Description:

North Carolina Slaveowner Sells Slave Born in His Household

With this bill of sale, William Graham of Rowan County, North Carolina, sold an African American man named John to Edward B. D. Sloan of nearby Mecklenburg County for $650. John was apparently born in Graham's household, as he knew the precise date of his birth.

[SLAVERY.] William Graham, Autograph Document Signed, Bill of Sale, April 3, 1848, Rowan County, North Carolina. 1 p., 7.25" x 6.25". Expected folds; very good.

Complete Transcript
State of North Carolina Rowan County
Know all men by these presents that for and in consideration of Six hundred and fifty Dollars to me in hand paid by E. B. D. Sloan of Mecklenburg County and State aforesaid, I have bargained and soald unto the said Sloan a Negro boy named John in the 34th year of his age the title to which boy I warrant to him the said Sloan against the claim or claims of all persons whomsoever. I also warrant said John sound in body and mind given under my hand and seal the 3rd day of April 1848
                                                                        Wm Graham (seal)
Test Richd Graham

The most likely seller is:
William P. Graham (1797-1869) was born in North Carolina. In 1850, he was a farmer in Rowan County, North Carolina, and he owned sixteen slaves.
The 1850 census for Rowan County listed at least three other William Grahams, but at ages 11, 18, and 26, they were unlikely to have been the seller.

Edward Brice Dobbs Sloan (1810-1874) was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He lived his entire life in Mecklenburg, where he was a farmer. In 1837, he married Rebecca Caldwell (1816-1890), and they had at least seven children. He also served as county magistrate. In 1850, he owned one slave, and in 1860, he also owned one slave.

John was born in North Carolina on April 8, 1814 (from a record Graham kept on the blank leaves of The Constitution and Standards of the Associate-Reformed Church in North America [1827]).

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
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$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