Description:

Slavery - Incredible slavery account of a "Negro" slave auction of 36 slaves, disposing of an estate.

Four pages of a neat manuscript, 7.75" x 12.5", on pale blue lightly lined paper. Docketed for verso of second page. Secured along the top edge with salmon toned ribbon. Dated of sale "21st day of February, 1853". Small intact tear to left margin of second page, not affecting text. Small 3mm burn hole at the center of the second page, passing through some text. Faint, soft, handling marks throughout and expected folds, else near fine.

An incredible inside look at the slave trade, showing the disposition and sale of 36 "Negros" to the highest bidder at auction. It appeared attempts were made to keep families together if possible. Even noted was the birth of a child which occurred just after the auction, thereby indicating that one of the slaves was pregnant at the time of auction. The report shows a detailed accounting by "slave name", highest bidder and price paid. The incredible excruciating detail with each individual named and priced throws the reader into the brutal reality of the period. Below is a partial transcript of the report of sale. A scarce, sobering look at our country pre-Civil War:

"... of the estate of George Skipworth deceased- respectfully reports that by virtue of the order of this honorable court ... authorizing her to sell property of said state for the payment of debts described in her application ... in front of the capital of the city of Jackson in the County between the hours prescribed by law proceed to sell thirty six negros belonging to said estate to the highest bidder, on a credit of ten months from the day of sale; and did then and there so expose for sale at public outcry the said Negros until the same was fully concluded, for a full account of which said sale with the names of purchasers and the highest amounts bid for said negros your executrix begs leave to refer your honor to the account of sales herewith filed and marked exhibit A .... amounting in an aggregate to the sum of $31,661.00". (The sales below were clumped together by family).

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