Pryor Q. Tunstall to Richard Yates

Carrollton Ills Aug 22d

1862

Governor Yates

Dear Sir

I received a letter from Mr Chas R. Hall of St Louis, who is now holding the negroes of the estate of Mary Tunstall deceased, under a deed-of-trust, for her children and heirs to her estate. He writes me that two of these negroes have run off from St Louis and that they have gon to Chicago. I am the eldest of the heirs, and feel it my duty to do all in my power to take care of the interests

of my brother & sister as well as my own, though if I were the owner of the servants, I think the chances of geting them are so few, that I would not go after them. But as it is, I feel that it is my duty to do every thing in my power to get them, and ask you to give me an order to take them if I can find them in this state, and prove them to be the Negroes who have run off, and who belong to the estate of Mary Tunstall. I do not know wether it will require, that I shall give a description of these servants before I can get an order for them, or not. I cannot give a good description of them as I have seen but little of them since I was very small.

But I know that one of them is a man about twenty one years old, a light copper color, medium hight and quite slender. The other is a Woman about the same color, quite large and about thirty-five or forty years old. These descriptions may not be full enough. But I expect a letter by the next mail giveing a description of both the servants from Mr Hall, which descriptions I can either send, or bring to Springfield if nessary. Please answer this as soon as you can conveniently do so. Yours most obedient

Pryor Q. Tunstall

Ans Sept 2

Pryor Q Tunstall

Carrollton Aug 22/62

His Nigro's have run off - belong to an estate, he is one of the heirs - asks for an order to take them if he can find them.

Gov is not authorized to give order - must apply to the U. S. Comr. appd for this purpose under fugitive slave law.