The Sangamon County Circuit Court opens a two-week session with Judge Jesse B. Thomas Jr. presiding. Stuart & Lincoln appear for New Salem storekeeper Samuel Hill in the attachment suit Hill v. McNabb. Under agreement of both parties, the court dismisses the case and orders the defendant to pay all court costs. The defendant confesses judgment in Hickman v. Braucher, and the court awards Stuart & Lincoln's client $481.69 in damages. Representing defendant Joseph Kyle, Stuart & Lincoln request the court to order the plaintiff in Sinnard v. Kyle to provide security for court costs.Record; Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

The court appoints Lincoln guardian ad litem for an infant defendant in Thayer v. Phillips et al. Stuart & Lincoln file the defendant's plea in Sinnard v. Kyle. Stuart & Lincoln represent the defendant in Foster v. Cassidy and the court allows the attorneys in the case to open depositions. Lincoln does most of paper work in these suits, and he also writes and signs a plea for the defendant in Fleming v. Ransdell.Record; Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

The court grants Stuart & Lincoln permission to amend their bill of complaint in Hickman v. Braucher et ux., and they file letters of administration in the same case and in Dingman v. Dearing. Stuart & Lincoln file a certificate of publication in Francis v. Mitchell et al. The defendant in Cannon v. Kenney, requests the court to order Stuart & Lincoln's client, the plaintiff, to give security for court costs.Record; Photocopy.

Stuart & Lincoln lose Ware v. Duncan et al. when the court finds the defendant indebted to the plaintiff for $172.25. Stuart & Lincoln file the defendant's plea in Trowbridge v. Hughes. After they request a continuance in Roll v. Anderson the court approves their motion. In Wright et al. v. Adams, the court grants the defendant leave to open depositions. Stuart, Lincoln, and Logan represent the plaintiffs.Record.

Stuart & Lincoln participate in 23 cases before the Sangamon County Circuit Court. They obtain favorable judgments in nine cases totaling $3,045.17. They file the defendant's plea in five cases. The court continues five cases, dismisses two cases, and hears requests by the defendants to reverse judgment in two other cases.Record.

In one case, Stuart & Lincoln obtain a judgment of $203 in favor of their clients, James Anderson, John W. Anderson, and William Bell, in Anderson, Bell & Co. v. Patterson & Patterson.Record.

Stuart & Lincoln represent the complainants, Noah Mason and Lucinda Mason, in Mason v. Mason et al. and Mason v. Mason et al. respectively, and they request permission of the court to amend the record in each case.Record.

Stuart & Lincoln, representing the plaintiffs, obtain a judgment of $860.48 by confession of one of the defendants, Alexander Garrett, in Anderson, Bell & Co. v. H. Garrett & Co.. The court orders the clerk to issue a summons to the other defendant Henry Garrett. The court grants them leave to amend the bill of complaint in Francis v. Mitchell et al.Record.

In the partition case, Mason v. Mason et al., and the dower case Mason v. Mason et al., Lincoln writes the commissioner's report partitioning the land in Noah Mason's estate and assigning dower to his widow, Lucinda Mason. The three commissioners later sign the report.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

In the murder case People v. Truett, the court appointed Stephen A. Douglas prosecuting attorney pro tem since the state's attoney, John D. Urquhart, was a witness. The defendant, Henry B. Truett, indicted for murder of Dr. Jacob M. Early, hired Stuart, Lincoln, Logan, Baker, and Cyrus Walker for the trial.Record.

Lincoln writes Levi Davis of Vandalia, apologizing for delay in attending to affairs of Davis' clients. He assures him no damage has been done by delay.Abraham Lincoln to Levi Davis, 15 March 1838, CW, 1:116.

Stuart & Lincoln represent the plaintiffs in two cases, Reed v. Fleming and Goodacre v. Simpson, that go to a jury. The jury fails to agree on a verdict in the first case and finds in favor of the defendant in the second case. The court gives Stuart & Lincoln permission to amend their bill of complaint in Hart v. Hart et al., and Lincoln writes and files the judge's decree. The court continues two other Stuart & Lincoln cases.Record.

In Finley v. Finley and Winn v. Winn, two divorce cases, Stuart & Lincoln obtain divorces for complainants, Andrew Finley and John Winn respectively. The court rules in favor of Stuart & Lincoln's clients in three chancery cases: Hickman v. Braucher et ux., Miller v. Chrisman et al., and Anderson, Bell & Co. v. Garrett et ux. The court orders Stuart & Lincoln's client, Manley F. Cannan, to give security for costs in Cannan v. Kenney.Record.

Lincoln writes and files court decrees in Miller v. Chrisman et al. and Wilson v. Simpson et al., and the affidavit of William Goodacre in Goodacre v. Simpson.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln writes for James Wright application to County Commissioners' Court for permit to build mill dam on Brush Creek.Application Written for James Wright, [March 1838], CW, 1:116.

[Morgan Circuit Court convenes at Jacksonville for two-week session. Judge Jesse B. Thomas, Jr., presides. Josiah Lamborn and firm of William Thomas & William Brown have most cases. John J. Hardin and Murray McConnel are among term's leading lawyers.Record.]

Henry B. Truett, the defendant in People v. Truett, indicted on March 14, 1838 for murder of Dr. Jacob M. Early, gives Stuart & Lincoln each a promissory note for $250 for legal fees. Truett secures the notes with a mortgage on two sections of land in northern Sangamon County [now in Chester Township in Logan County]. Sangamon County Deed Book M, 412-13, Illinois Regional Archives Depository, University of Illinois Springfield.

Stuart writes and files a petition for dower in Musick v. Musick et al., and Lincoln fills out a summons form. They represent the complainant, widow Elizabeth Musick, in the case.Photocopy.

Lincoln is one of 101 citizens of Springfield signing note for $16,666.67 to state bank to enable town to pay second instalment of one third of $50,000 pledged in February 1837 to obtain capital.Note for the Completion of the State Capitol, 22 March 1838, CW, 1:116-17.

[John T. Stuart and Stephen A. Douglas debate issues of their campaign for Congress in Jacksonville.Illinois Standard (Jacksonville), 31 March 1838.]