Phebe Martin

Lewis Evans Esq.... Sheriff of the County of Adams

Some days ago was informed by Mr. Justice Clark that the Wench Phebe placed by the Court of Common Pleas in your care during the Suite therein depending on her accounts....hath been taken by Violence from this territory...to the Appalusa and an attempt there made to sell her as a Slave...by a certain John Wells..the proof whereof is contained in a Letter from the Commandant of that place to Mr Justice Clark and by him transmited [sic]to Mr Duncan [ ] in the cause of Phoebe pending in our Court as afores'd--

Mr. Justice Dunbar says he is well acquainted with the handwriting of the Commd. of the Appalusa and can swear to it.... I have met with no conclusive oppinion [sic] on this busin ess... but I have made up mine [sic] ... which is that it clearly rests with you to prosecute; for it is from you, that the Ct. of comm'n pleas has to demand the Woman... It is recomm ended to one by Mr. Justice Clark to forward the prosecution of Wells to effect... and request

Phebe Martin vs. John Wells

In this case the defendant comes into court and defends on and by modistation* and in nowise admiting [sic] the ability of the said Plaintiff/Phebe to sue in saith that he is in no wise gilty [sic] of the trespas [sic] assault and battery and imprisonment complained of in the plaintiff's Declaration and of this he puts himself on the Country. J. Williams/ attorney for Wells [name here is illegible. Looks like it begins D W Ba ] attorney for Defendant and the plaintiff also [signature] [illegible name, assumed to be P.M.]

Mississippi Territory County of Adams vs. John Wells [sic] & John House?

The United States to [? ] Blunt Elias Blunt you are hereby commanded that all business and excuses being laid [sic] aside you be and appear at the next Court of common Pleas to be holden in Natchez for the said county on the Wednesday next after the first Monday in May May, 1800 ensuing to testify all and singular whatsoever has come to your knowledge in a certain cause depending and then and there to be tried wherein Phebe Martin is Plaintiff and John Wells Defendent and hereof fail not under that Penalty of three hundred dollars.

Witness Daniel Clark Esquire for Justice of the court this 21st day of April 1800 [April 21, 1800]]

(signed by) Peter Walker Prothy