Petition in the Case of U.S. ex. rel. John Wheeler v. Passmore Williamson

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Description

Enslaved to John Hill Wheeler, U.S. ambassador to Nicaragua, Jane Johnson sought help in escaping from him. Abolitionists William Still and Passmore Williamson rescued Johnson and her two sons as they boarded the Delaware River ferry. Wheeler petitioned the court to have Williamson return his slaves, but Williamson refused and went to jail.

Citation

This primary source comes from the Records of District Courts of the United States.

National Archives Identifier: 2641489

Full Citation: Petition in the Case of U.S. ex. rel. John Wheeler v. Passmore Williamson; 7/18/1855; U.S. ex. rel. John Wheeler vs. Passmore Williamson; Habeas Corpus Case Files, 1791–1915; Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives at Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/document/petition-john-wheeler-v-passmore-williamson/, April 24, 2026]

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