1845 Petition for Injunction - Sophia "Beaird" |
Submitted by Janet Flynn
Here is a typed transcript of a Chancery
Court document I found at the courthouse while indexing old records.
Note that while Illinois was supposed to be a free state since its
inception into the Union in 1818, this paper is dated 1845. Anne
Walker explained to me that there was a grandfather clause allowing
descendants of the early French to keep their slaves. Thus, as
late as 1845, Sophia had to sue to keep from being sold in IL.
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Injunction
(File cover) 111.
Sophia Alias Sophia Beaird Vs. John Morrison Scipio M. Beaird & Cecile Beaird Bill for Injunction Filed Mar 11th 1845 W. W. Omelveny M.
)
Monroe County Circuit Monroe County )
Court AD 1845 To the Honb. James Shulds of the Judges of the Supreme Court
of the state of Illinois now holding circuit courts on the 2nd
Judicial circuit of said state of which Monroe County forms a part in
Chancery sitting:
Humbly complaining sheweth unto your honor your oratrix Sophia,
alias Sophia Beaird, Your oratrix further shows that she is a person of color, and
a descendant of the French slaves of the state of Illinois, and that she
verily believes, that by the In consideration of the premises, and as your oratrix cannot
have adequate relief except in a court of equity, your oratrix prays
that said Cecile Beard and sd Scipio M. Beaird may also be made
defendants to this bill, and that writs of injunction may issue under
and by the direction of this honorable court
Sophia alias Sophia Beaird
By her agent
John D. Whiteside State of Illinois
)
)
John D. Whiteside Monroe County )
being duly sworn doth depose and say, that the matters and
allegations, in the above bill of complaint are true so far as he knows
of his own knowledge, and that the same are true so far as he has
obtained information thereof, from others, as he verily believes.
Sworn to and subsd. before )
Me this 11th day of Mar 1845
)
John D. Whiteside
W. W. Omelveny M(& scroll) State of Illinois
)
)
Set Monroe County )
on heading and considering the written and foregoing bill of
complaint for a writ of injunction I allow the same and order that a
writ of injunction issue by the clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe
County state of Illinois enjoining the within named John Morrison and
Scipio M. Beaird and Cecile Beaird and their agents and attornies from
further proceeding against the person of the within named Sophia alias
Sophia Beard as prayed for in said bill of complaint by the said Sophia
alias Sophia Beard complainant Fees of Master $100
Edwd. Omelveny
Master in Chancery |