200@200 : March - Peopling the Community
Date:
1842
Title:
Henry Canada Summons

Allen County Commissioner Papers
Description:
Henry Canada Court Summons - African-American

Though African-Americans began moving North in large numbers following the Civil War, some moved to Indiana before the war as well, despite laws that complicated the movement. Indiana law required all African-Americans entering the state for settlement after 1831 to pay a five-hundred-dollar bond. It was believed that this policy would prevent the influx of old and infirm freed slaves who might burden the welfare budgets of township trustees. Those who were unable to pay the bond could be hired out by overseers of the poor for a period of six months.

Court summons were issued in 1842 to six local African-Americans charged with failure to post their bonds. Two of these men, brothers Henry and James Canada, were able to hire legal counsel, produce witnesses, and as a result, win their cases, exempting themselves from posting any bonds. This is the original Court Summons issued to Henry Canada in 1842.
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Henry Canada SummonsHenry Canada Summons
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African Methodist Episcopal Church Founding in Fort Wayne, Canada in CenterAfrican Methodist Episcopal Church Founding in Fort Wayne, Canada in Center
Henry Canada SummonsHenry Canada Summons