John Jones (John Bromfield) document, 1842

To the Honorable N.D Barry Judge, John Jones alias John Bromfield states that he was born as he believes on or about middle of November 1816 that he is a free, born person. He states that he was brought from the State of North Carolina to Tennessee. Fayette County by an individual to whom he was bound as an apprentice, till he was 21 years of age.

He states that by sale or otherwise he passed among several hands till by purchase he came to the hands of Richard Clere a tailor by trade for the purpose of learning the trade. Your Petitioner stated, that said Clere hired out your petitioner during the years 1837 and 1836 your petitioner states that he has thereby forfeited all right to the custody of Petitioners person by said hiring altho he obtained aritcles of indentureship from the County Court of Fayettte County till petitioner was 21 years of age. Petitioner states that he is represented inthe said order of the County Court as being about the age of 9 at that time, and that in April 1831 - which statement that he was about 9 was wholly false, Petitioner states that he is free born of lawful age, and that he is illegally under the said rage and false entry made in the County Court held as a slave - hired out - offered as for sale or put at such kind of labor as may suit the convenience, or pecuniary interest of said Clere - Your Petitioner prays the writ of Habeus Corpus that he may be brought up and discharged and would ever pray. John Bromfield alias, John Jones

To Richard Clere, According to the prayer of the annexed Petition you are hereby required to have before me the within named John Jones alias John Bromfield on Monday the 15th dday of January 1838 at the Court House in Somerville then and there to do and receive, whatsoever I may order in the premises, fail not, Valentine D. Barry Judge of 11th Circuit of Tennessee

A copy of the within petition served on the defendant the 1st January 1838. John Hedopeth C it C West H Humphreys, Attorney

January 16th 1838. This day the petitioner being brought before me according to the within writ and testimony being heard by which it appears that the petitioner in the month of november 1837 arrived at the age of twenty one years, and it being admitted that he is free born. It is there fore considered that he be discharged from the service and custody of said Clere and go at liberty and that the said Clere pay the costs of this proceeding.Given under my hand. this 16 day of January 1838 Valentine D, Barry, Judge of the 11th Circuit of Tennesse. Sommerville Fayette County, Tennessee

State of Tennesee} J William H Mitchell Clerk of the Circuit Court of Fayette Fayette County County State of Tennesee do hereby certify that the above is a true and perfect transcript of the petition of John Jones alias John Bromfield and the proceedings had therefore which are now on file in my office. Given under my hand and seal of office. This 17th day of January 1838. William H Mitchell Clerk

United States of America - State of Tennessee Shelby County -

I, James Rose a Notary Public in and for the County of Shelby, in the State of Tennessee duly confirmed and [illegible] and [illegible] in the City of Memphis in said County and State - do hereby certify that John Bromfield alias John Jones - the within [illegible] person has been living in Memphis for 8 years past - that he has been for that length of time, known to me - that he has always conducted himself with per-fect propriety so far as I have known or heard - that he is by trade a Tailorthat the said John Bromfield ^ alias John Jones - is light mulatto nearly twenty year of age has a scar over the left ear and another small Scar [illegible] [text covered by seal] right cheek andalso a large scar on the shin bone of the left leg. [text covered by seal] [illegible] [line illegible] [line illegible] at Memphis aforesaid this 24th day of June James Rose Not. Pub-

State of Illinois Madison County SS J. William J. Brown Clerk of The Circuit Court of Madison County abovesaid, certify that the within exemplification was this day duly Recorded in the Clerks Office of said Circuit Court. In Testimony whereof I have hereto signed my name and affixed the seal of said Court at Edwardsville this 16th day of August A.D. 11842 W. Brown (Clerk)|