Description:

Slavery
Frederick County, MD, February 5, 1858
Slave Runs Away 5 Times, Money Needed for Recapture, Unique!
ADS

Manuscript Document, 3pp, on pale blue bifold stationery measuring 8" x 12.5", Frederick County, Maryland, February 5, 1858, a petition to the Circuit Court to extend the term of service of an enslaved person named Dennis Woods. Signed by William Maulshe as attorney for the plaintiff. Docketed at verso. Flattened folds with separation and minor loss, some of which has previous tape repair. Light soiling and discoloration, mostly isolated to folds and margins. Overall, in very good condition.

The petition reads, in part: "John Cover...respectfully states that he is the Master and Owner of a negro slave for a Term of years named Dennis Woods...until the 1st day of May in the year 1861. Your petitioner further states that the said negro slave has absconded and run away from your petitioner five several times to each one and the first time in the Month of July 1856 when your petitioner recaptured and brought him back to his service, and on the day succeeding this recapture the said negro have again absconded and was again recaptured by your petitioner after he had been gone about one week...your petitioner further states that he has been subjected to expenses in the several recaptures of said slave amounting to Fifty Six Dollars, and that your petitioner was occupied in hunting for said endeavoring to find said slave...about seventy days, which was a very serious inconvenience to your petitioner..."

Dennis Woods was purchased from the estate of Joseph Steele by farmer and tanner John Cover (1821-1891) for a term of service ending May 1, 1861. The purpose of the petition was for Cover to extend the time of Woods's service and to recover losses he incurred when Woods ran away five times and had to be recaptured each time and brought back to Frederick County. Woods's service was critical to Cover's tanning business, as the only slave owned by Cover. Following this case, Cover apparently sold the rights to Woods, as the 1860 census shows him as not owning any slaves.

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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  • Dimensions: 8" x 12.5"
  • Medium: ADS

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