Description:

Division of Slaves Among Heirs in Mississippi

Three court-appointed commissioners, Thomas J. Catchings, Joel Reynolds, and Angus Clark, divided the forty slaves in the estate of Pearson/Percen V. Lewis into five shares to distribute them among his heirs. Each share consisted of from seven to nine enslaved African Americans, and the commissioners valued each share as worth from $3,775 to $4,025.

At his death, four of Lewis's six children survived him. The first share went to Lewis's second wife and widow, Sarah Lewis. The second share went to his son by his first marriage William Lewis (b. 1838). The third share went to E. C. Askew for his surviving daughter by his first marriage Catherine Lewis (b. 1834). The fourth share went to his son by his second marriage Thomas V. Lewis (b. 1846), and the fifth share went to his surviving daughter by his second marriage Emma Lewis (1842-1911).

[SLAVERY.] Manuscript Document Signed, Report of Commissioners to Probate Court, December 13, 1851, Hinds County, Mississippi. 5 pp., 7.75" x 10". Expected folds; some edge tears; ink stain affecting two words; third leaf attached with wax; very good.

Excerpt
"Share No 1     Joseph aged     51     valued at      600
                         Pallas               10          "               450
                        Tennessee         7           "               350
                        Patsy                 3           "               200
                        Becky Ann         1           "              125
                        Charlotte          26          "              700
                        Hamilton          21          "              800
                        Little Isaac       15          "              800
                                                                            $4025
Share No 2
    Jack                  35          "              850
                        Betsey             36          "              600
                        Caroline            4          "              200
                        Fanny              24         "              700
                        Jane                 4          "              200
                        Anna                2          "              150
                        Manuel             4     mos             100
                        Washington     23     yrs              600
                        Lucy                30                        600
                                                                        $4000
Share No. 3
    John aged      21     valued at     925
                        Julia               24          "              700
                        Edward           6           "              250
                        Louisa             2          "              150
                        Timothy         61          "              400
                        Violet            31          "               650
                        Mahala         16          "               700
                                                                          3775
Share No 4
    Big Isaac      45          "               600
                       Rosetta        48          "               350
                       Allen            17          "               800
                       Martha        12          "               500
                       Cornelia       8          "               400
                       Eveline        6          "               300
                    Big Charlotte 30         "               700
                      Emily            6          "               250
                                                                    $3900
Share No 5
    Arthur        26         "               900
                       Elvira         24         "               700
                      Matilda         3         "               200
                      Susan          8     mos              100
                      Mary          51     yrs                300
                    Laura Ann   14      "                   700
                     Dick             8                           250
                   Little Joe      17                          750
                                                                    $3900"

Pearson/Pierscen/Percen V. Lewis (1803-1850) was born in Massachusetts but moved to Mississippi by 1820. In 1830, he married Margaret Cargile (1810-1840), with whom he had three children. In 1841, he married Sarah Moffett (1821-1863), and they three children. In 1850, he was a planter in Hinds County, Mississippi, where he owned $4,000 in real estate.

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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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000