Negro Jim v. William Curren, 1792-1806

[verso]

Betsy Smith being sworn on the holy Evangels of almigty God do deposeth as follows -- towit

That this Deponent was living at M^r. Patterson's then living in the State of Maryland but nant the Pensylvania live that some time in the fall of the year 1784 the Petitioner ran away from the his Master and was discovered in the Family of Robert Flemming but never understood that M^r Flemming had hired the said Petitioner - that the Petitioner was th at that time the slave of M^r. Patterson who resided in Maryland and that the said Flemming resided in Pennsylvannia - that she was also in the family when the said Flemming stopped and at the House of M^r. Patterson in Maryland -- on [ ] his way to Frederick Town --- further sayeth not

Sworn to in open Court in presence of the parties, 22 Nov^r. 1792 and admitted agreed to be shown in Evidence

Test W^m. Ritchie Clk

Betsy ^herX^mark Smith

[recto]

Betsy Smith: Deposition

filed 22^d Nov^r. 1792

[verso]

-Negro Jim- } ------- v. -------} Petition for Freedom W^m. Curren}

This case is grounded on an act of assembly of the State of Pennsylvania

Th^o. Mahon a witness for the Petr.

About the year 1784 - [ ] Patterson the Master lived in Maryland -- the Petr. ran away from his master, went to Flemmings in Pennsylvannia and staid there consealed, for some time; that F after Patterson discovered the Petr. to be at Flemings he sent times to Flemings to give the negro a time to find a Master - that after Fleming got where the Petr. first went to Flemings, Patterson had no knowledge of his being there, f that some time after the rest of the said times, Fleming & his wife went to Patterson and that on their return, the Petr. set in to work openly with Fleming -- that about 4 or 5 weeks after F. & wife returned from Pattersons, F. sent the Petr. to Maryland with a load of leather and the day after the Petr. return, the witness left Fleming in year 1784 and does not know how long the Petr. lived with F. afterwards -- that P. & F. lived within two or three miles of each other and that there was frequent communication between the families --

1^st. Question is the petitioner [ ] by the former judg^t.

2^d. It is contended that the Petitioner lived with Fleming in Pennsy^la as a runaway and of course not entitled to freedom under the laws of Pennsy^la. &c.

[recto]

Negro Jim } ----- vs. -----} - Curren - }

Testimony on the part of the Dsp^t.

Deposition of Mr. Nelson Do. Bet. Smith Do. Barrister M^r. Sherry Do. Jane Patterson Do. Joseph Fleming Do. John Crane == Questions on the admes^ty. if said, and to prove what Patterson the old Master said in relation to the sale of the negro -- ==

[fol. i.]

The Deposition of Robert Fleming taken by Consul to be Evidence in the case of Negro Jim vs William Curren —

That Robert Fleming an uncle of the Deponent in his life Time resided in the State of Pennsylvania near the Maryland line, where th that he was a Tanner by Trade with whom this Deponent learn't the same Trade, that the said Uncle died [ ] early in August 1784, and after his Death the Father of this Deponent purchased the stock of leather on hand in the shop & Tanyard of the said Robert the uncle which the Purchase [ ] was for this Deponent. —

That this Deponent of that Time had lately married the Daughter of W Nathaniel Patterson who resided in Maryland and and after the said Death Death of the said Robert the uncle & the purchaser [ ] of the stock of leather aforesaid, this Deponent [ ] about the 12^th Day of August 1784 went to the said Tanyard, & lived in the House House of the s^d. Robert [ ] deceased in the Family of his Widow, for the sole purpose of working up the said stock of leather — that this Deponent carried his [ ] with him and they lived in the Family of the said Widow, paid

(no)