Two Affidavits Attesting to Men Held in Stocks by Jacob Housman on Indian Key, 1838

Imprisonment

False imprisonment

Corporal punishment

Pillories

Stocks (Punishment)

Prisoners

Two affidavits attesting that Jacob Housman held multiple men captive within stocks on Indian Key.

State Archives of Florida, Series S877

1838-12

Eldridge, William H.

Thouron, Joseph A.

Sitcher, John

affidavits

eng-US

Text

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Territorial Florida (1821-1845)

Indian Key (Fla.)

Key West (Fla.)

Monroe County (Fla.)

Miami-Dade County (Fla.)

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Politics and Government

Housman, Jacob

Schanks, Charles

Thompson, Charles

Territory of Florida Monroe County William H. Eldridge, master of the wrecking sloop George Eldridge, being duly sworn deposes and says that while at Indian Key in the month of August last he saw in the warehouse of Jacob Housman two white men of the sloop Brilliant, confined in stocks by the order of the said Housman, and that in the month of October last he also saw two other white men belonging to the schooner Sylph, in like manner, and by the orders of the said Housman, confined in stocks, and that it is a general report that such practices are common with the said Housman at that place. Wm. H. Eldridge Subscribed and sworn to, at Key West before me this 11th December 1838 L.W. Smith [?] Notary Public

Territory of Florida Monroe County City of Key West S.S. Personally appeared before me, Joseph A. Thomon, a notary public duly commissioned and sworn for the county & territory aforesaid, John Sitcher, mariner, who deposeth and saith that in the latter part of July 1838 on the commencement of August in same year whilst ashore on Indian Key on duty being then one of the crew of sloop George Eldridge, he saw two white men named Charles Schanks and Charles Thompson, crew of ship Brilliant (belonging to Jacob Houseman), confined in said Houseman's warehouse in the stocks. He had a conversation with them, and they stated that they had been in that situation then three days and they were only allowed biscuit & water, had no bedding nor mosquito bar, and were obliged to sleep in that situation, & that they were placed in that situation by order of Jacob Houseman, the reputed owner of Indian Key, and deponent was informed by Charles Schanks that he & his shipmate were confined in said situation for eight days. Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 13th day of December, 1838. Joseph A. Thomon Notary Public John Sitcher