State of Missouri . To Enoch Steen
You are hereby notified, that Depositions of Witnesses to be read in evidence in the above
cause, on the part of the Plaintiff will be taken at Jefferson
Barracks at the Quarters of H. Beckwith
ord.[?] Sergeant
in the County of St Louis and State of Missouri on the 27th
day of November 1847 between the hours of 8 o'clock in the forenoon, and 6 o'clock in the afternoon: and that the taking of said depositions, if not completed on that day, will be continued from that day to day at the same place and between the same hours, till completed.
*St Louis November
23d 1847
F. A. Dick &
B. Farrar
Attys
for Plff*
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**Page 10** (6813_010.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Acknowledgment*
I hereby acknowledge to have received
service, of the written notice on the 23 [illegible] day
of November 1847.
*attest
F.A. Dick
Enoch Steen*
> *Legal Function: Caption*
Nancy
vs
Steen
Dep.[?] notice
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Service*
Served the written notice at Jeffferson Barracks in the
County of St. Louis , State of Missouri by delivering a true Copy. Thereof
to Enoch Steen the within
named defendant on the
23d of November 1847
*H. Beckwith
Sworn to &[?] subscribed before
me this 27th day of November 1847
J. C. DeCamp J.P
Carson deft [illegible] St Louis*
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**Page 11** (6813_011.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Deposition of Bridget Padget*
Deposition of Witnesses produced sworn
and Examined at the Quarters of H Beck-
with orderly sergeant at Jefferson Barracks
in the County of St Louis and State of
Missouri on the Twenty seventh day
of November Eighteen hundred and
forty seven between the hours of 8 o'clock in the forenoon & 6 o'clock in the afternoon to be used and read in evidence in a certain cause now
pending in the St St. Louis Circuit Court
State of Missouri Wherein one Nancy is Plaintiff and Enoch Steen is defen-
dant the same to be read in behalf of
said plaintiff according to the notice
hereunto attached these depositions being taken before me James C. De
Camp an acting Justice of the Peace
within & for said County of St Louis
State of Missouri.
The plaintff being present by her
attorney and the Defendant
being present in Person.
Bridget Padget of lawful age
being produced sworn & Examined
in the Part of the Plaintiff [illegible] & says as follows.
I am acquainted with Nancy the
Plaintiff in this suit. I have known
her about thirteen years- She was
about fourteen or fifteen years old when
I firsy[?] knew her. I first knew her
in the Creek Nation at fort Mitchell
in Alabama. She was then a girl knocking around with the Indian
Squaws the same as any other wild
Indian not knowing much.
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**Page 12** (6813_012.jpg)
She dressed Common like the Indians
Sometimes she would have a dress on like the white persons. She usually dressed like the Indians with a shawl or Blanket around her-
this was until she learned a little better she dressed like white people
after she had come amongst them
a good deal. She lived [illegible] in
the Garrison about- when I seen
she used to be always amongst the
Indians. She used to come from &
go out to the Camp amongst the
Indians. Sometimes she used to
live amongst the Indans in their
Camp. She was as much like a
squaw as could be. I took her
for a half breed. She lived
amongst the Squaws as far as
I know. I I knew her there for two
or three years. during this two or
three years she always was living
with the Indians. She belonged
to the Creek Nation of Indians-
Fort Mitchell was situated
amongst the Creek Nation of Indians-
she ought to be amongst the white
people by being in the Garrison first
with one white woman & then another
She helped the white women
to wash. We all hired the Indian
Squaws to help us to wash. finally
Nancy got to staying in the Garrison
pretty much all the time. No
body at the time I first knew her had
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**Page 13** (6813_013.jpg)
Charge of Nancy that I knew of. Her Mother from amongst the Indians many a
time used to send into the Garrison
to get her out home into the Indian
Camp. She Nancy seemed fond of being
at the Garrison. There were plenty of
Indians around the Garrison. by
the Garrison Fort Mitchell . the Indians
were in & out there every day. I was
first there with Nancy for about three
years. than I went to Tennessee. I
staid in Tennessee about two years.
When I went back to Fort Mitchell Nancy was still there. Captain
Page was at Fort Mitchell on my
return to Fort Mitchell. Captain
Page was not at Fort Mitchell
during the three years I was first there
with Nancy. The first time I ever saw him with Nancy was when I
went to Fort Mitchell from Tennessee.
I knew her there for three years before I
ever saw him there. I do not know how Nancy came to live with Captain
Page without she first got attached to him.
