Bill of sale for two enslaved women, Nelly and Milley, and their six children
date: label: Date
content: 1832
name: label: Written by
content: Thomas N. Clark, American, 1763 - 1847
label: Received by
content: James P. Clark, American, 1797 - 1863
label: Subject of
content: Rhoda Phillips, American, 1831 - 1906
label: Subject of
content: Unidentified Woman or Women
label: Subject of
content: Unidentified Child or Children
notes: label: Description
content: A handwritten document of black ink on rag paper recording the sale of two enslaved women, Nelly and Milley, and their respective children from Thomas A. Clark to James P. Clark. On one side, the document records the value of the enslaved persons being sold:
label: Description
content: [Nelly and her four children
label: Description
content: Washington......$200.00
label: Description
content: Charles......$150.00
label: Description
content: Andrew......$100.0
label: Description
content: Malinda......$50.00
label: Description
content: Nelly..........$350.00 - $850.00
label: Description
content: Milley + Her two Daughters.... 550.00 - $1400.00].
label: Description
content: The document then continues:
label: Description
content: [Know all men by these present that I Thomas N Clark of the county of Roane State of Tennessee has this 23rd day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty two bargained sold and delivered unto James P Clark of the county of Davidson and state aforesaid that the above names Negros to sell Nelly & her four children Washington, Charly, Andrew & Malinda / Milly and her two daughters Rhoda & Martha for the consideration of the sum of fourteen hundred dollars to me in hand paid the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge and I do hereby forward warrant and defend the right and title of the aforesaid Negroes to the said James P Clark his heirs and assigns from all and every claim.].
label: Description
content: The document continues on the other side with the signature of Thomas N. Clark. In the center is [Mr. James P. Clark / Nashville]. There is also a later note stating:
label: Description
content: [State of Tennessee
label: Description
content: Roane County
label: Description
content: The within bill of sale together with the probate there on is registered in the register’s office for Roane County in Book 78 page 709 Feb. 25th 1833
label: Description
content: Henry H. Wiley
label: Description
content: Register for Roane County].
place: label: Place made
content: Roane County, Tennessee, United States, North and Central America
label: Place used
content: Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, United States, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Business
label: Topic
content: Children
label: Topic
content: Domestic slave trade
label: Topic
content: Families
label: Topic
content: Finance
label: Topic
content: Motherhood
label: Topic
content: Slavery
label: Topic
content: Women
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: 2012.151
objectType: label: Type
content: bills of sale
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Public domain
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: ink on rag paper
label: Dimensions
content: H x W: 9 3/4 x 7 7/8 in. (24.8 x 20 cm)