Printed by
Unidentified
Subject of
Beard, J. A., English, born 1806
Beard, J. A. and May, American
General Bailey, William Henry, American, 1804 - 1878
President Jefferson, Thomas, American, 1743 - 1826
Stark, Theodore O., American, born 1820
Date
1855
Medium
ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 13 3/4 x 8 3/8 in. (34.9 x 21.3 cm)
Description
A single-sheet broadside printed in black ink on wood pulp paper. The broadside is an announcement for a slave auction that took place on January 29, 1855 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Written at the top of the broadside in bold lettering is [56 VERY CHOICE / Cotton Plantation SLAVES, / MECHANICS, / SEAMSTRESSES, COOKS, &C.] Between two bold parallel lines printed in smaller lettering is [By J. A. BEARD & MAY. J. A. Beard, Auctioneer]. Below the bottom line printed in the same size font is [WILL BE SOLD AT AUCTION, / ON MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 1855, / At 12 o’Clock, at Banks’ Arcade, / WITHOUT RESERVE, / The following list of choice and Valuable SLAVES, from the Plantation of Gen. W. BAILEY, / Lake Providence, La., viz:]. Printed below this are the names, ages and skills of the enslaved people being auctioned. Skills and occupations listed include cotton picker, ox driver, slave driver, seamstress, ironer, carpenter, cooper, cotton gin hand, midwife, and field hand. There are fifty-six people listed in two columns, organized by family units with ten families total listed.
The enslaved persons to be auctioned are listed as follows:
One Family:
Big Henry, 21
Amy, 18
Little Henry, 16
One Family:
Boston, 26
Little Milly, 19
Family
Stephen, 24
Big Fanny, 24
Writ Henry, 20 mo.
One Family:
Caswell, 30
Aggy, 30
Fayette Henry, 5
Stanhope McLanhan, 2
One Family:
Big Jim, 25
Ann Randolph, 22
One Family:
George, 26
Little Fanny, 23
Roderick Dhu, 4
One Family:
Peter, 47
Harriet, 22
Thomas Jefferson, 3
One Family:
Jack, 50
Dolly, 21
______
Nelson, 28
Jorden, 19
Addison, 18
Sam, 18
Washington, 16
Dick, 20
Charles, 19
John, 23
One Family
Edward, 19
Margaret, 18
Jenny Lind, 2
Unidentified infant, 3 mo.
Big William, 20
Jim Henry, 20
Hoyt, 12
William Nelson, 14
One Family:
Jessee, 20
Caroline, 17
______
Amanda, 18
Mary Pate, 18
Yellow Mary, 18
Dinah, 45
Phillis, 20
Nancy, 17
Mary Caswell, 12
Suckey, 12
Betsy, 11
Sally, 11
Nelly, 52
Jane, 18
Beneath the listing of enslaved persons is printed text with the terms of sale, followed by a handwrittten inscription reading [Monday, Jany 29, 1855 Very Cold / Tuesday " 30 " " "].
Place used
New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Memorabilia and Ephemera-Advertisements
Type
broadsides
Topic
Agriculture
American South
Black Enterprise
Building Arts
Children
Commerce
Cooking and dining
Cotton
Domestic slave trade
Families
Health
Labor
Medicine
Men
Midwifery
Skilled labor
U.S. History, 1815-1861
Women
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2009.9.7
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd595cf4a0b-78ae-4776-b7e9-a33a7ccda38a

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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