He is the same Capt. Page formerly of the
4th Infantry- his first name I believe was
John. I do not know when it was first knew that Nancy lived with Captain
Page only I knew she was with him
when we went back to the Creek Nation
& she was there long before that. Nancy is about I do not know how old. She is a
tall woman. she looks to be a half freed
she used to have Indian features.
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**Page 14** (6813_014.jpg)
I am certain that this Nancy now pressent at Jefferson Barrach is[?] the same woman
I have been speaking of. I knew her as soon
as I saw her here. I am more than
forty years of age Nancy used some
times to work for me in the Creek Nation
before Captain Page knew her. I used
to pay her hire myself & so did the rest of them who hired her. She used
sometimes to wear blue & red or fringe around the bottom of her
dress for ornament. She used also to
wear an Indian brooch & also silver bracelets on her arms. She spoke the
Indian tongue & language to her
own folks. the general appearance
of Nancy's face is the same now that it was then. Nancy has been lately living in the room directly below
Captain Enoch Steen's[?] quarters.
*Sworn to and subscribed
before me the day and
year first above written.
Bridget her X mark Paget[?]
H De Camp JP.[?]
St Louis County*
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**Page 15** (6813_015.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Deposition of Henry Beckwith*
Henry Beckwith of lawful age being
also produced sworn & examined
at the same time &[?] place deposeth & says[?] as follows. I know Nancy the Plaintiff. Also the defendant Enoch Steen. I knew Captain John Page late of the 4th infantry very well He brought Nancy to St Louis .
I do not know whether or not she lived
with him as a slave. I always supposed that that she was an Indian. I never heard Captain Page speak of her as a
slave. I knew him well from 1836
& lived with him here for about two years during which time Nancy was
living with him. Captain Page
when he went away to Mexico in
1844 left her in my Change & told me he did not require of her any thing of the money she made. that
he supposed she could support herself but if she could not supply her with
money & he would refund to me.
From the tenor of Captain Page's language I never thought he con-
sidered[?] her as a Slave. From the
23rd of this month back for a
month Nancy was in the posses-
sion of Enoch Steen this defen[?]-
dant.[?] She Nancy was under the
control of & in possession of said Steen at the time the original summons in this cause was served on
him. this I know of my own
knowledge, & also from having been
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**Page 16** (6813_016.jpg)
told so by said Steen . I Know that
Nancy is the same woman spoken
of by BridgetPadget[?] in the depo-sition[?] given before this of mine-
Nancy is a very tall woman. Near six feet in height she looks like an Indian. She is a handsome
woman. I served the notice attached to this deposition on Enoch Steen
on the 23rd of this month at Jefferson Barracks by delivering
him a copy of the same. the notice was to take depositions
in this cause at this time & place.
*H Beckwith
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 27th day of
November A. D. 1847
J.C. DeCamp
JP St Louis Co Mo[?]*
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Execution*
State of Missouri
ss
[illegible] County of St Louis
It is hereby certified that
on this Twenty Seventh day of November 1847 at Jefferson Barracks at the Quarters of H. Beckwith ord. sergeant in the County[?] of St. Louis and State of Missouri before me James C. DeCamp an acting Justice of the
Peace duly commissioned and qualified
as such within & for said County of St Louis
in pursuance to the notice hereto attached
were produced sworn & examined Bridget Padget and Henry Beckwith who were then & there between the hours of Eight O'clock in
the forenoon and six o'clock in the afternoon
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**Page 17** (6813_017.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Execution*
examined as to their knowledge concerning
matters of in controvery between Nancy[?]
the plaintiff & Enoch Steen defendant, and
their statements made on such examina-
tion were then & there in their presence reduced
to writing in my presence, & to them read & by
them subscribed respectively and their
said depositions contained in the fore-
going pages are now herewith returned.
*Given under my hand this 27th of November A D 1847
J>C. DeCamp2P.
St Louis Co. MO:*
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Execution*
Recd Two50/100 for taking & certifying the
above depositions. Novr.[illegible] 27 147
*\$2.50.
J.C.DeCamp J.P.*
> *Legal Function: Certificate of Execution*
1456-
.15
.25
1.40
\$1.80
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**Page 18** (6813_018.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*
No 4 April Term 1848
In the St Louis Circuit
Court
Nancy
vs
Enoch Steen
Deposition for Plantiff
*Opened & filed in open Court
April 29. 1848.
