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

The Common Wealth of Kintucky [sic] Mercer County [Lc?]

The Common Wealth of Kentucky AgainstJoseph Conway Upon a charge of Felony in stealing a Negro man Slave by the name of Warner the property of Robert Boyce of said County on the night of 17^th March last Be it Remembered that upon this day to wit on the 5^th day of Ap.^l 1816 a warrant in the name of the Common wealth against ^the s^d Joseph Conway touching the Felony aforesaid was duly Returned before us Joseph Morgan & Samuel Daviess- two of the Common Wealths Justices of the peace in & for the county Af^d. & it appearing to us not only by the officers Return on s.^d warrant ^but also from evidence which we heard that the s^d. Joseph Conway is a fugitive and has

this Day & Year first above written

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

To his Excellency

Isaac Shelby Governor of Kentucky

Mercer County sc

The Common Wealth of Kentucky to the Sheriff or any Constable of Mercer County Greeting Whereas Robert Boyce has this day made Complaint upon Oath before me as Justice of the peace for s^d County that he has good cause to suspect and does verily believe that on the night of the 17^th Instant a Certain Joseph Conway did Feloni -ously steal take and carry away from the possession of him the s^d Boyce a Negroe man slave named Warner the property of him the said Rob^t Boyce and has fled from this state to the State of Tennessee -

There are therefore in the name of the Common Wealth af^d to command you that you take the Said Joseph Conway if he is to be found in your balawick and bring him before me or some other Justice of the peace for s^d County to Answer the Complaint Af^d and further to be dealt with as the law directs - Given under my hand this 23^rd day of March 1816

Jo^s Morgan J, O, M, C

Summon Robert Boyce & John Shannon Witnesses for the Common Wealth to appear before me and other Justices of the peace for s^d County on Tuesday the 26^th Ins^t at the Court House in Harrodsburg whether the s^d Conway be found in your balawick or not

Jo^s Morgan [J P?]

I have mad [sic] deligent [sic] search and Enquiry for the within named Joseph Conway in my balawick [sic] & he cannot be found within the same & I am Informed that he hath fled with the within named Slave To the state of Tennessee Given Under my hand this 26^th of March 1816

Joel P. Williams DS [for?] H. Palmer Shff M

The Common Wealth vs Joseph Conway

Warrant

On the 5^th day of Ap^l 1816 the Witnesses for the Common Wealth came upon us Justices of the peace for Mercer County at the Court House in the Town of Harrodsburg and after hearing the Evidence together with the Sheriffs Return on this Warrant we are of opinion the within named Joseph Conway is a fugitive and is fled to the state of Tennessee Bedford County near Shelbyville [P^r.?] Reports of proceedings sent on to the Governor of Kentucky by us

Jo^s Morgan J, P, M, C Sam^l Daviess J, P, M, C

Mercer County C I do hereby certify the foregoing is a true coppy [sic] of a Common Wealths warrant against Joseph Conway as also a Coppy [sic] of the Shffs Return like wise a Coppy [sic] of the Magistrates opinion as Respects s^d Conway ^& Given Under my Hand & seal the 11^th Ap^l. 1816

Jo^s Morgan J P. M. C seal