Commonwealth ex rel. Stephens v. Clements, 6 Binn. 206 (Pa. 1814)

Susan Stephens (plaintiff) against Joseph Clements (defendant) regarding Stephen’s status as a slave to Clements. Stephens was previously enslaved to William Maxwell of Maryland and escaped to Pennsylvania, where she married George Stephens, a free black man. Maxwell captured Stephens intending to bring her back to Maryland as his slave, but Clements offered payment to Maxwell for the manumission of Susan Stephens, instead having both Susan and George Stephens enslaved to Clements for a duration of three years. Decision: prisoner remanded.