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Slave Freedom Suits Available Online

St. Louis Public Radio
Published February 19, 2003 at 4:45 PM CST
The 1822 freedom petition of a slave named Winny, who claimed her treatment as a slave while living in the free state of Illinois constituted false imprisonment.
The 1822 freedom petition of a slave named Winny, who claimed her treatment as a slave while living in the free state of Illinois constituted false imprisonment.

By Kevin Lavery, KWMU

St. Louis, MO –

Though St. Louis was once a booming slave market, it was also a place where slaves seeking their freedom brought their cases to court. Now, nearly 300 freedom suits heard by the St. Louis Circuit Court in the early to mid-19th century are available in an online database. KWMU's Kevin Lavery reports.

St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project Website
http://stlcourtrecords.wustl.edu

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