Lot 380

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Description:

Superb Pre-War/Civil War Slavery Archive from Alabama's Wilcox County, 26 items!

This small archive of approximately 26 documents includes materials related to slaves, including the sale and renting of slaves and their valuation in estates at the death of their owners. Together, they offer a poignant reminder of the history of owning persons as property.

[SLAVERY.] Archive of documents related to slavery in the United States, 1836-1867. Expected folds; varying degrees of toning and soiling; some dampstaining; some edge tears; very good. A sampling of the archive includes the following items:
Handwritten document of expenses incurred by guardian James G. Young. Wilcox County, Alabama, June 1, 1847. 1p, measuring 12.25" x 7.375". Lists “To 1/3 part Hire of Negroes this year,” for $108.33.

Statement of guardian’s expenses, with slaves. Wilcox County, Alabama, December 25, 1844 (which is unusual, as Christmas was a holiday of considerable importance throughout the South). 1p, measuring 15.25" x 7.75". Records entry for slave expense: “By one fifth of negro hire this year $470/94.00.” In other words, one fifth of the $470.00 expenditure was claimed for this particular child, indicating that the guardian was probably caring for five children simultaneously and filed four separate reports. Signed by the Justice of the Peace.

Probate Court Document, Division of an Estate. Wilcox County, January 4-5, 1860. 3pp, one legal size and the other 7.75" x 9.75". Numerous slaves are listed by name, divided by lots and by ballots, with group valuations. Written in at least two different hands.

An account of Guardian's Expenses, "Ann A. Heath, in account with James G. Young, her Guardian", for the year 1844. Wilcox County, Alabama, dated May 20, 1845. 1p, measuring 15.5" x 3.5". Gives expenses that the guardian has incurred and for which he is billing the estate. Includes the entry "By one fifth of the hire of negroes this year." Total amount of hire is given as $470.00, for which $94.00 is claimed against the care of this child. As one fifth the total sum is charged for each child, the conclusion can be drawn that (a) there were five children under the guardians care, or (b) there were four children and the guardian is counting himself as the fifth person.

A receipt for a Probate Judge for Sale of Slaves. Wilcox County, Alabama, dated August 13, 1860. 1p, on blue-tinted paper, measuring 8" x 5". Reads, "Received. Camden…from Go. S. Cook as Probate Judge, the sum of two hundred seventy-six 81/100 dollars in full of my share of the sale of negroes belonging jointly to six of the heirs of William McCounico, died, and which was ordered to be distributed by the Probate Court of Wilcox County, Ala. on the 1st day of May A.D. 1860. The said money being received in sight of my wife Ellen L. Fox." Signed D. J. Fox.

Lawsuit of Stover v. Herrington, Burns & Bonner. Wilcox County, Alabama, dated August 12, 1842. 10pp, measuring 8" x 12.75". Long handwritten deposition of William Bonner, who had moved to the Republic of Texas from Alabama. Mentions slaves a number of times & says he owns “the negro girls Rachel & Mariah.”

Receipted bill for expenses incurred in the sale of slaves. Wilcox County, Alabama, dated October 16, 1850. 1p, measuring 15.75" x 12.5". Bill from George Carleton to Rev. P. J. Stevens, administrator of the estate of Mrs. Mary Stevens. Claims 5.00 for advertising an administrator's sale of Negroes. The advertisement occupied two squares and ran five times. Note at the bottom that payment was received.

Itemized List of 43 Named Slaves, Just Prior to the Civil War. Wilcox County, Alabama, dated January 10, 1861. 1p, measuring 15.25" x 12.5". An itemized list of slaves, named and grouped by family unit, hired out from an estate, and their costs. Headed "The hiring of Negroes belonging to the Est. of Jerome Bennett for 1861." Includes such entries as "Missouri girl," "Francis & 2 children (Louisa & Jim)," "Martha & 2 children," "Scot," "Jim," "Fairfax," etc.

Plantation Inventory with 42 Names Slaves. Wilcox County, Alabama, dated October 19, 1955. 4pp of a bifolium, measuring 7.5" x 12". All the slaves are separately evaluated, except when their value is combined with that of their children. Some examples: "Bill, $500; Dick, $1000; Albert, $900; Little Charles, $600; Doctor Edwards, $500; Julia Sumner, $400.00; Mary Cooper, $450," and so on. Including separate entries for items at less than one dollar, when in most instances these would be entered as a group with a cumulative price. Nearly one full page devoted to mules, with their names and descriptions. Also listed are miscellaneous goods such as "grind stone, trace chains, plantation tools, one old waggon (sic), double barrel gun, bedstead and two mattresses, mahogany bureau, pine table, washbowl and pitcher," etc. etc.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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