- Created by
- Smith, Gerrit, American, 1794 - 1874
- Date
- September 1, 1846
- Medium
- ink on paper
- Dimensions
- H x W: 9 1/2 x 7 15/16 in. (24.1 x 20.2 cm)
- Description
- A land indenture document transferring land from Gerrit Smith to John Bics or Bice, a possibly formerly enslaved man, for the sum of one dollar. The document contains printed and handwritten text, both in black ink, on both sides of a single sheet of off-white paper. The beginning states [THIS INDENTURE, made the First day of September / one thousand eight hundred and forty six between Gerrit Smith of Petersboro, Sate of New York, of the first part, and John Bics(?) / of the town of Madison, and the County of Madison, / State aforesaid, of the second part. / Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, in consideratin of one dollar and of his desire to have all share in the means of subsistence and happiness, which a bountiful God has provided for all, has granted, sold, and quit claimed, to the said party of the second part...]. The document is signed by Smith at the bottom, next to a green seal mark. The reverse side contains a printed and handwritten statement signed by [E. Holmes Judge Co. Courts / [illegible] his court] on the middle third of the document. The bottom third contains handwritten text. The document was previously folded into thirds.
- Place depicted
- Madison, Madison County, New York, United States, North and Central America
- Peterboro, Madison County, New York, United States, North and Central America
- Essex County, New York, United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Slavery and Freedom Objects
- Documents and Manuscripts
- Movement
- Anti-slavery movements
- Type
- documents
- Topic
- Antislavery
- Free communities of color
- Race relations
- Self-liberation
- Slavery
- U.S. History, 1815-1861
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Franklin Sciacca
- Object number
- 2013.65.1
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




