Knox County court record for Beamon vs. Smirl, 1820

Description:	Folder 2512 in Box 44 of Knox County Circuit Court records at the Knox County Public Library’s McGrady-Brockman House holds seven documents in the case of Beamon vs. Smirl, 1820. It includes a transcript of a court case Nathaniel vs. Gilly and Pryor from the First Judicial District, New Orleans, Louisiana in which Nathaniel Boothe sues for his freedom. The files suggests that that his status as freed needs first be verified in Vincennes, Indiana. This case was tied to Folder 2400 and Folder 2405 in Box 42 (Dickson & Wilson vs. Beamon, and Reilley & Smirl vs. Beamon.) Both of those cases were debt litigation cases and disagreements over the legal status of Nathaniel, a man of color who was an hostler (ostler) (stableman) wrongfully claimed as his slave by hotelier/livery owner James Smirl. Hostlers as a group were independent high-status workers as they were skilled in their knowledge of horses, part veterinarian, part blacksmith, and able to manage the stable end of the livery business they worked in. They were responsible for making sure the riding stock were in good condition. Nathaniel was one of many being held in a quasi-slavery status by Knox County “masters” in defiance of the 1816 Constitution. Beamon was convinced that Smirl owned Nathaniel and purchased him from Smirl (possibly in Kentucky), learning later that he was a freed man. Beamon then refused to pay Smirl and was then sued by Smirl. This led to other suits found in Box 42 as referenced. The documents consist of statements by Smirl, recorded court hearings, statements by Beamon, and a motion for a new trial by Beamon.TimelineLouisvilleSeptember 24, 1818: Document showing James Smirl transfer Nathaniel Newton (Boothe) to Carter Beamon saying that Smirl bought Nat was indentured to Benjamin Beckes on May 10, 1810 for 25 years. General Washington Johnston witnessed.New Orleans Transcript from first judicial district, New Orleans, Louisiana.Feb. 22, 1819: Joshua Lewis, Judge, Nathaniel petitions to sue for freedom citing following history of Nathaniel:•Born a slave on Maryland coast.•Taken to Indiana Territory by master Joshua Bond. Acquired freedom since slavery was illegal.•Kidnapped from Indiana and held as a slave in Louisiana by John B. Gilly.•Was slave of Gilly and James Pryor in the firm Gilly and Pryor. Feb. 22, 1819: Judge Joshua Lewis gives go-ahead for Nathaniel Boothe to sue Gilly and Pryor for his freedom. Gilly and Pryor get summoned.April 5, 1819: “Commission Issue” addressing case to Knox County, Indiana court for testimony of witnesses.May 8, 1819: Bond returned.April 16, 1819: Affidavit of Gideon Romine Describes Nathaniel at a “thick dark negro.” The affidavit further says “Deponent was once sued by the said Nathan and was in that town when he was taken away by James Smirl (Smerle.) “Deponent supposes he has some knowledge of the laws of the Indiana state and particularly those relating to colored persons indentured as servants having been sued by colored persons thus situated and having seen several suits of that character.”August 5, 1819: Affidavit from William Wright saying Nathaniel is/was free in Indiana and had seen him there in 1817 and had resided with him there in 1818. Wright also said he’d seen Nathaniel in New Orleans before and “since the institution of this suit.” Nat was the “keeper of a number of race horses, Vincennes being a great place for racing.”August 6, 1819: Nathaniel is granted freedom and defendants are ordered to pay costs of suit.The name of Grace Johnston (mother of Sally Ann) appears in this file but her role in unclear.Knox County Court, Indiana recordsFeb. 24, 1820. A Summons for James Smirl to appear at the May term and answer to Carter Beamon for $1,000.00 in damages.State of Indiana, Knox Co. Circuit Court, May Term 1820, Beamon vs. Smirl. In this document, Beamon attempts to establish that Smirl had no legal ownership of Nathaniel, and sues for $1,000.00 for “lost advantages or profit from services or labor of the said man of color” as well as the “great trouble, care and expense in lawfully endeavoring to keep, retain and have the services of the said man of color.”May term, 1820, Smirl vs. Beamon. Smirl saying he’s not ready to go to trial yet as he can’t locate witnesses in Kentucky.Plea, May 11, 1820. Smirl vs. Beamon. G.W. Johnston representing Smirl, saying he’s not guiltyFiled March 5, 1821, Beamon vs. Smirl affidavit. Carter Beamon saying Thomas Duboise (then living in Kentucky) can establish, in the next term of the court, that he did pay Smirl $500 for Nathaniel. This would then corroborate testimony from Humphrey Almy.
Origin:	1820
Contributor(s):	Newton, Nathaniel; Boothe, Nathaniel; Nathaniel; Nat; Smirl, James; Beamon, Carter; Johnston, General George Washington; Almy, Humphrey; Smerle, James; Johnston, Gracie; Gilly, John; Pryor, James;
Source:	http://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/kcpl/id/46567
Collection:	Knox County Public Library
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
Copyright:	No Copyright - United States
Geography:	Vincennes, Knox County, Indiana, United States
Subjects:	Black people -- America -- History African Americans -- History Black people -- History Slave records Slave labor Slavery Slaveholders Enslaved women Enslaved men Slavery -- Law and legislation Indentured servants Indiana -- Northwest Indiana -- History Vincennes (Ind.) Knox County (Ind.)

Further information on this record can be found at its source.