Petition of Winny, a free woman of color, to the St. Louis Circuit Court. She states that she and her three children, 7-year-old Malinda, 4-year-old Harry, and 1-year-old Lorinda, held in slavery by Rufus Pettibone, who purchased or obtained them from Thomas Whitset and Owen Wingfield. John Whitset (alias John Whitesides), his wife, Phebe, and son Thomas possessed Winny as a slave, and moved (circa 1792) from Kentucky to the Territory of the United States North West of the River Ohio, at or near a place then known as New Design or Whitesides’ Station. Winny contends that she was held in slavery in violation of the laws of the Territory of the United States North West of the River Ohio. Around 1796, John, Phebe, and Thomas Whitset moved to Upper Louisiana in the neighborhood of St. Louis, and brought Winny with them in slavery, against her consent. Upon the death of John Whitesides, Winny remained enslaved to Phebe and Thomas Whitesides until about 1817 or 1818, when she was purchased by Rufus Pettibone. Winny further states that she successfully sued Phebe for her freedom in the Missouri Supreme Court, yet Rufus Pettibone refuses to liberate her. Also includes affidavit of Winny, dated May 16, 1825., circa 1825 May 16

Item — Box: 1, Folder: 2

Identifier: D01695

Staff Only

Petition of Winny, a free woman of color, to the St. Louis Circuit Court, May 16, 1825

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The Slaves and Slavery Collection is an artificial, or subject-based, collection comprising a variety of documents that have been placed in this collection over the years due to their common subject matter. Approximately half of the documents in the collection are receipts for sales of slaves, some of which were recorded in various courts. The collection also includes deeds of emancipation; personal correspondence; and broadsides offering rewards for the capture of runaway slaves.