Aspasia vs. Hardage Lane
View original image: Page  001
[missing figure]

To the Honorable Luke and [ lawfel, ]
Judge of the eighth, Judicial Circuit for the state
of MissouriMissouri

The petition of AspasiaAspasia a woman of
color respectfully represents that she is the daughter
of JudyJudy , who was born in the state of VirginiaVirginia, about
the year 1786 and when about 10 or 11 years old
was brought to LouisvilleLouisville, KentuckyKentucky, and sold to a
certain WilliamWilliam SullivanSullivan , who kept her for a short
time as a slave and then sold her to a certain RobertRobert Bunton
BuntonRobert Bunton , a resident of the town of VincennesVincennes, in
the North western Territory That the said BuntonBunton ,
took your petitioners mother to the town of VincennesVincennes,
in the territory aforesaid about the year 1798, in which
place she was owned and continued to be held as a
slave by the said BuntonBunton , for the space of two years
or upwards - That after your petitioners mother had been
held and treated as a slave in the town of VincennesVincennes,
and territory aforesaid for the length, of time set for the
above she was sent to KaskaskiaKaskaskia, in the said territory
and some short, time afterward sold to a certain
WilliamWilliam LecompteLecompte , of the town of Saint LouisSt Louis in the
province, of upper LouisianaLouisiana, where she has remained
in slavery ever since, and gave birth to your petition
about thirty two years ago in the town of saint

Your petitioner further represents that she
is now illegally held in slavery by a certain HardageHardage Lane
LaneHardage Lane of Saint LouisSt Louis contrary to the provisions of an
ordinance, passed by the Congress, of the UnitedUnited States, StatesUnited States
on the day of july seventeen hundred and eighty seven-your petitioner therefore prays that she
may be permitted to sue as a poor person in order to
establish her right to freedom, that counsel, be assigned,
her for that purpose and finally that your