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People
Meet the many people who argued for and against carceral, institutional, and interpersonal confinement in the petitions filed in County and District Courts throughout the American West over the long nineteenth century. Browse or search people by name, demographic characteristics, case role, and/or relationships described in each petition. Our encoding practice for people features data pulled from the available case files and in some instances additional data from supplemental sources is also included. Only people with case roles are indexed here, while all persons named in a case are listed on the case page. The Glossary defines the attributes used to structure data from the habeas petitions. The Code Book explains the relational structure of the data and functionality of the database website.
Featured story: Lucía Martínez: Yaqui Arizona, 1854-1900
Basic Search
Simply enter the word you wish to find and the search engine will search for every instance of the word in the journals. For example: Fight. All instances of the use of the word fight will show up on the results page.
Wildcard Searches
Using an asterisk (*) will increase the odds of finding the results you are seeking. For example: Fight*. The search results will display every instance of fight, fights, fighting, etc. More than one wildcard may be used. For example: *ricar*. This search will return most references to the Aricara tribe, including Ricara, Ricares, Aricaris, Ricaries, Ricaree, Ricareis, and Ricarra. Using a question mark (?) instead of an asterisk (*) will allow you to search for a single character. For example, r?n will find all instances of ran and run, but will not find rain or ruin.
Capitalization
Searches are not case sensitive. For example: george will come up with the same results as George.
Phrase Search
Searching for a specific phrase may help narrow down the results. Rather long phrases are no problem. For example: "This white pudding we all esteem".
Subsequent Searches
Because of the creative spellings used by the journalists, it may be necessary to try your search multiple times. For example: P?ro*. This search brings up numerous variant spellings of the French word pirogue, "a large dugout canoe or open boat." Searching for P?*r*og?* will bring up other variant spellings. Searching for canoe or boat also may be helpful.
Filter by:
Birth Place
- Unknown 47
- United States 6
- Nebraska 5
- Virginia 2
- Canada 1
- Illinois 1
- Iowa 1
- Pennsylvania 1
- Poland 1
Age Category
- Adult 32
- Minor 17
- Unindicated 15
- Unclear 2
Relationships
- next friend of 65
- judged by 44
- attorney for 25
- parent of 24
- attorney against 10
- in the disputed interpersonal custody of 9
- jailed by 6
- an institutional ward of 5
- child of 5
- enslaved by 5
- detained by 4
- formerly enslaved by 4
- grandparent of 4
- married to 4
- formerly married to 3
- kidnapper of 2
- parent-appointed guardian of 2
- presumed relative of 2
- relative of 2
- sibling of 2
- cohabitating with 1
- employer of 1
- former inlaw of 1
- inlaw of 1
- opposing attorney to 1
- stepparent of 1
- under the military command of 1
Cases
- In the matter of the application of George Walker, John San Francisco and Pedro O'Brien for a Writ of Habeas Corpus 4
- Israel/Israil, a man of color vs. William Rector, Isaac Luther 2
- Anson, a boy of color v. Henry G. Mitchel and Henry C. Russel 2
- Anson and Michael, persons of color, by and through their next friend, William Clark v. Elijah Mitchel 2
- By the Habeas Corpus Act in the matter of Philip Ahren 2
- Habeas Corpus in the matter of William M Parkinson 2
- Habeas Corpus of Jack Sommer for Dave Rubenstein against Claude Bannick 2
- In matter of application of Mortimer Fox by Parke Godwin for writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In re application for writ of habeas corpus by Lizzie Hendrickson 2
- In re application of Mary Harmon for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In re application of Rose Van Ormer by her next friend John Van Ormer for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In re application of Virginia May LaVonne, by Grace LaVonne, her mother and next friend, for a writ of habeas corpus 2
- In the matter of application of Margaret Grundy by Mrs. Roy Davis her mother and next friend for writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of application of Ruth Christy by Robert E. Christy her parent and next friend for writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of application of Tom Buras by Joseph Buras father and next friend for writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of Frances Vanhorn to the Writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application for a Writ of Habeas Corpus for Mollie A. Calhoun, a minor 2
- In the Matter of the Application of Al Krugman 2
- In the matter of the application of Eddie Toman by Anna Cohen, his mother and next friend, for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the Matter of the Application of Herold James Miller, by Grace Miller, his next friend, for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the Application of John King for writ Habeas Corpus 2
- In the Matter of the Application of Joseph Thomas Williams, by Joseph Lafayette Williams, his father and next friend for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the Matter of the Application of Marie Allen, next friend of Walter H. Pilger Allen, a minor, for a writ of habeas corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Mary A. Thomas, for a writ of habeas corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Mortimer Fox by his next friend and counsel Parke Godwin for a writ of Habeas Corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Mrs. Gladys Fredrika Fuson, for a writ of habeas corpus 2
- In the Matter of the Application of Nettie Patterson for and on behalf of W. Burlingame, for a writ of habeas corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Nina P. Robotham, a minor, by Robert G. Robotham, her next friend, for a writ of habeas corpus 2
- In the matter of the application of Simeon E. Mace for a writ of Habeas Corpus on behalf of Glen McAtee 2
- John vs. William Campbell 2
- Malinda and Nelly, people of color, by and through their next friend, Beriah Cleland v. Robert Wilburn 2
- Maria Whitten vs. Garland Rucker 2
- Patrick Henry vs. Garland Rucker 2
- Peter, a free man of color vs. James Walton, George Walton 2
- Habeas Corpus To the Jailor of S Louis County. P. Chouteau Sr. B. Pratte & A. Amelin 1
- In the Matter of the Application of Ike Zemansky for a Writ of Habeas Corpus 1
- In the matter of the application of John Rooney for writ of Habeas Corpus 1
- In the Matter of the Petition of David Brown for Habeas Corpus 1
- Michael, a boy of color vs. Henry G. Mitchel and Henry C. Russel 1
65 results
Download JSON Download CSVAhren, Philip
- Birth date: January 1, 1832
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party, petitioner
Parkinson, William M.
