1861-MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE by (SLAVE DOCUMENT - 1861

1863. Very Good. Holograph Document. Dated August 25, 1863. Barnwell District. 1 page. 25cm. Slave named John who was impressed on May 30, 1862 is valued as of that date by two appraisers as worth $1500.

Autograph letter, January or October 28th, 1854, highly legible hand, 4 pp., Five inch tear along one fold, but doesn't really affect text, smaller fold tear on back sheet, a little staining; otherwise in very good condition. This is an autograph letter signed by Malcolm? McNeil from Sommerville, Tenn., to his wife (in Louisiana or Mississippi?) while on a trip to attend Methodist Church conference in Memphis. "…our Lake Charles preacher" [Culpepper] "who has been two weeks from the plantation, he says all well, fine health since spring…Bro. Culpepper says in addition to our losses at Lake Charles...one of Sissy's boys (he thinks his name was Turner) died with the scarlet fever...three died after I left. Pale Mahalie's child and a boy... one of Cissey's children, it is strange Thos.Henry never reported it but Culpepper says he was nurse physician and all that after I left. Thos.Henry…wrote…that Flowa and Henry were expected to die and that...Culpepper attended in person to the sick and done… Read More

1 page on folio sheet, docketed. Some minor aging at fold, but otherwise in excellent condition. Legible account of the sale of liquor to a slave. The incident took place on December 1, 1836 in Lawrence County Alabama, when one Abner Blaisdell sold 25 cents worth of liquor to a slave named Edmund, who was the property of a John Clap. The document is signed by William Richardson solicitor of the 4th Judicial Circuit Court of the state of Alabama.

Hinds County, Mississippi,, December 24th, 1834.. Lightly creased where folded; otherwise fine. . 8-3/4 x 7-1/2 inches.. The estate included two Negro boys, Nedham and Merica, appraised at $700 (and two promissory notes totaling $46).

Folio sheet, with 35 lines of text plus signature and closing, remnant of was seal, docketed on reverse. Some separation at folds and a few chips at the edges, generally not affecting text (minor affect on two words), modest foxing and aging. Highly legible hand outlines a transfer of three slaves, belonging to Margaret Masters to her son-in-law and daughter. John Chappell and his wife Verlinda were given 'three Negroes', Rachel, Bess and Doll from Margaret Masters. Her other property also appears to be transferred to the son-in-law and daughter, under the condition that they provide for her during her 'natural life'. The deed provides that Masters would continue to have use of the property during her lifetime. The document is signed by Robert Peters, and carries the mark of Margaret Masters.

Folded letter sheet, 1pp., signed. Some creasing and edgewear, normal aging and toning; otherwise very good. William Ramlin Withers (c1756-1834) was a Revolutionary War soldier that enlisted as a sergeant, but would be promoted to Lieutenant. In 1782 he returned to Virginia with a leg injury that seems to have left him lame for the rest of his life. It is unclear how he was injured. The letter is to a Mr. Sawyer of Frankford, Kentucky. The address can be seen faintly on the overleaf. Withers who was in his sixties when he wrote this letter was trying to sell some land he was given in Ohio. However, because he was "old a very infirm man" he needed his slaves to take care of him. Since slaves were not allowed in Ohio, Withers was forced to sell the land, which he offered to Sawyer. He offered the land for one dollar per acre, he also indicated "I will take part payment, four or five young horses at a fair price. "Withers had a somewhat colorful life, and after serving in the military he was also a… Read More

One page, 4to. Tear and loss of blank paper where formerly sealed. Two very small holes at the fold not affecting text. Very good or better condition. A very interesting case which an ex-slave gives testimony regarding transactions involving coal by his former master Comfort Sage. The former slave Mark Winthrop signs the document with an X.

Single small folio leaf, writtten on one side, docketed on the reverse. Creases where folded, outer fold evenly darkened, a few small chips or tears, normal aging. Both Gerse van den Bergh and David Grosebeck were members of the Dutch Reformed Church in Albany. Van Den Bergh, like many upstate New York Dutch held many slaves. Grosebeck's claim to fame was that he was chosen constable for the second ward, and he also belonged to the Albany militia company. At the outbreak of the Revolution he supported the Revolutionary cause, and in 1778 was named lieutenant of the a company of older patriots, who would only be called up in case of emergency. He died in 1795 at the age of sixty-nine, and his obituary characterized him as "a pious and exemplary man." The present document lists fourteen pairs of shoes for both male and female slaves (neger and negrin) made and sold between October 1770 and March 1776.

Single folio sheet (plus blanks), 12 x 7 ½, 28 lines of text, plus signatures, written on one side and docketed on the reverse, remnants of two wax seals, signed by parties. Creases where folded, paper evenly toned; very nice condition overall. Document is in a highly legible hand that appears to be the result of a family dispute, which is probably over an inheritance. Petrus van Bergen and William van Bergen were hauled into court to give up a Negro man named Will to their brother Martin van Bergen. These procedings were witnessed by Cornelius Glen and Matthew Vischer. Pettrus van Bergen was a member of the New York Senate.

One page folio sheet (8 x 12 1/2), docketed on the reverse, full page of text. Dampstained in upper and lower quarters, a 1x1 inch chip in the lower right corner affecting the signature of Gershon Lee, several small holes along the folds affecting six words of text, archival tape repairs to folds on verso. Earlier in the year 1764, during the reign of George the Third, Arthur Hanse of Mommouth County, New Jersey, sold a male slave to Gershon Lee for five hundred pounds. However, the slave died within months of the sale, and according to this agreement, Hanse had to make good on the sale. Nevertheless, as the brief indicates, the parties involved agreed to go to arbitration to settle the matter. The document is signed by Gershon Lee, Peter Wycof, and Thomas Atkinson, all from well-known colonial New Jersey families. This is a rare and unusual early New Jersey manuscript piece.