Issued by
P.J. Porcher & Baya Co., American, 1859 - ca. 1863
Subject of
Harrietta Plantation, American, founded 1807
Unidentified Man or Men
Unidentified Woman or Women
Unidentified Child or Children
Printed by
Unidentified
Date
1859
Medium
ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 15 1/8 × 10 1/8 in. (38.4 × 25.7 cm)
Description
This broadside is an announcement for an estate sale of 229 enslaved men, women and children. The document consists of a single sheet of off-white paper, with a single fold to make four pages, with centered black type and handwritten inscriptions in ink and graphite. The front of the announcement reads:
[ESTATE SALE! / 229 / RICE FIELD NEGROES / AN UNCOMMONLY PRIME and ORDERLY GANG / TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINE NEGROES / BEING TWO GANGS IN ONE, AND COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE FORCES OF / "TRANQUILITY" AND "HARRIETTA" PLANTATIONS, / ON SANTEE RIVERS. / By P.J. PORCHER & BAYA / On THURSDAY the 20th day of January, 1859, / AT 11 O'CLOCK, A. M., WILL BE / Sold at Public Auction, / AT / RYAN'S MART, Chalmers-st. / IN THE / CITY OF CHARLESTON, / An uncommonly prime and orderly Gang of two hundred and twenty-nine / NEGROES, accustomed to the culture of Rice and Provisions, on North and / South Santee Rivers. Amongst which there are valuable / CARPENTERS, BLACKSMITHS, DRIVERS, AND BOAT HANDS. / CONDITIONS OF SALE -One-third Cash: balance in one, two, and three years / secured by bond, mortgage and approved personal security, with interest from day of sale, / payable annually. Purchasers to pay P. J. P. & B. for papers.].
The other three pages of the document list out the enslaved men, women, and children for sale. At the top of each page is printed [TRANQUILITY GANG.]. The list is organized into a five column chart, with the names appearing in groupings that may represent family units. The first column is untitled, but records the number of inidviduals in a grouping. The other columns are for [No.], [NAMES.], [Age.] and [QUALIFICATIONS.] Listed out into the columns are a total of 135 enslaved individuals, beginning on the first page with:
[1 Sancho, 60, Driver
2 Sandy, 45, Cook and Watchman
(2) 3 Hester, 40, High ground
4 Jacob, 60
5 Sanders, 30
6 Phillip, 22
7 Sally Ann 25
(5) 8 John, 6]
The listing concludes on the last page with:
[127 Patty, 60
128 Jinney. 25
129 Aaron, 12
(4) 130 Primus, 7
131 Fanny, 60
(2) 132 Prince, 25
133 Prince, 50 Cripple
134 Fatima, 40 Does nothing
(3) 135 Molly, 25]
The last page also contains several handwritten inscriptions including financial figuring in graphite and the addition of five names in black ink: [Dick, Carpenter / 3c Nancy / Bob / London / Thompson].
Place used
Charleston, South Carolina, United States, North and Central America
Place depicted
North Santee, Georgetown County, South Carolina, United States, North and Central America
McClellanville, Charleston%2BCounty%22&op=Search">Charleston County, South Carolina, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Memorabilia and Ephemera - Advertisements
Type
broadsides
Topic
Agriculture
American South
Business
Commerce
Domestic slave trade
Families
Finance
Labor
Rice farming
Skilled labor
Slavery
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2014.63.18
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd52b385e18-5128-4b9d-9eeb-fa890be25f93

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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