- Birth date: January 1, 1843
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Vanhorn, Frances
- Birth date: November 11, 1847
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party, petitioner
Buras, Joseph (Josef)
- Birth date: January 1, 1865
- Birth place: Poland
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Polish
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Oharra, Alma (Immaculate Deleurs)
- Birth date: January 1, 1884
- Birth place: United States
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Bound party
Christy, Robert E.
- Birth date: January 1, 1886
- Birth place: Pennsylvania
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Robotham, Robert G.
- Birth date: January 1, 1888
- Birth place: Nebraska, United States
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Calhoun, Mollie A.
- Birth date: January 1, 1889
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
LaVonne, Grace
- Birth date: January 1, 1895
- Birth place: Nebraska
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Fuson, Gladys Fredrika (née Hauck or Hawk)
- Birth date: September 8, 1899
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party, petitioner
Buras, Tom
- Birth date: January 1, 1900
- Birth place: Nebraska
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Polish
- Case role(s): Bound party
Grundy, Margaret
- Birth date: January 1, 1900
- Birth place: Canada
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Bound party
Toman, Eddie
- Birth date: February 12, 1903
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Thomas, Mary A.
- Birth date: January 1, 1906
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Christy, Ruth
- Birth date: January 1, 1909
- Birth place: Nebraska
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Bound party
Robotham, Nina Pearl
- Birth date: January 1, 1909
- Birth place: Nebraska, United States
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Bound party, petitioner
LaVonne, Virginia May
- Birth date: August 28, 1918
- Birth place: Iowa
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Bound party, petitioner
Williams, Joseph Thomas
- Birth date: January 1, 1921
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Black
- Case role(s): Bound party
San Francisco, John
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner, bound party
Harmon, Mary J
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Anson
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: United States
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Black
- Case role(s): Bound party, petitioner
Walker, George
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner, bound party
Emerson, R.W.
- Birth date: N.D.
- Sex: Unknown
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Michael
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Illinois, United States
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Black, Colored
- Case role(s): Bound party, petitioner
Allen, Marie
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Patterson, Nettie
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Cleland, Beriah
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: White
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Amelin, Alexis
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Respondent, responding party, interested party
Israel
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Black
- Case role(s): Petitioner, bound party
Clark, William
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Van Ormer, John
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Jackson, Peter
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Black
- Case role(s): Petitioner, bound party
Cohen, Anna
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Macauley, Jeremiah
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Whitten, Maria
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Virginia
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Black
- Case role(s): Petitioner, bound party
Malinda
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Black
- Case role(s): Bound party
Evans, Augustus
- Birth date: N.D.
- Sex: Male
- Case role(s): Presumed petitioner
Smith, Frank
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: United States
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Williams, Joseph Lafayette
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Black
- Case role(s): Petitioner
O'Brien, Pedro
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner, bound party
King, John
- Birth date: N.D.
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Moeller, Hartman
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Davis, Mrs. Roy
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
McMasters, Lona
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Fidler, Frances E.
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Miller, Grace
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
Sommer, Jack
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner, petitioner attorney
Sarpee, Margarett
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Female
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
Burlingame, W. (Jack Montague)
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Male
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Bound party
Wilcox, J. H.
- Birth date: N.D.
- Birth place: Unknown
- Sex: Unknown
- Race or ethnicity: Unknown
- Case role(s): Petitioner
