Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Case of U.S. ex. rel. John Wheeler v. Passmore Williamson
7/19/1855
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This writ of habeas corpus commands Passmore Williamson to return Jane, Daniel and Isaiah, "persons of color." On the reverse side, Williamson responds that he does not have custody of these people.
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Abolitionists William Still and Passmore Williamson rescued the Johnson family enslaved to the U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua. Served with a writ of habeas corpus that required him to produce the Johnson family, Williamson refused and was jailed. The case became both an international and a national cause célèbre of the abolitionist movement.
This primary source comes from the Records of District Courts of the United States.
National Archives Identifier: 2641488
Full Citation: Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Case of U.S. ex. rel. John Wheeler v. Passmore Williamson; 7/19/1855; Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/writ-of-habeas-corpus-in-the-case-of-us-ex-rel-john-wheeler-v-passmore-williamson, September 20, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
