10/05/1854: State of Missouri v. Mary Ann Pope & Robert B. Mitchell & Sam, A Slave - Attempting to Entice, Decoy, Persuade and Carry Away Slaves (Sam)

Entry/Object ID

CC.0252

Collection

1839-1869 Platte County, Missouri, Circuit Court Docket

Archive Items Details

Description

"Theft of slaves: Ellen, Martha Ann, Henry, Charity and an infant. Slaves property of Howell Jenkins. Case transferred to Platte County Circuit Court. Defendants charged separately. Unable to separate due to possible inaccurate division of documents." Sam identified as the property of Robert B. Mitchell. Mary Ann Pope alleged that she came to Platte City to reclaim "...the property belonging to me and my children, the slaves Martha Ann, Henry, Charity, Ellen and an infant slave. Those slaves were in the possession of Howell Jenkins." Pope asked Mitchell to help her and told Sam to help her reclaim the slaves. "Those Negroes I came after were mine, at least I was told so (by deed of gift from Mr. Pope's sister), my husband sold those Negroes to Howell Jenkins..." Detailed testimony of Mary Ann Pope's attempt to reclaim her slaves in the case file. Missouri Archives Judicial Records Historical Database has an on-line record but no scanned case file images. Contact the Missouri State Archives at [email protected] to request files

Date(s) of Creation

10/5/1854

Other Names and Numbers

Other Names

Name Type

Enslaved

Other Name

Sam

Name Type

Enslaver

Other Name

Jenkins, Howell

Other Numbers

Number Type

Source Citation

Other Number

Missouri State Archives, Judicial Records: (see weblink)

Copyright

Copyright Details

© 2026 BAAC All Rights Reserved

Research Notes

Research Type

Researcher

Person

Bill Nichols

Date

6/5/2025

Research Type

Researcher

Person

Robin Nava

Date

7/5/2025

General Notes

Note

1854.10.05 MJRHD.316141 Missouri vs Pope Mitchell Sam.pdf 1854.10.05 MJRHD.316141 Missouri vs Pope Mitchell Sam c46844_B0029F0001.pdf

Note

BAAC workbook: 1839-1869 Circuit Court Docket CatalogIt version.xlsx [Circuit MJRHD 02.14.26]

Create Date

September 2, 2026

Update Date

September 16, 2026

Name/Title

10/05/1854: State of Missouri v. Mary Ann Pope & Robert B. Mitchell & Sam, A Slave - Attempting to Entice, Decoy, Persuade and Carry Away Slaves (Sam)