Primary Resources

Ste. Genevieve Catholic Church Records

African American Baptisms 1759-1865, Memorial Cemetery, Ste. Genevieve, Missouri ©Foundation for the Restoration of Ste. Genevieve

African American Burials 1759 -1865, Memorial Cemetery, Ste. Genevieve, Missouri ©Foundation for the Restoration of Ste. Genevieve

Ste. Genevieve Freedom Suits

1841 Angelique, a woman of color

1842 George, a man of color

St. Louis Freedom Suits

St. Louis Freedom Suits, Freedom Suits Memorial Foundation

Suzette (Pélagie’s sister), her husband John Merry, and their children John, Angelique, and Edmund filed freedom suits in St. Louis against their enslavers.

1826 John Merry vs. Louis Menard and Clayton Tiffin

1828 Suzette alias Judith Bequette v. John Reynolds

1828 John, a free boy of color vs. John Reynolds

1828 Angelique, a free woman of color vs. John Reynolds

1828 Edmund vs. John Reynolds

1832 John, a minor of color vs. William Campbell