Early Governors' Papers

By Joseph McMinn Governor of the State of Tennessee

To all Sheriffs Coroners Constables Magistrates and other officers and citizens of the State of Tennessee Greeting

Whereas it is represented to me by the Honorable Isaac Shelby Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky that a certain Joseph Conway hath feloniously stolen taken & carried away from a certain Robert Boyce, of the county of Mercer in said State of Kentucky a certain negro man named Warner the property of said Robert Boyce out of his possession in said county & State on or about the 17^th day of March last. and the said Governor of Kentucky having forwarded to me the affidavits of said Robert Boyce Jesse Scott James H Scott Ellen Scott and George Stegall. taken in said State and county duly authenticated and sworn to before Joseph Morgan & Samuel Davis Justices of the peace. and certified as authentic by said Gover nor. of the State of Kentucky to be [correct?] that said crime was committed & said defend^t had fled and said Isaac Shelby having made demand of me in proper form that said Joseph Conway be

Mercer County [set? sct?]

The Common Wealth of Kentucky ag^t Joseph Conway as a Fugitive from Justice upon a Charge for stealing a Negroe Man Slave the property of Robert Boyce - Be it Remembered that on ^the 5^th day of Ap^l. 1816 In pursuance of a Summons in behalf of the Common Wealth ^of for Robert Boyce, Jesse Scott, James H Scott, Elly Scott, & George Stegal, as Witnesses to give Testimony touching the aforesaid Charge of Felony ag.^t the said Joseph Conway a Fugitive from Justice personal -ly the following witness who deposeth as followeth to wit Rob^t. Boyce saith that on the night of the 20^th seventeenth day of March last a Negroe Man Slave by the name of Warner was taken out of his possession without his knowledge or consent which Boy [t]he said Boyce purchased of William Stapp on the 23^rd day of

June 1812?] & has, never disposed of or sold the same to any person since & has con-tinued in the possession of said Boy ever since said purchase Untill so taken away

Rob^t Boyce John Scott saith that on the 18^th day of March last he met Joseph Conway with a negro Boy by the name of Warner which Boy he understood Robert Boyce purchased of a certain William Stapp some time since, & Understood said Conway he was taking said Boy to the State of Tennessee at his said Conways residence that he met s^d Conway early in the morning something like an hour after sun ^rise about five miles from the crab Orchard and about thirty five miles from Harrodsburg which is about four miles nearer then the Residence of said Boyce where this deponant [sic] understands he lives

Jesse Scott

but had formerly been acquainted with him he discovered by the equ^iries [sic] he made of the boy that said Joseph Conway was Just behind which was a fact for in a few minutes said Conway came up.

George Stegal X his Mark

State of Kentucky Mercer County

We Joseph Morgan & Samuel Daviess two of the Common Wealths Justices of the peace for the County aforesaid Do certify that we did this day examine and take and take down in writing the foregoing depositions of Robert Boyce, Jesse Scott, James H Scott Ellen Scott and George Stegall & that the same was sworn to & Subscribed by said Witnesses in our presence Given Under our hands & seals this 5^th day of Ap.^l at the Court House in Harrodsburg 1816

Jo^s Morgan J. P. seal Sam^l Daviess seal