Land indenture for the Barbados plantation of Captain Gunston
date: label: Date
content: March 28, 1685
name: label: Written by
content: Unidentified
label: Subject of
content: William Walker, English
label: Signed by
content: John Gunston, English
label: Signed by
content: Joan Gunston, English
label: Signed by
content: Ursula Gunston, English
label: Signed by
content: Thomas Warren, English
label: Signed by
content: William Bulkeley, English
label: Signed by
content: James Manby, English
notes: label: Description
content: An estate indenture concerning the Barbados plantation and property, including enslaved persons, of Captain Thomas Gunston. The property is being transferred from Gunston’s widow “Ursula Gunston” to his nephew and niece, (“John Gunston”) and (“Joan Gunston Spinster”), facilitated by William Walker, for the price of seven hundred [700] pounds. The top of the single sheet document is scalloped, the upper left corner is embellished with ornamental text reading [The Indenture], and the bottom of the document has the signatures of John and Joan Gunston with hanging wax seals and paper ribbons attached.
label: Description
content: The document begins “This Indenture made the Eight and Twentieth day of March In the first yeare of the reined of our Sovereign Lord James the second by the grace / of God of England Scottland Ffrance and Ireland King defender of the faith Anno Dni 1685 Betweene John Gunston and Joan Gunston Spinster both of Taunton Deane / in the county of Somersett Nephew and Niece Captain Thomas Gunston late of the parish of St. George in the island of Barbados (illegible) on the one part And William Walker / Cittizen and Ironmonger of London of the other part Withnesseth that they the said John Gunston and Joan Gunston as well for and in consideration of the summe of Seven / hundred pounds of lawfull money of England to them in hand payd by the said William Walker…”
label: Description
content: The middle of the document mentions the ownership and transfer of property including enslaved persons: "togeather with the moyety of all houses Edifices Mills Ingenios Copper Stills Woods Underwoods Timber Timber Trees And Negroe Slaves upon the said Lands or Plantac[[i]]on being...”
label: Description
content: Written on the back side of the document at center is “28th March 1684 / Mr Jhn Gunston & Mrs Joan Gunston Conveyance / to Mr. William Walker.” On the back in the upper left corner is a small summary of the exchange of funds with witness signatures. In the upper right corner is a statement of understanding signed by Ursula Gunston. Witness signatures and a small wax seal stamp are also present.
label: Transcription Center Status
content: Transcribed by digital volunteers
place: label: Place depicted
content: Somerset County, England, Europe
label: Place depicted
content: Saint George, Barbados, Caribbean, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: British colonialism
label: Topic
content: Colonialism
label: Topic
content: Finance
label: Topic
content: Slavery
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture 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
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2010.1.316
objectType: label: Type
content: indentures
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: ink on vellum
label: Dimensions
content: H x W: 20 3/8 × 28 1/8 in. (51.8 × 71.4 cm)