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

James H. Scott saith that on Saturday the 10^th day of March last Joseph Conway called at this deponents House in the County of Roccastle about five miles east of the Crab Orchard & requested this deponant [sic] to go with him about four miles below Harrods burg for the purpose of getting a negroe ^Boy by the home of Warner which boy this deponant [sic] Understood Robert Boyce had purchased of a certain W^m Stapp this deponant [sic] would not go with said Conway & on the Monday following about an Hour after sun rise in the morning the said boy came to this deponants [sic] House & Informed him Joseph Conway was behind, this deponant [sic] left Home Immediately after & did not see s^d Conway on that day morning, on the Saturday aforesaid the s^d Conway asked this deponant [sic] to direct him a near way so as to Intersect with the Pulaski road that would Cut off about five miles in the distance of ten miles

James H. 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