The Deposition of Adam SmithAdam Smith taken before Wm. Carpenter
A Justice of the Peace within and for the county of
Sangamon and state of IllinoisIllinois on the 22nd day of July in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty one
at the office of Wm. Carpenter in the Town of SpringfieldSpringfield
and county aforesaid Between the hour of eight oclock
in the forenoon and six oclock in the afternoon of said
day to be read in evidence in a certain action pending
in the Circuit CourtCircuit Court of St Louis County and state of
MissouriMissouri in which RalphRalph (a man of Color) is plaintiff and
Coleman DuncanColeman Duncan is Defendant, on the part of the plaintiff
Adam SmithAdam Smith of lawful age being produced sworn and
examined on the part of the Plaintiff Deposith and saith
as follows (to writ)

Ques 1st Did you know the plaintiff RalphRalph when he was the
slave of John GordonJohn Gordon of KentuckyKentucky.

Answer I did

Quest 2nd Do you or not know that said Gordan
while he claimed said RalphRalph as his slave
hired said RalphRalph to labour at the SalineSaline in
the state of IllinoisIllinois near Shawneetown previous
to the 3rd of December in the year 1818 Please
to state all the circumstance
within your knowledge
on this subject

Answer From information, RalphRalph was fired in IllinoisIllinois in
the years of 1818 or 1819 and was hired there
frore several years afterwards

Qust. 3rd Did on did not said Defendant ColemanColeman Duncan
DuncanColeman Duncan , in the years 1826 and 1827 claim aid
RalphRalph as his slave

Answer Coleman DuncanColeman Duncan was at my house in SangamonSangamon County
CountySangamon County IllinoisIllinois in the year of 1826 on 1827

that said DuncanDuncan then stated to me at that time
that he had purchased said RalphRalph from John
Gordan

Qust 4th. Do you know or have you heard saidColemanColeman Duncan
DuncanColeman Duncan admit that said RalphRalph was hired by him
on by his permission to labour at the SalineSaline in IllinoisIllinois
at any time, during the years 1826 on 1827. State if
you know or have heard said Coleman DuncanColeman Duncan
say on this subject

Answer I never heard said Coleman DuncanColeman Duncan say any
thing on the subject