Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

In force 21st July, 1837.

AN ACT to change the names of Thomas Jefferson Sanders and Francis Hood.
1

Name of Sanders changed.

Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That Thomas Jefferson Sanders, of Perry county, in this state, shall hereafter be called and known by the name of Thomas Jefferson McDowell; and (in) the said latter name shall be capable of sueing and being sued, pleading and being impleaded, defending and being defended in all courts of law and equity; and by the said name of Thomas Jefferson McDowell, shall be capable of making contracts, and of doing all other legal acts of whatever kind or description: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall invalidate any contracts heretofore made, or legal acts done and performed by the said Thomas Jefferson Sanders, known as Thomas Jefferson McDowell, whether such contract or act may have been made and performed in the name of Sanders or McDowell, but the same are hereby legalized.

Name of Hood changed.

Proviso.

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That Francis Hood, of Perry county, of this state, shall hereafter be called and known by the name of Francis Thornsbury, and by the last mentioned name, shall be capable of suing and being sued, defend and being defended, in all courts and places, as fully and in the same manner as other individuals can by their own proper names; and shall be capable of contracting and being contracted with, and of doing and performing all other legal acts and business of whatever kind: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall affect or invalidate any contract, or other legal act, heretofore entered into or performed.

This act to be in force from and after its passage.

Approved, 21st July, 1837.

1On July 11, 1837, Richard G. Murphy in the House of Representatives presented the petition of Thomas J. Sanders, requesting that name be recognized legally as Thomas J. McDowell. The House referred the petition to the Committee on Petitions. In response to this petition, John Wyatt of the aforesaid committee introduced HB 16 in the House on July 13. The House passed the bill on July 14. The Senate concurred on July 18. On July 21, the Council of Revision approved the bill and the act became law.
Journal of the House of Representatives of the Tenth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, at a Special Session of the General Assembly, Begun and Held in the Town of Vandalia, July 10, 1837 (Vandalia, IL: William Walters, 1837), 8, 49, 64, 115, 136, 163; Journal of the Senate of the Tenth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, at a Special Session, Begun and Held in Vandalia, July 10, 1837 (Vandalia, IL: William Walters, 1837), 54, 76-77, 88, 114.