Early Governors' Papers

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

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

Elly Scott saith that she repeat^edly heard Joseph Conway say he woud take a Negroe Boy by the name of Warner which Boy was purchased by Robert Boyce of a certain Stapp & on Saturday the 16^th day of March last the said Conway was at Her House and Informed her he was a going below Harrodsburg after said boy & on the Monday following the said Boy came to her House and was Informed, by him Joseph Conway was behind & in about an Hour & a half after the said Joseph Conway came up & Informed her he had found the said Negroe that when he saw the Negroe first which was in the night the Negroe attempted to dodge him & he puled out his pistol & would have shot him if he had not come off with him that she is the wife of James H. Scott whose Deposition has been taken as Above

Elly Scott X her mark

George Stegal saith that Upon Monday the 18^th day of March last About sun rise he met the Boy Warner on Horse back with a rope tied in the horses mouth he supposed the boy was run away & Attempted to take him but after some enquirys [sic] he discovered it was Warner which he did not at first know

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