Bill of sale for Will, an enslaved man
date: label: Date
content: 1858
name: label: Created by
content: A. J. Burke, American, born 1817
label: Written by
content: Benjamin H. Grist, American, 1786 - 1869
label: Subject of
content: David W. Lamb, American
notes: label: Description
content: A bill of sale for a man named Will from Benjamin H. Grist to David W. Lamb for the sum of $1,285.32, with approximately half of that cost being due January 1, 1859. The document is a letterpress printed form entitled [MORTGAGE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY - Printed and sold by A.J. Burke, 40 Broad St.] at the top right corner. The document begins with large decorative text reading [The State of South Carolina] and [TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME]. The form is completed with cursive script in black ink. The paper is folded in half, with the legal language taking up the front and back of the first page. Henry Brist signed at bottom left of the second page, and Benjamin H. Grist signed on the bottom right of that page. On the third page is written testimony by Charles Macbeth confirming that Henry Brist swore that he witnessed Benjamin H. Grist sign the mortgage. Paper is machine-made with overall blue pigment. There is discoloration along fold lines and edges. On the back, which when folded serves as the front, the document is labeled Benjamin H. Grist / mortgage / of / slave Will / to / David W. Lamb].
place: label: Place depicted
content: South Carolina, United States, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Domestic slave trade
label: Topic
content: Finance
label: Topic
content: Men
label: Topic
content: U.S. History, 1815-1861
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Collection title
content: Liljenquist Family Collection
label: Classification
content: Slavery and Freedom Objects
label: Classification
content: Documents and Manuscripts
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Liljenquist Family
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2019.26.8
objectType: label: Type
content: mortgages
label: Type
content: bills of sale
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: No Known Copyright Restrictions
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: iron gall ink on laid rag paper
label: Dimensions
content: H x W (Folded): 13 15/16 × 8 9/16 in. (35.4 × 21.8 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W (Unfolded estimate): 13 15/16 × 17 3/16 in. (35.4 × 43.6 cm)