Knox County court records for Polly Strong, 1818

Documents relating to Polly Strong and her battle for freedom from indentured servitude are in Knox County Circuit Court files at the Knox County Public Library’s McGrady-Brockman House. Polly and her younger brother James Strong were the children of Jenny (no last name) who was sold by native Americans to Antoine Lasselle. Laselle sold Polly to Joseph Barron and James to someone bearing the last name Laplante. Documents in these files show that Polly and James were threatened with being sold into slavery in New Orleans “and to other places beyond the high seas” if they did not enter into indentured servitude with Hyacinth Lasalle. Other documents in these files include Polly Strong’s indenture agreement and a writ of habeas corpus. In January 1820 John W. Osborn and Amory Kinney petitioned for Polly Strong’s freedom in the Knox County Circuit Court. The court in Vincennes ruled that Polly should remain in service to Lasalle. In May of 1820 Kinney filed an appeal to the Indiana Supreme Court. The supreme court sided with Polly Strong declaring “that all men are born equally free and independent and have certain natural; inherent and unalienable rights, among which are the enjoying and defending life and liberty…” In the decision this verbiage is underlined. In an 1822 suit, Strong was sued by Joseph Huffman to collect money he’d lent her. The Jury found in favor of Huffman