The petition of RachelRachel Steel a coloured woman humbly represents that in the year 1831 your petitioner was holden in slavery by the late SamuelSamuel GilbertGilbert who then lived in the MissouriState Missouriof Missouri: that the late Russel, Farnham was then residing at Kokuck, in the Territory, north of the MissouriState of MissouriMissouri and north of of the line of 36 30 north latitude : that said SamuelSamuel GilbertGilbert while he was thus the owner of your petitioner hired out your petitioner to said FarnhamFarnham in or just before the month of December 1831 to be taken to Kokuck and then holden & employed by said FarnhamFarnham as a slave that said FarnhamFarnham in the month of December 1831 took & removed your petitioner to said Kokuck and then held and employed your petitioner as a slave for a period of nine Months or therabouts and until his decease : that by such hiring and employment your petitioner became free as she is advised: that Thomas TaylorThomas Taylor married a grand daughter of said GilbertGilbert and upon the decease of said GilbertGilbert claimed to hold in right of his said wife your petitioner as a slave under said GilbertGilbert : That said TaylorTaylor does now in fact hold your petitioner as a slave: and your petitioner prays that she may be allowed to sue as a poor person for the recovery of her freedom & as is duty bound will ever pray &c

Personally appeared RachelRachel Steel & made oath to the truth of the of the foregoing petition this 15th day of March A D 1845 before me at chambers

We the undersigned have been acquainted with Rachel SteeleRachel Rachel SteeleSteele coloured woman for several years and during all that time she has borne a good character for truth & we believe that her statements on oath may safely be relied on March 22 1845

On reading the foregoing petition and hearing the accompanying proof it is ordered that Rachel SteeleRachel Steele the petitioner have permission to sue as a poor person that she have reasonable liberty to advise with her Counsel & that she be not removed from the jurisdiction of the Circuit CourtSt. Louis Circuit CourtCircuit Court, R. M. Field is appointed Counsel prosecute this petition

This is to certify that I have known the Bearer RachelRachel Steel for thirteen years and known her to be an honest upright woman one that can be trusted I am also well acquainted with her master & mistress Mr & Mrs TaylorTaylor who haveing moeved up in the Country last year and left her here with, the privelige of hireing herself either on a boat or in the City if any further recommandation is needed you can apply to my HusbandHusband Mr Wm Le Grimes of the Steam Boat Uncle Toby Charlotte P Grimes.

St LouisSaint Louis,ss Rachel SteeleRachel Rachel SteeleSteele coloured woman, who sues in this behalf as a poor person, by R.M. Field counsel assigned her by the court, complains of Thomas TaylorThomas Thomas TaylorTaylor in a plea of trespass for that before and at time of the committing of the grievances herein after mentioned by the defendant the complainant was and still is a free person a that the defendant on the first day of January past at St LouisSaint Louis did make an assault in upon the plaintiff then & there imprisoned & kept in prison & restrained of her freedom the plaintiff for a long space of time to wit from there hitherto & then & there held & still holds the plaintiff as a & other wrongs to the plaintiff then & there did against the peace to the great damage of the plaintiff for the recovery of her freedom the plaintiff brings this suit &c .

Suit for freedom

We command you to summon Thomas TaylorThomas Taylor , if he be found in your county , that he be and appear. before the Judge of our Circuit CourtCircuit Court, on the first day of the next term thereof, to be held at the City of St LouisCity of St.Louis, within and for the county of St LouisSt.Louis, on the third Mon-day of April instant then and there to answer unto Rachel SteeleRachel Steele, Coloured woman of a plea of trespass . to the great damage of said plaintiff dollars And have you then there this writ

I acknowlege myself bound for all costs that may accrue in the above cause.

Witness my hand and seal, at St LouisSt. Louis, this day of 184

dismissed March 11 1846 17 p 156

summons Suit for freedom R. M. Field

On reading the foregoing petition & hearing the accompanying proofs, it is ordered that Rachal SteeleSteele the petitioner have permision to sue as a poor person , & that she has reasonable, liberty to advise with her counsel & that she be not removed from the jurisdiciton of the St LouisSt Louis Circuit court R M Field is appointed Counsel to prosecute this petition

Thomas TaylorThomas Taylor the within named defendant not found in my County Non Est 50 cts