Jn. Ruland clk[?]*
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**Page 19** (6813_019.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Plaintiff's Motion for Special Commission to Take Testimony*
Nancy
vs
Enoch Steen
In the St. Louis Circuit Court
April Term 1848
Ann Page And now comes said Plaintiff
by her attornies[?] and moves the Court in this cause
to grant a commission to take the Examina-
tion of witnesses on behalf of the Plaintiff, ad-
dressed to S. J. Moore assistant surgeon
in the U. S. Army, Point Isabel Texas.
*F. A. Dick
Ben . Farrar
Plff. Attys.*
> *Legal Function: Affidavit*
State of Missouri County of St Louis
Before the undersigned on
this 1st day of April May 1848 Came F. A . Dick who
being by me sworn in his oath says, that from
such information as he possesses he believes
that is is important for the plaintiff in this cause
to have on the trial the testimony of a witness residing at Point Isabel, Texas, & that without
such testimony she cannot safely go to trial-
also, that he is informed that the plaintiff in this suit is at this
time so unwell as to be unable to leave
her room, so that she cannot appear before
a magistrate or other officer to make the aff-davit[?]
in this behalf required, nor is there any
magistrate residing at Jefferson Barracks the
place of residence of this plaintiff.
*F. A . Dick
Subscribed & sworn to
before me this 1st May 1848
Jn Ruland clk[?]*
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**Page 20** (6813_020.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*
Circuit Court
Nancy
vs
Enoch Steen
Motion & affidavit
for Special Commission to take testimony
*Filed May 2 1848
Jno. Ruland clk*
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**Page 21** (6813_021.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Plaintiff's Interrogatories and Defendant's Cross Interrogatories*
Nancy vs Enoch Steen Ann Page
In the St. Louis Circiut[?]
Court April Term
1848
And now comes said Plain-tiff by her attornies[?] and files the following interrogatories to be propounded to witnesses
examined under Commission issued from
this Court dated May 5th, 1848
1st Do you know a certain part-Indian woman
who goes by the name of Nancy or Nancy
Page?
2d If you say that you do know her state
how long you have known her, about
how old she was when you first knew
her?
3d Where was it that you fist saw her?
4th Amongst what people was she living
when you fist saw her?
5th What language did she speak, & if more than one state what they were?
6th How did she then dress, and were
her habits & manners those of the
whites?
7th Did Nancy ever live with you, if she
did when & where, & from where did
you get her?
9 Did you know the Mother of Nancy ?
10 Did you know her Grand-Mother?
11 To what nation or people did her Mother
belong?
12 To what nation or people did her
Grandmother belong?
13 Was her Grandmother a full blood
woman, & if so full blood of what people or nation?
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**Page 22** (6813_022.jpg)
14 Did you know Nancy's Uncle, & who
was he?
15 Where did you last see Nancy?
16 With whom was she living when
you last saw her?
17 Did you ever know her to have lived
with an officer in the United States .
Army; if so who was the officer? give
his full name if you know it.[?]
18 If you state that she lived with
an officer, state whether he is now
living or dead?
19 State any other matter or thing known
to you, about which you have not been
particularly interrogated, material for,
the interest of the plaintiff in this suit.
*F. A Dick atty for
Ben . Farrar Plff.*
Cross interogatories[?] propounded by Thos T. Gantt. of
Counsel for defendant
1°[?], State what means you have, besided rumour[?] and
hearsay, of knowing any thing of the birth parentage
and genealogy of of Nancy ?
2°[?] State whether you know more than one Indian or
part Indian or part Indian woman, by the name of Nancy ?
3°[?] State whether you lived in the neighborhood of
Nancy's parents at the time of her birth?
4°[?] If you answer the ninth, tenth, Eleventh, twelfth
& thirteenth interrogatories in chief affirmatively, and say
that you did know the person therein indicated and
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**Page 23** (6813_023.jpg)
their nation, state particularly and fully what means
you have of being so acquainted with their origin
and genealogy, and why you entertain with any con-
fidnece, an opinion of the purity of their strain
or breed?
5°. State whether Nancy was not claimed as the
slave for life of Captain Page late of the United States
Army.?
6°. State whatever else you may know pertinent
to the issue in this cause.
*Tho T Gantt
Atty for Mrs Page admitted.
&c and Enoch Steen .*
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**Page 24** (6813_024.jpg)
> *Legal Function: Caption*
Nancy vs Steen
Filed May 10 1848
*Jn. Ruland clk[?]*
p2 290 [illegible] Clk for copy of the within 50 Cents furnished Atty Dick
Nancy, a Dark Mulatto Woman V. Enoch Steen and Ann Page. 1847, St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, accessed October 7, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.washu.edu/s/ccr/item/60960