Conditions Governing Use:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Conditions Governing Access:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Preferred Citation:

Court Documents (Clark County, Indiana) Relating to Matilda Baker, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Processing Information:

Accessioned and minimally processed by Benjamin Bromley in November 2012.

Scope and Contents

Court documents, 1820, relating to a case between Matilda Baker and William Lewis, who is described as "a man of color." Baker alledged that Lewis tried to rape her and the court documents are primarily bonds to ensure the appearance of the defendant, plantiff, and witnesses in the case. Lewis was convicted and setenced to a fine of one cent and 39 lashes. He appealed on the basis of a new witness, but the result of that appeal is not known.

There are also transcriptions of these documents provided by the seller which have not been verified.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• African Americans--History
• Indiana--History
• Indiana--History--19th century
• Legal documents
• Rape