Bahamian bill of sale for enslaved individuals, Trim and Flora
- Written by
- Stevens, James, Bahamian
- Received by
- Addison, John, British
- Signed by
- Sutherland, Dan, British
- Stevens, John, British
- Date
- February 8, 1799
- Medium
- ink on paper (fiber product)
- Dimensions
- L x W: 13 5/8 x 8 1/8 in. (34.6 x 20.6 cm)
- Caption
- This is a Bahamian bill of sale for two enslaved individuals, Trim and Flora. The seller, James Stevens notes that the buyer, John Addison will benefit from Flora’s future “increase,” a term enslavers used to value unborn children of slaves.
- Description
- A partially typed, partially handwritten Bahamian bill of sale for [a certain negroe man slave named Trim] and a [negroe woman slave named Flora]. Trim and Flora were sold to John Addison from J. James Stevens on February 8, 1799 on the Bahamian Island of Nassau. The middle of the bill includes language on [the future issue and increase] of Flora. The bottom is signed by witnesses Dan Sutherland, John Stevens and the seller, James Stevens.
- On the upper portion of the back of the document, James Stevens has confirmed that John Addison received the document on February 8th 1799 and [John Addison note of hand for the within payable in six weeks]. James Stevens has signed his name below this statement.
- The lower portion of the back of the document has a short summary of the sale of Trim and Flora by James Stevens to John Addison for 220 British pounds.
- The document has four distinct horizontal crease lines showing it has been folded into fourths. The outer edges of the fourths are torn and deteriorating.
- Classification
- Slavery and Freedom Objects
- Documents and Published Materials-Business and Legal Documents
- Type
- bills of sale
- Topic
- British colonialism
- Business
- Colonialism
- Domestic slave trade
- Finance
- Slavery
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Object number
- 2010.1.226
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.