NorthShore Slavery

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Casar Hendrick vs. Richard Greenleaf (1773)

ECCP Sept. 1773 Second Jury found for Casar Hendrick, Plaintiff, and awarded 18 pounds in money damages and court costs. Greenleaf declared appeal but did not file.

• Plaintiff: Casar Hendrick
• Defendant: Richard Greenleaf
• Plaintiff's Attorney: John Lowell Esq.
• Defendant's Attorney: Daniel Farnham Esq.

Essex Court of Common Pleas

• March 1773 Ipswich: Case initially filed

• July 1773 Salem: Case continued

• September 1773 Newburyport: Case disposed and appealed
• • Chief Justice: Caleb Cushing Esq.
  • Justice: Andrew Oliver Jun. Esq.
  • Justice: William Browne Esq
  • Justice: Peter Frye Esq.
• Disposition:
  Jury found for Plaintiff for 18 pounds money damages and costs. Appeal claimed but no record of Appeal filed.
  
• Participants:
• Participants:
• Participants:
• Daniel Farnham Esq. Newburyport
• Supported Bond for SCJ Appeal: Signed Recognizance for Richard Greenleaf's appeal (which did not happen) in Casar Hendrick vs. Richard Greenleaf.
• Charles Freeman Newburyport
• Witness on Signed Document for Plaintiff: Witnessed Casar Hindrick's mark on writ.

• John Knight Newbury
• Witness on Signed Document for Defendant: Witnessed Bill of Sale of Casar from Joseph Woodbridge to Richard Greenleaf dated 1754.
• Witness on Signed Document for Defendant: Witnessed Bill of Sale of Casar from Joseph Woodbridge to Richard Greenleaf dated 1754.

• Samuel Porter Esq. Ipswich
• Supported Bond for SCJ Appeal: Signed Recognizance for Richard Greenleaf's appeal (which did not happen) in Casar Hendrick vs. Richard Greenleaf.

• William Pynchon Esq. Salem
• Supported Bond for SCJ Appeal: Signed Recognizance for Richard Greenleaf's appeal (which did not happen) in Casar Hendrick vs. Richard Greenleaf.

• Joseph Woodbridge Newbury
• Witness on Signed Document for Defendant: Signed Bill of Sale of Casar to Richard Greenleaf dated 1754.

• Sources

• Please review Court Formalities to understand the court documents. Note especially that phrases such as 'with force & arms' and specific dates for keeping the Plaintiff in servitude are formal statements not meant to reflect actual occurences.
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• Wroth & Zobel introduction to Adams' and Wetmore's notes on slavery cases.
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• Wetmore's notes from William Pynchon's notes of arguments re the legality of slavery in English Common Law and Massachusetts law.
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• Dated December 12, 1754. Bill of Sale of "molatto slave" Casar, 16 years old, from Joseph Woodbridge, boat builder to Richard Greenleaf, Gentleman.
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• Dated March 16, 1773 Writ to summons Richard Greenleaf to answer to Casar Hendrick's charge of Trespass by Force & Arms. Sheriff note on reverse and signed with Casar's mark attested to by Charles Freeman.
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• Dated September 28, 1773. Record of original writ and disposition of Casar Hendrick vs. Greenleaf. Hendrick claimed to be wrongfully enslaved as a "molatto". ECCP Jury found for Plaintiff for eighteen pounds money damages and costs.
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• Dated October 2, 1773. Recognizance of Greenleaf's debt to Casar of 18 pounds should Greenleaf not appeal.
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• Notice of Hendrick's win in Boston PostBoy October 11, 1773